The Suzuki DR 800 S Big is the sort of bike no one would design today. It was the thumper to rule all thumpers, with a whopping 779 cc single-cylinder motor, long-travel suspension, a big front wheel and rally styling. That meant it was a little ridiculous, but sort of cool at the same time.
Depending on your perspective, the DR Big’s late 80s to early 90s styling is either retro-fabulous, or hasn’t dated well. And while it has something of a cult following, it’s not considered as untouchable as, say, a mint condition BMW R80G/S Paris Dakar.

So when this 1991 model Suzuki DR Big was dropped off at Unik Edition’s workshop in Moscavide, near Lisbon, shop founders Tiago Gonçalves and Luis Gonçalves (not related) weren’t too precious about cutting into it. ?A customer had this original but rusty DR 800, and said that he wanted something ?cool?,? explains Tiago. ?So I said why not do something more ?artistic?"?

Tiago referenced a Land Rover built by local Landie workshop CoolNVintage as inspiration. It was most notable for its chassis, which was adorned with offbeat artwork by multi-disciplinary artist Vasco Costa.
Tiago, Luis and their team decided to shed the DR Big’s shell, ‘scrambler‘ it, and get the very same artist to finish it off.

In place of the rally-esque beak and contoured tank is a whole new set of pick-‘n’-mix bodywork. Unik modified and fitted the fuel tank from an older Suzuki GN model, a...