Ss cafe racer... It begins
 

Since returning to the ducati fold with the 1098 I've not been able to shake the idea of building a ducati ss/monster based cafe racer.
So after a fair bit of thought I decided a ss was the way forward, for me the frame suits the look better, more parallel to the ground unlike the monster.
the end result I've not set in stone yet, still trying to convince myself going water cooled isn't a good idea. None the less I'll be using modern suspension and wheels etc. :)

I bought the bike this week from a very nice chap of eBay, to be honest it's in much better nick than I thought it would be, almost feel bad about pulling it apart.....



in between screwing some shelves to a wall for the mrs I've managed make a start on pulling it apart and weighing up what's gonna see the angle grinder.....







in the post is a 999 swingarm and some 999 wheels, originally I did wanna use spoked wheels, but given the weight/ potential calliper clearance issues I'll go with these





watch this space chaps

Shameless plug, but I do have a lot of good parts on eBay for grabs chaps;)

Interesting, dont think I've seen an SS with a 999 back end!

Images dont seem to be working correctly at the moment but here is some UK inspiration for you:

www.madeinmetalltd.co.uk

Cheers.


Pics work on my iPad :confused:

Sorry - whisky fog this morning ;-)

YOUR images are fine - the madeinmetal website lightbox images dont seem to be right today...

More coffee needed!

Should also add I'll be going for a 749/999 power plant.... I did want to remain air cooled, but mating the swingarm to the engine is near impossible.
In my arsenal I also have IMO one of the best Motorsport fabrication companies to knock me up a radiator and possibly a oil cooler (ah fabrications)...... Now just need a engine..... Cheap:)

As soon as I saw the phrase 'angle grinder' I could tell you know your way around Ducati's LOL...

I see you are not going the monster frame route but I noticed this tank while browsing only the other day!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=261380097349

It's always daunting chopping up a perfectly good frame..... But needs must.


Yeah I did see these a while back that's the exact sort of style I'm after, they look ok, but the 2 things that kinda put me off was having to run a external pump, plus I'd ideally like a aluminium tank and have like only half of it painted or something..... Still looking around for a good tank mind

Little update, now down to a bear frame, currently trying to do a deal on a later 749 motor. Don't really wanna start anything drastic till if and when I get it.

also got a pair of 749s Showa shocks... Little disappointed as the lowers have minor pitting so may be going back, I did intend to reanodise the uppers but with the lowers kaput aswell I may aswell go out and buy a pair of ohlins :)

Love following projects like this. look forward to the next part.

If you do end up going the Ohlins Fork route ones from some R1 models go straight into the SS yokes and probably some from GSXR1000 models, might be worth checking whats available