Icon Motorsports – Ducati 1000DS TiFighter
This interesting build comes from the incredibile ideas lab of Icon Motorsports. Icon Motorsports hit the market in 2002 and in just about 10 years they managed to build an empire that is rivaled by companies that have been in this business for well over 40-50 years. Icon Motorsports is best known for their helmets, protection gear and their incredible stable of interesting bikes. Their gear is edgy, obnoxious and hugely popular. Basically Icon is to street gear what Fox is to dirt gear, if you know what I mean. This is their latest build with an eclectic mix of materials such as titanium, magnesium and carbon fiber. This build belongs to Icon’s design director Kurt Walter, and as he puts it, this is his girl – “She’s not fast but she brakes and turns like toy.”
The build started around a 1000DS engine. The 1000DS has a 992 cc air-cooled 90° V-Twin with a 40 degree valve angle, based on Ducati’s existing engines, with twin-spark plug heads, pressure fed plain camshaft bearings, redesigned crankshaft, higher oil pressure and volume, and new alloy clutch basket, drive and driven plates. It’s the same engine used in Multistradas, Supersports and some Monsters. The 1000DS engine is attached to a custom-made titanium trellis replica frame made by master craftsman Doug Cook of Arc Fabrication. Doug was also the main man in charge with the fabrication of the custom one-off titanium exhaust system. As he is no longer fabricating titanium or any other customized titanium parts for builders, these may very well be the last pieces of art made by this master craftsman.
The TiFighter is “stuffed” with “goodies” from some of the best parts builders, but the focus of this build was weight, rather than power. This build weighs in at about 300lbs, that’s around 136kgs. Stopping power on this naked monstrosity comes via Beringer radial calipers and ductile rotors. Front forks are Ohlins Nitrogen with TTX technology as used in MotoGP and World Superbike. Rear suspension and the steering damper are also Ohlins units. The wheels are Galespeed Type M forged magnesium 10 spoke units and compared to their forged aluminum counterparts, they are about 35% lighter. The forged magnesium wheels are wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas. The fuel tank was sourced from ETI FuelCel and it’s a carbon kevlar 999S unit which reduces the weight by 55%. Unfortunately due to lack of DOT approved lights and a “questionable” VIN number this build will remain a track only bike. Check out the gallery for the rest of the pictures and check out Icon lineup of edgy gear.
List of Modifications:
Engine: 2003 Ducati DS1000
Frame: Custom titanium trellis replica by Arc Fabrication
Exhaust: Custom titanium full exhaust system by Arc Fabrication
Fork: Ohlins Nitrogen with TTX technology
Wheels: Galespeed Type M 10 spoke Forged Magnesium
Fuel tank: Carbon kevlar ETI FuelCel
Brakes: Beringer radial calipers and ductile rotors
Tires: Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa
Photos: Icon Motorsports
Source: Icon Motorsports via BikeExif