Modern Ducati Café Racer from Jerem Motorcycles…
In 2003, Ducati gave their sport touring series a kick in the pants with the introduction of the ST3, which boasted a new and unique three-valve L-twin engine. A single cam operated three desmodronic valves per cylinder. The idea was to strike a balance between the strengths of two-valve and four-valve heads:
“As the theory goes a two valve head creates better torque low-down than a four valve but at the sacrifice of mid-range and top end power. The four valve can get ride of the burnt gases faster at high revs because there are two holes instead of one to get them out of the head and into the exhaust…” –Visordown
The ST3 replaced both the lackluster two-valve ST2 and the four-valve ST4, whose engine was based on that of the 916 superbike — a potent machine, but a bit finicky and high-strung for many sport touring riders. By most accounts, the ST3 struck a more perfect balance between the two:
“Powered by a unique three-valve head engine with two intake and a single exhaust valve, the ST3 delivered a very respectable 107bhp with 72ft.lb of torque, but more importantly this new design of head gave the low-end grunt of the two-valve ST2 combined with the sporty top end of the four-valve ST4.”
Enter our friend Jérémie Duchampt of France’s Jerem Motorcycles, who’s been turning out quite the stable of high-level builds over the past couple of years, including several past modern Ducati cafe racers like the one you see here. For this build, he started with an ’04 ST3s, the high-end version of the ST3 that boasted fully adjustable Öhlins suspension, lighter weight wheels, a different aluminum swingarm, and other such upgrades.
As with all of Jérémie’s builds, nearly every last part was replaced, refurbished, customized, or fabricated. The frame was detabbed and painted a Peugeot gold, and a custom rear tail loop fabricated for a cleaner, sleeker tail.
Up front, the original Öhlins forks were rebuilt and re-anodized gold, and the bike is now rolling on some very trick Kineo wheels sourced from EVO-X Racing, wrapped in sticky Pirelli Rosso3 rubber.
Out back, the ST3 double-sided swingarm has been replaced with the single-sided unit from a Monster S2R, complete with an Öhlins rear shock.
The tail unit was tailor-made for the build to fit the new subframe, featuring integrated LED lighting and a custom saddle (and forward tank cover) from Yaya Brush Saddlery.
Moving inside the frame, the engine was left mostly stock, though it was refurbished, repainted, and outfitted with a 749 radiator modified to keep the high-performance hoses inside the trellis frame. A custom belly pan / engine guard recalls the intake of a jet fighter, painted satin gray metallic like the other bodywork.
The bike is sporting an LED Jeep headlight, and the rest of the lighting is minimalist LED. In the cockpit, an Avia Compositi GP-style dash keeps the pilot informed of engine revs and speed.
All in all, this aging sport-tourer has been transformed into a stunning modern cafe racer that would look right at home streaking down the runway beside an F-22 Raptor.
Build Sheet: Ducati ST3s
Chassis:
Original fork refurbished and anodized in Öhlins gold
Front and rear rim with Kineo spokes from Evo-X Racing
Pirelli Rosso3 tires
S2R single arm with Öhlins rear shock absorber
New needle steering bearings
New Brembo disc and pad
Complete chain kit with gold crown holder
Exact custom brake hoses
CNC aluminum rear plate support
Clip-on handlebars
Golden frame and removal of all original tabs
Tailor-made rear buckle
Electrical:
Round LED Jeep headlight
LED rear light/stop
Front LED turn signals + central flashing modification
Rear turn signal and LED license plate lighting
Voltage regulator moved for better cooling
Avia Compositi carbon counter
The fuses have been moved to be able to change it easily
Displacement of ignition coil inside the frame (because they were outside)
Engine:
Engine refurbished, cleaned, and repainted.
Replacement of the radiator with a 749 unit, modified to keep hoses inside the frame
High performance water hoses
Draining of the different fluids
Aesthetic:
Tailor-made rear cover with integrated rear lights
Tailor-made leather saddle and tank cover (Yaya Brush Saddlery)
Gold frame and various gold accessories
Custom aluminum front fender
Tailor-made engine guard
GBRacing Protection
Vintage CNC mirrors
Paint:
Tank and rear shell painted satin gray metallic with black bottom
Golden frame paint from Peugeot 106
Engine painted
Metallic gray swingarm
Black expoy for upper T, lower T, and fork legs
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