916 For 3

916 FOR 3

Zone Rouge builds a Ducati with something extra-a third wheel!

SERGE ATTAL HAD A PROBLEM. THE YOUNG Frenchman wanted a bike so badly he could taste it, but there were two obstacles Seeking his spouse's permission to purchase said two-wheeler, he was disheartened to hear her reply, "A motorcycle, yes-but for three."

Sacre-bleu!

A lesser man would have given up and bought a Renault, but Monsier Attal was determined, and a sidecarist was born. That was 26 years ago, and a whole succession of three-wheelers have passed through his garage since then. None, however, have been

a Ducati, which was a bit of a dilemma, because Attal owns and operates Zone Rouge (French for "Red Zone"), a bike shop specializing in the Italian Twins.

tjnter ffie yellow contraption shown here. Built during an 11-month period beginning in March of last year, the pro ject joined a wrecked Ducati 916 with a Choda sidecar chassis and swingarm front suspension at a cost of more than $37,000. The resultant assemblage sees a mix of

EMC, Ohhns and WP dampers handling suspension duties, ventilated discs from a Peugot automobile taking care of braking; and 14-inch car wheels carrying 185mm-wide Toyo tires providing traction. Capping off the creation is a plastic sidecar body custom-made by a friend who manu factures pools

French magazine Moto Journal tested the Zone Rouge sidecar alongside a standard Ducati 916 Biposto and came away giggling Not surpnsingly, the added weight of the sidecar (145 pounds) and passenger affects performancequarter-mile times shot from 11 seconds to 13, while top speed dropped from 152 mph to 109-but there's no dis puting the fun factor, especially if scaring the beejesus out of your passenger ranks high on your wish list.

Having built his one-of-a-kind three-wheeler, Attal says he has no desire to build another Looking back, there's only one thing he would do different: "I'd stick in a 996 SPS motor!"

Wonder what his wife would say about that...

Brian Catterson