There are plenty of classic Ducati models that make obvious café racer donors, but the first-generation Multistrada has rarely been one of them. Pierre Terblanche’s tall, heavily faired sports-tourer was deliberately unconventional when it arrived in the mid-2000s.
Yet beneath all that polarizing plastic sat some of Bologna’s finest hardware of the era. For their latest project, dubbed “Desmo Corridore Caffè,” UK custom workshop Pit Lane Moto stripped a 2005 Ducati Multistrada 1000S DS back to its bare essentials to unlock its true athletic potential.
A Unique, Unconventional Build
The transformation began by discarding the factory bodywork, stock fuel tank, original electronics, and a large portion of the rear frame.
To rebalance the machine’s tall stance, Pit Lane Moto adapted a low-slung fuel tank from a Ducati 749, mounting it low across the upper frame rails.
A radically shortened rear subframe was then fabricated to support a sharp, custom-sketched seat cowl. Upholsterer Chris at MotoStitch UK finished off the seating arrangement, trimming the narrow saddle in supple black Alcantara accented by contrasting gold stitching.
At the heart of the build remains Ducati’s air-cooled 992cc Dual Spark Desmodue L-twin. The engine was reassembled with new timing components, while its cases were refinished in a bronze-brown Cerakote.
The classic dry clutch was left proudly exposed behind an open cover, highlighted with gold pressure plate hardware.
Exhaust duties are handled by a custom stainless steel system that sweeps below the crankcase before merging into a loud, slash-cut megaphone muffler on the right side.
Pit Lane Moto wisely retained the high-end chassis components that made the “S” variant so desirable. The 43mm fully adjustable Öhlins inverted forks and remote-reservoir Öhlins rear shock were both fully rebuilt with fresh seals and oil.
Braking is handled by radial-mount Brembo four-piston calipers clamping twin front discs. The original alloy wheels were refinished in a soft cream paint, wrapped in sticky Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC1 rubber, and set off by a satin-black finished single-sided swingarm.
The electrical system received a ground-up overhaul to match the sleek bodywork. A Motogadget mo.unit blue now manages the bike’s wiring, paired with a compact motoscope pro display and a mo.lock NFC keyless ignition.
Up front, adjustable clip-on handlebars replaced the tall upright risers, mounted behind a aggressive Koso Thunderbolt LED headlight. Combined with the cream paint, dark frame, and gold suspension accents, Pit Lane Moto successfully turned an awkward touring rig into a sharp, performance-focused café racer.
Sources: Pipeburn, Pit Lane Moto, Photos: Jay via Pipeburn
