Roadracing S.R.L. Ducati Monster
The European passion for motorcycling is evident in the small shops which specialize in the customization of road bikes — found in small booths and displays at the Milan show.
Pictured here is a Ducati Monster wearing many custom parts fabricated by Roadracing S.R.L. of Varese, Italy.
These pictures are designed to show this particular Italian company’s painstaking craftsmanship and attention to detail — and suggest the depth of commitment many Europeans have to the art of the motorcycle.
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Roadracing S.R.L. Tailsection |
Where is this commitment in the U.S.? Interestingly, it is almost exclusively confined to cruisers. Customized Harleys lead the way in the U.S., while sportbikes and other bikes receive far less attention from small parts manufacturers and designers. I’ve often wondered about this discrepancy between Europe and the U.S.
Although some customizing of sportbikes occurs in the U.S., it is a far bigger movement in Europe, where several magazines are devoted to the subject. Perhaps, in the U.S. we simply view sportbikes as functional objects more than beautiful forms. Utilitarian, and enhanced only by performance parts (pipes, cams, etc.), not by cosmetic changes. Food for thought.
