Source: Bike Bound
[[{“value”:”Naked 996: Jaron Hall’s Super Café…
Produced from 1999 to 2002, the Ducati 996 was a more faster, powerful incarnation of the Tamburini-designed 916, one of the most iconic bikes in motoring history. The 996cc liquid-cooled 90º V-twin boasted 112 horsepower, and the torque and power delivery of the desmo “L-twin” made the Duc a supreme weapon on the track. Troy Bayliss won the 2001 World Superbike Championship on a 996 and the bike leapt into mainstream consciousness with its appearance in The Matrix Reloaded, wherein it wore a mean, dark green livery.
The Ton-Up Boys of the 1950s, accustomed to their Triumphs and Tritons, would be truly astounded at the performance of this millennial Duc. The 996 could hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds and rocket past 160 mph. While many of today’s builders opt to create air-cooled machines akin to the café racers that barreled around the transport cafés of post-war England, the original café riders themselves would be no doubt attracted to the fastest bikes they could lay their hands on.
Enter our new friend Jaron Hall, a 30-year-old software marketer who successfully convinced his parents to allow him to buy a motorcycle when he was 17. During college, he lived with his Grandpa Stan, who restored and modified classic cars:
“He allowed me to work in his shop and use his tools. When I ran into problems, he would teach me. I spent many days in that shop learning how to troubleshoot electrical gremlins and I even rebuilt my XS750 engine down to the crankshaft after I threw a rod bearing twice.”
Besides the XS750, he’s owned a Honda CL350, Ducati 750SS, and the ’01 Ducati 996 you see here. While some folks might flinch at the prospect of a 996 cut up into custom, this particular donor bike was no longer original when Jaron got his hands on it. The fairings had been scrapped, subframe chopped, and the knobby tires were rated for just 80 mph.
“The previous owner of this bike was trying to turn it into a scrambler, and I thought it was a great excuse to turn a 996 into a custom build. I’ve always been in love with the Ducati trellis frame and the single-sided swingarm.”
Jaron did all of the work himself, leaning on lessons he learned from his grandfather, Facebook groups, online forums, Reddit pages, Youtube videos, a cheap Harbor Freight welder, and a little help from fellow Salt Lake City builder Mitch Witkamp, whose BMW K1100 we recently featured.
Jaron sewed the alcantara seat himself using his mother’s sewing machine (complete with a custom hex pattern!) and the F1-inspired air scoops were 3D-modeled and printed with a pattern that matches the seat cover. Jaron carved out the plexiglass taillights with an angle grinder, drawing inspiration from the Aston Martin Vulcan, while Mitch helped him weld up the Superleggera 1299-inspired exhaust.
The front fender and “pedestrian slicer” are custom pieces whose mounting brackets echo the trellis frame of the bike, and a custom subframe was welded up to hold the solo tail and Shorai lithium battery.
Lots of pieces were powder-coated and a keen eye will catch the smaller details, like the 60s Ducati badges and matching / symmetrical fluid reservoirs. The overall effect is a stripped down, leaned-out Italian cafe racer with a superbike heart.
“I’ve taken brand new Ducatis for a spin, and I honestly prefer the feel of this bike. It’s so mechanical and raw, the open clutch is loud, the riding position is uncomfortable after an hour or two…. It’s not always the most practical, but I love it. Some of the newer bikes are just too smooth, and I feel like some of the character is gone.”
Jaron and Mitch actually road-tripped together from Utah to the 2024 One Moto Show in Portland, where we first caught sight of Jaron’s 996. We look forward to seeing what comes next for this young Utah-based builder.
Ducati 996 Custom: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
I built this bike out of my garage in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’m not a professional. I’m 30 years old, and I work in Marketing at a software company.
My history with motorcycles starts when I was 14. I was in love with motorcycles and obsessed with the 2007 Yamaha R6. At age 17, I wrote my parents a letter to pitch my case about why they should let me buy a motorcycle at such a young age. Surprisingly, it did the trick and they let me buy a 2008 Ninja 250 before I was 18. I immediately started to tinker with it with basic bolt-on mods like a license plate flipper, tinted windscreen, etc. Unfortunately, I crashed it 6 months later and it put my dreams on pause for a few years. I then discovered what a Cafe Racer was, and was immediately in love with the style and idea of a stripped-down vintage bike. I then went on to buy a 1972 Honda CL350, a 1977 Yamaha XS750, a 1999 Ducati 750SS, and then a 2001 Ducati 996 (this current build).
I credit a lot of my experience and inspiration to my Grandpa Stan. I lived with my Grandpa while I was in college, and he restored and modified classic cars in his garage. He restored a beautiful 1957 Ford Fairlane. He allowed me to work in his shop and use his tools. When I ran into problems, he would teach me. I spent many days in that shop learning how to troubleshoot electrical gremlins and I even rebuilt my XS750 engine down to the crankshaft after I threw a rod bearing twice.
