Ducati Superlight 3-valve Hybrid
When I was a lad, the Ducati 900 Superlight was a bike I lusted after. It combined the pretty styling of the 750/900SS range with lightweight Marvic composite wheels, a smattering of carbon fiber and the all important higher exhaust pipes! The only problem was the 73 bhp at the rear wheel hardly made it a ball of fire. After 9 years of ownership, Paul Pridmore had come to the same conclusion so he decided to fit the 3-valve, liquid cooled engine from the ST3 Sport Tourer.
A damaged 2005 ST3 came along at the right time and the right price (read cheap) so it was time for some engineering. Paul’s aim was to try and keep the looks of the Superlight but with more outright power and with more reliability. To fit the engine in the frame the lower cross beam had to be removed (which is what racers do when they fit individual FCR carburetors). The ST3 airbox fitted straight in and the battery was located in the rear section of the bike along with the relays. The oil cooler was relocated to the head light fairing along with the regulator/rectifier a bespoke radiator reservoir.
Pro alloy in the UK made a custom radiator and Silmotor headers and end cans (45mm) matched to one off exhaust manifolds completed the picture. It would be a mistake to paint the exercise as all plain sailing.
The biggest problem was sorting the wiring harness to match the bike and over come some electrical problems The big bore 944cc 2-valve engine with some headwork and Keihin FCR’s was already putting out 86bhp at the wheel but the 3-valve engine boosted that to an impressive 109bhp with a custom Power Commander II map.
Other parts on the bike include:
- 888 Clipons.
- Alloy rearsets.
- Brembo master cylinder.
- Brembo gp billet calipers.
- Braided lines.
- Performance friction pads.
- Braking wavy discs (front)
- Moto master disc (rear)
- Marchesini 3 spoke wheels.
- Alloy front spindle.
- Front forks re-valved by Ktech.
- Ohlins rear shock (extended body)
- Carbon seat unit.
- Carbon cockfit covers.
- Billet sprocket cover.
- Alloy sprockets D.I.D gold chain.
Projects like this are never finished and Paul is in the middle of removing all the unwanted brackets from the frame, drilling to accept the 12mm engine bolts from the ST3 and re-spraying in black. Over the Northern winter the motor will be gas flowed, the crank balanced, Pistal Pistons fitted to go along with a lightened flywheel. A set of Monster S4Rs forks are next, along with radial Brembo calipers and then a Titanium front axle spindle to go with some carbon fiber BST rims and then…..well, you get the idea.
Paul has created a beautiful, lightweight and powerful alternate take on the Superbike and I, for one, am jealous. Congratulations Paul!!
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