In 2012 a pale green Laystall Ferrari 250 GTO set a new record for the most expensive car ever sold by fetching an astounding $35 million at auction. Vehicles with such repute often become objects of desire, but with that kind of price tag, very few people can afford them. One such Laystall 250 GTO fan in the UK decided that since he’d never own the Ferrari he’d commission a motorcycle that paid homage to his favourite Italian sports car. And to do his dream car justice, he enlisted the help of the south London workshop of deBolex Motorcycles.
In 2021 deBolex launched its DB25 series of bikes. Based on the 147hp Ducati Monster 1200 each motorcycle in the 25 edition series is extensively modified and upgraded. “We’ve transformed this fantastic platform into a full-fairing retro racer,” says deBolex Motorcycles frontman Calum Pryce-Tidd. “We’ve reimagined both the design and character of the Monster.”
The deBolex DB25 series has been designed so that buyers can customise a bike to their liking. As Callum explains, “In theory, the sky is the limit when it comes to extras and customisable options – we’re only confined by what is technically feasible. At the end of the design process, we use renders to give a visual representation of how the motorcycle will look and present this to the customer for discussion.”
One option that DB25 buyers are given is the selection of the paintwork which extends to the bodywork, frame, wheels and forks. So with this bike, the fourth in the DB25 series, its owner specified a scheme inspired by the Laystall Ferrari 250 GTO. Using the same paint colour as the UDT Laystall-sponsored British Racing Partnership 250 GTO, deBolex finished the carbon fibre fuel tank cover and carbon fibre fairings in meadow green. To strengthen the connection further, the Ducati also wears racing-style number panels in black and white, and the same yellow used to denote a car as suitable to take part in the FIA GT World Championship (seen on the driver’s door in the above/left image).
Another hat tip to the Laystall 250 GTO is the Ferrari-inspired black Alcantara upholstery on the monoposto seat. To match the grey finish of the Ferrari’s wheels the Monster’s swing arm and rear subframe are finished in Titanium Cerakote and the wheels, which were chosen by the owner, follow suit too.
Outside of the colour scheme the owner of DB25 #4 picked out a bespoke selection of premium performance parts. In keeping with deBolex’s lightweight build approach, he opted for Dymag UP7X wheels. These are the lightest wheels in the brand’s range which they claim to be up to 40% lighter than stock wheels. The suspension hails from UK experts Maxton with black USD forks in the front and an external reservoir, full adjustable RT10 monoshock in the rear. The brake and clutch master cylinders hail from Magura and the engine is buttoned together using race spec Pro-Bolt fasteners. A Titanium SC-Project silencer on high-temperate Cerakote headers completes the custom requests.
As is customary with every one of the deBolex DB25 builds, all of the work on this bike from the carbon fibre to the paintwork and upholstery was completed in-house. Each DB25 features over one hundred custom-made components plus 60 laser-cut sheet metal parts and 22 CNC aluminium components. The subframe is made from lightweight aluminium which has been machined on a CNC. Beneath the carbon fuel tank cover is a polymer fuel cell that, unlike carbon fibre, can withstand the corrosive effect of fuels. The custom top clamp is unique as well and includes a mount for the original Monster TFT gauge. Then there’s the headlight cover. It’s an add-on feature that gives the bike the look of a racer but can be easily removed and stowed in its own bag for road riding duties.
Often with motorcycles of this calibre, we assume they spend their days stashed away in a private collection where they see very little road time. Thankfully this Laystall Ferrari 250 GTO-inspired DB25 proves that theory wrong. “The owner has already spent some good time in the saddle while on the Great Malle Mountain Rally,” says Callum. “He completed 2000 Miles across the alps covering 6 countries in 6 days.”
DB25 #4 may not be a $35 million Ferrari, but this one-of-a-kind Italian thoroughbred is every bit as alluring.
