Roland Sands modified Ducati XDiavel showcased at Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Ducati’s first official participation at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally featured a Roland Sands modified Ducati XDiavel as the centrepiece of the Italian brands infiltration on the American hallowed ground of Sturgis.
Released in 2016, the Ducati XDiavel brings two worlds together: the American cruiser world of high-torque at low RPM, foot-forward controls, and the Ducati world of Italian style and performance.
The unmistakable look of the XDiavel, the recent winner of the Red Dot Design Award in 2016, now has an American design influence by Californian customizer Roland Sands. At Sturgis he presented his own interpretation of the Bologna-built cruiser.
This XDiavel-derived concept bike built by Roland Sands features a top-class finish and a design that reflects the strong personality of this celebrated Californian customizer. With a one-piece body fixed to the distinctive Ducati trellis frame, a 19” front wheel for a bold look, and a collection of billet aluminum details that deliver a unique result, this XDiavel has transformed into an even more decisive, radical sport-chopper cruiser that still retains its inimitable Ducati DNA.
This special one-off build is indeed something of a logical evolution for Roland Sands who has always had a thing for the Ducati cruiser. In addition to the custom design XDiavel, Roland Sands Design has created an exclusive line of special accessories and components, featured in the Ducati Performance catalogue, and currently available at Ducati dealers.
“The XDiavel is a beast. A wolf in wolves’ clothing and a serious piece of speed equipment,” said Roland Sands, owner of Roland Sands Design and lead designer on the custom build. “We really wanted to pivot off all that amazing technology and not mess it up by tearing it out.
“So the bike is still very stock from a functional standpoint. The bike was a 3-month build, with careful consideration and deliberation about the direction of the design.
“Ultimately, we decided to twist the aesthetic while retaining decidedly ‘stock’ bike functionality. I’m proud to say that’s exactly what we’ve achieved,” said Roland of the build.
