The exhaust is a sculpture unto itself—a sexy, snake-like, two-into-one
stainless steel system with one crossover tube to achieve optimal swingarm
clearance. The steel was heated to bring out the gold hues in the welds, and
match the swingarm’s look as well. The pipes meet in a LeoVince muffler from
Italy, with a carbon fiber canister that is set to match the frame angle. The
header is from Ducati Performance.
A handmade swingarm is the pezzo forte of Kenefick’s neo-Monster. “A
single-sided swingarm tends to flex laterally and most noticeably during
application of the throttle, while leaned over,” he says. Gregg’s Customs worked
with Kenefick to devise a curved horseshoe-like shape with a main lower tube and
trellises that mimic the frame. It is lighter and stiffer, delivering better
high-speed stability. Careful heat management in the welding process produced a
rainbow look around the seams. It is, by itself, simply spectacular.
 Photograph by Cordero Studios/ www.corderostudios.com (Click image to enlarge)
The Race Tech-revised stock rear shock has been anodized, re-valved and
re-sprung. The spring is painted in candy-apple red, adding visual interest. The
rear hub is stock with a quick-change rear sprocket drive; all the bolts are
safety wired to preempt loosening through customary engine and chain vibration.“It has to be remembered that the Monster isn’t really a sportbike,” Kenefick
says. “But with this set of modifications, it can take on just about anything on
the street. It’s a refined ‘hooligan’ ride with a unique look, sound, feel and
real exclusivity. While cruisers pretty much provoke a yawn nowadays, this bike
is two-wheeled Viagra.” Contemplating the hourglass shape of the RetroSBK
Monster, wicked thoughts take hold. Ready for her turn on the catwalk, Full Tilt Boogie exhibits her hindquarters
with a haughty invitation to a high-speed tango. She is wheeled out of the
warehouse and into the sun, where her colors can be best appreciated. The
candy-apple red and gunmetal sing in concert with the blacked-out engine parts
and billet aluminum. Kenefick turns the key and presses the starter. The Desmo’s baritone growl is
now a wall of sound that could crumble the Roman Colosseum. Full Tilt Boogie
resounds from Palo Alto to Palermo. And Ducatisti everywhere can rejoice. www.retrosbk.com | 805.479.9669
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