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Old Empire Motorcycles Turns Ducati 900SS into a Real Jewel

It’s been quite a while since we last had a bike from Old Empire Motorcycles in these pages, but today’s machine is more than worth the wait. Without any further ado, welcome The Typhoon, OEM’s latest creation, a true jewel and a spectacular proof of how awesomely creative these guys can get.
Old Empire Motorcycles Ducati 900SS 21 photos
Photo: Richard Stow
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The Typhoon is based on a very special bike, and one which is particularly favored by modders and custom builders, when they can get their hands on it. And since a Ducati 900SS is a rather rare find these days, OEM knew something remarkable just had to be made with this one. The whole concept of the Typhoon was centered on retaining some of the vibe the 900SS still has, while making a lengthy journey to the dawn of the motorcycling era, when things were still pure in their own way.

Steampunk board tracker design looks breathtaking

The “old” in OEM’s name is definitely there for a very good reason, as the bikes these chaps are delivering are really telling a different story. While there are a whole lot of machines with old looks out there, OEM’s creations are literally oozing retro styling, and the fact that they’re finished to perfection adds and even bigger dose of “mesmerizing” to the game.

With nothing to hide its raw mechanical splendor, the 900SS is an icon of motorcycling purism, having rightfully earned a place in the hearts of the Ducati fans. One of the milestones of the ‘90s, the Ducati 900SS has undergone multiple tweaks, though when it comes to modifications, the Typhoon is obviously leading the way.

A hardtails that’s built for racing

The swingarm was welded to the frame, and the bike became a true hardtail, with the unsprung custom seat resting on a dual tubular structure. This offers a better racing attitude, but at the same time makes longer hauls a rather painful experience. Still, if someone would take the Typhoon to the circuit, it would prove a very interesting retro racer by all standards.

The low handlebars are the perfect complement for the girder fork and the brass headlight, while the leading shoes braking system eliminates any touch of modernity the 900SS had. The fluid shapes of the tank have been hand-crafted, like many other parts which found their home aboard the Typhoon.

Multiple braided hoses and copper lines add to the steampunk vibe of the Typhoon, while liberal use of leather braids makes everything look even more era-correct and authentic. The exquisite paint job stresses this character and while it may seem sloppy from afar, a closer inspection will reveal a premium livery that’s really worth a lot.

If you’re wondering who got this amazing bike, the answer is… nobody. This is an in-house project for Old Empire Motorcycles, designed and crafted with no deadlines and without restrictions. It took two years, but the only guys who had to be happy with it were OEM. And it looks like this bike will make a lot of beholders happy, too.

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