Super Sport Tribute: Ducati 848 Café Racer

Jerem Motorcycles builds a modern tribute to the Ducati SS…

Introduced in 2007, the Ducati 848 has been called a superbike-killer, a 122-bhp V-twin sportbike with razor handling, an uproarious soundtrack, and a top speed of 166 mph:

“In 2010 our Chief Road Tester Michael Neeves was lucky enough to race a Ducati 848 Challenge. He reported ‘it’s the best handling, most agile, sweet steering Ducati I’ve ever had a proper go on’. High praise indeed.” —MCN

Our friend Jérémie Duchampt of Jerem Motorcycles picked up a 2011 Ducati 848 SBK with a clear vision in mind:

“I wanted to give a nod to the grandmother Ducati 750 SS and 900 SS from 1975.”

As the underlying architecture of the 848 is vastly different from that of the 70s Super Sports, Jérémie had his work cut out for him…but what an incredible job he’s done.

Most everything on the bike had to be modified, replaced, or redone, including the rear subframe, fairing, lighting, exhaust, tail section, saddle, suspension, and more.

The result is a modern sports bike that pays clear tribute to the iconic Ducati SS of old. Below, Jérémie gives us the full details on the build.

Ducati 848 Café Racer: In the Builder’s Words…

Hello, I’m Jérémie Duchampt from Jerem Motorcycles. I’m from Béziers, 34, and this was my second project. Let me explain the beginning of the project.

I bought this 2011 Ducati 848 SBK, and I decided to transform it into a cafe racer. Why this one? Because I wanted to give a nod to the grandmother Ducati 750 SS and 900 SS from 1975.

So I started disassembling the bike, listing all the parts I wanted to keep and making the new ones.

It was necessary to modify the complete rear frame, a plate support, custom exhaust line for the passage in the rear section, and a few small odds and ends.

Then I ordered some very specific, high-end parts, including a modified TEX DESIGN fork crown, carbon parts, etc.

The screen has been modified in the lower part and plexiglass has been made to measure to cover the headlight with a small cap on the top.

For the tail section, it took fiberglass work to have exactly the shape I wanted, so that it would be in harmony with the line of the bike as well as recessing the rear light and the exhaust outlet in the top of the cowl.

As for the suspension, the rear has been replaced by an Öhlins and a Showa front fork has been anodized and completely overhauled.

I changed some parts with new ones like the headlight, lithium battery, silencer, etc. Then a lot of parts were redone to be like new: radiators, rims, and a beautiful saddle with a perfectly integrated custom vintage look.