Old Empire Motorcycles crafts up a storm with custom Ducati Typhoon

Michelle Liew

January 8, 2018

Photo credits: Pipeburn.com

The Ducati Steampunk is definitely something you want to feast your eyes on. The steampunk board track racer custom was made out of a mid-90s Ducati superbike and the results are absolutely beyond imagination, thanks to the magnificent work by the Old Empire Motorcycles.

The Typhoon’s visuals are top notch due to the works of Old Empire Motorcycles, an amazing customs shop in Norfolk, England. The shop is currently run by Alec Sharp and Rafe Pugh. Sharp usually handles the in-house projects whereas Pugh is in charge of marketing.

“It’s been a bloody good combination for us so far,” Alec said.

Photo credits: The Bike Shed

The bike stemmed from a used 1995 Ducati 900SS and is scheduled18-24 months for completion. Sharp focused more on letting the bike speak for itself rather than coming in with a pre-determined design. The bike retained its Pantah-based 904cc air-cooled L-twin. The cylinders are fed via dual Desmoude valves.

It come with leather electrical side pouches and a leather “battery satchel”. Custom ignition, lights, and microswitches were added onto the bike as well. The chassis is what OEM calls “a hardtail that’s built for racing” with the swingarm to the fame and the unsprung subframe to support the multi-piece saddle.

The bodywork is as good as it gets with a new handmade “twin-tank” fuel cell with copper plugs that accentuates the lines of the SS’s stock tank. It also features new custom suede kneepads made from the same material of the saddle. This certainly adds aggressiveness to the exterior of the model.

Photo credits: Pipeburn.com

The Typhoon’s paint job was done by Morley Brothers Paint. Eyes are now drawn to the amazing dark maroon hue with a marbled wood-like effect that gave it a vintage vibe. The maroon compliments the brass and copper components of the bike. Great colour choice indeed.

The Typhoon lettering is also seen on the bike near the suede kneepads and headlight shroud, alongside the quote “REMADE IN GREAT BRITAIN” and the Union Jack.

All we can say is, what a beauty.

Photo credits: Surfingbird