Pantahstica!

Radical Ducati is starting to make me nervous.  Normally, I'd see one of their creations and dry heaves from the ugliness would result.  That changed with the Vendetta kit for the Ducati 1098 and it's changed again with the Pantahstica.

This endurance racer-esque machine began its life as a Cagiva 350 Alazzurra, which was a slow, touring version of the Ducati Pantah.  What Radical Ducati did was take the Cagiva, cut it up and throw everything away.  All that's left from the donor bike is a bit of the frame and maybe some bolts. 

The engine is from a 750 Paso, the heads are from a 750 F1, the cams are from a TT2, the carbs are 41mm Dell'ortos, the valves are bigger, and the ports have been...ported.  Exhausting burnt hydrocarbons is a Wolfman two-into-one with pipe wrap (barf).

The Hodge-podge of parts continues with the chassis.  The rear half of the frame was totally redesigned to fit the Verlicchi-style swing arm with mono shock.  The front fork is from an 851, the wheels are from a Monster and braking duties are left up to bits from Brembo.  The tank and seat pan are one-off items while the fairing comes from a Ducati single and the front fender is also from an 851.  There's also a wafer-thin piece of foam to put your ass on while you ride.

Basically, this bike is what would result if you let a patient from the Vannacutt Psychiatric Institute for the Criminally Insane loose into a room full of Ducati parts.  And its schizophrenia is why I like it.

It's much more interesting than another cafe bike with checker stripes and pipe wrap or the same old bobber that's been done a million times.  A fantastic amount of engineering went into this machine to make all the various bits fit together.

There's also an intent behind the design beyond making it look like an endurance racer, which it does quite well.  It does what a custom bike should: be better than what it was based on.

The Cagiva Alazzurra was an unloved and curious creation from a dark time for Ducati.  When the brand was purchased by Cagiva, there was talk of dissolving Ducati and branding all their products as Cagivas.  The Alazzurra was an initial step in that plan, taking a Pantah and calming it down a tad to make a sport-tourer.  As we now know, Ducati survived (just) and is enjoying the most success they ever have.

With this bike, the slow Alazzurra is transformed into a blistering track weapon.  It goes faster than it did, handles better than it did and stops better than it did.  It even looks better than it did.  

And, again, that's what a custom bike should be: better.