Moto Puro Elite II is a Dynamic Ducati 1199 Panigale S

on June 5, 2014 at 8:52 am

Lots of legendary motorcycles have worn the Ducati name over the decades, most of which have been powered by multi-cylinder engines. But there was one noteworthy single that burnished the company’s reputation as a sportbike leader: The 200 Elite, made between 1959 and 1965. Agile, versatile and altogether lovable, the 200 Elite helped Ducati win new fans in new markets outside Italy.

It is this legacy that Moto Puro, a Dutch bike-building shop, sought to honor when it created the 1199 Panigale S based creation you see here. Heck, it even went so far as to call it the Elite II! And while not an out-and-out modern reimagining of the original Elite, it certainly has elements endemic to a late-‘50s/early-‘60s café racer: Fairing-free front end. Wire wheels (from Kineo). Twin-tailpipe exhaust (from QD). And a custom seat. Timeless touches, all.

However, the 1,199cc Superquadro L-twin lives very-much in the present. No word if it’s making more than the stock 195 horsepower and 98 lb.-ft of torque, but even if it isn’t, the Elite II is sure to serve up the kind of performance no one who bought a 200 Elite new back in the day could have begun to comprehend. And frankly, that’s find by us.