Suzuki GSX-R1100 Quartadose Swaps Boxy OEM Overalls With Leaner Cafe Racer Attire

That being said, it’s been a while since we’ve last inspected one of Mr. Martini’s builds, so let’s change this and familiarize ourselves with Quartadose. The said machine was put together by Nicola and his crew in 2022, with their sights set on cafe racer styling right from the get-go. For the project’s starting point, they turned to the legendary Gixxer platform from Suzuki.

Let us be more precise, though; the chosen donor was a GSX-R1100 from the model-year 1991, meaning it came with a 16-valve, 1,127cc inline-four motor good for up to 143 hp. This grunt is handed over to the rear wheel via a five-speed transmission, enabling the Japanese titan to run the quarter-mile in just over 10 seconds on its way to a 167-mph (269 kph) top speed.

Suzuki’s flagship sport bike had been thoroughly refined by the early nineties, with a wealth of improvements made since its inception in 1986. As such, Mr. Martini found the ‘91 MY GSX-R1100 to be a perfect candidate for his custom treatment, and it certainly didn’t hurt that its engine is an absolute beast even by today’s standards. The bike wasn’t quite stock upon arrival at the shop in Verona, though.

Although Nicola hasn’t made it clear what modifications were present on the machine at that point, he did say the whole thing looked rather unsightly. However, this is far from being the case following his makeover, and it all began with a complete teardown. As the GSX-R was being taken apart, its factory subframe and most bodywork components were shown the door.

On the other hand, the original suspension, brakes, and wheels have all been retained as per the client’s request. Mr. Martini focused mainly on the cosmetic side of things, kicking off the fabrication work with the construction of a new tubular steel subframe. Of course, welding this part onto the main aluminum skeleton was a definite no-no, so the Italians had to bolt it on instead.

Atop the handmade subframe lies a svelte cafe-style tail section, which was also built in-house using fiber-reinforced polymer. Nicola stashed a good chunk of the motorcycle’s electrical hardware within this bespoke tail unit, but he called in reinforcements when it came to the seat upholstery. This job was outsourced to Tommi Casaro, who came up with an elegant solo saddle wrapped in black leather.

LED lighting and a compact license plate holder complete the Quartadose’s rear-end equipment. The stock Gixxer fuel tank is still present, as Mr. Martini decided it would be a good fit for the desired cafe racer appearance. By contrast, the front end is a radical departure from what it had once been, now wearing a classic Ducati SuperSport-style replica fairing that was trimmed down to achieve the right proportions.

Tailor-made aluminum brackets were used to secure the new fairing in place, while the GSX-R1100's twin-headlight setup made way for a single retro-looking headlamp. This module deliberately protrudes from the fairing as opposed to sitting flush with its surface – a cool little detail you’ll see on many of Martini’s bikes. In the cockpit area, the makeover was pretty simple, yet highly effective.

All the original controls are still present, but they’re now installed on a fresh pair of aftermarket clip-ons from Tommaselli’s inventory. A single rear-view mirror is located on the left-hand side, and the stock gauges are stored inside a custom-built foam housing. With the running gear and engine internals remaining unchanged, the only mechanical mods performed on Quartadose had to do with its intake and exhaust.

The creature’s air- and oil-cooled four-banger inhales through premium air filters supplied by K&N, while the exhaust received a custom connector pipe and a single SuperTrapp muffler. Ample grip comes by way of Racetec tires from Metzeler, but there’s no word on the origin of that front fender. Finally, the last thing Mr. Martini needed to address was the paintwork, and it had once again been decided that handing this task over to a specialist was the best way to go.

Nicola sent the caffeinated Gixxer to +39Kustom on the shores of Lake Garda, where it received a tasty colorway blending gloss-black and a greyish blue finish. White pinstripes also make an appearance, along with Quartadose emblems and Suzuki tank graphics done in black. While the paint job was being taken care of, Martini busied himself with applying a handsome brushed effect on the frame and swingarm.