Skip to main content

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.

Former Contributor

Miles Branman doesn't need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn't strong in his own family, Miles…

Topics

Motorcycles

Auto

Is the BMW XM a perfect blend of practicality and performance

What it lacks in handling, it makes up for in comfort and practicality

Car, Transportation, Vehicle

The BMW XM has received a bit of a mixed response, but there’s a strong argument that it’s a logical next step on from the BMW M5. Think about it, the M5 is special because it combines practicality with exceptional performance. The BMW XM does the same thing, though you’re trading a little handling quality for far more practicality.

On a recent venture in BMW’s performance SUV, I weighed up the pros and cons of BMW’s most divisive vehicle. And it may be a better choice than BMW’s flagship.

Auto

Is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 the best sports coupe on the market?

It's fast, good looking, and the sound of its V8 will send shivers down your spine.

Side view of a Mercedes-AMG GT 63

When it comes to entertaining vehicles, it’s hard to beat a good sports coupe. And, despite it being a competitive segment, there’s an argument that the Mercedes-AMG deserves a spot close to the top of the sports coupe table.

In terms of direct rivals, the AMG sits in a similar bracket to the Porsche 911, Maserati Granturismo, and the BMW M8 Competition. All of which offer a lot of power, excellent handling, and an eye catching exterior.

Auto

McLaren and Motul develop bespoke lubricant to keep them on top

Motul uses McLaren Racing to test the limits of their formulas

Auto Racing, Car, Formula One

My first vehicle was a 1988 Ford Ranger. It was small, reliable, and the perfect first car. However, I wasn't allowed to park it in the driveway at home because it went through as much oil as it did gas. The leak was bad enough that I had to check and refill the oil once a week. The same cadence as the gas tank. That was where I learned the importance of fluids for cars. McLaren hits the Formula 1 tracks across the globe with that importance at the forefront of mind as they compete for the championship, and will now be teaming with Motul to take their collaboration for the world's most reliable lubricant to the world of endurance racing. From the high stress of speed in Formula 1 to the endurance of long-distance racing, the perfect bespoke lubricant is on the way.

McLaren was already using a very high-performance transmission fluid, with an extremely high level of requirements. Our challenge was to go even further: decrease friction losses even more while ensuring lubricant durability over time. The formulation developed with McLaren Racing has been validated to maintain its performance over several thousand kilometers under Formula 1 conditions. And this is only the beginning: in F1, cars are constantly evolving, and the formulation will continue to progress as well. - Julien Plet, Head of R&D at Motul.