Elbert Hubbard mentioned “In case you don’t want to be criticized, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” For Vitaly Selyukov, proprietor of Balamutti Workshop, this got here as extra of a problem than the rest; say one thing, do one thing, be one thing, and welcome the inevitable criticism that comes with it.
And if you already know criticism is coming anyway, why play by anybody else’s guidelines? You may as nicely go as bizarre and as wild as you need. Like, say, constructing a {custom} BMX-style bike with a Ducati Pantah engine.
This wild Ducati/BMX hybrid took Balamutti over three years to finish. A fancy mish-mash of Ducati elements, handmade, and repurposed parts, it would have even probably the most storied custom-bike consultants scratching their heads. However there may be technique to Vitaly’s insanity.
He claims the bike is definitely the right bike for a “stress-free trip,” with its mild weight and what he calls an “unobtrusive look.”
The construct is called ‘Malavita’ (Italian for ‘Underworld’), and is predicated completely round what was as soon as a Ducati Pantah engine. ‘Was as soon as,’ as a result of this energy plant has gone by a reasonably excessive transformation. The vertical cylinder was eliminated, and the remaining cylinder was over-bored, changing the L-twin to a 426 cc single.
The six-speed transmission was transformed to a dry five-speed with an automated clutch as nicely, utilizing the enter shaft from a Monster 600 and the output shaft off of a Hypermotard 1100. Lastly, an oil cooler was mounted to the entrance of the engine to assist keep a low working temp.
The welded trapezoidal body is impressed by BMX bikes, with the engine held on a few small mounts on the primary body. The one-sided dual-fork setup is arguably probably the most staggering design element on Malavita. It was designed and fabricated in-house utilizing Marzocchi parts, whereas carbon brake elements had been used to save lots of weight.
Out again, a single-sided swingarm was borrowed from a Hypermotard 1100, and hooked as much as a Penske mono-shock. The handlebars had been made in-house, and the bicycle seat was taken from a roughly 70-year outdated pedal bike, finishing the minimalist BMX aesthetic.
The entrance wheel is spoked, laced up by Balamutti, whereas the rear was taken from a Ducati 916 and fitted with Pirelli MT60 rubber. Lastly, the body, wheels, and small particulars had been painted this distinctive contemporary shade of inexperienced.
Malavita was clearly one builder’s imaginative and prescient, and as one builder’s imaginative and prescient, that builder can do no matter he desires with it—even when meaning turning the entire bike right into a rolling Scotch dispenser. No, the filler cap towards the entrance of the bike, and the gasoline faucet beneath the seat, aren’t for fuel. They’re for tremendous Scottish malt—Vitaly’s favourite.
Gas is definitely held in a custom-made 7 liter tank, hidden contained in the boxy dual-exit muffler that’s tucked below the bike. The Lithium-ion battery sits in there too, however don’t fear—the muffler’s a faux. Look carefully, and also you’ll see the precise exhaust exiting simply in entrance of it.
When making one thing for your self, criticism doesn’t actually matter. You need to make a weirdo super-light, ultra-quick BMX bike? Do it. Need it to spew Scotch? Why not.
That is precisely the type of fun-fueled absurdity we love, and we hope it evokes extra builders to take the leap and simply construct no matter they need—critics be damned!
Balamutti | Instagram | Photographs by Ostrovsky Roman
