TAMING THE BEAST: LE NGUYEN’S ///restomo’DS/// DUCATI PAUL SMART 1000LE
From pedaling past dream bikes in Vietnam to engineering custom titanium exhausts and Kevlar-carbon tanks in Texas—how Le Nguyen built a high-grade tribute to Ducati’s most iconic Sport Classic.
True passion is built on respect, perseverance, and a refusal to settle for stock. For Texas-based engineer Le Nguyen, founder of ///restomo’DS///, his 2006 Ducati Sport Classic Paul Smart 1000LE is the culmination of a 3.5-year journey driven by a relentless question: "What if?"
LE`s Ducati Sport Classic Paul Smart 1000LE
„The bike demands you to respect and learn how it behaves—what I would describe as 'taming the beast.'“
Le Nguyen
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Acquired via Iconic Motorbike Auctions in 2023, the rare Paul Smart was initially intended for classic street rides. But after a near-miss at Turn 1 on COTA’s trackday exposed the limits of OEM braking, Le embarked on a full-scale engineering evolution. Refining every detail to aerospace standards, Le teamed up with his international crew to manufacture full carbon-fiber fairings, test Kevlar-reinforced composite fuel tanks under extreme pressure, and craft four distinct Grade-3 Titanium exhaust systems. Yet beyond the ultra-light components and track-honed Brembo RCS hydraulics, Le’s core philosophy remains deeply human: sharing the magic of two wheels with anyone who dares to sit on it.
THE RIDER
Name: Le Nguyen
Base: Texas, USA
Garage / Life: Founder of ///restomo’DS///, engineer, father to Noah, and devoted advocate for inclusive, generous motorcycle culture.
THE MACHINE
Model: 2006 Ducati Sport Classic Paul Smart 1000LE
Spec & Mods: Full custom Kevlar-reinforced Carbon Fiber bodywork & gas tank, bespoke Grade-3 Titanium exhaust system, Brembo RCS master cylinders paired with 996-series P4 calipers, forged Marchesini wheels, and custom-upholstered seating.
IN CONVERSATION WITH LE NGUYEN
RWN MOTOZINE: Who are you, where are you based, and what do you do when you’re not out riding or in the garage?
Le Nguyen: My name is Le Nguyen, IG Handle ApeTiVR46 and for my Business IG is Restomods2024. I am the founder of ///restomo’DS/// based out of Texas. During my free time, if I’m not riding, I usually go on forums to read about various builds to study and then come up with my ideas of how to individualize a Sport Classic if I were a client and to make it standout as a ///restomo’DS/// build.
RWN MOTOZINE: What is the exact make, model, and year of the bike, and how did you get your hands on it?
Le Nguyen: It is a 2006 Ducati Sport Classic Paul Smart 1000LE. I purchased the bike from Iconic Motorbike Auction back in 2023.
RWN MOTOZINE: What have you modified, restored, or tailored on the bike? Was there a specific challenge along the way?
Le Nguyen: When I purchased the bike, it already had the basic upgrades that I would have done if I were to buy it new (Forged Marchesini wheels, full exhaust system). I took the bike to COTA for a trackday and almost ate it on top of the hill at Turn 1 because the OEM calipers, though great for casual street riding, were not built for track riding. That was how it started from there: I learned that the P4 calipers from the 996 series would be a direct swap for better braking. But knowing myself—who never leaves his bikes stock and untouched no matter how rare it is—I also upgraded to a full Brembo RCS setup for front brakes and clutch.
This led to the “What if?” part of the long 3.5-year process of how ///restomo’DS/// was created: I asked myself, “what if I swap the fairings to carbon? Would anyone call me crazy for modding such a Limited Bike?” I started to look for Carbon Fiber options, but they were either non-existent or the quality and finish were not up to my standards. I ended up sending all of my spare OEM parts back home for my team to make molds for carbon fiber fairings, templates for Titanium Exhaust Systems, and custom upholstery for the seat. This was when I figured I was missing a carbon tank.
