This custom Ducati 900SS café racer arrived to us in pretty good shape, the owner had a clear vision that was already in motion, and wanted Purpose Built Moto to execute on finishing the bike and getting it on the road.
We’re known for our high quality finishes and creative designs when it comes to building bespoke motorcycles for discerning riders. Jamie had been a long time fan of the shop, and regularly checks in on our YouTube channel to say hello. He recognised this, and decided to have his bike completed with us.
Jamie’s Ducati Arrived at PBM HQ a week or so before Jamie's visit from Canberra. That gave Tom time to take a good look over it and develop some ideas before meeting to speak over his bike.
As it rolled into us the engine had been rebuilt and polished, the wheels rebuilt with stainless spokes and some nice H pattern 18” rims. Overall it was a well presented rolling chassis with a very distinct body kit. True to form for the 900SS it had that beautiful tank and tail shape, but shaped in an ultra light carbon fibre. The carbon fibre body was created by a now retired Ducati specialist and it was one of his final kits before he hung up the tools. Linking the gleaming engine, and the carbon fibre body kit was a slightly modified ducati red frame.
With these ingredients set , we were tasked with tying it all together with a custom exhaust, front fender, completing the lighting, and a full rewire. Performance wise the Duc had been treated to an Ignitech ignition, performance coils, and a set of Mikuni Pumper Carbs. That was the engine taken care of as far as the combustion chamber, but once that exhaust valve opened, that’s where we came in.
We threw a few ideas around, some a bit wilder than others, but where we landed was a true 2 into 2 system, with about as much symmetry as you can give an Italian L-twin. The system was to be built with 2” headers tucked close to the engine, snaking their way backwards under the crankcase and exiting through a set of PBM Torpedo mufflers just rear of the foot peg. Finished with some discreet mounts tucked away on the center stand bracket.
With the stainless exhaust finished, and polished within an inch of its life we moved on with some more specialty fabrication work. The finer touches that really elevate a build. Starting on the tail, cutting the body kit and seat slightly for a better fit on the frame, and finishing out the tail with a discreet plate mount and 3 in 1 LED lighting taking care of the turn, tail and brake lighting.
Moving toward the front, we’ve tucked the ignitech system up under the tank, along with the horn and performance coils. The bars are a set of Tarozzi offset clip ons finished with a set of PBM 3 button switches, a Tomaselli twin pull throttle assembly, Acossatto levers and some hand laid leather grips as per request from our rider. The electronics are controlled by the Purpose Built Moto Black box discreetly mounted under the seat.
The gauge used takes care of the speedo, tacho and dash lighting in one neat unit, which would come in handy when it came time to integrate it into out headlight. Trying to keep with the classic styling of this bike, Tom wanted to see a nice headlight bucket from the side profile, but also wanted to integrate the speedo into it and keep things clean.
We sourced a nice shallow headlight bucket, and got to chipping it up. Creating a speedo cup that houses out gauge on the back of the headlight bucket. Held in place with some simple stainless bar mounts that utilise the front indicators as the headlight mounting bolts. With the fabrication finished on the headlight bucket it was sent out to be carbon fibre wrapped, Julia from carbon parts sorted us out and did a great job matching the grain and style of the carbon body kit.
The final piece was to build a clean set of mounts for the custom front fender. Repurposed from a Harley carbon fender blank we’ve modified and re-finished the fender to suit the ducati and our custom mounts. This work helped to tie the custom body kit into the rest of the build. It would have been easy to mount a nice chrome headlight, and paint the fender blank, but pushing for these custom finishes creates a feel of consistency in the design. When you see this beautifully executed Ducati 900ss you know someone’s put a lot of thought and effort into making sure the design works.
The engine was box fresh from Gowanloch ducati, so on completion of the custom wiring, we fired the bike up and sent it to Ben at Cube Ducati for run in on the dyno and tuning.
Make sure you check out the build video and dyno clip on the end to hear this bike at full noise!it’s a real treat to work with the vintage 900SS, a real icon in motorcycling. Given the Purpose Built Treatment. The bike is now on the streets of Canberra living to its full potential, keeping its rider happy, and hopefully inspiring a few gobsmacked onlookers to go and buy a motorcycle.
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.
