Pierre Terblanche is responsible for penning some of Ducati’s most iconic contemporary models — rivaled only by the likes of the late great Massimo Tamburini — such as the Sport Classic range, 749/999 superbikes, MH900e, and the Hypermotard, just to name a few. Though its performance was solid, one Terblanche-designed Duck that visually missed the mark, however, was the first-generation Multistrada. Setting out to rectify the awkward early-aughts ADV model was Italy’s North East Custom, which transformed this first-year 1000 DS into a thoroughly modern cafe racer.
The bike was rid of its factory clothes entirely, and then gifted a tank off Terblanche’s 999 that’s paired with a contemporary cafe-style tail section resting in a trellis-style subframe, matching Ducati’s hallmark chassis setup. The first-gen ‘Multi’s dated-looking five-spoke rims have been swapped out for modern five Y-arm Marchesini rims. Instead of going with traditional clip-ons, the NEC boys opted to install a more sensible, swept-back pair of bars set in risers on the red cafe racer. Other additions include a LED lighting throughout, billet reservoirs and folding levers, a Motogadget Motoscope Pro, a transparent clutch cover and matte timing belt covers, and a custom flush underslung exhaust that exits through a meshed panel in the build’s bespoke belly-pan.
