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A Killer Kato from Dubstyle Designs…
When the KTM 640 Duke II arrived on the cusp of the 2000s, it was a pure hooligan dream machine — a big-bore thumper with supermoto roots and a 55-hp model of the corporate’s liquid-cooled LC4 engine. The Duke begged to cube city gridlock, carve canyons, and wriggle by tight, twisty mountain roads.
“A tough, powerful bugger that’s a succesful commuter, trackday sleeper and buddy to the wannabe stunt monkey…geared for giggles and able to rumble.” –MCN
Enter our buddy Garett Wilson of Colorado’s Dubstyle Designs — an previous motocrosser with an affinity for road trackers. Garett appears to have a knack for constructing bikes that folks love.
Just lately, our re-post of his “Goldy” Yamaha SR500, which we initially featured again in 2018, accrued greater than 17,000 likes and 500 feedback on Fb, and his first KTM Duke II road tracker, inbuilt 2019, stays certainly one of our favourite builds.
Garett construct that first KTM Duke as a part of the Greasy Dozen Run — an occasion that helps storage builders kick-start their tasks. “El Duque” resonated with hundreds of oldsters on-line and in particular person, taking him on an sudden journey:
“I took the primary Duke to the IMS present in Denver and gained the ‘Road’ class, which obtained me an invitation to the nationwide present in Chicago. It was competing towards $100,000 baggers and full-on present bikes and I ended up getting 2nd place within the nation.”
Quickly Garett had folks asking him to construct extra bikes, and with the Roland Sands Dream Construct-Off developing, he determined to construct a “Duke2.0” utilizing the identical base, incorporating and refining what he’d discovered from the unique construct. As soon as once more, he meant to stay to a restricted finances:
“Then as at all times I take it too far and my ‘finances construct’ turns into ‘let’s get extra titanium for it.’”
Highlights embrace a modified Honda CB400 tank, Goon Glass tail part with resin tail lamp lens, Yamaha R6 forks arrange by Durelle Racing, carbon-fiber quantity plate with twin LED headlights, Lectron carb, stainless 2:1 exhaust with titanium silencer, {custom} thinner-profile radiator, and 19″ Solar rims laced to the manufacturing unit hubs.
Vernon Wagoneer of NeCo Customs knocked out the satin tungsten Cerakote on lots of the manufacturing unit elements, whereas Dan White of Whitey’s Paint Store sprayed the ’79 World Champion-based design.
The bike made some critical waves, taking Garett from Portland’s One Moto Present to Michael Licter’s “Bikes As Artwork” exhibition in Sturgis, South Dakota — the primary Kato within the present’s historical past!
As you would possibly picture, this 640cc road tracker is an absolute hoon machine on the road:
“This Duke weighs in at 289lbs — evaluate to the 320 it comes inventory. Wheelie numbers are sky excessive — get it — sky excessive.”
Under, we discuss to Garett for the total story on this big-bore baddie.
KTM Duke Road Tracker: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
I’ve been constructing or enjoying with bikes for so long as I can keep in mind, however have gotten extra into constructing bikes during the last 10 years. I preserve including extra instruments to the storage however house is at all times at a premium. I’ve constructed a pair SR500 Yamahas, two KTM Dukes, and one Sportster. All however certainly one of them have been changed into road trackers — I’ve at all times been drawn to the “race” bikes.
• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?
2001 KTM 640 Duke II.
• Why was this bike constructed?
I had taken the primary Duke to the IMS present in Denver and gained the “Road” class, which obtained me an invitation to the nationwide present in Chicago. It was competing towards $100,000 baggers and full-on present bikes and I ended up getting 2nd place within the nation.
I had simply been constructing bikes for myself as a interest however I began to have folks attain out to me about shopping for/constructing them a motorbike. After I noticed this donor Duke on the market I had the considered constructing “Duke2.0” and possibly truly promoting certainly one of these bikes I construct. Roland Sands was doing a “Dream Construct” contest on the identical time so I figured that was a very good cause to get happening it.
