I saw this particular bike on BikeEXIF a while back and thought it was stunning, so I was very excited to see it up for sale. If you’re not familiar, Venier’s 999VX was basically a stripped-down Ducati 999 that turned the Italian firm’s ugly duckling into a swan.
From its introduction, Pierre Terblanche’s follow up to the iconic 916 was controversial. The aggressive face was replaced by stacked projector-beam headlamps, the slick single-sided swingarm was replaced by a stiffer, lighter dual-sided unit. And the bodywork was very technical, almost futuristic, with aerodynamic winglets and vents. In spite of a forward-looking design that addressed its predecessor’s many and well-documented shortcomings, there was something strangely un-sexy about it. Like Hajime Sorayama’s “Gynoids”, [do not Google that if you’re at work] the shapes, while superfically sexy, are maybe too clinical, not organic enough…
Or maybe I’m just overthinking it, and the 999 was just plain weird-looking.
But that tank. That sexy, sexy tank. It’s a beautiful shape, easily my favorite part of Terblanche’s design, next to the trellis frame. And apparently, I’m not the only one to notice. I’ve seen a couple other custom 999/749’s that strip away the fairing to reveal that heavily-sculpted piece, and Venier’s VX takes the controversial 999 and pares it back to the basics: two wheels, a tank, and an engine.
From the original eBay listing: 2003 Ducati 999VX by Venier Customs
I have always admired the subtlety and thoughtfulness with which Stefano Venier approaches his custom builds. They are never flashy, almost always black, and have a purity of form to them that is often lost when builders try to hard to make a statement. He does not use over-the-top components to grab the eye, but instead focuses on making a design that feels unified and whole.
Over the last few years, he has become one of the most well known and respected custom bike builders in the industry. Very few builders have had more bikes featured on BikeExif and other popular sites.
With this 999, he has taken that concept and applied it to a 999 that was formerly the race machine of fashion photographer Riccardo Vimercati. The bike was upgraded in many ways (listed below) and also has a brand new motor with only a 10 or so test laps on it. As a race bike it saw action on some of Europe’s most famous circuits, but Vimercati decided he wanted to create a street bike. We think the result is stunning. The bike is located at my shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
It’s likely that almost any design to follow the iconic 916 would have failed, but the flack the 999 generated was pretty shocking, for a machine that was a definite step forward in terms of both performance and comfort. All I know is that I like the 999 as a motorcycle, but not as a Ducati. I really loved the concept bikes Terblanche did for Moto Guzzi, and I’m disappointed those ideas haven’t found an expression in their production motorcycles.
This particular custom addresses the problems most people have with the style of the bike: it’s simple and classic, and shows off the beautiful frame and sculpted tank, while retaining the high-spec suspension and engine, shaving weight off an already lightweight machine. This should be a pretty amazing bike to ride, assuming it’s been properly set up: removing the fairing can play a bit of havoc with weight distribution. Not that anyone’s likely to ride a gorgeous one-off like this very aggressively.
There are two days left on the auction, with bidding up over $11,000 and the Reserve Not Yet Met. No surprise, since the level of craftsmanship and taste on display here is pretty hard to beat at any price. One of the best, classiest customs I’ve ever seen.
-tad
I’m trying to share your enthusiasm and appreciation for this custom, Tad, but it just doesn’t do it for me. Any artistic creation like this will be polarizing as opinions are subjective of course, and no doubt it’s best evaluated in person, in three dimensions. At first glance, I can’t help that my thoughts are “somebody bought a crashed 999 cheaply, and didn’t want to pay Ducati’s prices for replacement fairings and parts”. So hey, let’s make a naked custom out of the carcass. What choices did they make, how successful is it to you? To my eyes, it just doesn’t flow, or look cohesive or integrated. The seat/tail section just looks inappropriate, as though from the usual metric café conversions we see all the time. Wire wheels on a contemporary superbike? It’s been done on Terblanche’s Sport Classic series to better effect. The triangular expanded metal frame infill panels draw attention to themselves and just look wrong to me. The whole left side view of the machine is just ugly: exposed mechanical forms and shapes that were always meant to be hidden underneath bodywork. To me, that surviving sculptural fuel tank masterpiece is the only thing of beauty left.