One of the biggest challenges was shipping my spare OEM parts back to my team and, after each product was made, shipping it back to me for fitment while noting which parts needed improvements.
The second biggest challenge was the Kevlar-reinforced Carbon Fiber gas tank itself. I asked my team to put 2.5 times pressure into the tank—the first one exploded. The second time it failed the leak test, so we came up with our own mixture to seal the inside. After everything passed, I had the tank filled up with gas, sealed, and left alone for 7 days for the final test. The tank currently on my Paul Smart is the 3rd tank that passed all the tests to my standards.
The third challenge was the exhaust system. I believe in individualization, and the Sport Classic series deserves to be in a unique class of its own; therefore, a Titanium Exhaust option was a must. Then came 4 different Grade 3 Titanium Systems (2-1, 2-2, Imola offset, Dual Right side exits). I redrew the header’s routing to make sure it keeps the DS1000’s signature rumble.
RWN MOTOZINE: Is there a specific memory, road trip, or moment with this bike that stands out to you?
Le Nguyen: I have built, ridden, and tracked all of the bikes I’ve owned since 2008 (848, 1098S SF, Aprilia Tuono Factory 1100, BMW R9T), but nothing compares to the raw and analogue feel of the Paul Smart once I rode it. What I mean by “analogue-like” is that there is no traction control, ABS, or anti-wheelie electronics. The bike demands you to respect and learn how it behaves and responds to certain inputs—what I would describe as “taming the beast.” The strong DS1000 motor with its signature tambourine sound of the dry clutch is unmistakably Ducati with a soul. It might only have a mere 90hp air-cooled motor, but that is more than enough to put a smile on my face every time I start it up without even having to ride it.
RWN MOTOZINE: What does motorcycle culture mean to you? Feel free to share anything else you’d like our readers to know.
Le Nguyen: I grew up in Vietnam drooling over two Cagiva Mito 125cc bikes at a local dealership. I purposely took a 30-minute detour on my bicycle to school every day just to admire the red and yellow bikes. Wealthy kids in my school would aim for mud puddles on the streets, cut in front of me on my bicycle, and spray my clean school uniform with dirty water. I promised myself that when I grew up, I would never treat people like that and would share the experience of owning a motorcycle with others whenever I had the chance.
Fast forward to the present time: each year I attend COTA MotoGP and bring my bike to Ducati Island for people to see. They are surprised when I give them the key and tell them to sit on it and start it up. Their smiles make me happy because this is what Motorcycle Culture is about—sharing the experience.
I’m currently checking my main job’s schedule so I can transform another Sport Classic with a DS1100 motor into a ///restomo’DS/// full Carbon Fiber kit with a dedicated twin-undertail Titanium Exhaust System per a client’s request. I’m also building my 8-month-old son Noah a Sport 1000. His will be 1 of 3 Sport 1000 Tricolore Trio bikes (One Red, One Green, and One White).
Le Nguyen: I hope this leads to more ///restomo’DS/// commissioned builds in the future. The Sport Classic Series deserves a full makeover with individualization for potential clients.
However, none of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for my team (Qui, Triet, anh Duy, Khai) who work so hard to make my visions a reality. They have spent countless hours with me in video conferences and our annual meeting to set expectations and standards. I would also like to thank Joe, Berto, and Damien for believing in my visions, as well as Tigh at GothamDucati for recording a video of my bike at the #CAWD2026 event at Pismo Beach. That led to Sascha at RWN MOTOZINE sharing the video and having the honor of being featured in this article. Last but not least, my wife Tam for supporting my crazy hobby that started from a simple "What If?"
RWN MOTOZINE: Le, thank you for the craft, the time, and for keeping the raw spirit of the culture alive.
Photos by Le Nguyen - Story by Sascha Köhmstedt
Photo Credits
@og_Doocatti
@Media.by.marcxmen
@Jason_farias28