Over the years, Purpose Built Moto has built more Ducati Sport Classic series bikes than any other Ducati model. I’ve always loved the style and ride feel of the 2-valve, air-cooled Ducati 1000. I understand how they operate and know how to style them—whether that means major modifications or subtle touches that enhance the bike's already iconic styling.
Jeff had seen our previous Ducati custom builds and gotten to know Purpose Built Moto through our YouTube channel and build series. By the time he contacted us to revive his beloved 2008 Ducati Sport Classic 1000S, he already knew the run of our process. We spoke over a few emails, got an idea of the direction he wanted for his build, and understood what was important to him as the rider.
Having bought the bike nearly new and growing to love it over the years, it was crucial to Jeff that we retain the essence of the motorcycle while upgrading its performance, enhancing its style, and releasing more of what makes this bike special. Jeff is a passionate rider, with a collection of motorcycles that reflect his appreciation for bikes built for specific purposes—cruisers, racers, touring bikes, and, of course, the iconic Ducati Sport Classic. He understands that a man needs options. Our job was to make his Purpose Built Moto Ducati the obvious choice when he wanted a jaw-dropping custom build that delivers the full motorcycling experience—from the moment you pull the cover off it in the garage, to when you step off it with dilated pupils and an elevated heart rate.
Front End and Fairing
We began with the front end. The previously modified front fairing had started to show signs of cracking and damage due to the removal of some bracing to make clearance for higher bars. The front fairing was replaced and braced with upgraded mounting support to ensure that the Sport Classic would outlast fossil fuels.
Wheels: The Jonich Exagon Design
Next up, I measured the wheels and got in touch with our mates in Milan at Jonich Wheels. Fabio and his two sons sent over an exciting prototype design that would suit the build perfectly. The Jonich Exagon wheel design blends the nostalgic feel of a spoked wheel with a future-focused design direction. The Exagon style updates the conventional 3-cross spoke pattern to a set of larger 10mm spokes in five groups, with a distinct lacing pattern. Delivered in gold anodised with polished stainless steel spokes, one of the five spokes in each set was gold-coated. A red bike with gold wheels—can it get any more Ducati?
The wheels were delivered in 17 x 3.5 front and 17 x 6.00 rear sizes, wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso rubber. These formed the foundation of our build.
Custom Tail Fabrication
Our next step was fabricating the tail. Following Jeff's request, I modified the factory tail shape, slightly adjusted the frame, and created a custom tail that looked like a factory upgrade. Hand-shaped in aluminium, the tail refines and elevates the Ducati GT1000 Sport Classic single-seat tail. I shaved the hips of the frame and created a slimmer seat section. The tail design perfectly complements the visual weight of the front of this bike, with its bold front bikini fairing and optional side fairing.
If you scroll through the PBM back catalogue, you’ll see a common theme with our larger street bikes. I love playing with the balance of a muscular motorcycle that may seem bulky through the front and shoulders, tapering off into a slimmer, well-balanced tail section.
Tail Mount and Lighting
To keep the tail section unencumbered, the plate mount was fabricated as a swingarm-mounted unit, with tail lights provided by a clean and discreet set of Omni lights moulded into the frame loop. This completed the silhouette of the bike, and the finer details began to reveal themselves.
Hydroforming Custom Mufflers
The next task was diving deep into hydroforming a set of mufflers. Hydroforming is a process I’d been learning about and wanting to try for a while, but it had to be the right project. This Ducati fit the bill perfectly for some uniquely styled stainless steel mufflers.
Hydroforming is the process of shaping metal with high-pressure water. Two sheets of stainless steel are templated and welded together to create an envelope, with a high-pressure fitting welded in one end. Attaching the part to my high-pressure cleaner, the stainless steel is introduced to 2000 PSI and blown up like a balloon until it pops. The part is then cut off the attachment, split, and finished.
Using a mix of hydroforming and hand-shaping, the mufflers are a sweeping reverse-cone design made from 316 stainless steel. They're packed with dual material muffler packing and polished to perfection. The mufflers are mounted low and high on the right side of the bike, linked to a set of handmade headers running in a 2-into-1-into-2 configuration. It was a much harder task than creating a straight 2-into-2 system, but for better performance (and sound), I took the harder route. We found out this was worth it when the bike dyno-tuned at 95HP with Cube Performance. With performance cams, high-compression pistons, and a DNA Filters airbox upgrade, this bike is definitely livelier than when it was first delivered.
