FlightCycles: SS2R (FlightCycles)

SS2R
Project By: Flight Cycles (www.FlightCycles.com)

Like most projects that begin with a clear vision and a modest outcome, this project got out of hand, cost much more than first envisioned, and ended up much more gorgeous than previously thought.

We all have our first bikes engrained on our brains. Complete with their quirks and character. We know the years, makes and models of these machines and can quickly recall them if asked. For most of us, these bikes were second-hand and whatever we could afford or were donations to the continuum of motorcycle-dom. Certain few of us actually buy brand new motorcycles as our firsts. For my client, this 2005 Monster 620 was his first new bike.

He knew he wanted something custom, so he contacted me and we began to shape his vision with mine into what we both thought would be a good custom to ride everyday and enjoy. Not too much here, pretty-good stuff over there, it was to be a nice bike. It was a exercise in mental-mediocrity. Soon after the project started though... the beast was born and it began calling the shots. Neither myself, nor my client were in control anymore. The bike was in control and it knew it too.

The original plan was to overbore the 620 and make it a high compression 750 engine. We were also going to use one radial front brake on a pair of rebuilt and re-valved Showa forks. An S2R swing arm was always in the works so that aspect stayed, but the suspension got a few changes.

Shortly into the build, it became clear that hot-rodding the 620 engine would have cost nearly as much as a 900 engine would, so out went the 620 and in went the 900. Then, the heads ported and polished. To compliment the improved air flow, a pair of 11:1 compression pistons were installed. Now... now we had an engine to power the beast.

During the mocking up of the rear suspension for this bike, I put the S2R swing arm on a Super Sport chassis I had at the shop and like the look of the single sided arm without the messy looking stock suspension in front of it. So, I sent a picture to my client who agreed that it looked better with the Super Sport shock. While, since I was already doing another full build custom Monster with a Super Sport shock... What's one more?!?

Soon my client was talked into a host of other mods that weren’t on the original build sheet.

The paint scheme was my tribute to Ducatis racing heritage. I knew that a classic black and gold paint and decal scheme would both tie in the gold bits on the bike as well as tie into Ducatis heritage. At Cafe Desmo 2007, I got the chance to wheel the SS2R next to a 1980 900SS in black and gold. What a site that was!

The bike became something more than I and my client had envisioned. The SS2R was born.

Flight Cycles
Custom Ducati Specialists
www.FlightCycles.com