Few stores know Italian classics as well as Brooklyn’s Moto Borgotaro. Owner Peter Boggia has been working with Italian machines for more than two decades, cutting his teeth at the Moto Guzzi Chuck House in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Peter’s custom Guzzis adorn our pages before, but Moto Borgotaro builds more than just twin beauties. Ducati 900 GTS 1979 cafe racer you see this is a prime example. It perfectly demonstrates Peter’s love for all things design—and his exceptionally good taste.
In particular, two iconic designers inspired Peter’s approach to this work. The first is industrial designer Dieter Rams, godfather of the ‘beautiful design’ principles that have inspired everything from iPods to Ikea furniture. The second is American artist Donald Judd, one of the most influential minimalists who ever lived.
“I decided to take a minimalist approach,” he explains. “Think less about motorcycles, and think more about the design language of industrial designers and artists. I also wanted a purpose-built classic low profile that would suit Ducati designers and engineers both old and new.”
In keeping with this inspiration, Peter knew he wanted a well-designed yet economical chassis, with a proper worry-free engine. He decided a clutch-drive Ducati would be the ideal platform for his vision, and hunted down a 1979 Ducati 900 GTS in the classifieds.
When Peter brought the bike into his shop, he started taking things off and scraping off unnecessary parts where he could. The frame tabs were removed, the Marzzochi triple clamp was ground down and welded together, and a new bracket was welded to store the battery box underneath the fuel tank.
The frame is powder coated with a distinctive matte black finish, as an homage to the original enameled black frame of the period. The fuel tank and fenders have been repainted to match the original Ducati paintwork. Instead of the traditional blue and silver front-to-back stripes, Peter opted for a subtle gloss black effect.
The forks, forks and headlights have all been repainted black, as are the wheels, after being re-created by Woody’s Wheel Works in Denver, Colorado. In the end, Peter gave up the factory seat to his friend Corinna Mantlo at the Via Meccanica upholstery workshop, who recreated the minimalist style and silhouette on the Ducatis of the era.
With the primary aesthetic sorted out, Peter turned his attention to Ducati running gear. The non-Desmo 900 GTS engine was well suited to his frugal and minimalist approach, so Peter chose to keep it simple with a fundamental refresh. (It’s helpful that it barely has any mileage on it.)
New bearings and seals were included, but the internals remained intact. Peter added performance via a pair of 36 mm Del’Orto carburetors, topped with a K&N filter and a set of Staintune Conti exhaust pipes. A Silent-Hektik ignition system and Noology Pro-Fire coil have been installed for increased reliability.
From there, Peter set out to preserve as much of the Ducati ’70s charm as possible, while modernizing the bike where possible. Classic single-pot Brembo brake calipers are installed front and rear, running through Spiegler lines. Modern Brembo radial master cylinders have been fitted to create the optimal mix of old and new, and a modern Kawasaki clutch pin has been added to accommodate the matching Brembo clutch lever.
The OEM front fork remains the same, but the internals have been replaced with Works Performance springs. Öhlins shock absorbers with pig tank are equipped at the rear. The original lights have been refreshed, but Peter left behind the faded CEV taillight lenses to maintain the old feel of his new machine.
Finally, Peter turned his attention to electronics. The decision was made to specify a full Motogadget system for the build, with the German company’s dash, turn signals and switches, all running through their mo.unit control box. It creates a super clean look, with all-weather reliability.
“The idea is to pay homage to the design of the past,” he said. “The best compliment would be when someone looks at it twice and isn’t sure if it’s a newly built or completely vintage motorcycle.”
The end result is a stylish yet manageable clutch-drive Ducati, which Peter says is “infused with 1970s Italian quality and attitude”. We couldn’t agree more, and we’re not the only ones who think so—a friend of Peter’s saw this build at Moto Borgotaro and immediately ordered one of his own.
If you’re feeling left out, there’s good news: this particular Ducati 900 GTS is for sale through the website of Moto Borgotaro. If you like your custom bikes with a touch of practical flair, it’s ready to ship anywhere on the planet for as little as $30,000—and with just 3,047 miles on the clock.
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