Bandit9 is back with a fresh take on its Ducati 821 custom, and this one carries a cause. The Vietnam workshop teamed up with (RED), the nonprofit that turns brand partnerships into funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS, to create a dedicated edition of its Ducati-powered machine.
We covered the Bandit9 Ducati Monster 821 last July, when the shop announced plans to build just nine examples. That machine returns today as the (RED) 800, same outrageous shape wearing a fresh skin. Deep crimson fades into raw brushed aluminum, a hand-applied effect that takes serious hours. Each example’s bodywork is shaped, brushed and painted individually, so every one is its own piece.
Handcrafted Aluminum Bodywork Meets a Cause
The makers describe the bodywork as sculpted from scratch with a level of detail you rarely see on two wheels. (RED) sums it up best: “an unexpected meeting of color and raw metal, executed by hand. It’s this kind of unconventional thinking and meticulous execution that defines a Bandit9 motorcycle.”
Bandit9 (RED) 800: Ducati 821 Engine and Specs
Power comes from Ducati’s 821 cc Testastretta 11-degree L-twin, tuned here for 110 horsepower and 65.8 foot-pounds of torque. The liquid-cooled engine is shared with the Desert X, Multistrada V2 and Hypermotard. Dry weight sits at just 386 pounds, and 0-60 mph takes around 3.3 seconds.
Bandit9 built a custom tubular steel trellis frame to keep all that torque in check. The 59.1-inch wheelbase is short enough to promise quick turns. Suspension comes from Sachs at both ends, 43 mm forks up front and a double-adjustable monoshock out back. Stopping power comes from dual 320 mm rotors with Brembo monobloc radial calipers, with ABS backing it up.
Pricing, Availability, and the (RED) Partnership
You can order the (RED) 800 directly from Bandit9. Each one costs $49,900 and $14,000 from every sale goes to (RED)’s charitable cause. Production is capped at nine units, the same playbook the original 821 ran.
Images Courtesy of Bandit9
