MEET THE JUDGES: ROLAND SANDS

1998 AMA 250GP National Champion, Founder of Roland Sands Design

California native Roland Sands, a veteran of pro racing, is one of today’s elite custom motorcycle design-builders. The 1998 AMA 250GP National Champion founded Roland Sands Design in 2005 following his success on “Biker Build-Off.”

Sands grew up in the Performance Machine shop by sweeping floors before moving up to assembly, sanding, polishing, wheel designing, eventually working his way to Director of R&D. Of course with an eight-year stint in the road racing circuit. His eponymous Roland Sands Design designs concept motorcycle parts and builds custom motorcycles. RSD works with major motorcycle manufacturers to design concept and prototype motorcycles and promote benchmark product in the motorcycle industry and beyond. Sands designs mix sport bike and chopper influences to create distinguished custom bikes. Lately Sands has brought his sense of style from bike to gear with a distinct vintage influence.

Following the success of his Concept 90 for the BMW R Nine T, Sands recently unveiled the BMW Concept 101, a custom “bagger” created in California through a collaboration with BMW Motorrad, BMW Designworks at the Concorsod’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

From the BMW Press release: “The concept bike took concrete shape on the premises of Roland Sands – just under an hour away from Newbury Park amid the heartland of the Los Angeles custom bike scene. In close collaboration with the BMW Motorrad design team, Roland Sands assembled the exclusive parts of the “Concept 101” at his own workshops. BMW Motorrad and the custom bike specialist have worked together successfully for several years, having completed inspiring projects such as the Concept Ninety, for example. Roland Sands’ familiarity with the scene and enormous expertise in custom building combined with the possibilities and history offered by BMW Motorrad make for an exciting partnership. Sands put together the many parts of the BMW Motorrad “Concept 101″ in his workshop, elaborately producing individual elements exclusively by hand. As a result, signature machine parts such as the clutch cover, timing chain cover and wheels all bear his logo, discreetly bearing witness to a collaboration that has proved successful for many years. The material finish and technical design are state-of-the-art, thereby reflecting in detail the fundamental BMW Motorrad statement: precision and emotion.”