This edition of Speed Read can boast the biggest difference in engine size we’ve ever covered. We go from a place of huge nitrogen fuel use BMW R18 from Roland Sands Design to the Suzuki 49cc scooter from Taiwan’s MetalCave. We also look at the limited edition Ducati Monster Senna and a lightly equipped Indian FTR 1200 from Motocrew.
BMW R18 by Roland Sands Design of California Roland Sands design was one of the first tuning workshops to customize the BMW R18 when it first hit the market. Their launched R18 is a muscular man, fed on nitrogen towing bicycles—but despite its racy nature, it’s not as extreme as RSD intended. That project coincided with the development of a series of RSD R18 parts, so the decision was made to keep the car more or less roadworthy.
For their latest custom BMW R18, RSD has removed those limitations. This bike takes inspiration from its predecessor, turns the crazy level up to 11 and adds the Daytona orange color from RSD’s popular BMW R nineT ‘Concept 90’. Oh.
The vibe is a total Pro Stock drag racer. A bespoke trellis subframe creates a line from the rear of the fuel tank to the rear wheel, eliminating the rear suspension. The axle plates, wheel bar mounts, and solid rear wheel are all from Grothus Dragbikes.
Making room for the massive 8.5-inch-wide Mickey Thompson rear tire meant significantly changing the R18’s final drive setup. RSD solved the problem by eliminating the driveshaft and moving the rear driveshaft in front of the wheels. It now acts as a jackshaft, with a chain sending power to the rear wheel.
The new arrangement not only looks cool but also gives the crew the freedom to play with different crawler ratios. RSD cut and extended the rear fender to cover the R18’s rear end.
Other Grothus components include front forks, 18-inch front wheel and brake discs. They are paired with custom chainstays with integrated handlebar mounts, Brembo brake calipers and a mix of stock and aftermarket controls. Notable details include Race Torx thumb brakes and Pingel electric shift lever; Combined, they eliminate the need for any foot controls.
RSD’s innovative method of integrating the R18’s chunky nitrous oxide bottle deserves special mention. Instead of hiding it under the car, the team modified the OEM fuel tank to only carry fuel on the left side and then redesigned the right side to create a groove for the bottle to sit in. The chrome-plated nitrogen tank pops out behind the stunning orange paint, while classic rounded lines recall BMW’s boxer heritage.
The final touches include a roomy Saddlemen saddle, an extended exhaust, some RSD R18 trim, and enough little details to keep you poring over it for hours. Overall, this might be the most special custom BMW R18 we’ve ever seen. [More | Images by Dual Studios]
MetalCave’s Suzuki Choinori Have you ever heard of Suzuki Choinori? Produced from 2003 to 2007, it is a tiny 49 cc bike. motorbike Designed for commuting short distances and running errands. Suzuki designed it to minimize the amount of material used, which in turn also reduced the cost of making (and buying) it.
A byproduct of this minimalist approach is that Choinori looks absolutely adorable. However, somehow Taiwanese customization shop MetalCave has managed to make it look cuter than before.
MetalCave’s motto is that “every medium has a soul, and the soul is not inherent but is shaped by the user’s investment of time and usage — projecting themselves and their imagination go there”. In the case of this custom Choinori, that philosophy translates into an attractive running track that wouldn’t look out of place on the back of a classic Volkswagen bus. (Indeed, the iconic Volkswagen T1 served as the inspiration for this build.)
The pint-sized Suzuki’s attractive new livery is the clear winner, but it only tells half the story. The biggest change is MetalCave’s streamlined redesign of the scooter’s cockpit.
The little ape handlebars are gone, replaced by a set of swooping bike handlebars. MetalCave adapted the bike handlebars to fit them, then wired in a single set of three Motogadget switches to handle basic functions. Wiring runs inside the bars, with classic white handles adding a stylish finishing touch.
The driver’s position has been given equal consideration. The seats are now upholstered in white leather with touches of tweed and are finished with chrome handles. The stock rear fender still serves a lower role but is painted to match the rest of the body for a cleaner look.
Other details include whitewall tires and a beautiful chrome mini exhaust system. MetalCave’s Suzuki Choinori may not go very fast or very far, but we certainly wouldn’t mind being seen up there. [MetalCave]
Ducati Monster Senna Taking a page from Triumph’s book, Ducati is the latest manufacturer to cash in on a limited edition motorcycle that is essentially just one of their existing motorcycles with a different livery. In this case, it’s the Ducati Monster Senna—a Ducati Monster SP with a paint job inspired by the legendary Brazilian Formula 1 driver’s helmet design.
To be fair to Ducati, the brand’s connection to Ayrton Senna runs deeper than most people realise. It all started when Claudio Castiglioni gifted the world champion a Ducati 851 SP in 1990. A few years later, Senna and Ducati teamed up to create the striking Ducati 916 Senna—a limited edition pre-conceived 916 Senna’s tragic death.
Senna also owned one of the first Ducati Monsters to hit the streets – and even appeared on it at the 1993 Monaco Grand Prix gala dressed in luxury.
The new Ducati Monster Senna uses the highly rated Monster SP as its base, which means you get Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes and carbon fiber Termignoni mufflers. The 937cc Testastretta engine puts out 111bhp at 9,250rpm and the Senna version goes beyond standard ‘SP’ specification with forged aluminum wheels and some carbon fiber detailing.
Although we’re still on the fence about the redesign Ducati Monster, we have to admit that it has a Senna-inspired paint job. Like the F1 superstar’s unmistakable helmets, the car is painted yellow with sharp green and blue accents, with blue upholstery adding a sporty touch. And the additional upgrades make it the spiciest Monster currently on offer.
If this interests you, get in line. Ducati will only produce 341 Monster Sennas, each numbered. It’s a strange but meaningful number; Senna won three championships during his career, with a total of 41 race wins. [Ducati Monster Senna]
Motocrew’s FTR 1200 India We love to see what our favorite builders do with their personal bikes when they’re not busy building motorcycles for others. This sharp FTR 1200 of India belongs to Chris Scholtka, the man behind it Motorcycle team nickname. And as daily runners go, it’s pretty hard to beat.
Chris bought the Indian late last year, shortly after he sold his car. Ducati 848. “I was looking for something special, and in my opinion, Indian was it,” he told us. “Obviously I wanted to go in a flat, urban direction. I like the look and I wanted a bike with a neutral seating position behind my Ducati 848—which isn’t fun to ride beyond 200km [322 miles].”
Chris took the 2019 model FTR home and painted it matte black the next day. He then started hunting for a set of 17-inch wheels from a newer FTR 1200, which he eventually found through a contact in Poland. That made the bike suitable for street shenanigans and allowed Chris to fit wider and more grippy rubber.
Next, Chris stripped the entire rear body of the FTR’s tank. He then fabricated a new seat and tail cowl, incorporating the OEM taillights into the rear of the bike. A modified mountain bike cover sits up front, with LED Highsider lighting along the way.
Chris also fitted lower bars, ProTaper grips, Motogadget handlebar end mirrors and installed a new air filter courtesy of the folks at K&N. The FTR is finished off with a custom exhaust system, with the most skillful pipe work we’ve ever seen. Chris explains: “It’s a very special type of insulation from Thermotech, a very famous company in the car tuning world in Germany.
To ensure the FTR could fit the program, Chris completed the job with a Dynojet chip. He added: “It was the most fun bike I’ve ever ridden. “It’s powerful—and it handles like a supercar.” [Motocrew | Images by kylefx]
