Bandit9’s Arthur II Looks Less Like a Motorcycle, More Like a Metallic Mirage

When you first lay eyes on Bandit9’s Arthur II, it feels like catching a glimpse of something halfway between a motorcycle and a mirage. It doesn’t wear its engineering on its sleeve like most bikes. Instead, it presents itself as a seamless, flowing object — polished metal uninterrupted by the usual visual noise of bolts, welds, and brackets. Bandit9, known for turning two-wheelers into gallery-worthy objects, leans fully into craft and restraint here, letting the shape do all the talking.

Arthur II is crafted entirely by hand, something that feels refreshingly authentic in today’s world of AI slop. The body is manually hammered, bent, and coaxed into form using classic metalworking tools, not robots or CNC mills. The result is a unibody construction—one continuous piece of metal that flows from front to rear without a single exposed seam. Built atop the dependable Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 chassis, Arthur II doesn’t just disguise the bones underneath; it transforms them. The usual mechanical clutter is tucked away beneath its reflective skin, leaving behind something that looks less like a bike and more like a prop from a Syd Mead sketchbook.

Designer: Bandit9

On paper, the Arthur II keeps things grounded. It retains the 648cc air- and oil-cooled parallel-twin engine from Royal Enfield, delivering a modest but reliable 47 horsepower and 52 Nm of torque. It runs on 18-inch wheels wrapped in 100/90 tires up front and 130/70 in the rear, with disc brakes on both ends. The suspension setup is practical—telescopic forks at the front and twin coil-over shocks at the rear.

The entire build measures 2,070mm in length, stands 1,024mm tall, and weighs 198kg, making it surprisingly manageable for something that looks like it could double as an art installation. A stainless-steel exhaust, custom leather seat, and minimalist dashboard round out the essentials, proving that Bandit9 didn’t forget this is meant to be ridden, not just admired.

What sets Arthur II apart isn’t the spec sheet, though—it’s the attitude. Bandit9 makes no attempt to blend into the crowd or pander to nostalgia. Instead, they create machines that feel like they’ve stepped out of a parallel timeline where motorcycles evolved as sculptures first, vehicles second. And yet, there’s no pretense here. The craftsmanship is real, the materials are honest, and the proportions are carefully considered. Every angle, curve, and reflection feels like it’s been argued over and perfected, not just designed to turn heads but to hold attention.

Bandit9 has made a habit of sidestepping convention. Previous builds like the EVE Odyssey, with its NASA-inspired aluminum body, or the compact, retro-futuristic Nano e-scooter, follow the same playbook—functioning machines presented as objects that could just as easily sit on a plinth as they could on a street. Each shares the same DNA: unibody construction, meticulous handcraft, and a wink at classic science fiction without falling into pastiche. Arthur II feels like the latest chapter in that ongoing narrative, refining the approach rather than repeating it.

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