Excessive-quality {custom} bikes don’t come low-cost. Inevitably there are situations the place clients depart builders with an unpaid invoice and an incomplete bike. This closely modified ’93 Ducati Monster 900 is a first-rate instance. It’s the work of Spanish builder XTR Pepo and because of an unpaid invoice the 95% full venture has come to an unsavory stand nonetheless .
Pepo initially named this venture Quantum when it kicked off in 2021, however as a result of problems with its Dutch proprietor, he now refers to it as DNF which stands for Do Not End. It’s a tragic flip of occasions that has left the bike lacking a number of last parts to finish it, however nonetheless, it’s a surprising construct value taking a more in-depth take a look at.
When Pepo was approached by the proprietor of the Monster 900, he was requested to construct a light-weight bike appropriate for tackling the famed Nürburgring circuit in Germany. However not solely did it need to carry out properly, it additionally needed to be the envy of his fellow riders. To satisfy his buyer’s necessities Pepo laid out plans to create such a motorbike.
“The inspiration was a Supertwin racer for endurance use,” he explains. “The design was influenced by the RAD 02 race bike I constructed throughout my Radical Ducati years.”
Kicking off with the engine the Monster 900’s Desmodronic L-twin has had a radical going over. Inside its freshly sand-blasted circumstances, you’ll discover ported heads, hi-comp pistons, a lightened flywheel, and an anti-hooping clutch. The complete meeting has additionally been handled to new bearings and gaskets and has been blueprinted to make sure most efficiency with out risking reliability. Spark comes by way of a Silent Hetkit ignition system whereas air and gasoline are managed by Ok&N pod filters and Keihin FCR 41mm carbs.
To maintain every part working inside protected temperatures Pepo’s added a big RC Racing Oil radiator on the entrance of the engine. And according to this builds weight-saving strategy, the battery is a light-weight LIPO unit. Rounding out the brand new engine setup is a hanging 2-into-1 Wolfman exhaust carrying a Spark megaphone muffler.
In typical XTR Pepo type, he hasn’t pulled any punches with the styling. The brand new bodywork is made virtually totally from carbon fiber. The carbonated checklist consists of the Endurance-styled entrance fairing, 749 R-type impressed gasoline tank, seat pan and rear cowl, battery field, and each the entrance and rear mudguards. Holding every part in place are equally light-weight custom-made aluminium brackets and the tail unit sits on a redesigned subframe.
For an genuine monitor bike look, the gasoline tank options an Endurance fast filler cap machined from high-grade alloy and there’s a FRP pan protecting the Monster’s stomach. Quantum’s seat was upholstered in-house, however the job of laying the outlandish livery was handed to Pepo’s go-to paintshop, Artenruta Portray.
Though this bike was constructed to be road authorized, the proprietor’s want to often race it meant this Monster needed to have premium dealing with. Pepo has achieved that by retrofitting it with suspension lifted from a Ducati 1098. An S&P yoke and triple clamp maintain the brand new forks in place and their efficiency has been matched by becoming a premium YSS shock within the rear.
To maintain unsprung weight to a naked minimal this Monster rolls on OZ Piega solid alloy wheels wrapped in Continental rubber. The (virtually full) brake package deal makes use of Discacciati floating 330mm rotors within the entrance and a Brembo unit on the again with a Brembo rear caliper and pump. The brake and clutch fluid strains are Kevlar gadgets from Frentubo and there’s a Dural CNC machined rear sprocket awaiting a sequence on the rear wheel.
Different premium parts picked out for this venture embrace an Aviacomposti sprint, Koso LED flip indicators, a Louis LED brake gentle, S&P clip-on bars, S&P rear set pegs, and a Domino throttle and grips. With all of the modifications made this Monster has shed an astounding 40kg of weight, and with 80hp on the rear wheel, it’s positive to be a beast on the monitor… ought to it ever get completed.
Sadly, with the top of this construct in clear sight, Pepo has put it on maintain. With an unpaid invoice for work already accomplished it’s left him out of pocket and extinguished his want to finish it. The expertise has additionally pressured him to make the tough choice to not tackle initiatives for purchasers. As an alternative, XTR will likely be providing pre-built bikes of Pepo’s personal design, which relaxation assured are positive to be each bit as stunning as this one. Hopefully in the future Quantum will discover its technique to the Nürburgring when the best purchaser comes alongside.
Images by Jose Martin
