Michael Woolaway, Deus Ex Machina's US Motorcycle Design Director, is calling his latest build The Ding Dagger. Designed and geared to run the back alleyways of Venice, the svelte SR500 based, two-up café racer runs a 570 big bore kit with a ported head, 39mm FCR carb with a K/N air filter, custom dual feed oil lines, Megacycle billet camshaft, new stainless steel valves, R/D springs and retainers, a full stainless steel megaphone shorty pipe, and a first-ever, water saw etched Deus logo on right side cover. Did you get all that? Like all of Woolie's bikes, the Ding Dagger runs a wealth of hand-made parts. The front fender is hand made. The fender brackets are hand made. The headlight brackets and tachometer mount are hand made. At the controls, a Motoscope tachometer floats above a big vintage headlight. A twin shoe front brake lever and Motion Pro throttle occupy the Woodcraft Racing clip-on bars while a custom triple clamp bridge and stainless steel hardware finish up the steering. Up front, there's a gorgeous Ceriani four shoe front brake and forks featuring a Race Tech Gold Valve kit. Between the knees, the luxuriously lithe aluminum gas tank wears a Monza style cap. The seat is custom made with waterproof Kushitani leather. Moving towards the stern an A&A Racing chromoly swing arm hooks up with a Durelle Racing knock-off rear hub and Vortex rear sprocket. The rear shocks are from our pals at Works Performance. Buchanan spokes and nipples are threaded through the Excel rear rim and a 46 mm piston Grimeca caliper and KTM master cylinder combine to create a very big, very powerful rear brake. Custom mounts for the rear pegs and a welded-in rear loop finish the framework. There's a lot going on with this bike and you'll more than likely want to read this again. The Ding Dagger. You're welcome.
Featured Articles
Nov 04, 2026
Deus X Royal Enfield: Introducing Son of a Gun
Nov 04, 2026
A one-of-one creation designed and built by Deus head builder Jeremy Tagand at Deus Camperdown’s House of Simple Pleasures, Son of a...
Read More
Nov 03, 2026
Oily Rag: The October 2026 Edition
Nov 03, 2026
Spooky season is upon us, and we’ve been stirring up the usual concoction of mayhem. We’re perpetually floored, or spellbound, you might...
Read More
Oct 30, 2026
Venice Moto Mornings October '26
Oct 30, 2026
Beachside Moto Club rolled into the Venice Emporium of Postmodern Activities on a sunny Saturday morning for a meet up of motos...
Read More