It was invited to The One Moto Present in Portland final 12 months – I met Gary Inman from Sideburn journal and he mentioned he loves my bikes in order that was rad. I additionally meet Michael Licter and he invited me to show Duke2.0 at his “Bikes As Artwork” present in Sturgis. I’d should verify tape however we’re fairly positive that was the primary KTM to be featured in his present.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
Duke2.0 was based mostly on my authentic Duke road tracker. I wished to refine a number of issues from that first construct and on the identical time preserve it a “finances construct”. Then as at all times I take it too far and my “finances construct” turns into “lets get extra titanium for it”.
• What {custom} work was performed to the bike?
The tank is once more a CB400 that I saved from the salvage yard. I added some bungs for crossover tubes and clearanced the tunnel of the tank so it may simply match over extra electronics. The tail part was additionally once more sourced from Goon Glass and modded to suit the subframe I made.
I made a resin tail lamp lens by pouring the resin into the outlet within the tail-section so I may get the form I wished and good tight match. An added bonus is that when the LED lamp shines by the resin, it’s magnified and reveals up very effectively.
Durelle Racing arrange the R6 forks that have been used on this mission, and I shaved the brake mounts off the correct aspect and mounted them with Weiss Racing triple clamps. However not earlier than I had them cerakoted — together with the manufacturing unit swingarm, engine aspect covers, levers, foot controls, hubs and Solar 19” rims, and anything you see on right here with the satin tungsten coloration.
The twin LED headlamps provide a excessive/low and I made the bezels so as to add a completed look coming by the carbon fiber quantity plate.
I constructed the 2-1 stainless exhaust with assist from the Professional-Circuit resonator and titanium muffler.
I had the radiator custom-made, which gave me some further clearance to the wheel and a thinner profile than the primary Duke’s.
The seat pan and foam was once more despatched off to Brian Kugler (@b.kug.984) to make the duvet — he topped it off by stitching the KTM patch onto the again.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
I name this model Duke2.0.
• Any concept of horsepower, weight, and/or efficiency numbers?
The primary Duke has a FCR41 carb, I went with the Lectron on this one. Nonetheless undecided which is best there, however undoubtedly a quick improve over the inventory carb. This Duke weighs in at 289lbs — evaluate to the 320 it comes inventory. Wheelie numbers are sky excessive — get it — sky excessive.
I added a pair enamel to the rear sprocket — the unique Duke construct topped out at 115mph in 4th gear, and couldn’t pull fifth gear any farther from there. That was 5mph quicker then marketed again within the day.
• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to trip this bike?
The Duke is an enormous single cylinder thumper — its fast and nimble but cruises down the freeway good and secure. It began life as a supermoto bike so that you already realize it’s able to rally.
• Was there something performed throughout this construct that you’re notably happy with?
I really like the method of constructing bikes and I really like when folks take pleasure in my work. Having Gary from Sideburn journal say my bikes are cool is one thing I’ll at all times keep in mind. Additionally having my KTM proven at an “Artwork” show in Sturgis might be one thing I’ll always remember.
• Is there anybody you’d wish to thank?
My thanks listing is about the identical as at all times.
Dan White of Whitey’s Paint Store — we kicked round a number of completely different coloration methods for the ’79 World Champion based mostly design, and settled on this one. Not very “KTM” — however the Duke was crimson initially.
Vernon Wagoneer and NeCo Customs did the Cerakote. I sometimes sandblast and scuff down for a pure look, however I modified it up on this one and had a bunch of stuff coated; it turned out nice.
My spouse, Emily — she even camped out with me at Sturgis whereas the Duke was on show.
My Dad — we tag-teamed the drive to Portland and obtained to take pleasure in The One Present collectively.
Observe the Builder
Internet: dubstyledesigns.com
Instagram: @dubstyledesigns
Youtube: DubStyle Designs
Picture Credit: Garett took these pictures, and you may see extra from Michael Lichter at this hyperlink.
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