Post Listing Update: This custom Ducati got no interest at the opening bid of $12,000.
Despite being an absolutely gorgeous machine in its stock form, the Ducati GT1000 — when executed tastefully — makes for a particularly cool platform for customization. This particular bespoke GT1K boasts a mix of aftermarket bits, a few custom parts, a couple pieces borrowed off the Paul Smart 1000, and one seriously snazzy livery.
The bespoke 2009 specimen, entitled “Blood Fang” (possible translation weirdness?) is the handiwork of Lisbon, Portugal’s Maria Riding Company. In addition to custom motorcycles, the Portuguese shop also dabbles in churning out bespoke surfboards, skateboards, helmets, apparel, and a host of other offerings in a similar vein.
When MRC was commissioned to build this bike, the customer made it clear that they wanted the GT to sport a race/track-bike-aesthetic while “minimizing problems with authorities”. To accomplish this, a mini headlight was sunken, offset, into the fairing. While there is a fender eliminator kit and a license plate, I don’t spy any mirrors or indicators.
The shop scrapped the stock fuel cell and sourced a new tank and fairing from a Paul Smart Edition Sport Classic — the latter of which has been slightly modified. According to MRC, the subframe was shortened a tad before being capped off with appears to be a bespoke tail unit that boasts a similar design to the Sport Classic, albeit with a lightweight sleeker, more streamlined shape. Atop the tail section is a custom seat-pad that forgoes the sweeping stock unit on the PS1000 and utilizes only the horizontal portion of the tail. The front and rear fenders are both custom aluminum pieces too.
The custom two-into-one exhaust — which the shop’s website says is from Zard, while the seller’s ad claims it’s a Termignoni — was paired with an ECU tuned by Vicenza, Italy’s GPM Racing. The stock rearsets remain, though the shop says they’ve been modified to be “smaller and prettier”. The handlebars have been replaced by a set of clip-ons from LSL, which also reportedly provided the project’s ignition relocation kit. Other additions include a set of Bitubo rear shocks and a set of Metzeler tires.
What really sets this example apart is its race-inspired paint job. The tank, fairing, tail, and side-covers have all been hit with a coat of gloss black juxtaposed by red and white sections with a touch of light blue accents, and race numbers (68) on the tail and nose, as well as the shop’s name and logo. The rims, hubs, valve and engine covers, fenders, frame, and swing-arm have also received a coat of (assumably powder-coated) matte black.
This example was originally purchased in Italy, then customized in Portugal before ending up in the US where it currently resides with a plate, registration, and clean title. The seller says there’s 16,000 miles on the clock, and while there’s no mention of its mechanical state, I’m assuming no news is good news.
You can find this the Maria Riding Company’s custom 2009 Ducati GT1000 (VIN: ZDMC103AA8B011839) “Blood Fang” for sale in Brooklyn, New York at moto-hipster-emporium Jane Moto with an unmet opening bid of $12,000