upcycle motor garage transforms ducati 998 into modern-retro sportbike

driven by the urge to buck tradition, johnny nguyen of upcycle motor garage takes a classic ducati 998 and adds his neo-retro touch to it. the custom piece entails a fabricated tubular structure and subframe along with the original 998 fuel tank. to literally top it off, the motorcycle’s eye-popping color is inspired by the designer’s favorite sweater that gives it a modern-edgy look.

all images courtesy of upcycle motor garage
photographer ryan d. cheng

upcycle motor garage didn’t hold back during the molding process. although the original skeleton is kept, a brand-new fairing was manufactured, meaning that the primary ducati 998 bodywork had to be stripped down. for the construction of this yellow and white-frame fairing, yamaha tz250 fiberglass is used. the new frame also forms a stubby tail at the back, which is gradually becoming upcycle’s signature. the rear frame is completely reworked and replaced by a bolt-on frame, supporting a brown leather seat. its finish merges together the bold modifications with the retro aspect.

the style of the cockpit doesn’t stray too far from the ducati 998 model. while the stock switches and controls remain the same, vans ‘waffle’ textured grips replace the previous ones. in addition, a digital motogadget gauge is now used as opposed to the old speedometer. just like its ‘predecessor’, a tiny off-center LED headlight completes the front.

the ducati testastretta motor is kept, but to refine performance the electronic control unit (ECU) is swiveled, and a new antigravity lithium-ion battery is installed. for the exhaust system, a set of stainless-steel pie-cut headers exit through a competition werkes muffler, giving the motorcycle a throaty-sounding character.