Okay, folks, let’s dive into my little project: turning a Ducati Monster into a cafe racer. It wasn’t some overnight miracle, believe me. It was a journey, a process of figuring things out, and lots, and lots of wrenching.
The Beginning: Finding the Beast
First things first, I needed a Monster. I didn’t want anything too fancy or new – the idea was to build something, not just polish a showroom bike. So, I spent weeks scouring online ads, local listings, and even bugging a few mechanic buddies. Finally, I found it: a slightly beat-up, but mechanically sound, Ducati Monster 620. It was a bit rough around the edges, perfect for what I had in mind.
Stripping It Down
The fun part (and the messy part) started with tearing the bike down. I mean, really stripping it. Off came the fairings, the bulky seat, the oversized handlebars – anything that didn’t scream “cafe racer” had to go. I spent days just unbolting stuff, labeling wires (thank goodness!), and generally making a huge mess in my garage. I even ordered a box of baggies and a new sharpie for this project.
Key takeway here: Take your time and label everything. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re not staring at a pile of wires wondering where they all go.
The Vision: Shaping the Cafe Racer
With the bike down to its bare bones, I could finally start visualizing the cafe racer. I sketched a few ideas, looked at a ton of pictures online for inspiration, and eventually settled on a classic, low-slung look. The first major changes were the handlebars and the seat.
- Handlebars: I swapped the stock bars for clip-ons. This immediately gave the bike a more aggressive, hunched-over riding position. It was a bit of a pain to get the angles right, but totally worth it.
- Seat: The original seat was huge and comfy. I replaced it with a custom-made cafe racer seat – a single, thin, leather-covered piece. I found a local guy who does upholstery, and he did an amazing job. I spent many days searching for this guy.
The Little Details (That Make a Big Difference)
It’s the small details that really bring a build together. Here’s where I spent a lot of time (and probably drove my wife crazy with all the noise):
- Rearsets: I installed rearset foot controls, moving the footpegs further back and higher. Again, this added to the racing posture. It’s a little awkward, but hey it looks cool, right?
- Headlight: The stock headlight was replaced with a smaller, round unit. Much cleaner. I really think a small headlight changed the whole bike appearance.
- Exhaust: I went back and forth, changed the exhaust to something, finally I chose a shorter, louder exhaust. Because, well, cafe racers should be heard!
- Paint: Last is painting. After considering a couple of colors, I chose a classic deep red with a simple white stripe. Classic, and it screams Ducati.
Putting It All Back Together
The reassembly was the most satisfying part. Seeing all the individual pieces come back together, slowly transforming back into a motorcycle, but a different motorcycle, was amazing. There were definitely a few moments of frustration (like when I realized I’d forgotten to run a wire before putting the tank back on), but overall, it was incredibly rewarding.
The First Ride
Finally, the moment of truth: the first ride. It was exhilarating! The riding position was definitely different, more aggressive, but it felt fantastic. The engine roared, the exhaust popped, and the whole bike just felt…right. I do need to adjust a couple of things, I’m just not used to this style.
It’s not perfect, of course. There are always things to tweak, improve, and refine. But that’s part of the fun, right? It’s a project, a labor of love, and something I built with my own two hands. And that, my friends, is pretty damn cool.
