Honestly, we think the stock XDiavel looks better than Roland Sands' custom-built machine that you see here. But that's okay, to each his own…
Dating back to 1938, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally draws over half a million bikers from every corner of the globe. It's one of the world's biggest meetings of motorcycle enthusiasts and this year, Ducati took their new XDiavel to Sturgis, which was held from August 5 to 14 in South Dakota, in the US. And not any old XDiavel either, this was a special one-off machine, designed by the California-based Roland Sands. The custom-built XDiavel has a one-piece body fixed to the Ducati trellis frame, a 19-inch front wheel and a collection of shiny billet aluminum bits for a bit of stand-out glitter.
"The response to our presence here at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been exceptionally welcoming. The passion for two wheels, twin-cylinder engines, and beautiful roads is shared by everyone at this gathering of the motorcycle community,” says Jason Chinnock, CEO of Ducati North America. "As motorcyclists we are part of a tribe, but we also embrace our individuality. This custom-built XDiavel by Roland Sands Design embodies the spirit of personalization that makes this Rally so special. The XDiavel and this interpretation provides us an opportunity to share Ducati with all in attendance," he adds.
"The XDiavel is a beast. A wolf in wolves’ clothing and a serious piece of speed equipment. 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," says Roland Sands, owner of Roland Sands Design. "The bike was a three-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," he adds.
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