Chris Schipfer

WHY IS MY V4 not red? Take a look around. Nearly all the bikes at World Ducati Week are red. I own a 1098 in black, a Monster in Lamborghini White, and a Hypermotard in Lamborghini Yellow. I always go another way to the crowd. But I still want my V4 to be a classy bike. Not too over-done. Some people don’t like it – they say it’s over-the-top – but it’s perfect for me. All my bikes have been Ducatis. The only other brand I’ve ridden was a Honda VFR just after I passed my test. I took it for a test ride because my friends told me I must try something apart from Ducati, but wow it was so boring in comparison. This V4 is my newest bike. I bought it in February – it was one of the first to come into Germany. I needed it as early in the year as possible because it’s for my company. We produce bling bling spare parts for Ducatis. This glass clutch cover is the first of its kind in the world. Unlike others, it’s got spokes in front of the glass. I designed it and machined it by CNC myself, and we’ve now registered the design all over Europe. It’s been a long time coming, but to turn theoretical designs into a finished product is a fantastic feeling. The bike under all these modifications is a standard V4. It’s definitely powerful enough for me. I don’t plan to ride it a lot, but even for short trips I can feel how strong the engine is. The frame is covered by carbon parts from a German company called Lieb Speed, and the Fullsix bodywork is fully carbon too. Yes, the front fairing, seat and tail unit are all carbonfibre. They’re painted in a special Lamborghini colour called Grigio Antares, which looks very classy in the sun. It cost me £450 to have it painted. I can’t afford a Lambo, but at least I have the colour.

‘Some people don’t like it – they say it’s over-the-top – but it’s perfect for me’