Red, sporty and Italian; Ferrari and Ducati have made their bones by making it very clear as to who they are and what they do. And even when Ducati have built non-sportbikes like the Monster or the Multistrada, they’ve gone and thrown in one of their race-derived sportbike engines into the mix for good measure. So, when in 2010 the company announced they were making a cruiser-styled motorcycle, of course, they equipped it with their WSBK-developed engine, and the Ducati Diavel has been a hit ever since. But with the recent change to a V4 engine for their Sunday sled – yes, another race-developed engine – Ducati China wanted to wish the old V2 powdered machines a found farewell, and recruited Beijing’s Mandrill Garage to build this incredible show stopper.

It’s been ten years since Luo Hao opened Mandrill Garage, and the Chinese custom bike scene simply hasn’t been the same since. In a nation of more than a billion people, he is without doubt the leading light in the custom scene and has spent the last decade, constantly elevating the standard of one-off machines in his country. In recent years he’s built some delicious Ducatis, and the company previously sought out his skills to build them a race-prepared Scrambler, to elevate their brand recognition in what is a very crowded market. So pleased were Ducati with Luo’s work on that project, that when it came time to farewell the V2 Diavel and welcome the V4 model to the nation’s shores, they once again called in the services of Mandrill.

“This Ducati Diavel captivates with its unique design language and strong visual impact. This project originates from Ducati China’s initiative to modify the last generation V2-engined Diavel, commemorating this classic model before being replaced by the Diavel V4,” Luo explains. And what a bike the original Diavel is, with its superbike Testastretta engine, hulking good looks and the sort of performance, in a straight line or through the twisties, that no other comfortable cruiser could come close to. And Luo wanted to retain these qualities, “The primary goal of the design team, despite the customisation, was to preserve the original sporty characteristics of the Diavel, which has left a significant impression among Ducati fans.”

But when it comes to the visual aspect of the build, all rules were thrown away, and it was a case of using the latest tech, to go where no man had gone before. But before the craziness unfolded, Luo and his team stripped the big Ducati back to get an idea of what they were working with. And the Diavel is a complex beast, there is a reason you see so few with modified bodywork. First, to make the job a little easier, they took the subframe from the more laid-back Xdiavel and used this to replace the stock item. The next task was then to take all of the components that had been removed from the bike to get to the frame, lay them out, and 3D scan them into the computer.

This would allow all of the new body panels and components to be designed in CAD software, and ensure perfect fit and finish. “Additionally, the design draws inspiration from the DMC in the movie “Back to the Future,” incorporating sharp angles and a brushed metal texture,” Luo tells us. You can certainly see the DeLorean vibe in those aggressive lines, but the next surprise for this build is that the bodywork is made neither of stainless steel nor aluminium. Once designed by the highly talented team, all of the panels have been 3D printed, which Luo explains is both a much faster process than working by hand, and also provides flawless fitup.

Over the top of the plastic fuel cell, the newly printed metal panels are enormous, and when viewed side on, they appear flat. But as you move to the front or rear of the Ducati, you can see that each panel is curved or concave, no more so than around the knee dents, where the lines tuck in tightly toward the seat. There is also a massive pair of of intake openings, which have been grilled off with more 3D-printed metal components and the tucked points at the front shoulders, demonstrate the incredible lines that can be achieved with this technology. To complete the pointy end of the bike, a stunning set of radiator covers have also been constructed and help to balance out the proportions and reduce the top-heavy feel.

The new X subframe having also been fully scanned, could now be kitted out with bodywork of its own, and here the CAD design really comes into its own. Knowing precisely where the panels would line up, a neat locking mechanism could be added and a storage compartment worked in, without ever really letting the viewer know where or how it all opens up. Vertical openings are left in the corners of the tailpiece, and printed lenses ensure that the taillights are all perfectly integrated into the design. Then it’s topped off with a new custom seat, which still delivers all of the comfort you’d expect from a cruiser.

To contrast with all of that brushed metal appearance, the rest of the bike is given the blacked-out theme, with a matte look used across the entire engine, fender and hugger, the wheels and the single-sided swingarm. But this is a Ducati after all, so the tubular steel main frame has been splashed with glossy red and accents of the same used in strategic areas of the bodywork to break up the lines. Of course, the project still retains all of the finest components as fitted from the factory, with an electronics package to die for, suspension from Ohlins and braking by Brembo. Mandrill Garage makes no apologies about pushing the envelope both in terms of technology and design, and when you have to turn heads in the land of a billion people, it’s all about go big or go home.

[ Mandrill Garage ]