Altered Chrome - 300 Pro
Project By: Brian Johnson (alteredchrome@sbcglobal.net)

For months I already knew what I wanted to do but wasn't clear on what model. After many hours of searching threw old magazines one bike was absent, A Ducati.

I knew I couldn't afford to chop up a new one so my search began. I located a wreaked 1998 748 at Argo Cycles. Not bad condition so I bought it. After receiving the bike I started to look into aftermarket parts for it, not so much race market but "BLING" market. I was disappointed in my options, which lead me to believe I was going to have to either make it or modify it. First thing to go was the tired 748 which was replaced by a newer 998 engine. Beside the exhaust this will be the only engine modification I had planned on doing.

With the gargoyle theme (the hardest part) already designed in my head it was time to start the build. I decided I wanted to go 300MM after measuring the width of the stock Ducati tail. I feel the tire shouldn't be wider than the bike itself and a 300MM was perfect. I then contacted www.rccomponents.com and ordered a set of wolverine (the spokes reminded me of gargoyle wings). Since I was going to have to design and fabricate the swing arm I choose to use a Hayabusa based wheel and hub. The front was another issue. After much measuring and working with RC engineers we decided the closest hub was going to be a ZX12. I still had to machine the hubs down and machine a sleeve to work with the ZX12 bearings and the Ducati axle. I then contacted AVON and ordered a set of tires basically the only tires I will use. At this point the only thing I have accomplished was mounting the front rim onto the bike.

Now in high gear I knew the bike needed to be dark so to be a little different I sent the wheels off to A and M powder coating be powder coated Black chrome. As an added feature I wanted the bevels to be taped off exposing the polished aluminum. It was now time for the swing arm fabrication. I knew it needed to be tube to match the frame so who best to have work with you than a custom chopper builder and designer by the name of Frank Pattersen. With Franks experience with tube bending and my vision the swing arm was completed in 12 days. Problems we did encounter included having to custom redesign the exhaust system using only the Fast By Farracci canisters. The other problem was the shock location. We had to move it to a 45 degree angle to clear everything and then as a bonus it filled the gap up between the monstrous rear tire and the engine. As soon as this was completed off to A and M for a gloss black coating on frame, subframe, and swing arm.

As the swing arm fabrication was being finished I started work on the details. I wanted the bike to have many "Conversation pieces". I decided as I've done with past projects mounted the NOS bottle in the solo seat area. Then when it came to the seat I wanted to do something off the wall. I designed and laser cut the billet seat you see. Most of the body panels were supplied by www.oppracing.com since almost everything needed replaced form the previous owners wreak. These were the major modifications I had to do before I was able to send the bodywork off to my painter www.killerkreations.biz. I didn't want to do a lot of body mods on this one due to the fact I wanted people to realize what it was. If you start changing things often you lose site of what it was at one time. With limited body changes even from far away you know it's a Ducati, you my not want to believe it is but at least you know it is.

I would like to Thank all my sponsors Avon tires, Optimum performance products, RC Components, Killer Kreations, Liquid Fusion Studios, Night Stalker FX, Galfer, Cycle Cat, and all the other people who stayed up and helped me many nights Brad Johnson, Duane Miller, Steve Mckinney , Terry Ward. Especially my Wife Liz and my boy Caden.

This was a 47 day build,
Brian Johnson
http://www.AlteredChrome.com/

Altered Chrome does one-off items and look forward to doing more Ducati parts and projects.

Photos from Daytona 2007
Pro-Street 300 Ducati
Production
Click Here for more photos.

• BIKE: 1998 Ducati 748
• ENGINE: 998
• SWINGARM: CUSTOM ONE OFF 300MM +10"
• WHEELS: RC COMPONENTS WOLVERINES
• TIRES: AVON
• BODY: OPP RACING
• PAINT: KILLER KREATIONS
• POWDER COATING: A AND M
• CHROME: ALTERED CHROME
• ALTEREDCHROME:
  • GRIPS
  • AXLE SPIKES
  • BAR END SPIKES
  • FAIRING SPIKES
  • WINDSCREEN SPIKES
  • REAR ROTOR
• CYCLE CAT:
  • KICKSTAND
  • TRIPLE TREE
  • CLUTCH COVER
• GALFER:
  • FRONT ROTORS
  • BRAKELINES
• FAST BY FARRACCI:
  • EXHAUST
• NIGHTSTALKER FX:
  • LED KIT