All of my experience can be credited to my Grandpa, Youtube, shop manuals, online forums, and asking people in the community online for help. When you’re obsessed with building custom bikes, you will always find a way to get the answers you need.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
2001 Ducati 996.
• What was the design concept and what inspired the build?
The previous owner of this bike was trying to turn it into a scrambler, and I thought it was a great excuse to turn a 996 into a custom build. I’ve always been in love with the Ducati trellis frame and the single-sided swingarm.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
Here are some modifications and details about the build:
Hand sewn alcantara seat with hex pattern. I used my mom’s sewing machine to make this. My wife, my family, and my friends all doubted I could sew such a complex pattern. My only sewing experience was a class in 8th grade.
Powder-coated wheels, fender, subframe
Custom front fender and pedestrian slicer. My goal was to have the fender mount pattern match the style of the frame.
Custom plexiglass rear tail LED lights and sequential blinkers. I was inspired by the tail lights of the Aston Martin Vulcan and realized how creative you can get with plexiglass and LEDs.
LED brake lights under the rearsets
3D modeled and printed air scoops with matching hex patterned seat. I was inspired by the air scoops on F1 cars above the drivers head.
1960’s Ducati emblems
Custom welded subframe, battery box, and exhaust. I was inspired by the Superleggera 1299 exhaust. The moment I saw it I was in love.
Shorai lithium battery tucked into the frame
Aftermarket black radiator and radiator grill cover
Wavy disc rotors
Aftermarket rearsets
Alcantara keychain with a magnet sewn into it to prevent keychain scratches on the tank.
Carbon fiber rear fender and chain guard
Symmetrical fluid reservoirs for the brake and clutch
Plexiglass illuminated gauge lights in the triple tree for the neutral, oil, blinker, brights, and low-fuel lights.
I learned how to weld with this bike. I had never welded before, and I finished all of this with the cheapest Harbor Freight welder available.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
Three things stand out on the bike that I’m particularly proud of and that would be the rear lights, the seat, and the 3D-printed side air intake scoops.
The rear tail lights and sequential blinkers are made out of a single sheet of plexiglass that I carved out with an angle grinder and sanded to a smooth round shape. I was inspired by the lights on an Aston Martin Vulcan, which has lights that are illuminated from behind much like the old Lite Brite toy I had as a kid. I had never made a light like this, and I’m happy with how it turned out. The blinkers are integrated and they move sequentially, sort of like a Mustang blinker.
I sewed the seat with my mom’s sewing machine and it’s made out of alcantara. My only experience with sewing is my 8th grade sewing class, so this was a bit intimidating. When showing friends and family that I was going for this complicate hexagon pattern, they all had their doubts. After watching Youtube videos and testing some small samples, it turned out not half bad. Most people are surprised to hear I made it.
Lastly, the 3D printed air intake scoops. I liked the look of the air intake scoops on F1 cars that are above the driver’s head. I wanted to make something like that on each side of the bike just below the tank. With the help of my brother Braden, we 3D scanned the original mount and then 3D modeled a brand new structure for the air scoops.
We had to make a few test pieces, and the final pieces came out perfectly. They mount to the original mounts, and they’re very sturdy. One last detail is that the screen over the scoops match the same hexagon pattern as my seat.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride the finished bike?
This is the fastest bike I’ve ever had, and it’s such a blast to ride. Even though it’s 23 years old, it’s got a lot of power for somebody like me. I’ve taken brand new Ducatis for a spin, and I honestly prefer the feel of this bike.
It’s so mechanical and raw, the open clutch is loud, the riding position is uncomfortable after an hour or two, and my butt is on fire on hot days at a stop light. It’s not always the most practical, but I love it. Some of the newer bikes are just too smooth, and I feel like some of the character is gone. I love to hear the sound of the clutch change when I pull in the lever, and the feel of the gear shifts on this bike are amazing.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
Absolutely. My grandpa let me use his shop while I was in college, and I made a mess. Looking back, I’m grateful he put up with me and still taught me great lessons.
Mitch Witkamp helped me weld the exhaust on this. Him and I met on Instagram as complete strangers, and then fast forward and we carpooled together to The 1 Moto Show with my Ducati and his three motorcycles. His BMW K1100 won an award at the show. I’m sure you’ll recognize his bike.
Lastly, I want to thank all the people online in Facebook groups, online forums, Reddit pages, and Youtube videos. So much of what I have learned is just self-taught from studying online and asking questions. I’m grateful that the custom bike community is willing to help others out.
Photos from The One Moto (@astronaut_bear)
Photos from The One Moto (Jaron)
Build Photos
Follow the Builder
Instagram: @jaronhall
Photography (outdoors): @wickmansim
Photography (studio): Jaron Hall
Photography (One Moto Show): @astronaut_bear and Jaron Ha”}]]
