It takes a lot of bravado to try and customize a Triumph Bonneville Standard, so it’s no surprise that the Ducati Miss Moneypenny pulls no punches in its eye-catching endeavor. A collaboration between Marcos Martines and Ducati Triumph NYC, the project sprang from a rather urbane request on the client’s behalf; that the bike be “something original he could ride and park in his living room.” Bearing this in mind, the designers revamped the Bonneville’s fuel tank, headlight, bucket, inner ring, fenders and skid plate, replacing each element with a bold copper alternative. The seat is custom leather, created using a British Customs seat pan that speaks to its namesake’s appeal. Just as Miss Moneypenny provides a perfect professional and flirtatious foil to 007, better balancing the two than he ever can, the Ducati’s motorcycle is optimized for the streets of NYC more so than its standard model. Its adjusted suspension, springs and piggyback shocks give this daring creation a smooth ride, bringing elegance to the original’s functionality. The Ducati Miss Moneypenny makes a strong statement without losing the charm of its precedent, showing the returns one can earn from a great leap of faith.