Custom Touches
The bike was kitted out with a number of handmade custom touches, including custom headlight mounts to house our 7” Flashpoint LED headlight, tinted with a high-def yellow lens to match the custom blow-moulded windscreen. The valve belt drive system got a custom touch, with a set of laser-cut belt covers showcasing the PBM Delta logo. These were painted in Ducati red, giving the 1000cc Ducati 2-valve a classic accent. A hand-formed aluminium front fender was crafted to seat perfectly around the upgraded Brembo caliper set provided by Jeff.
Suspension Upgrades
With the bike completed in terms of custom fabrication, I called Joe from Ride Dynamics to take the suspension in for a rebuild. The forks were fitted with Ohlins cartridges, re-coated with gold nitride, and black anodised on the fork tubes. The rear was upgraded to a fully adjustable Ohlins TTX shock set.
Paint and Trim
When the Sport Classic arrived back after the suspension tune, it was time to create a paint design that complemented all the work put into the bike. While I wanted to retain the predominant red colouring of the Sport Classic, the style needed to be elevated to a point where the other major upgrades looked at home.
Adding to this, Jeff had a request: two trim types for the bike. One would be fully faired with the Paul Smart-style side fairings; the other would be more naked, with a bikini fairing and the engine exposed. With just 20 minutes and a few tools, the look of the bike can be swapped to suit the rider’s mood.
I laid out a two-tone design using Ducati red, gloss black, and accenting it with gold leaf pinstriping. This would create an unmissable paint combination that lets the form of the motorcycle speak for itself and compliments the wheel styling of the build. With Jeff’s approval, we pressed forward and sent it to Justin at Popbang Classics, who laid it down perfectly.
Seat and Final Touches
Meanwhile, Jamason from Timeless Auto Trim got busy trimming the seat with solid brass inlay to tie in the colourway of the custom Ducati Sport Classic. The seat was stitched in black Alcantara with leather highlights, creating a one-of-a-kind seat perfectly suited to this very unique build.
As the bike came together for the final time, the cockpit was fitted with a set of polished brake fluid cups and PBM 3-button switches running through our Black Box module. This created a perfectly balanced and symmetrical cockpit view.
The Final Ride
The end result is a motorcycle that any Ducatisti will instantly recognise as a Sport Classic, then be drawn in by the finely executed custom parts. While bikes like this sometimes upset the purists, they always strike intrigue in any rider who understands the intense focus and patience needed to create a bike that’s both true to its form and completely unique.
The ride on this custom 1000S is a symphony, especially as the builder. Hearing the rasp of the L-twin through the hydroformed mufflers, with the raw power delivery of the DS1000 engine, is an experience I’d recommend to any rider. I’ve said it time and time again—this engine has to be some of Ducati’s best work. My absolute favourite motor to rip the throttle back and let the torque do the work. As the rev range climbs, the horsepower takes over and finishes the job.
Feeling the road through the finely tuned suspension and Jonich wheels, then pulling up anywhere in traffic and having kids (and usually their dads) hanging out the window to get a look at the bike that rolled to a thunderous stop next to them is a great feeling.
Ever since I started in this game, a great test of the public approval of our work (not that we need or want it) is a few laps around our local area to see just how many thumbs up, chef’s kisses, or drooling passengers we get in traffic. This bike delivered one of the best responses to date.
At the end of the day, though, the only reaction I really care about is the first response when Jeff walked in the door to pick up his freshly revived custom Ducati, and the inevitable text I get after his first ride. Both were delivered with resoundingly positive and ecstatic energy.
I often remind myself how lucky I am to be part of riders’ stories as they journey through life making memories with their chosen two-wheel partner. Sometimes, our clients remind me of this. Jeff is a passionate rider with over a decade of stories on this motorcycle. Now, Purpose Built Moto has become part of that lineage, and from here, he’ll carry a piece of us with him as he journeys forward on his Purpose Built Ducati Sport Classic.
WE BUILD BIKES WITH PURPOSE.
Purpose Built Moto is home for unique custom motorcycle builds. We offer a unique motorcycle customizing experience in the heart of the Gold Coast.
