It’s unlikely that Miguel Galluzzi knew just how iconic the Ducati Monster would become when he first penned its design in the early 90s. At a time when Ducati only produced sportbikes, Galluzi’s bold concept of a naked motorcycle with only the bare essentials gripped the motorcycle industry and held on tight. The Monster may have evolved over the years, but minimalism remains its hallmark.
This 1999-model Ducati Monster 900S restomod celebrates Galluzzi’s original design, while subtly sporting an inordinate amount of custom work. It belongs to Vlad Aysin, who picked it up seven years ago as his first (and currently only) bike, in completely stock condition.
Custom projects are often handled as one big job, but the transformation of Vlad’s Monster was a slow burn. Based in Moscow, he works an office job and has no garage space at home—so most of the build was done in friends’ workshops, including countless hours spent at the Orange Racing Group motorcycle service and repair shop. Tackling one piece at a time might have slowed the process down, but it also meant that every decision was agonized over in painstaking detail.
“I spent days and nights on the internet,” Vlad tells us, “looking for the necessary spare parts, and simulating exterior modifications in graphic design programs on the computer. The first and basic rule that I immediately set for myself, was not to violate the general concept that Miguel Galuzzi laid down when creating this Ducati.”
The classic Ducati Monster 900 silhouette is still very much present, but it belies just how much work Vlad poured into this machine. The engine was torn apart, blasted, re-painted, and reassembled with fresh sundries and a laundry list of performance parts.
You’ll find new Fast by Ferracci pistons inside, plus a lightened flywheel from Ducati Kämna in Germany. Vlad also had some light porting work done to the heads and installed a Tamburini Factory oil cooler. The electrical system benefits from new NGK spark plug wires, CA CycleWorks ignition coils, and an Aliant battery with Exact-Start cables.
The motor now inhales through an open filter from Ducati Performance and exhales via a gnarly titanium exhaust system from SilMotor. The system exits via twin carbon fiber-wrapped mufflers under the seat, perfectly encapsulating that classic 90s streetfighter vibe. A tuned Ducati Performance ECU ensures optimal output from the updated motor.
Although this 90s Monster still rolls on its original three-spoke wheels, the rest of its running gear has been improved considerably. The changes start with a set of Öhlins forks, scalped from an Aprilia RSV and held in place by new yokes from Ima Special Parts.
A burly Metmachex Engineering alloy swingarm sits out back, with eccentric rear wheel axle mounts that allow for geometry tweaks. It’s fitted with a beautifully machined aluminum linkage bow, hooked up to an OEM Ducati Monster Öhlins shock.
Vlad upgraded the braking system with a full set of Brembo parts, all sourced from different donor bikes. The front and rear calipers come off a Ducati 999, the front floating discs are from a Ducati 996, and the rear brake master cylinder is an OEM KTM motocross part. (Vlad chose the KTM master cylinder, because its integrated fluid reservoir made it easier to tuck away, and reports that the 996’s cast iron discs “ring merrily” while riding.)
Brembo brake and clutch master cylinders do duty in the cockpit, clamped to a set of tapered handlebars that are held by Rizoma clamps. Fresh grips and Rizoma mirrors also adorn the bars, along with a Quad Lock phone mount that suggests that this bike’s a daily runner. An Aviacompositi EVO2 dash sits a little further forward, mounted on a custom bracket.
For the headlight, Vlad took an adaptive LED unit from Motodemic and popped it into a carbon fiber housing. The taillight is a Motodynamic part, and the tiny LED turn signals are from Motogadget.
The closer you get to the bike, the more goodies reveal themselves. The clutch lever connects to a swish limited edition ‘Pramac’ slave cylinder from CNC Racing, while, on the other side of the engine, an EVR clutch ensures that Vlad’s Monster makes all the right noises. You’ll also spot Ducabike foot controls, Aviacompositi carbon fiber belt covers, and a rather sensible set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires.
The Ducati Monster 900’s unmistakable fuel tank hasn’t changed, but it has been fitted with a set of TechSpec tank pads for protection and grip. A Sargent seat sits behind it, with a smattering of OEM carbon fiber parts completing the package.
This well-judged set of mods is complemented by a flawless paint job. Vlad had the fuel tank painted in a deep black color with just a hint of flake—and then had the frame and wheels powder-coated to match. Ducati has released several black Monsters over the years, but none of them looked quite this aggressive.
Vlad is also pleased to report that the Monster now rides as good as it looks. The engine is punchier than ever, and the chassis tweaks have made it noticeably more nimble.
More importantly, Vlad’s enjoyed the process as much as he’s enjoying the fruits of his labor. “I’ve been living with this project for seven years now,” he adds. “During this time, I’ve met a lot of good people, and accumulated many stories relating to this motorcycle and the process of its creation.”
“It’s a full-fledged member of my family, and I really like how wonderful it turned out.”
Vlad Aysin Instagram | Images by Dee Troy
