There is a formula It’s a shame to release a special edition bike these days, and it’s lazy. Take an existing bike from your lineup, slap on some fancy graphics and some shiny accessories, and call it a tribute to someone who may or may not have had any vague connection to your brand at one point. But that wasn’t always the case.
There was a time when special editions were truly special—like the iconic Ducati 900 MHR. Based on Ducati 900 SupersportThe ‘Mike Hailwood Replica’ celebrates the legendary rider’s return to the Isle of Man TT in 1978 with race-inspired bodywork and sought-after upgrades such as larger Dell’Orto carbs, Brembo brakes and Conti mufflers. It sold like hotcakes.
The Ducati MHR Mille followed a few years later, with an improved 973cc engine that produced 76 horsepower, an electric starter, a hydraulic clutch, and a host of other improvements. While more than 7,000 MHRs were produced between 1979 and 1985, only 1,100 were MHR Milles. That, combined with the fact that it was the last rear-wheel-drive twin-cylinder Ducati produced, makes the MHR Mille extremely rare.
So who on Earth is brave enough to customize one, and why? The answer is Benjie Flipprboi and his team at Benjie’s Café Racers. And the reason is because his clients asked him to do so.
“Yeah, I know it’s history, but I want something unique,” Benjie quoted his client as saying. “It’s my bike, my money. Fuck the purists.”
Despite the bike’s heritage, the BCR team were more than willing to sink their teeth into it. And if the idea of cutting up a Ducati MHR Mille still shocks you, rest assured that the donor bike was in dire need of rescue. The victim of a restoration effort in the ’90s, it suffered from faded paint, cheap plastics, cracked tires, and a host of mechanical and electrical faults.
The 1985 Ducati MHR Mille is an icon of the blocky racing style of the late 70s and early 80s, but Benjie envisioned a more modern, streamlined look for the old sportbike. BCR stripped the bike down to the frame, building it with new bodywork that showcases the stunning design cues of Pierre Terblanche’s 2001 Ducati MH900e.
Like the MH900e, the MHR Mille’s signature features remain in the BCR’s redesign. “The shape of the original tank is unmistakable, one of the most iconic tanks in motorcycle history,” says Benjie. “We’ve kept the overall shape—but resized it for better proportions.”
BCR created a new tank model, which was then used as the basis for a mold. That mold was then used to make the carbon fiber outer shell, with a custom-designed aluminum fuel tank mounted underneath.
Rather than referencing the MHR Mille for the new rear end, BCR let the shape of the fuel tank dictate the design. A prototype of the rear end was crafted in steel, before being recreated in carbon fibre and treated with suede upholstery.
The rear end sits on a custom stainless steel subframe, angled sharply to create an aggressive silhouette. Gone are the MHR Mille twin rear shocks; BCR has widened and reinforced the OEM swingarm and replaced it with a single shock.
BCR also installed a Showa up-down at the front, as Benjie says the “old 1980s suspension needed replacing.” The drivetrain has been further upgraded with a set of gorgeous (and lightweight) carbon fiber rims from BST, along with modern dual disc brakes and Michelin Pilot Street Radial tires. (An offset front derailleur ensures the chain lines up perfectly with the wider rear wheel than on a stock wheel.)
The Ducati MHR Mille’s narrow front fairing is another work of art to be reckoned with. BCR once again started with a steel model before moving to carbon fibre, aiming for a long design that flows seamlessly into the tank. It’s held in place by classic fairing bars, with a sleek aluminium rim that hugs the low-slung headlight.
A similar aluminum binnacle holds the speedometer just behind the windshield. The cockpit also features Brembo brake and clutch controls, and new Domino grips.
The MHR Mille’s once-neglected L-twin now looks clean enough to eat, fed by a pair of beefy FCR carbs. The gasses exit through a perfectly proportioned asymmetrical twin exhaust system, crafted from cut-to-size stainless steel. With one conical muffler exiting along the swingarm and the other flanking the seat, it’s the kind of system that wouldn’t look out of place on a streamlined Ducati SportClassic.
The bodywork is a masterpiece on its own, but Ducati’s new paint job takes it to the next level. Raw carbon fiber dominates the construction, accented with green and white graphics that recall the original MHR graphics. A coat of smoked grey paint on the frame ties it all together.
If you’re going to customize a special bike like the Ducati MHR Mille, take a page from BCR and do it right. We love the MHR as much as anyone, but there’s nothing wrong with this inspired reimagining.
If you’re still hankering for an original MHR Mille, there’s a one-mile one for sale at Iconic Motorcycle right now, for $53,500. Imagine parking both in your garage…
BCR Design | Facebook | Instagram | Image by Ben Chan
