Outsiders Motorcycles streamlines a Multistrada 1000DS…
Introduced in 2003, the Ducati Multistrada (Italian for “Many Roads”) was a strange beast, a “street trailie” that evolved from the Cagiva Gran Canyon. Designed by the famed Pierre Terblanche, it combed elements from supermoto, sport touring, and adventure bikes…and performed surprisingly well:
“The Ducati Multistrada 1000DS was a bold attempt at tourer/town/sportster hybrid motorcycle and mostly hits the mark. Whacky styling masks a truly versatile motorcycle mixed with Italian style.” —MCN
The 1000DS boasted a 992cc Desmo V-twin with 85 horsepower on tap, good for a quarter-mile time of 12.1 seconds, and the big red Duc could hustle through the twisties:
“Overall it slaughters other ‘upright’ motorcycles.” —MCN
Recently, we heard from our friend BertJan of Outsiders Motorcycles, whose client, Max, had a Multistrada 1000DS in desperate need of repair and re-styling. The budget was a bit tight, meaning they would have to keep the factory fuel tank, but BertJan was unfazed:
“Quite the challenge but I (not so) secretly love challenges.”
He mocked up a brand new set of bodywork in cardboard, then hammered the pieces into shape out of 2mm aluminum, giving the bike a much more streamlined silhouette, which follows the lines of the original tank. The engine got a full service, and the headlight, taillight, cockpit, exhaust, and more were customized.
The result is a reborn Multistrada that handles as well as the original, while looking like no other 1000DS on the road. Below, BertJan gives us the full story on the build, with more photos from @winchestercreatives and @lynn.hofenk.
Multistrada Custom: In the Builder’s Words…
Max’s Multistrada 1000DS had seen better days when brought in on the trailer. Like most people, he disliked the weird stock fairing and tail so much he had decided to take them off completely. Not thinking about what lies beneath, the guts were on the floor and the bike rendered unridable.
Still on the trailer, plans and budget were discussed. Due to the budget, the fuel cell had to stay and I had to work around it. Quite the challenge but I (not so) secretly love challenges.
That evening, I looked online to see what others did to this particular bike — most just slap another Ducati tank on it and a cafe racer seat. Boring. I quickly decided I wanted to keep the long-haul vibe the Mulstistrada gives, but make it look faster. You could go 300km/h on a stock one and it would still look stupid…
As the stock fuel cell had to stay, I needed to make new side panels — the fuelcell looks ugly underneath the stock covers. The two tank side covers were made from cardboard first and then transferred to 2mm aluminum sheet and hammered into shape. The planishing hammer did the rest, but getting them to fit nice onto the fuelcell took some serious time.
With the sides done, I went to make the cowl using a taillight from a crashed HyperMotard that will be getting the same treatment later this year. The stock taillight on a Multistrada looks like Sid from the Ice Age movies and did not fit into the design.
The rear end of the frame was slightly modified with the stock hoop lowered and the mounting points for the luggage racks taken off, removing just enough of the frame to make it cleaner without altering it too much. A bracket for the new silencer was also added.
After that, the frame, covers and all small parts went away for powder-coat and paint. The engine had a big service at a local Ducati dealership, as I simply do not have the special tools and knowledge to properly service a Duc.
Max wanted the forks black anodised, so with those taken apart also, nothing but a set of wheels and swingarm remained.
With everything back, assembly went fast as 90% is still stock and she was up on her wheels two days later. Like I said, Max wanted a new exhaust, so a Spark one was added into the mix with a little custom hanger. The front was cleaned up by a Koso Thunderbolt headlight, Neken risers and fatbars, and a custom bracket for the dashboard.
Upon delivery, Max happily said he hadn’t expected to have some much work done for the budget and as of now, we’re just about to discuss his next build.
*This bike is road legal in the Netherlands, was built as a commission and is therefore not for sale.
See more of this and other builds by following Outsiders Motorcycles on Instagram: @outsidersmotorcycles.
Photos by @winchestercreatives and @lynn.hofenk.
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