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Roland Sands Design (RSD) converted a customer’s Ducati Desmosedici RR into a one-off “Desmo Fighter,” changing its riding position and adding custom streetfighter bodywork. It was a commissioned project—not a factory Ducati variant or a production conversion kit. RSD’s stated brief was to make the rare bike more comfortable to ride while preserving the original motorcycle and keeping the result recognizably Ducati.
Why the owner commissioned the conversion
RSD says the owner found it increasingly difficult to ride the Desmosedici RR in its original superbike posture and chose to transform it rather than sell it. The builder describes the result as a one-and-only original for the client. Its guiding rules were to improve comfort, preserve the original machine without cutting or modifying its remnants, and retain a clear visual connection to Ducati.
The RR is a significant base for a custom project: Ducati Heritage identifies it as the road version of the Desmosedici project and says the series was limited to 1,500 motorcycles. Ducati describes the model as derived from the GP6, its 2006 MotoGP World Championship machine. The factory specification provides context for the donor bike, not a complete specification of the modified example.
| Ducati Desmosedici RR factory figure | Published value |
|---|---|
| Production | 1,500 motorcycles, according to Ducati Heritage |
| Engine displacement | 989 cc, according to Ducati Heritage |
| Power | 200 hp at 13,800 rpm, according to Ducati Heritage |
| Dry weight | 171 kg, according to Ducati Heritage |
These are Ducati’s figures on its undated Heritage page, accessed in 2026. Ducati’s technical overview also describes the RR’s hybrid tubular steel frame, Öhlins suspension, forged and machined magnesium wheels, and Brembo brakes. RSD’s account does not establish that every factory component remained unchanged through the conversion.
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How RSD changed the riding position
The ergonomic changes focused on replacing the RR’s low clip-on handlebars with a more upright setup. RSD removed the clip-ons and designed a one-off top triple clamp for its pullback risers and ProTaper handlebars. It also made rearset spacers to lower the foot pegs slightly.
RSD says the aim was to take weight off the rider’s wrists and reduce knee bend. Those are design goals, not measured results: the build account gives no before-and-after riding measurements or independent evaluation of comfort.
Rank #2
- ✅ 1/18 Diecast Model Motorcycle
- ✅ Highly detailed model of the Ducati Corse Desmosedici
- ✅ Die-cast metal body with plastic parts
- ✅ Electrostatic paint coating
- ✅ Highly detailed collectible
How the custom bodywork was developed
Rather than simply adapt off-the-shelf streetfighter parts, RSD describes a digital-to-fabrication workflow. It scanned the un-faired motorcycle with a Peel scanner, brought the data into a virtual-reality modeling program, and 3D-printed models to create molds for the final carbon bodywork. RSD presented the workflow as a new design and production approach for the company.
The bodywork was shaped to keep cues from the original bike. RSD describes a custom upper fairing modeled on the Desmo tank shape and a hand-shaped windscreen. It also fabricated radiator and frame covers intended to align with the factory styling and be reproduced in carbon fiber. New reservoir mounts accommodated the changed handlebar position.
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- 1:12 Scale Ducati Panigale V4S Motorcycle
- Dimensions approximately L-6 inches long.
- Made of diecast with some plastic parts.
- Officially licensed product.
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Streetfighter details and planned changes
The builder’s account describes a 7-inch LED headlight and a fabricated gauge mount designed to leave the ECU in its original position. It also identifies the Termignoni GP7 titanium racing exhaust and says a new lower fairing would mate with that system. The lower fairing is described as a planned piece, so it should not be assumed to have been completed in the account’s documented stage.
RSD also said it planned to replace the original 16.5-inch rear wheel with a 17-inch wheel to broaden tire options, and named Dunlop Q4 street tires. The account does not establish the final wheel configuration, provide a complete final parts list, or verify that these parts or dimensions are suitable for other Desmosedici RRs.
Rank #4
- Detailed model kit in 1:12 scale
- Tools, glue and paints are not included with the plastic kit. These must be purchased optionally.
- International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.
What this build does—and does not—establish
The RSD Desmo Fighter is useful as an example of a bespoke approach to a more upright Desmosedici RR: custom controls and bodywork were designed around one owner’s motorcycle, with preservation of the original machine as a stated constraint. RSD’s project account, published August 29, 2022, documents the builder’s intent and described work; it is not an independent ride test.
- RSD documents a commissioned one-off, not a Ducati factory model or announced production conversion.
- The account does not publish a conversion price, a complete final parts list, or a measured change in weight or ergonomics.
- It does not provide verified dimensions or compatibility guidance for adapting the handlebar setup to another RR.
- It does not establish current availability, road legality, or sale status for this specific motorcycle.
Anyone considering a similar cockpit conversion would need to confirm fitment and steering, cable, and hose clearance for the exact motorcycle and parts. RSD’s account supplies no dimensions or verified alternative components.
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Sources
- Roland Sands Design, “RSD Desmo Fighter”, published August 29, 2022.
- Ducati, “Desmosedici RR | Historical Models”.
- Ducati Media House, “Ducati Desmosedici RR: The Ultimate Ducati Experience”.
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