Ready to Rumble: 400cc giant-killer from a Polish master…
Update: “ESG Rumble 400” won the Custom Rumble! Now the bike is for sale! Contact Sylwester at Eastern Spirit Garage for details.
The Scrambler Ducati Custom Rumble is now into its second edition — a build contest based around the ever-popular, highly-customizable Ducati Scrambler platform. Whereas the first edition of the contest was only open to official Ducati dealer, this year’s Rumble introduces categories for owners and workshops. The rules for “Custom Rumble Ambassadors” were straightforward:
- Builds must choose a category (Best Scrambler Customer, Best Ducati Official Dealer, Best Independent Customizer, Rookie Rumble)
- Share the pictures of their “Work in Progress” on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #customrumble.
Register and upload photos of the build by January 30, 2018 - Have people vote for you by March 20, 2018
- Four finalists, just one winner
- Grand Prize: “Discovering California,” a stars & stripes journey through the locations where the Scrambler was born!
Update: Thank you to everyone who voted. This Ducati Scrambler cafe racer from Poland’s Eastern Spirit Garage won the contest! Now the bike is for sale. You can contact Sylwester at Eastern Spirit Garage for details.
The “ESG Rumble 400”
Enter Sylwester of Eastern Spirit Garage — located 100 kilometers east of Warsaw, Poland. Sylwester’s work has become well-known in the customs world, with an array of staggering builds featured on Bike EXIF and elsewhere.
When Ducati Poland approached Sylwester to build a Custom Rumble Scrambler, he did have to give the idea some thought. After all, this would be not only his first non-Japanese build, but his first brand-new bike as well. What’s more, he had only 45 days to complete the build.
We are so glad he accept the challenge, as the resulting custom is nothing short of staggering. Whereas most of the builders are using 1100cc platforms, Eastern Spirit went with the Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 series — the 400cc version of the platform. Not only does this make the bike stand out from the pack, but, as Sylwester’s close friend and translator says:
“I personally find that his 400 turned out to be very graceful with that lower cylinder pointing out like vintage mopeds.”
For the full story on the build, we spoke with Mateusz Stankiewicz, Sylwester’s close friend and helper with Eastern Spirit Garage. Mateusz photographs all the bikes, and also builds his own projects with Sylwester, rides dirt bikes, and hangs out. He also acts as translator for Sylwester, who doesn’t speak English. Below, we get the full story on how this bike — the ESG Rumble 400 — came to be!
For Sale: “ESG Rumble 400” is for sale! Contact Sylwester at Eastern Spirit Garage for details.
Ducati Scrambler 400 Cafe Racer: Build Story
(Words by Mateusz Stankiewicz. Highlights by us.)
So this Ducati project was commissioned by Ducati Poland, that’s why it’s featured in the BEST DUCATI OFFICIAL DEALER category. Although Sylwester is not a Ducati worker or anyhow connected to this ‘liked a lot’ Italian brand. It is actually very first project that he did on a NON-Japanese bike. As well as on a brand new bike.
Maybe that is why he agreed to participate. I admit I was advising him not to. He was invited into the project at the beginning of Dec 2017. Subtract Christmas and NYE holidays, he had a little over a month and a half to start and finish the project. And since he works by himself with his brother’s help, it was quite a challenge — sacrificing lots of nights and Sundays.
We finished shooting at 10.30PM, two days ago, on the very last registration day and registered the bike just before the midnight.
Most of the Rumble featured builds are big Scramblers, 1100cc with upsidedown forks, etc. I personally find that his 400 turned out to be very graceful with that lower cylinder pointing out like vintage mopeds.
Follow the Builder
- Web: https://www.easternspirit.company/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastern_spirit_garage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EsternSpiritMateusiakSylwester/
For Sale! Contact Sylwester at Eastern Spirit Garage for details.
Nice, but that exhaust looks awkward, like it is trying too hard, and will eventually split itself apart from vibration against the frame, and within the harmonics of the snaky shape of it. I can tell just by looking at it, and that is the problem, it makes you do that. otherwise very nice, only it needs a different pipe design.