Several bikes from the Bandit9 collection could easily pass as art installations at London’s Tate Modern. Daryl Villanueva, chief at Bandit9, skillfully fabricates innovative bodywork from raw steel sheets, effortlessly integrating it with the underlying mechanics of each donor motorcycle. Notwithstanding his latest assignment, Daryl has reverted to a more traditional café racer configuration. Built around a Royal Enfield Continental GT, the Arthur Bandit9 cafe racer is a motorcycle that many riders would be eager to take out for a spin at home.
Commissioned by Royal Enfield, the Arthur mission tasked Bandit9 with pushing the boundaries of the immensely popular Continental GT cafe racer to unprecedented heights. When faced with the challenging task of reimagining iconic styles in Enfield’s fashion scene, Daryl decided to leverage his greatest strengths. “We shape molten iron and metal into sweeping arches and sinuous curves.” All elements flowing seamlessly together. No destination in sight.
While distinct in its styling motifs, Arthur stands far removed from the typical cafe racer archetype. Daryl discovers that the Bandit9 cafe racer’s body design is rooted in a parametric mathematical equation, its curves and lines meticulously crafted using computational methods. While I’m skeptical of claims I don’t understand, the designer’s approach has surprisingly yielded a beautifully sinuous double cradle structure. The bicycle’s sleek frame has been meticulously crafted by hand from metal, with precision detailing that eliminates any rough edges or ergonomic discomfort. The Bandit9 cafe racer presents a sleek, cohesive finish, further emphasized through meticulous attention to chrome plating details.
Bandit 9’s innovative spirit is unlikely to wane anytime soon, and their Continental GT is no exception – a testament to their boundless creativity and design prowess. Daryl designed the Enfield’s bespoke suspension by choosing a unique combination: inverted forks featuring externally mounted springs. The dual rear shocks are completely exposed and mounted horizontally rather than vertically, offering a unique design element. The suspension design allows the tail to remain suspended above the rear wheel, significantly impacting the bike’s overall appearance. To enable the unique design of the rear suspension, a bespoke swingarm has been crafted, which is steered via a proprietary set of ‘crossbow’ handlebars carefully designed to accommodate this innovative feature.
The level of intricacy involved in the custom work on the Bandit9 cafe racer is impressively thorough. The entire complex was built from the ground up over the duration of a single 12-month project. The motorcycle components consist of Arthur’s rear-set footpegs, triple clamps, headlight, taillight, and bar-end finishers. Despite the surrounding abundance of effort and innovation, the iconic 535cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine remains largely unaltered in its essence. A minor adjustment to tune a velocity stack and the only point of exhaust is the extent of any energy produced effectively.
The Arthur Royal Enfield Continental GT will be offered in a limited edition series of Bandit9 cafe racers, distinct from other custom builds. Only five of the nine bike sequences remain. Daryl is offering to provide the bikes for a price of $19,800 USD. Considering the considerable effort invested in crafting each piece, it is truly a budget-friendly investment. If you’re keen to acquire some of the most unique Royal Enfields globally, reach out to him promptly to make it happen.
BANDIT 9 MOTORS
