Purpose Built Moto, with Tom GilRoy at the helm, never ceases to amaze us. Because the same thing is presented with a Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 converted into a minimalist vintage-inspired bobber, which with this Ducati TT1 Racer from 1983 ready to be enjoyed on and off the track. A very special order that its creator defines as:
“Greg’s dream Ducati TT1, combining classic endurance racing styling with modern craftsmanship. From custom fabrication of the intake and bodywork to perfecting the chassis geometry, every detail was designed to capture the essence of the iconic Ducati TT1, while making it a street-ready machine.”
Ducati TT1 Racer: The “Replic” dreamed of by any fan
It is not the first time that this trainer delights us with his talent and good work with a classic Ducati as the basis of the project. He himself admits that he has a weakness for Borgo Panigale motorcycles and explains: “Greg contacted me to tell me about his dream project… It caught my attention”. He also explains that he shares a passion for motorcycles. “and the variety of styles and types with which we identify”.
Regarding the essential parts of this TT1 Racer, the team focused mainly on three sections: Chassis, engine and body. The idea from the beginning was to create a replica racing motorcycle suitable for riding on the street, based on the TT1. To do this, both the technical configuration and the final set-up had to be fine-tuned very well. All this without giving up an image and essence worthy of a racing motorcycle.
The technical part
At this point, Purpose Built Moto states that the start of construction began with the acquisition of a chrome-molybdenum steel multi-tubular chassis manufactured by Sports Motorcycles, a set of 3-spoke Monster wheels, a swingarm from the latest generation 900SS and a Marzocchi M1R fork from the time. They also recognize that “Construction stalled for a while because, although we had all the components, it required meticulous work to make everything work properly.”
In parallel, they gathered as many components as possible before beginning to assemble everything as if it were a puzzle. Among them we can highlight:
- Coopertec Composites TT1 replica tank
- Battery of 41 mm FCR carburetors
- Custom intakes
- Hella Rally headlight
- 90mm Daytona W instrument cluster with analog RPM readout and digital speed readout, etc.
On the other hand, the TT1 Racer’s engine was completely rebuilt by Ron Young. This “It had 12:1 pistons, Hot camshafts, a lightened and balanced crankshaft, and a new dry clutch”. From here on, “the party” of assembling everything efficiently began, while achieving a unique and exclusive visual appearance. With the engine anchored to the chassis, the first starting test was carried out. They comment on this:
“The added bonus of this setup is that it looks epic, and when the Ducati starts roaring above 5,000 rpm, the intake noise resonates through the front fairing and fairing, providing a cool sound to the rider as he ducks.”. Subsequently, the body kit was assembled, although it had to be appropriately adapted to the TT1 Racer, since its design was not compatible with the frame’s own anchors.
Purpose Built Moto boss explains “The front fairing needed to be raised slightly from its racing position to accommodate the taller Australian-made Tingate handlebars. This allowed for a sporty riding position without the aerodynamic stance typical of racing drivers. We made custom brackets and a lightweight brace that holds the screen and fairing in place, connecting them to the steering post nut.”
In this process it was also necessary to modify both the side fairing and the keel, also manufacturing custom machined aluminum supports for the side fairing. Once this part of the project was over, it was time to get to work with the electrical section of this Ducati TT1 Racer. Its creators confirm that the rear high beams and license plate holder are removable with two screws and a cap, so in a matter of minutes the bike will be ready for the track.
Tom details: “At the front we’ve stayed true to endurance racing by using an off-centre mounted Hella Rally headlight. The turn signals are hidden under handlebar cutouts, using a set of our Omni lights to keep it as minimalist as possible. Wiring and controls are managed via the Purpose Built Moto Black Box and handlebar switches.”
The final icing on the cake
To complete a preparation of this level, an aesthetic and livery at the level of this incredible TT1 Racer was essential. The color scheme was inspired by a magazine article that the owner provided to the team. A minimalist version was chosen where red and blue are the protagonists, without sponsor logos, maintaining a clean and clear image of the motorcycle from any angle.
“Justin mixed this classic color combination to perfection, and although he had to overcome many challenges to get the paint to adhere well to a fiberglass body that was so difficult to work with, the end result is practically perfect” explains GilRoy. Once assembled, filming was carried out, fine-tuning the final set-up. They conclude by stating after the experience of building the TT1 Racer:
“Riding this Ducati is not relaxing at all. The engine is one of the most energetic V2 engines I have ever tested and revs incredibly quickly.” At just 174kg in running order, this 1983 Ducati TT1 Racer is shown “agile but stable at high speed”. Not only that; The set of classic style inverted cone mufflers sound great and the engine offers a beautiful intake sound through the DNA air filters. A result of 10 for an epic preparation, something that no longer surprises us when the Purpose Built Moto team is the architect of a machine like this.
