This Ducati Monster S2R 1000 Got a New Chance at Life as a Custom Cafe Racer

He showed an interest in welding and fabrication during high school, as well, all while tinkering with two-wheelers in his spare time. Later on, Rob became a graphic designer by trade, and that is still his livelihood and primary occupation to this day.

Although the man’s full-time job takes up a huge portion of his time, he never lost interest in the art of motorcycle customization. On the contrary, Rob’s involvement in the field has only grown stronger over the years, and you probably know him as the lead mastermind behind Origin8or. The Toronto-based shop saw a lot of attention coming its way over time, thanks in no small part to the founder’s keen eye for detail.

This article’s photo gallery showcases one of Origin8or’s latest builds, revolving around a Ducati Monster S2R 1000 from the model-year 2008. Commissioned by a client across the border in the States, the project began with a non-running donor desperately needing some TLC. Everything from the forks to the wiring harness was a complete mess, but Rob didn’t consider backing off for even a second.

In order to get a better idea of what needed to be done here, he kicked things off with a full rewire that would at least get the Monster up and running once again. While this was taking place, the customer came up with a stylistic request which would go on to define the motorcycle’s aesthetic – simple in principle but extremely complex in execution.

Namely, he wanted a BMW K 100’s fuel tank to become a part of the S2R, and the project’s author had to get pretty creative to make the switch. After sourcing the new tank, he revised its rearmost section while also cutting away the base. This BMW part would only be used as an outer cover, so an inner fuel chamber was made to store all the juice.

Right behind the tank, we see a bespoke subframe built from scratch. It supports a handsome cafe racer tail unit, as well as a solo seat with diamond pattern stitching, standard black leather up top, and perforated upholstery on the sides. Keeping it in the family, Rob enlisted the help of his brother for the seat fabrication. A stylish front fender completes the Monster’s updated attire, and the upper bodywork was wrapped in a Nardo Grey colorway from Audi.

An all-new wiring harness acts as the central nervous system for the electronics, which include a Motodemic headlamp at the front and multi-function Kellermann LEDs out back. In true cafe racer fashion, the creature’s ergonomics are a mixture of Rizoma rearsets and Woodcraft clip-ons. The handlebars are outfitted with Domino grips, billet aluminum fluid reservoirs, and bar-end mirrors.

To make the inverted forks roadworthy again, Rob had them revamped and fitted with K-Tech springs. At the rear end, suspension-related affairs are the responsibility of an adjustable shock absorber sourced from YSS. Ample stopping power is achieved through Hel brake hoses and fresh pads, but the factory Brembo calipers and drilled rotors are still in play. Their rims are hugged by Dunlop rubber fore and aft.

As you can imagine, Origin8or hasn’t overlooked the Duc’s L-twin motor, giving it a comprehensive refurbishment inside out. Some of its covers were topped with a layer of black Cerakote for added durability, and the stock breathing equipment made way for youthful replacements. Air flows in through aftermarket filtration technology, but then there is that handmade stainless-steel exhaust snaking its way back to a Hindle muffler.

The silencer hangs on to the subframe tubing via a custom bracket manufactured in-house. Rob performed an ECU remap to get the fueling just right, then he moved on to the final touches before calling it a day. On his grocery list were items such as a Koso dial and an open clutch cover, with the latter revealing a red-anodized pressure plate.

Red accents are present on various other bits, as well, including the shock spring and brake lines. The Nardo Grey fuel tank is adorned with retro-style Ducati logos on the sides, both done in black just like the frame, wheels, and front fender. We could honestly spend hours poring over all the details, as the Origin8or treatment left no stone unturned here.

As always, Rob Chappell’s custom sorcery resulted in a genuine masterpiece, which holds no trace of past neglect following his makeover. The bike’s lucky owner was totally blown away by the outcome, and it’s almost hard to believe this machine was a wreck in its previous incarnation. For obvious reasons, Origin8or is the sort of workshop we always look forward to featuring on autoevolution, because each and every one of Rob’s undertakings is top-notch!