Very Classy Cafe: 1995 Ducati Leggero by Walt Siegl

We don’t often feature custom bikes here on RSBFS. Custom bikes are often so in love with their own custom-ness that they feel the need to shout about how special they are. Walt Siegl’s Ducati Leggero, on the other hand, has a polished, production-quality, as if Ducati continued making the Sport Classic line.

The devil, they say, is in the details, and a Leggero may look fairly conventional, but the goal here is the motorcycle, simplified and perfected, according to one man’s vision.

From his website: “With the Leggeros, I’m using classic sport design elements that are clearly recognizable as such. That includes almost all aspects of the build, from exhaust to frame design. And with today’s brakes, modern suspension components and fuel injection systems, I’m able to build a truly contemporary motorcycle. I’m getting the best out of the really great characteristics that Ducati has engineered into their bikes, while making everything lighter and stronger. With the two-valve engine I need less components, so the design is much cleaner.”

Frames are 4130 chrome moly steel tubing and styled in keeping with the original unit from the 900SS but lighter. Bodywork can be either full-kevlar or kevlar with laminated carbon fiber. The two-valve, air-cooled Ducati “L-twin” that powers the Leggero is obviously no powerhouse, but is considered one of the most charismatic engines of all time and can be tuned to provide real power with surprising durability. Engines are blueprinted and tweaked with traditional Ducati tuning tricks to make reliable horsepower with the characteristic Ducati midrange punch.

From the original eBay listing: 1995 Ducati Leggero by Walt Siegl

You are bidding on a custom Walt Siegl Ducati that was built for Tyler Hays, owner of BDDW, in 2013. It is highly collectible, one of Walt’s first edition Ducati builds. Walt is a renowned mater builder and builds some of the most techologically advanced and tasteful custom motorcycles today. Estimated retail: $29,000

• Donor Bike: 1995 Ducati 900 SS

• Engine: Blue printed. Light weight Pistons. Light weight fly wheel. High performance 39 mm Keihin flat slide carburetors.

• Suspension: Fully adjustable Showa fork. Fully adjustable Showa mono rear shock.

• Brakes: Brembo front and rear calipers. Brembo hand controls. WSM rear sets

• Wheels: Cast aluminum Brembos

• Tires: Dunlop Q2

• Exhaust: WSM stainless system

• Body work: WSM Kevlar tank and tail

• Frame: WSM light weight chrome moly tubing chassis

• Electrics/electronics: Moto Gadget speedo ( analog and digital). WSM harness with Moto Gadget electronic M-unit ( eliminates relays )

• Guaranteed running and a free tune-up and care-for demo from Walt Siegl himself

There’s a great clip of the bike rumbling away here.

I might take issue with the seller’s claim that Walt makes “technologically advanced” motorcycles. I think the phrase he’s looking for is “beautifully crafted.” Based around Ducati’s venerable two-valve engine, these are obviously not state-of-the-art. But that’s hardly the point.

Depending on the specification, these bikes can use some stock components, such as rearsets and the coffin-style reservoirs and switchgear you see here. I’d change those up as soon as I got the chance with some later-model units, and considering the craftsmanship on display, I’d prefer something other than the refinished, but otherwise stock three-spoke Ducati wheels. But those are elements easily fixed, with a huge variety of options available. Want something classic? Alpina makes some very nice spoked wheels that will accept modern, tubeless tires. Something a bit more bling? Go with a set of nice, gold Marchesinis. Or go super-lightweight with set of black, BST carbon items…

All-in-all, you’re looking at a very rare motorcycle, and so far there’s plenty of interest in the bike, although it hasn’t reached anywhere near the seller’s stated “retail value” or the reserve, with just a couple days left on the auction.

-tad