Retro resurrection

Riding a motorbike in central London is a perilous life-and-death lottery, regardless of your chosen steed, and it’s not unusual to see high-end two-wheel machinery covered in scars from battles with buses, trysts with taxis, or, even worse, violations by vandals. While most allow the tears to mist up their visors and simply live with it, the custodian of this café racer enlisted the help of Redmax Speed Shop to take his damaged 1000SS from a sad reminder of the effects of jealousy to a glorious ode to classic racing bikes of yesteryear. The fitment of a Redmax fuel tank, flat track tail, Imola-style fairing, clip-on handlebars, and a custom set of stainless-steel headers and mufflers on the modified frame saw the silhouette of the SS transformed into a streamlined classic, while further subtle details, such as the low-profile windscreen, hidden indicators, and simple vintage-style lighting, keep the lines clean and crisp. The paint choice of battleship grey with white panelling and Ducati script not only showcases the curves of the reborn Duke perfectly, but is also a nod to the classic racers that inspired this build and turned a bad situation into a great bike…

Photos: Greg Moss