What has been done to the engine?
The engine originally is a Ducati 1100DS with a wet clutch from a Multistrada 1100. However in essence only the casting of the cases, cylinders and heads are original. All the rest has been modified.
- Pistal high compression pistons
- Carrillo lightweight conrods
- Lightened/balanced & knife edged crankshaft
- Ducati Corse alternator
- Custom 900gr lightweight flywheel
- Lightened 1098 gearbox
- Lightened 1098 primary drive
- 47mm intake valve (46mm OEM)
- Extremely flowed/tuned cylinder heads
- Converted crankcases from wet to dry clutch
- NCR Racing camshafts
- Lightweight Ducati Corse timing gears
- All titanium bolt/washer internals/externals
- CTMoto limited unobtanium clutch cover
- Ducabike adjustable slipper clutch
- Lightweight Kbike timing pulleys
- Cerakoted engine/valve covers (Glacier silver)
- RS replica crankcase breather + chainguard
- Lightweight exhaust flanges
- Kbike alternator cover
- Custom Kbike camshaft covers to allow for external oil feed lines
- Custom Ducati S4RS throttle body conversion (50mm) with RamAir filters
- The engine is also completely glass bead blasted to look like new.
What are the fairings made out off?
All the fairings you see on the Ducati Desmoto project are 3D printed out of Nylon Carbon Fiber (PA12/HT-CF). This material is extremely heat resistant (up to 195C) and can easily withstand the heat from the exhaust when combined with the right other materials.
All the fairings are coated in a matte clear coat to make sure this material is more easy to clean and the material does not absorb any moisture.
What is the weight of the bike?
141KG +/- WET weight! This is achieved by mostly only using titanium, aluminium, nylon infused carbon and magnesium materials.
Chasing these kind of weight savings comes with a literal cost though. Costs simply explode…
The original goal of the project was to get the bike below 150KG dry weight. I would say we have been more than succesful!
Is it street legal?
Yes it is! It falls into a grey area though and it really depends on per country regulations.
How long did it take to build?
The project was first started in September of 2020. From that moment it took me 5.5 years and 2000+ hours to complete. The main concept however was already visualised in my head early 2019.
The long time frame has multiple reasons but lets just say life happens sometimes and some other things needed my attention.
I was able to really get the project moving by setting weekly small goals for the last 2 years of development. Adding up all those small weekly goals and all of a sudden you have a finished bike!
Will the Öhlins TTX rear shock survive the heat?
Without any problems!!! Allot of precautions had to be taken for the rear shock to not fail because of its proximity to the exhaust. A combination of ceramic wool (heat resistant up to 1000C) and 0.1mm stainless steel heat shielding covering this wool on the exhaust reduces radiation heat by 90% (also used in MotoGP)! Some parts of the exhaust have also been coated in Cerakote Piston coat to even further reduce radiation heat.
Together with fiberglass heat reflective tape on the rear shock this makes sure the shock does not reach temperatures above 60C when riding with wide open throttle. Meaning no issues at all!
How do you control the Öhlins TTX rear shock?
Specifically for the Ducati Desmoto project I developed the ÖTX Controller.
The ÖTX controller allows you to configure your rebound and compression settings on ANY electronically controlled Öhlins TTX rear shock, front fork or steering damper (with a white JWPF connector). All packaged within this very small amazing clear case that fits in the palm of your hand. Giving off a 90s GameBoy vibe.
A full fledged plug and play/easy to use product for any other custom bike builder or suspension service specialist 🔥!
What is the base bike?
No real base bike to be honest since 95% of the Ducati Desmoto is custom designed and handmade. The engine is out of a Ducati Multistrada 1100 and the registration says it is a Multistrada so if you really want me to pick a base bike for this project then that is the one.
How much power does the bike make?
112HP & 126NM on the rear wheel!!
The bike has some challenges to push it further than this. Exhaust is somewhat restrictive on the vertical cylinder, horizontal intake gets less fresh air, 50mm throttle bodies are probably to big and I probably went to far flowing the intake channels of the cylinders resulting in not enough air velocity at high revs.
After achieving these performance numbers I tuned the bike back slightly to keep the service intervals manageable, keep everything a bit more reliable and be able to use regular 98 pump gas. Currently it is running 104HP and 119NM on the rear wheel. More than enough!
What kind of frame is used?
It is a custom made aluminium chassis weighing just 4.2kG, 1 of 15 ever made by the no longer operating company Ducati Radical France. Loosely based on a Ducati 999 originally but heavily modified by myself.
