This week we there’s old and new Ducatis: a custom German-built 848, along with the factory’s newest racing bike — the electric V21L. We also take a look at the 21 Helmets exhibit from the US, and a BMW R nineT with vintage rally themes from Munich.
Ducati 848 redux by Motocrew We’re always excited to see bikes developed and refined over time. A year ago, German builder Chris Scholtka wowed us with super clean 848wrapped in minimal silver bodywork.
He’s since rewatched 848 to give it a classic racing bike look — and he’s also managed to get past the fussy TÜV tuners. “The old-school racing style has been on my mind since day one,” he explains, “but the costs and the regulations are horrible.”
The crank is a 1980s racing job of a Kawasaki. “It took a lot of time to make it almost symmetrical on the bike, because the old fiberglass stuff wasn’t perfect,” says Chris. “I also had to build a sturdy and complex ‘cage’ to install the threading system in — an instruction from TÜV to make it street legal.”
The headlights have now been tucked away, and so has a new custom-made radiator for €1000. “It’s hard to find someone who can make it — the old craft is almost gone.”
There’s a new shock from Black-T at the rear, and the forks have been refinished in black and upgraded inside with new springs. Chris has also improved and hidden the electrical system, which is now powered by a small NOCO lithium battery and is connected to Motogadget lighting.
After finishing the new bodywork in white, Chris finally got the 848 road legal. “The TÜV boy checked each part to make sure it was sturdy enough,” he said wittily. The next step will be a quick gearshift system with new engine software — but we’re happy to use this machine. [Motocrew] 
21 helmets on display Today, One Motorcycle Show is an organization. Held in Portland, Oregon and hosted by See See Motorcycles since 2009, it’s a celebration of classic, rare, unique and exotic bikes.
One of the show’s highlights was the 21 Helmets exhibition, and this year, 21 artists were each given a helmet. ICON Airfly cap to show off their talent.
It’s a synergistic partnership: ICON known for its wild graphics on helmets, but the artists took this idea to the next level.
The show is hosted by a local creative agency, Lincoln Design Co., and as you’d expect, there’s some really stinging stuff here.
However, we especially like the more conceptual ideas, such as the military-tone cap with a skull inside, by Lonely Design.
And then art director Dustin Noden came up with a novel idea for an expired or damaged helmet: spray paint it terracotta and turn it into a potted plant. Explore more detailed designs here.
BMW R nineT ‘Desertfox’ by Motoism Motoism is based in the city of Munich, but this new R nineT build Also destined for off-road work. It’s an alternative to BMW’s own Scrambler and Urban G/S models—but the Metzeler Karoo 3 tires should make it a bit more powerful on the hardbox.
Motoism mods don’t involve any grinding, but they transform the vibe of popular roadsters. There’s an entire portfolio of Motoism custom parts fitted, including new headlight panels, enduro-style fenders, leather seats, and a carbon fiber tailpiece.
The lighting is also new, from the LEDs at the rear to the flash built into the custom fork cap. And everything has important regulatory approvals.
The new vintage-style paint job is outstanding, and most of the bare metal on the R nineT has been repainted black for added effect. A host of top-of-the-line aftermarket additions complete the BMW, including a neatly integrated Motogadget speedometer, high-spec Öhlins monoshock and a ceramic-coated Arrow Pro-Race exhaust system – complete with silencers light.
There is no shortage of mods for R nineTbut it’s one of the most engaging and cohesive picks we’ve seen. [Motoism]
Ducati’s first electric motorcycle It had to happen, and it’s finally here. Borgo Panigale has just revealed the ‘V21L’, which unfortunately is more of a race bike than a showcase. However, it’s a step into the future, and the technology will likely find its way into the delivery machines.
Next year, the machine will compete in the MotoE series, with Ducati replacing the Energica and offering 18 bikes for use on the track. That’s why the launch PR included a clip of former MotoGP racer Alex de Angelis throwing a V21L prototype around the Vallelunga Circuit.
The styling is nothing to write home about, especially given that Ducati offers nicer products, but the tech side is interesting.
The battery pack is rated at a whopping 18 kWh; to put that into perspective, LiveWire claims 15.5 and Zero SR/S 14.4 kWh. But despite the size of the battery, Ducati’s priority seems to be weight – the V21L weighs just 225 kg (496 lb).
Both the battery and motor are liquid-cooled, which means charging is easier and safer, and they’re housed in an aluminum and carbon fiber chassis that weighs just 3.7 kg. The Desmosedici-inspired swingarm is actually heavier, at 4.8 kg and has a hidden 20 kW charging socket in the back.
Ducati quotes power and torque of 150 hp (110 kW) and 140 Nm, and says the car hits 171 mph (275 km/h) on a lap like the Mugello.
A MotoGP bike from Desmosedici makes almost twice the horsepower of the V21L, but the MotoE race still has to be pretty fast and fun. And given Ducati’s habit of filtering track technology down to bike showrooms, it might not be long before we see a road version. And that will give the consumer sports car market a real shake-up. [More]
