A Ducati engine in a cruiser chassis? Ducati were not the first people to try this combination when they launched their Diavel behemoth in 2011, back in the 80's Cagiva had attempted to conquer the American market with their Ducati badged and Pantah engined Indiana, a motorcycle they hoped would combine the best of two worlds. Road tests of the time suggest Cagiva made a fairly decent fist of it but for whatever reason, the Indiana failed to generate the following of its fedora wearing name twin and slipped into relative obscurity. However when it comes to a reboot, some thirty years later, the little Ducati has trumped the whip cracking archaeologist, this lovely steed would certainly prove a far finer companion to a Sunday afternoon than any of that Crystal Skull nonsense... Redonda Motorcycles from Coimbra, Portugal were the builders that took on the dated styling cues of the Indiana to create this cracking little peppermint cream street tracker. João Barranca is the man behind the brand which features three wings - Redonda Motors, which is dedicated to customizing bikes for daily use, Redonda Racing, for road racing and off-road machinery and recent addition, Eco Redonda, within which Joāo is working on an electric bike project. João takes up the tale, "When I bought this bike the previous owner said he only sold me the bike because he felt that I would treat her well. He could not be more right, the intention was to return the racing and rebellious spirit that the bike had initially. Ducati Indiana for some is not a Ducati, is a Cagiva, but for others it is the best Ducati ever made. This bike has a great motor, comparable with track bikes, but has a very controversial aspect." The intention was to take advantage of that engine and tighten up the saggy 80's cruiser vibe using the largest possible number of original parts. The wheels, tank, pressed steel backbone frame and 40mm Marzocchi forks are all modified original equipment, the Ohlins rear shocks most certainly are not. João hoped to create a forced air intake system by changing the position of the carburettor so the air inlet faces front, he also pulled off the covers to reveal the Ducati timing belts and aerated the clutch cover, he wanted the workings of this motorcycle on show. To keep the engine oil temperature at a more acceptable level ​​he placed an oil cooling system with a small radiator on the left side of the bike, the braking system was improved by drafting in a radial pump from a Suzuki GSXR. The custom fabricated, high level twin stainless steel exhausts scream tracker as they roar at that stunning skyline. João opted for 50's pastel shades and finished off his machine with indicator housing mirrors, a small luggage rack and simple lighting, the front lamp was donated by a Harley sportster that no doubt longed for it's own tracker conversion. It all adds up to a lovely unique motorcycle from a donor that most would struggle to pick out in a crowd. Top work João, we look forward to seeing more of Redonda's efforts, particularly that electric motorcycle... Credit for the beautiful photography goes to Mauricio Reis and if this machine has inspired you to search for your own Ducati Indiana project then check out this effort from Analog Motorcycles for further stimulation.