Looking for a work of art but lack the wall space? Look no more. What you see here is a piece of usable art available to almost no-one but you - and that you can take for a Sunday morning blast down your favourite roads. Bandit9, committed purveyors of the automotive avant garde, already have their work collected in museums. Now they’ve turned their attention to the Ducati Monster 821, turning a much-loved classic motorcycle into a piece of contemporary art. Nice, isn't it?
The out of this world looks of this Ducati are no accident. Bandit9’s stated philosophy is to produce "futuristic vehicles at the intersection of science fiction and art through modern engineering and state-of-the-art technology”. So when a customer in California came up with a commission, to be based on the V-twin Ducati, Bandit9 were ready and waiting. The result, you’d have to agree, wouldn’t look out of place in a 1950s version of the future.
Sculptural looks are intended to appear as if the Ducati is crafted from a single piece of metal. In fact construction - Bandit9 hand fabricate all bodywork themselves - is from polished carbon fibre to the rear and aluminium to the front, in what the company calls a “unibody”. Every detail has been fastidiously reimagined over an initial six month design period and an additional six month build. Each and every screw head has been hand polished. Petrol cap is hand milled aluminium. Foot pegs are bespoke. Did anyone say obsessive?
Bandit9 Ducati Monster 821: Keeping it clean
Key to the unibody look is concealment. Exhaust pipe? Now integrated into the bodywork with a sculptural - of course - outlet to the bottom of the bodywork. Tiny polyurethane seat is custom. Passenger? Why would you want that? Bandit9 want their latest creation to be ridden solo and ridden hard. As they put it, this is a bike with "tight geometry, low weight, and rigid frame” so that you, the rider, "lean deeper, brake later, and commit to every turn”. Can’t do that with a Picasso.
Performance is best described as brutal. Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tyres are responsible for putting 110 bhp onto the tarmac with - for the brave - 60 mph coming up in 3.3 seconds. That’s faster than a Ferrari Roma. And, we’d suggest, even more exhilarating. Top speed is 125 mph. There’s practicality too, since Ducati intended their bike for the daily commute, as well as for far reaching adventures. Tank is good for 145 miles, after which you’ll probably need a quiet rest with a calming espresso.
Initial bike has already been delivered to the lucky collector who commissioned it. They’ve agreed to allow Bandit9 to craft nine more, with pre-orders now open. You’re unlikely to see another one anywhere, let alone on the short run to your local budget supermarket for the weekly shop. At last glance, pre-orders are still available. Price? £33,000, not unreasonable for a two-wheeled artwork. Avant garde cocktails are on you.
Next up: Bandit9's L-Concept is a minimalist masterpiece.
