Written by Martin Hodgson
They’re one of the leading motorcycle builders in Italy, restoring classic bikes to their former glory and creating some of the best customs in the land. Yet for all the success that Rome’s Emporio Elaborazioni Meccaniche has had, can you believe they’ve never built a Ducati as part of their ?special? line up" Well, Dopz, Schizzo and the crew thought it was about time when the right customer came calling and to pop their cherry they knew they had to go hard! Inspired by the classic racing machines of the ’70s, it’s a 1978 Ducati Darmah 900 cafe racer sensation they call Crono.

Despite the cafe’s now automotive museum quality looks and brilliant performance, the donor bike that the customer rolled into the central Rome workshop was anything but. Wherever it was wheeled it left a trail of oil and the smell of weeping fuel. But given the popular nature of the classic 2 valve L-Twin Desmo engine the flaws and fixes are well-known and the motor was quickly up on the bench. Sharing a great deal in common with the 900SS, the engine would be the first part of the bike that would be shifted in the Super Sport direction away from the touring orientated donor of the Darmah.
The engine was torn down to the very last bolt as the first step of the build and rebuilt to ensure the oil would remain on the inside no matter the rpm. The gorgeous workings of the upper bevel have been exposed, while the front cylinder that is...