Espresso Giallo

Italy. The year was 1990. Despite he was only 22, Andreas Goldemann still remembers his longing looks for the Ducati 750 Sport.

Italia, anno 1990. Anche se allora aveva solo 22 anni, Andreas Goldemann non ha dimenticato le sue bramose ricerche della Ducati 750 Sport...

"Since I was a boy, my family was drawn to Italy. Spending two month a year in our southern neighbour country, my love for the Italian lifestyle, their cars, bikes, their food and coffee culture is still part of my life today. The year was 1990, and I remember my longing looks for the Ducati 750 Sport when I was 22. Okay I had already my Laverda 1000 3C, but still the Laverda was considered a heavy bike while the Duc was the little light racer with the amazing sound of the 90° V twin. I always wanted one. It took me another 25 years to finally get myself one. My first initial thought was to get a light and nimble machine that makes me already smile when I walk on to it and that let my heart jump happily riding it, rather than last years Honda Bol d'Or build, that heavy macho man machine that make you growl. The original style of the Duc with its vacuum cleaner face and its long appearance was out of question. I generally don’t like fairings that much (while AN-BU is very cool) and tend to the naked style. I also wanted to sit a little more upright to go easy on my already a little older spine. So I googled and googled and stumbled over some ideas of Jens v. Brauck (JvB Moto), Sylvain Berneron (Holographic Hammer) and many others. At one point the idea what and how to build the bike was forming in my mind. (…) The bike needed to accommodate my sense of feeling, supporting my lifestyle and of course it needed to be super cool. A contradiction in color and style. Sporty and relaxed, hard and soft at the same time. The first tube frame Ducati is perfect for a build like this. I found one through some contacts and started playing. Because this is what it is all about, playing not working on the bike. The best ideas come to your mind when you are silly and joyful at the same time. After some discussion with the TÜV engineer (MOT) the tube frame’s back part and all the not needed mounts where easily cut away, altered and changed into different form to be welded again. The frame and the rims where sanded and powder coated. All the body parts where painted with two component aerosol cans that are petrol proof and hard to scratch. The exhaust system needed welding and some fittings, the rear section was built first in card box, the seat later of steel, the side caps of aluminium. I ordered one of Jens v. Brauck’s headlights and small led lighting components that let your eyes go blind if you look straight into them as brake lights and turn signals. All of the parts are licensed and street legal in Europe. The easy to maintain Dellorto carburettors make the bike seem more technical and fragile and leave enough space below the tank, for a lithium battery and all of the electrical system. The wiring loom weights now a fraction of before. All in all, without the fairing, the original seat, shorter oil hoses, the small battery, the motogadget mini and, and, and, the bike is now dry around a 160kg and 80HP. (…) From the very beginning I wanted the tank in a pastel yellow (Porsche 911, 1973, light yellow). Many friends said, “Yellow ? A Duc must be red”, “you can’t do this”, “this will not look good” “Blah, blah, blah”. Now after seeing the contrast of the hard black and white with the contrast of the pastel yellow they say “Wow, that is very cool”. I decided for the number 72, because Ducati won the 1972 “Imola 200 miles” being the very first Paul Smart’s V-twin race. And what a blast she is to ride. I can see myself riding this bike in my twenties and I still enjoy it like the very first day. And I had my share on bikes. On the other hand - the next project is already forming in my mind. I mean you know as I do; “A man can never have enough bikes”. Now it is time to say thanks, to two very important people. Without them the project would not have come true. One is my brother Stefan, who allowed me to use his workshop whenever I had time and need to be there and most of all JoJo Rau, my motorcycle guru, who gave me time and space, helping advice, hands on help and tons of nerves to finish the bike in his shop." Andreas Goldeman

Andreas Goldemann - Ulm, Germany - agoldemann@gmail.com