These are two bikes that Ive wanted to build for some time.

Way back when I was racing my RZ500, this Dr. john red and white motoguzzi was so cool and I wanted to build one of my own. (thought of using a honda cx650 since pre-internet, there were almost no Italian bikes to find as does in my area or any way to practically locate one.

When I was racing my vintage XS650 I really wanted to built a triton, so, fast forward to not long ago and every time I put together a build sheet, in whatever direction, a 900ss would pop up and beg the question, why build a bike when a really modern and relatively reliable vintage bike already exists?

It's hiding in plane sight under some interesting bodywork
(the square headlight version that imprinted on me when I was racing my square headlight Rz500, and polen and the big boys were racing 851 and 888s)
OR
the ugly duckling that came next.

Then I fell in love with the Vintage rebuild VR880 Norton.
But I am so far from ever wanting to kickstart another big twin (although I like the ideas of it)

In the end the duc is the easier one to live with and work form in many ways. Modern vintage with still some tinkering required but not nearly as much as the old iron, or start from scratch kits.

No carbs to tickle, although that is cool too :-)

And this generation 900ss versus the one just before,
better suspension and geometry, the ugly duckling won out.
I got mine in very nice mechanical shape for not a lot of money because so many people can't see past the easily changeable looks.

So many directions to head, and I am not allowing myself to be limited to just ducati history and what would be considered proper (although a proper TT would be cool too)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491226608.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491226642.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491226659.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491226897.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491226908.jpg

Oh, and maybe a bit of TZ influence thrown in from my past as well.
I'm liking the idea of incorporating that tail (more TT1 similarities)

I'm all over the map but I am excited to find out what this new bike wants to be and I can only imagine what will emerge from my garage

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491227436.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491227501.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491227540.jpg

http://jako.www-internet.de/Portals/...i-tt_de_06.jpg

(not mine but same model) with fairing removed
(but no, I don't want to just build a monster replica)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...fbb07a454c.jpg

I agree they are a little odd, but I always had a soft spot for this one and I'd buy one if I found one. Maybe.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1491329212.jpg

they do look much better in pictures than in person
(kinda the opposite of his other 4 valve creation)

Stock looks are starting to grow on me...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492351878.jpg