Suzuki GD 110 Baby Brat Finds Potential Where No One Would’ve Thought to Look

In essence, the bulk of the Asian market simply wants a reliable machine that can efficiently take you from A to B on the packed streets of cities like Bangkok. Japanese manufacturers have long been catering to this client base with models tailored to the needs of its demographics. Most of these never make it to Europe or North America, so you probably never heard of something called the Suzuki GD 110.

The model is extremely popular in places such as Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines, though. It’s powered by an air-cooled, carbureted 113cc single with two valves and a blistering eight horsepower on tap. All this tarmac-splitting force travels to the rear wheel via a four-speed gearbox, while tiny front and rear drum brakes offer stopping power worthy of the racetrack.

Sarcasm aside, the GD 110 is simultaneously one of the ugliest and most basic motorcycles you’ll find on this big blue Earth, but it gets the job done and that’s what matters to those who buy it. Although few would ever think of this unassuming Suzuki as a decent candidate for customization, the Thai specialists over at K-Speed saw some potential and decided to prove naysayers wrong.

Looking at the cute little one-off they nicknamed Baby Brat, it’s hard to believe that it had once been the antithesis of anything you’d deem exciting. K-Speed went to great lengths in order to make this possible, demonstrating how even a GD 110 can become a showstopper in the right hands. The Baby Brat is still no speed demon, of course, but it does look at least a quintillion times better than its stock self!

With the donor on their workbench, the guys started by taking off its factory bodywork and sending it where it rightfully belonged – in the trash can. The OEM wheels and shock absorbers followed suit, along with the exhaust system, subframe, and lighting hardware. Then, K-Speed's gurus were left with a blank canvas ready to be restyled however they pleased.

Starting with the powertrain mods, the GD 110’s single-cylinder engine received a fresh carburetor that breathes through a velocity stack as opposed to the standard airbox. Where the motorcycle’s original exhaust pipework had previously been, we now see a handsome stainless-steel alternative from K-Speed's proprietary catalog of aftermarket parts.

Unsprung territory is home to a new pair of 17-inch wheels, whose rims are embraced by vintage-looking tires from Thai manufacturer Vee Rubber. This updated setup gives the bike a much brawnier appearance without compromising its handling, and equal consideration was given to the suspension side of things.

K-Speed chose to retain the GD 110’s telescopic forks, but had them shortened and fitted with rubber gaiters for a retro touch. At the rear end, suspension duties are assigned to chrome-plated aftermarket shocks with progressive springs. These bad boys support a looped subframe that’s been fabricated from scratch, and the whole shebang is finished off with a stunning leather seat.

Right behind the saddle, you’ll spot a circular LED taillight and a bare-bones license plate bracket, yet there’s no fender to speak of. The stylish fuel tank placed center-stage is a bespoke unit made in-house, wearing a matte color scheme with white accents over a black base. This is the only piece of bodywork you’ll find on the Baby Brat, and minimalism is the name of the game in the cockpit, too.

A new handlebar was welded atop the upper triple clamp, subsequently gaining murdered-out grips and control levers. Dials and rear-view mirrors have been deemed superfluous, as were any front or rear turn signals. To round things out with a pinch of modern technology, the K-Speed crew installed a modestly sized, yet sufficiently bright LED headlamp.

Just like its rear end, the front part of the bike is also devoid of any protection against road debris. Some may point out that practicality is lacking here, but this was never one of the shop’s objectives on this build in the first place. What K-Speed sought to do was more about showcasing how they can turn just about any motorcycle – even the GD 110 – into a real head-turner.

At no point were these lads interested in giving the Baby Brat a practical nature, and we have absolutely no problem with that! It only takes a brief side-by-side comparison between this and a stock GD 110 to see why we’re so thrilled with their work, but prepare to be repulsed before you start searching for pictures of the standard iteration. Don’t say we haven’t warned you.