Why don’t I make one myself instead of criticizing it? Because I find the original bike more worthy of adding to my collection, flaws and all, and would never create this out of one.
Maybe I’m just missing the point.
Well, not my taste but I applaud and respect the owner for having the balls to step up and give it a go. Keep going!
Sixthgear: I don’t think you’re “missing the point at all.” You just don’t dig it. That, as my mom used to tell me, is what makes horse racing. There’s tons of art/film/books out there I understand and don’t like. This bike is all about aesthetics, and if you don’t like it, you don’t like it.
Interestingly, I actually agree with you on several points: I personally don’t like those mesh infill panels either, and the tail section is a bit contrived. If I was building something like this with a dedicated solo seat, I’d want something far shorter and truncated: if you’re never going to have a passenger there, and there’s nothing under that hump, just get rid of it. Like the one on this bike:
Wire wheels are never going to be the high-performance choice, but modern tubeless versions are reasonably light, and I like the look. Not saying I wouldn’t prefer a set of carbon BST wheels, but on a street bike, does it really matter?
Ultimately though, in spite of some things I’d change, it just works for me.
I do agree with you about the SportClassics: I think the Sport1000 is one of the best looking motorcycles of the modern era. With those Zard high/low pipes? Man, I’d love one of those. And as I mentioned: I do like the 999, although I somehow don’t love the looks. That just means I want to find a nice 749S and turn it into a track bike…
I can give three examples of naked superbikes (one custom build, two factory) that make this one seem lacking. They would be the Bimota DB6 Delirio, the MV Agusta Brutale, and Analog Cycles DB3. The Analog Cycles bike is a near direct comparison, as it’s an independent creation. I’ve seen it in person, and really was impressed: http://kickstart.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/bimota-db3.jpg
Now the MV Brutale and Bimota Delirio on the other hand, clearly show the difference in what a experienced and educated design professional can achieve compared to a custom builder winging it. Google image them for a quick look, and you’ll see what I mean. The whole rear seat sections on those two in particular show much effort and integration: the forms fit the rest of the bike, they look proportionate. They look right. They’re way beyond simply a café seat bolted to a cut off subframe. This isn’t easy to pull off, and I’ll admit I wouldn’t attempt it myself.
But kudos to Venier Customs for the vision, effort, and workmanship.
I definitely agree with you about the Brutale: seriously great-looking naked that’s aged really well, although I wish someone had come up with some nice, slash-cut aftermarket mufflers to replace the stock ones. I’ve never dug on the look of small-openings-sticking-out-of-what-looks-like-a-larger-pipe-thing… And what does it say about me that I really like that [stupidly named] Dragster 800?
The Delirio is a very polished design, but as much as I love Bimota, I feel like some of their recent designs are a bit gratuitously angular, although the minimalist Tesi is still really cool. The Delirio gets the details right [that swingarm!] but the overall bike looks like the designer just didn’t know when to stop adding angles. In general, I think simpler is better: overly “designed” things look like they’re trying too hard, although I’m okay with the cluttered look of a de-faired sportbike.
That Analog though. I remember seeing that on EXIF, and just not a fan of that kicked-up, streetfighter tail section. I realize they were probably trying to follow the lines of the frame, but it looks like it’s about to snap shut on an unsuspecting rider like a lightweight, trellis-framed mousetrap! And that oval-section frame Bimota was using reminds me a bit too much of a first generation SV650…
In any event, I’m really picking nits and being hypercritical: I’d be happy with ANY of the bikes we’ve been discussing.
Uuuggggly!!!!
Why do people destroy perfectly good bikes by ‘street fighter -ing” them? Each to their own I guess…
Wait, are they making a liquid-cooled Sport Classic now? (j/k)
I think older air-cooled sport bikes make better looking “Naked” builds. Look at some of the bikes “Sanctuary” has built (I never thought a Zephyr could look so good). Naked liquid cooled, single shock bikes just look like “post apocalyptic” survivors in a “Mad Max” movie to me.
Check out the Triumph and El Camino on the CSBFS. Those are good looking builds.