For most professionals Custom bike manufacturers, working to a standard in short is the norm. So any chance to have carte blanche The project is appreciated. This muscular Ducati cafe racer by Kris Reniers is one such machine—that’s why it features his favorites rolled into one.
Kris is the one behind Deep Creek Cycleworks, based in the Belgian town of Diepenbeek. He is an experienced endurance racer who enjoys customizing Ducatis and is fitted with a specific metallic blue paint color. That’s why he just built his third race-inspired Ducati in this colorway and named it ‘Green Machine 3.0’.
The commission came from a friend, with a 1998 Ducati ST4 selected as a sponsor. The ST4 is one of those rare classic Ducatis that is more about practicality than excitement — but it has a good skeleton. Tucked inside its trellis frame is the same 90-degree V-twin engine as the Ducati 916, producing 105 hp.
Kris got his inspiration for the project from a Holographic Hammer illustration he came across. “I wanted a rough look for this bike,” he explains. “A bit heavy on the nose. With the headlights as low as possible, and the sportier and improved front suspension, I knew I could get that look. “
To achieve this, Kris started by grafting the front end from the Ducati Streetfighter 848 onto the older ST4. The upgrade includes Streetfighter radial Brembo brake calipers – but not its wheels. Instead, a spacer and bushing have been machined to fit Alpina wheels, which were designed for the Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE.
The burly upside down forks were added for more than just their looks; Kris is a great racer, so performance is another important factor. Finally, the rear is now powered for a new Wilbers shock.
The biggest magic trick here, is how Kris has massaged the ST4 to the point where it almost looks like a Monster now. Remarkably, he did it without throwing away the OEM gas tank.
“Pumping the fuel tank is not an easy job, because all the electrical equipment needs to be out of sight — and the perfect spot is under the tank,” he says. It’s a bit of a Frankenstein tank, re-welded using the original as a donor, cut and reshaped. Sitting at the top is an endurance-style woman – another nod to Kris’ love for the track.
More heavy lifting followed, where Kris broke the rear half of the frame. He then created a new trellis subframe, which now snaps to the mounting points on the main frame. The seats are small and a bit trashy – a deliberate move to keep things from looking rough and push the visual weight forward.
The rear of the car is neatly finished with small LED taillights from Wünderlich and a water spoiler to keep the engine running smoothly. There’s a discreet handmade tray under the saddle that holds a few Ducati essentials.
At the front, a handcrafted cowboy sits atop Koso’s low-lit LED headlights. Extremely compact, clip-on cockpit with LSL grips, basic switches and a digital Motogadget Motoscope Pro dash.
Below is a new Valtermoto rear gripper, designed for the Suzuki GSX-R750. “We raced the GSX-R in the classic endurance scene, and I knew those would look great on this build,” explains Kris.
The final piece of the puzzle is the asymmetrical exhaust system, which ends with Tyga’s twin silencers. Kris said: “Cutting the cake is a small part of it for me. “I’m not familiar with soldering them, and that part could have been done better by a professional. But no one is perfect – and this bike is no exception. “
We appreciate modesty, but honestly, this Ducati’s stance and proportions are so good, we can forgive a few faulty welds. That gorgeous green doesn’t hurt either.
Kris told us: “Metallic green is a color that Ford America used day by day. “It has a layer of golden scales that sparkle when the sun hits it. It’s become a bit of a trademark for me. “
Complementing the green base are yellow and white accents, and textured cognac leather seats, upholstered by Atelier Lepez. “We used that leather for a bit of a racer’s vintage look, reminiscent of the racer’s green Moto Guzzi V8 of the ’50s.”
This ST4 is also not without performances. As soon as Kris gets the chance, he plans to put it on the track — with his friend’s permission, of course.
“When I look at this bike, I think about how much I would love to ride it,” he said. “And when I had that thought, I knew I was on the right track. I promised my friend we would take it to the circuit at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and let it rip. Raidillon! “
Deep Creek Cycleworks | Facebook | Instagram | Photo of Michele Micoli
