The Ducati 750 SS is criminally underrated as a candidate for customization. Sure, the oft-maligned Supersport is unlikely to win any beauty contests, and its 748 cc L-twin motor manages a barely adequate 64 hp. But it also weighs a paltry 183 kilos [403 pounds], comes with decent suspension and Brembo brakes, and has a suitably Italian trellis frame lurking beneath its podgy fairings.
It’s the iconic Ducati trellis frame that attracted Chiel Nipius to the 750 SS in the first place—that, and the fact that his friend was selling one for just the right amount of money.
Based in The Netherlands, Chiel is the creative force behind the custom shop Nius Moto, launched just two years ago. Now in his mid-20s, Chiel got his start working at Arjan van den Boom’s shop, Ironwood Custom Motorcycles. He’s been flying solo since leaving there—and so far, he’s impressed at every turn.
The idea behind this particular project was to showcase Chiel’s skillset, and to have something to take to custom bike shows, before eventually selling it and moving on to the next build. “I wanted to create a naked race bike with a bit of streetfighter spirit,” he tells us. “I bought the Ducati because I wanted to build something with a more modern vibe than the vintage Hondas I’ve done.”
Chiel adds that the 2002-model donor bike was in fairly good condition—but that didn’t stop him from binning almost all of its plastic bodywork. The deeply contoured 750 SS fuel tank managed to survive the cull, but it was liberated of its rubber tummy pad.
With no client backing the project, Chiel also had to be sensible about the budget. So big-ticket items like the Ducati’s wheels, Brembo brake calipers, Marzocchi forks, and Sachs shock were all stripped, refurbished, and refinished. There’s fresh paint on the brake calipers and dark anthracite powder coating on the wheels and rear shock spring.
Chiel also upgraded the braking system with new pads and hoses, and shod the wheels with Pirelli Diablo Corsa tires. Likewise, the engine was treated to new coatings—but no major internal upgrades. Chiel simply deleted the airbox and wedged in a pair of foam filters.
The idea here, he tells us, was to put the focus on fabrication rather than “crazy new parts.” And nowhere is that approach more apparent than on the 750’s brutally elegant exhaust system. Pie-cut stainless steel headers snake their way around the engine, before crossing one another and exiting in a pair of high-mounted aftermarket mufflers.
The cans flank a bespoke subframe, sporting a tight trellis pattern that complements the Ducati’s main frame beautifully. Skeletal in nature, it includes an integrated seat support that suspends the saddle behind the tank. “The stance is quite radical,” Chiel admits, “but it is definitely rideable.”
Between the lack of any fairings and the exposed tail section design, Chiel was left with a lot of exposed wiring on his hands. So he repackaged the wiring, and then fabricated a series of steel covers to hide everything away. Painted black, they sit just below the fuel tank, and underneath the seat pan.
The rear box also hosts a Highsider LED taillight, while the custom-made license plate bracket that extends out from underneath the seat wears Motogadget turn signals and a Koso plate light. A handmade rear wheel hugger sits lower down, bolted directly to the swingarm.
At the opposite end of the Supersport, Chiel fabricated a bracket that bolts to both yokes, designed to hold the handmade front nacelle, a Highsider LED, and Motogadget turn signals. It also serves as a neat way to keep the front cables tidy. A Daytona dash does duty behind it, with Barracuda grips adorning the OEM clip-ons.
A neat aluminum front fender adds a final handmade touch, held in place by custom bracketry. “I wanted to make a new aluminum fuel tank too,” says Chiel, “but I wasn’t ready for it yet. That will come in future projects.”
Chiel’s Ducati 750 SS café racer is finished in a simple, yet highly impactful, color scheme. The grey hue on the bodywork comes from Porsche’s catalog, while the frame is powder coated with a bronze metal-flake effect. Tidy upholstery with an automotive-inspired stitching pattern covers the seat.
A little svelte and a little savage, this Supersport is a testament to Chiel’s imagination—and his workshop chops. Now somebody please buy it, so that he can get cracking on his next hit.
Nius Moto Instagram | Images by Paul van Mondfrans Lindén
