Woolie's Pikes Peak Race Bike Is Named "Beastie" for a Reason

When men name their motorcycles, it is usually with a feminine name. This is a tradition that dates back to early mariners, who were often away from their loved ones for incredibly long periods of time, and remembered their wives and girlfriends by naming ships after them.

It is an interesting tradition we do now though – this naming of motorcycles – especially as the horsepower figures have climbed higher and higher and the curb weight measurements have dwindled lower and lower.

Names like “Heartsbane” or “Widow’s Wail” would seem more appropriate for modern motorcycles, especially if you feel the night is dark and full of terrors.

So, when you consider the hours that Michael “Woolie” Woolaway has spent in his workshop slaving over the next iteration of his Pikes Peak race bike away from his loved ones while creates the ultimate motorcycle for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the name “Beastie” seems far more appropriate than something like “Samantha” – our apologies to the Samantha’s in the crowd, of course.

Last year, Woolie campaigned his run at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb aboard a Ducati Hypermotard SP. The bike looked like anything but its namesake, especially with a race-prepped 1198 Ducati engine inside its chassis.

Taking second in his class in 2018, Woolie is back for more…and more is what he is bringing to this Race to the Clouds.

The new chassis comes from a Ducati Streetfighter 1098, and the only parts making it from the old bike to the new one are the number plate and the seat.

For go-fast parts, BST carbon fiber wheels with Öhlins suspension has been picked. The calipers are by Brembo, and the discs by BrakeTech. The engine has a Nova close-ratio gearbox, and the exhaust has cans from SC-Project. The ECU is from Micro Tech.

The engine internals from the old motor were dropped into sand-cast cases from a WorldSBK-spec 1098R Superbike. The head tube from a 999 has been welded to the front of the Streetfighter chassis, for a better steering angle, and there is a longer swingarm added to the package, which is made from magnesium.

“I got it wrong last year as I did not realize how tight the Pikes Peak course was, so I had to muscle the bike around a lot,” explained Woolie. “The goal this year was to build a light fast bike that was comfortable to ride and turned well and more importantly finished turns with ease.”

The new bike sits four inches lower to the ground than the previous racing machine, and features an adjustable swingarm pivot link. The subframe is made from chrome moly, and the three-gallon gas tank is from molded aluminum.

Mark Sutton has been able to massage 180hp to the rear wheel for Woolie, while the whole machine sits at 340 lbs wet and ready to race. Rider aids? No thank you says Woolie. Beastie, indeed.