The world of custom motorcycles is as vast and varied as art itself. Some customs are wild and unrecognizable, others are so subtle you might not even know they’ve been touched. It’s a blurry space; one where a stock bike with an aftermarket pipe, bar-end mirrors, and a tail tidy might already count as “custom.” And who’s to argue? That’s the beauty of it. It’s all about expression.
Then there are bikes like this: Bandit9’s absolutely jaw-dropping take on the Ducati Monster 821. This isn’t a parts-bin special or a catalog build. This is a ground-up transformation, one that takes a familiar sport-naked and turns it into a rolling piece of futurist art. At first glance, you might not even think that it’s a Monster. But it is. Or at least, it was.
Bandit9, if you’re unfamiliar, is a Vietnam-based design studio known for treating motorcycles like canvases. Their work isn’t just about performance or nostalgia. It’s about storytelling, form, and emotion. Think concept bikes made real. The company has turned everything from small-capacity Hondas to Harley-Davidsons into genre-bending machines that wouldn’t look out of place in a sci-fi film. Founder Daryl Villanueva leads the charge with a background in advertising and design, and it shows—each build is highly visual, deeply intentional, and unmistakably unique.
This Monster 821 build started as a one-off commission. The plan was to build a single unit for a private client. But somewhere along the way, Bandit9 decided it was too good to keep exclusive. Now, they’re building nine of them, and they’re up for grabs.
It’s not just a Monster in new clothes. Sure, the 821cc V-twin remains, delivering 110hp and a 0 to 60 mph sprint in 3.3 seconds. But everything else has been touched, redesigned, or rebuilt. The most striking change is the full fairing—a sleek, hand-formed shell made from polished aluminum that wraps the bike in a futuristic silhouette.
Eevery component feels like it belongs. The carbon fiber seat blends seamlessly into the bodywork. The custom exhaust is integrated into the lower part of the fairings. There’s no visual clutter. No dead angles. It’s as clean and unified as a concept bike—except this one actually runs.
Despite the visual overhaul and added bodywork, performance remains very much intact. Top speed sits at around 120 miles per hour, and with a 16-liter fuel tank, it’s got enough legs for long stretches of open road. It’s a showpiece you can actually ride, which is a rare combo in the high-art custom world.
So how do you make something like this yours?
If you’ve got deep pockets and fast fingers, you can reserve one of the nine units directly from Bandit9 for $44,900. It’s not cheap, but considering the work involved, it’s fair game.
But maybe you’re the DIY type. Maybe you’ve got your own Monster 821 sitting in the garage, waiting for its glow-up. While replicating Bandit9’s design exactly would be a tall order, the philosophy behind it is what matters. Start with intention. Strip the bike down to its essence. Don’t just bolt on parts—think about how each element interacts with one another. What story do you want to tell? What kind of reaction do you want your bike to evoke?
Sources: Bandit9, Gear Patrol
