Source: Bike Bound
In 1988, Ducati unleashed the Desmoquattro 851 engine, the first desmodromic twin with liquid-cooling, four valves per cylinder, and electronic fuel injection. The engine found its way into one of the most iconic sports bikes of the era, the 851 Tricolore, a homologation special that boasted 102 hp and a dry weight of 204 kg (450 lbs).
“World Superbike racers were required to be based on production streetbikes. One way to get the highest-specification base model possible was to build homologation specials — expensive, limited-edition versions that needed relatively minor modification to be track-ready. Ducati took this so-called ‘kit bike’ approach with the 851 Superbike. Just 207 of these nominally street-legal machines were hand-built, enough to satisfy World Superbike rules, with an estimated 20 examples coming to the U.S.” –Bonhams
851 Tricolore
The racer would prove its mettle in World Superbike, where the 851 and its derivatives took home 11 manufacturers’ titles over the next decade and a half.
Our friend Pepo Rosell, the world-class builder behind XTR Pepo and an aficionado of vintage endurance racers and superbikes, had been wanting to build an 851 for quite some time. Finally, the right project arrived.
“This bike is a commission from a guy that want to race in Classic Endurance races. The rules allowed the use of bikes from the late 80’s to the early 90’s and the 851 was right there. For a long time I’ve wanted to build an optimized 851 and bingo this guy asked me to make one.”
From the beginning, Pepo’s vision was clear — an 851 Tricolore-inspired machine with a more modern, powerful, and reliable engine like that of the 999. As it would be prohibitively expensive and possibly wicked to cut up an original 851, Pepo decided to start nearly from scratch:
“As finding an original Ducati 851 for work on it was very difficult and expensive, I decided to ‘work from zero,’ using a Ducati Monster 600 (carbureted) frame…”
He modified the Monster 600 frame to 851 specs, then fitted a blueprinted Monster S4Rs (999 Coppa Bassa) engine that boasts a lightweight flywheel, slipper clutch, high-flow airbox, and other mods. The bike is rolling on a set of Ducati ST3 wheels and adjustable forks with Brembo brakes, Continental Race Attack rubber, and a YSS rear shock custom-built for the bike.
The tail section is an 888 solo unit with XTR custom upholstery, while the front fairing is an 851 model modified to run a Cagiva Mito 125 Lawson replica headlight. The tank is an 851 fiberglass unit with quick-release fillers and a transparent strip for reading the fuel level. The list goes on…a full build sheet is included below.
As for the livery, there’s no mistaking the inspiration — the same proud colors of Italian flag.
“I was tired of red bodywork and white frames (it’s so typical), so I wanted to make a tribute to the first 851, the Tricolore.”
Leaning on his deep knowledge of racing history and unbeatable eye for detail, Pepo has created a Ducati Tricolore custom that’s not only a tribute to the iconic original, but unmistakably XTR in execution. Bravissimo, Pepo!
Build Sheet: XTR Tricolore
Donor Bike: Project made from zero starting with a ’94 Ducati Monster 600 frame
Modified Ducati Monster 600 frame to Ducati 851 specification
Fabrication of reinforced frame parts to strengthen the chassis
Fabrication of rear subframe fittings.
VS Frame 851 aluminium rear subframe
Ducati Monster 600 swingarm
YSS Adjustable rear shock made specifically for the bike
Aluminium rear suspension rocker lightened
XTR carbon fiber rear mudguard
Ducati ST3 rear wheel
Brembo rear brake rotor
Brembo rear brake caliper
Alluminium adjustable rear brake rod
Frentubo kevlar rear brake line
Brembo rear brake pump
Ducabike adjustable CNC-machined footrests
Ducati Monster S4Rs Engine (999 Coppa Bassa)
Engine Tuning:
Aluminium TSS light flywheel, complete dismount and change of all bearings, bushings, shims, etc. Blueprinted remount.
Slipper clutch
999 injector body
XTR high volume airbox
Walbro external fuel pump
Fuel pressure regulator
Electrics:
998 racing wiring
ECU mapping
Separate electric devices wiring (rear and front lights, fan)
Lipo Battery
AviaCompositi dashboard with lap timer
Double LED rear light
Cagiva Mito 125 Lawson replica front light
RC Radiator (High capacity racing radiator)
Aluminium water tubes
Radiatior fan
Ducati 999 oil radiator
Ducati Monster 900 yokes
Ducati ST3 adjustable front fork
XTR CNC-machined clip-ons
Ducati ST3 front wheel
Brembo front brake calipers (4 pads)
EBC sinterized brake pads
Discacciati lightened floating front brake rotors (5mm thickness)
Frentubo kevlar brake lines
Ducati 1098 Front Brake Pump With Xtr Foldable And Regulable Lever
Ducati 1098 Clutch Pump With Xtr Foldable And Regulable Lever
Frentubo Kevlar Clutch Line
XTR Aluminium front fairing bracket
Sil Motor Roche Replica carbon fiber silencers with Spagheti exhaust system modified to fit 999 Coppa Bassa engine
JT lightened Z14 sprocket, 520
PBR Z 37 rear sprocket, 520
Regina Gold 520 chain
Modified Ducati Diavel sprocket cover
DNA oil pressure air filter
Ducati 888 rear solo seat
XTR handmade seat and upholstery
XTR / Ducati 851 fiberglass fuel tank with quick-open double gas fillers and transparent fuel level
Ducati 851 fairing modified to mount the endurance front light
Ducati 851 windshield
XTR Aluminium fairing brackets
Ducati 1098 front mudguard
Domino quick-turn throttle
Domino Soft Grips
Continental Tires 120/70 – 17 and 180/55 – 17 Race Attack 2
Artenruta Painting: Tribute to the first Ducati 851 Tricolore
Powder Coating: chrome colour frame
Dry Weight (No Fuel) with water, battery, oil, hydraulic fluid, and air in the tires: 165 Kg, 800 grams
Detail Shots
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Pictures by Sergio Cardeña
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