In ‘traditional’ motorcycling nations, certain brands retain a reverence that too often dictates that a certain path must be followed or face the wrath of the peanut gallery. A Matchless should be restored, not modified, a Harley must remain a mean American and Ducati is high-end artistry that must be respected. However, in places like Indonesia and India, we have seen builders free themselves from these mind-forged manacles and let only their imagination determine the limit. And in the stunning Indian city of Jaipur, beauty is a way of life, and with just a simple request from the owner, Rajputana Customs have crafted an elegant vintage racer named ‘Veloce’, carved from the solid foundation of a 2007 Ducati S2R 800.
Headed up by Vijay Singh, Rajputana Customs has become a global powerhouse in the custom scene, often partnering with the biggest manufacturers to craft big-dollar one-off builds. And for clients who want only the best, they can be confident their beloved bike is in good hands. So, when client Lewis Gomindes from Goa got in touch to have the crew build up his Ducati into something world-class, he needed only offer the most minimal of briefs. “Build an aggressive Cafe Racer”. No fluff, no compromises! From the outset, the team set out to create a machine that looked fast standing still, while paying homage to the golden era of hand-built racers.
And in the S2R 800, you get the most compliant of the SR Monsters, narrow and neat, with that simple and yet brilliant 2-valve Desmo engine. The two areas that pose the greatest challenge, however, are the trellis frame and the factory fuel tank, and each has been expertly dealt with. The rear of the chassis has been trimmed back, with a new lick of paint and fresh plugs ensuring an uber clean finish. At the front, Veloce makes its presence known immediately. An aluminium front fairing houses a distinctive triple-headlight setup, giving the bike a purposeful, endurance-racer stance.
But what really makes this piece so clever is the way its narrow form stays tight to the bones, tucked inside the lines of the chassis and mirroring the cut-outs to perfection. Add in the meshed-out mini grille and the hexagon-holed and blacked-out screen, and the aggression aspect of the build is immediately taken care of. Those narrow proportions and tight fit also dictated further changes, with the fairing stays ultra compact, barely visible and doing nothing to impede the turning circle. While the tucked in nature of the piece meant the ignition had to be relocated.
Most Monster builds retain the factory tank. Why? Yes, the perimeter trellis frame makes finding an off-the-shelf replacement all but impossible. But the stock unit is the least attractive aspect of the model, and there was no way the Rajputana team was going to keep it. Instead, they’ve gone for that ’50s-inspired, long racer look. The entire unit is hand-made from sheets of aluminium, beautifully shaped with the perfect mix of subtle curves, extended lines and knee dents that make a real impact. The fact that it also sits inside the outer edge of the frame rails just makes it that much better.
All of which flows seamlessly into a hand-stitched leather seat for more of that vintage racer vibe, and an aluminium rear cowl, which creates a clean, uninterrupted line from tank to tail. It’s the kind of visual balance that only comes from careful proportioning and a deep understanding of classic race bike design. Nothing feels added on; everything feels intentional. Below the waistline, the attention to detail continues. An aluminium belly pan wraps the lower half of the bike, visually grounding the build.
The Desmo engine, now encased in handcrafted alloy, has been thoroughly cleaned up and then blacked out. With the belt covers, clutch cover and cases all hit with a matte black finish for an ultra cohesive look. To let the rider hear the intake roar, pod filters aid the breathing, and then on the exhale, things get serious! A 2-into-1 exhaust system terminates in an aluminium box muffler that sits beneath the swingarm pivot, keeping things clean and lightweight, while delivering a soundtrack that’s as raw as the bike’s appearance suggests.
Just like the engine, the entirety of the suspension setup has been given the black on black treatment, with everything from the forks and clamps to the rear linkage and spring, hit with the haunting hue. All of these items are brilliant from the factory, as are the Brembo brakes and those stunning lightweight wheels, which have been wrapped in genuine Pirelli SC2 race rubber to complete the visual transformation. In the end, the name says it all. ‘Veloce’, Italian for rapid, is less about outright speed and more about the sensation of it. Rajputana Customs have thrown off the shackles of fear, and undaunted by the Ducati S2R’s reputation, have crafted arguably one of the best custom examples of the model ever created.
