Ducati’s Wildest Moto Gets A Dose Of Retro Cool From Belgium’s Best Customizer

By Miles Branman Published January 2, 2020

Anyone who tells you the Ducati XDiavel is boring must either get their kicks from extreme sports or experimental drugs. Easily one of the wildest motorcycles on sale, the XDiavel pairs immense power with some outlandish styling for a distinct cruiser combo.

While the common man sees completed menace in the design of the XDiavel, motorcycle customizers see a two-wheeled canvas. Already, Roland Sands and the Ducati Center have transformed the XDiavel into unique expressions of the motoring kind. Now Belgium’s best bike builder is taking a crack at Ducati’s heavyweight.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Fred Krugger has won the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building and has received a number of other honors during his 20-plus years of tinkering. When it came to the XDiavel, Krugger decided to retain the bike’s aggression, while giving it retro flair.

Recommended Videos

Up front, the ‘Thiverval’ maintains the original bike’s headlight and front fork, but swaps in a custom wheel fender. In profile, you can see the biggest tweaks, including a distinct tank, seat, and rear cowl. Krugger’s also keeps the XDiavel’s silver-on-black paint scheme with his new bodywork, starting at the front wheel and wrapping around the tail.

Around back, a single, square LED taillight mimics early 90s sport bikes with a pair of exhaust ports tucked neatly beneath the seat. The Thiverval commands just as much or more attention as the regular XDiavel, but with a more cohesive aesthetic.

Apart from the visual touches, the Thiverval carries over the XDiavel’s 1262cc L-twin motor. 156 horsepower and 95 pound-feet of torque give the Thiverval ample thrust. Peak torque is available at 5,000 rpms, and another surge of torque appears at 7,500 rpm. We were more than impressed with how the XDiavel handled itself in a straight line and through corners when we tested it last year.

The Thiverval was shown this past weekend at the 2017 Bikers’ Classics in Belgium. Krugger hasn’t given his latest creation a price tag, but considering the standard XDiavel starts at $20,000, expect the one-off version to cost significantly more.

Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…

Topics

Motorcycles

Auto

Summer heat killers: EVs with the least range loss

Recurrent tracked the effect of summer heat on more than 29,700 electric vehicles.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Suppose you are considering an EV purchase or lease this summer and are concerned about battery range during heat waves. In that case, the results of a new study published by EV analytics firm Recurrent Auto can provide valuable guidance. Recurrent calls out the winners and losers in EV range hot temperature-sensitivity.

It's safe to say that EV battery range is affected by extremes in temperature, both hot and cold. As is the case with most general statements, that one, too, is subject to multiple "buts" and "howevers." Most studies of the effects of extreme cold on EV battery range or how hot temperatures can hamper your travel plans report on average EV travel range differences collected across a wide variety of EV brands and models. Some compile results from thousands of EVs of the same brand.

Auto

Indigenous designer Jeremy Arviso creates limited-edition Indian Motorcycle streetwear line

Arivso blends Indian Motorcycle DNA and indigenous visual elements

The Jeremy Arviso limited indigenous streetwear collection for Indian Motorcycle.

Indian Motorcycle announced a collaboration with well-known indigenous streetwear designer Jeremy Arviso. This limited-edition collection brings together Arviso’s bold style and the adventurous spirit of Indian Motorcycle. The nine-piece lineup celebrates a deep connection to land, community, and tradition.
Why Arviso created the collection

"Creating such a meaningful, modern expression of Native American style with a legendary brand like Indian Motorcycle, is both an honor and a privilege,” Arviso said. “For this collection, I drew inspiration from the brand DNA of Indian Motorcycle, while carefully integrating vibrant color and indigenous visual elements that symbolize movement and direction throughout the collection. Adorned with arrow motifs, each piece embodies a deep connection to land, community, and heritage.”

Auto

Adidas and Mercedes-AMG F1 launch Silver Arrows fanwear collection before British Grand Prix

The Silver Arrow collection is on sale worldwide at select Adidas retailers and the Adidas website.

F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli wearing Mercedes fan wear with a Mercedes-Benz W196 racecar.

Working with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team, Adidas launched the Silver Arrow pack, a collection of fanwear inspired by the Mercedes-Benz W196 race car. Current Mercedes F1 drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli posed with items from the Silver Arrow collection along with professional models.
Why celebrate the W196?

The W196 wasn't the first Silver Arrow. The first Mercedes to be called a Silver Arrow was the Mercedes W25, which debuted in 1934. However, driver Juan Fangio won the 1954 and 1955 F1 World Championships with the W196, which was among the several models referred to by the group name. The Adidas Silver Arrow collection celebrates the 70th anniversary of the W196's first F1 Championship season.