We rock everything ends with an interesting story about a broken Ducati 996 custom job, rescued by a talented garage builder. We then look at a brilliant Flat Tracker Yamaha SR500 from 20-year-old Moritz Bree, a Honda Dax with a dustbin hood from K-Speed and a BMW CE 04 scooter from Deus ex Machina.
Ducati 996 by Jaron Hall Most people would balk at the idea of customizing a Ducati 996, but Utah-based garage builder Jaron Hall’s work on this 996 is nothing short of sublime. That’s because when Jaron got his hands on the 996, it was in desperate need of saving.
The previous Ducati owner had tried to turn it into a scrambler, so it arrived at Jaron without a fairing, a hacked subframe, and a bunch of sketchy parts. Working after work (he has a marketing day job) and handling the entire build himself, Jaron transformed the 996 hybrid into a premium Italian cafe racer.
Once Jaron completed the worst of the modifications, he began fabricating a new tubular subframe to bolt to the OEM main frame. He then fabricated the rear end out of fiberglass to sit on top of it, before using his mother’s sewing machine to cover the seats in Alcantara. (The hexagonal stitch pattern is especially impressive when you consider that Jaron’s only previous sewing experience was in eighth grade.)
The finned taillights are another custom detail, inspired by the Aston Martin Vulcan. Jaron modeled it out of cardboard, before fabricating the final part out of plexiglass and outfitting it with LED lights.
The original 996 fuel tank is still used but has been repainted and fitted with a set of classic Ducati badges. At the bottom, a pair of 3D-printed air intakes line the bike’s trellis frame. The front end also features LED headlights, handlebar clamps and an interesting front fender with an Art Deco-style wing design.
Other cool details include a custom battery box that hides the Shorai lithium battery, an opening clutch cover, and an aftermarket radiator. Jaron also rearranged the 996’s wiring and fabricated an exhaust system that ends with a pair of SC-Project mufflers under the seat.
Jaron’s work on this Ducati 996 deserves two compliments—one because it’s one of the most modern Ducati cafe racer we’ve seen in recent years and a second time because we love a good redemption story. [Source]
Moritz Bree’s Yamaha SR500 At age 20, Moritz Bree Younger than the age at which most builders start their careers, he worked there for eight years. Wunderkind’s latest build is an illusion Yamaha SR500 planar tracker, is currently being showcased at the annual Wheels and Waves event in Biarritz, France.
Moritz bought the bike as a gift from a friend three years ago; a 1980s Yamaha SR500 with a 630cc big-bore kit, upgraded cam and Mikuni carbs. The bike remained in the garage until recently, when sponsorship from Dickies, Red Wing and Kedo prompted Moritz to customize the bike for Wheels and Waves. And since there’s a lot of hooligan racing at the festival, building a fun planar tracker was a no-brainer.
Without having to open the engine, Moritz goes straight into the chassis and body. The chassis was disassembled and a custom subframe was fabricated and welded in with the help of Loose Screw in Germany. The forks were shortened, a custom swingarm was installed at the rear, and 19-inch Excel wheels with Hoosier flat track tires were added.
Next, Moritz created a new glass tank, tail section and license plate for the SR500. Carsten Esterman carved the panels, while Sattlerei Sam handled the upholstery. Other features include ProTaper handlebars, SC-Project exhaust, and several Kedo components.
The inspiration for the wild paint job came from the ’70s. “I wanted to give her a super ’70s feel,” Moritz told Bike Bound. “Like a bicycle in a 70s-style bedroom or living room. So colorful. I was a fan back then; that style. I like The Beatles’ Rolls-Royce so it must be very exciting.”
Christian Schaber ordered the retina-colored jacket, while Moritz’s sister decorated the oil filler cap with an inlaid flower, picked from their garden. And when Moritz arrived in Biarritz, the photographer Kati Dalek captured my SR500 in all its techy glory. [Source]
K-Speed’s Honda Dax Not a week has passed K speed n’t find new and creative ways to customize Honda’s line of adorable modern classics. But their latest custom Honda Dax is even wild by their standards.
For this project, K-Speed boss Eak wanted to give the Honda Dax 125 a 1960s racing style. And that meant adding a large (relatively speaking) trash cover. ).
The Dax isn’t exactly built for speed, so K-Speed manufactured the shield from a lightweight composite fiber material. An extended swingarm does the job at the opposite end of the bike, extending the bike out to visually balance the front. Wider-than-original 12-inch wheels roll at the rear.
The rear wheel cover, lowered suspension and exhaust muffler all come from K-Speed’s Diabolus accessories line, with a custom header positioning the muffler perfectly at the edge of the fairing. New handlebars with new grips, switches and bar ends. The footrest has been moved to the swingarm to lengthen the riding position, with Diabolus seats placed on top.
Since the Dax uses a four-speed transmission with a centrifugal clutch, there’s no clutch lever to use. So Eak came up with a clever way to remove the scooter’s foot controls. The rear brake lever is now located on the handlebars, and the gear lever has been moved to a paddle shift setup, with the lever protruding from the left side of the fairing (right next to where the speedometer is now).
As is customary for K-Speed, the Dax is wrapped in satin black. The Diabolus logo on the fairing is a bit bold—but since Eak designed the bike to be displayed at the Bangkok Hot Rod Show, it makes sense to use this real estate to his advantage. [Source]
BMW CE 04 of Deus ex Machina BMW once lent me their flagship car electricity BMW CE 04 scooter for a week. And if we’re being honest, it’s really hard to give back. Sure, its seat is firmer than an iron and its price is steep, but it’s incredibly fun to drive.
It’s also a modern machine, with very little customization required. But Deus ex Machina Australian head wrench Jeremy Tagand still managed to add some flair to the sci-fi looking scooter.
No need to go overboard, Jeremy keeps the mods simple and streamlined. Deus’s style has always been motocross and surfing, so mounting the surfboard mount on the left side was a must. An ocean-inspired wrap brings a pop to the home, with sharp orange graphics scattered across the CE 04.
Jeremy was so adamant about making sure the BMW CE 04 made it to the surf spots that he fitted it with dual sport tyres. That meant removing the rear fender and trimming the front fender to avoid ground clearance issues.
Next, Jeremy reshaped the saddle and decorated it with a clip-on cover. Vert Studio contributed to the design and 3D printing of the rear panel to complete the tail. The Unit Garage pannier rack is located on the right side of the car, with plexiglass badging, Rizoma mirrors and turn signals, and Kellermann fog lights highlighting the spec sheet. [Deus ex Machina | Images by My Media Sydney]
