Before Ducati took the Monster in a lamentable direction by removing its signature trellis frame and swathing it in plastic, the Ducati Monster 821 was the best new Monster you could get. Stacked alongside the smaller, air-cooled Monster 797, and the totally bonkers, liquid-cooled Monster 1200, it was more refined than the former and more manageable than the latter. The 821 was a perfectly proportioned package, packing a 112-horsepower wallop, and dripping with Italian swagger and brutal elegance.
This custom Ducati Monster 821 pulls back some of that elegance, and dials the 821’s inherent brutality up to the max. It’s the work of Jérémie Duchampt at Jerem Motorcycles in France, and it’s so audacious that we can’t help but love it.
The biggest visual hit is the Monster 821’s radically redesigned rear end. Jérémie retained the OEM fuel tank but ditched everything behind it. Then he fabricated a compact trellis-style subframe, welding it directly to a new scooped seat pan.
The custom saddle that sits atop it offers a similar amount of real estate as the original rider perch, sans the passenger accommodations. The upholstery is gorgeous; executed by Yaya Brush Sellerie, it uses two different fabrics with contrast stitching, giving it a modern muscle car feel.
A pair of aftermarket mufflers pokes out from under the seat, paying homage to the under-seat exhaust systems on older Monsters. The cans are linked to the stock headers by way of handmade connector pipes. And if you take a closer look at the subframe, you’ll spot a pair of Kellermann combination taillight and turn signal LEDs, mounted on integrated stems.
Perceptive Ducatisti will notice that the 821 no longer wears its dual-sided swingarm. Instead, Jérémie adapted the burly single-sided unit from a Monster 1200S to fit. An Öhlins shock props up the rear.
Jérémie also transplanted the bigger Monster’s wheels, which meant having to machine a handful of parts to make them fit. The 821 still uses its stock forks and Brembo brakes, but they’ve been rebuilt and anodized. Fresh discs and pads ensure that the Monster stops as good as it looks, while Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa tires optimize the bike for road use.
Next, Jérémie threw a truckload of delectable Ducati-specific hop-up parts at the 821. The list includes a hydraulic clutch conversion from Ducabike, a CNC Racing clutch slave cylinder, a GB Racing water pump, and upgraded plumbing.
The cockpit features new clip-ons, with a Jerem-branded nameplate blanking off the original riser mounts. Jérémie kept the OEM switches and dashboard, but swapped out the grips and added CNC-machined bar-end mirrors. The brake and clutch controls are from Accossato, and the rear-set foot controls are from CNC Racing.
The front end is finished off with an LED headlight and Kellermann turn signals, mounted on custom headlight brackets. A handmade aluminum fender sits further down, while a custom belly pan adds a sporty touch to the Ducati.
The Monster 821’s bold new aesthetic is bolstered by an even bolder livery. A candy alpine blue dominates the build, adorning the forks, fuel tank, and subframe. Gold acts as an accent color, coating a few select hard parts and the 821’s trellis frame, while visually connecting the top frame tube to the yellow rear shock spring.
The powertrain is almost completely blacked out. That’s partly thanks to an unending list of carbon fiber covers, but it’s also thanks to the wrinkle-black paint on the ignition cover.
Boldly nicknamed ‘Icon,’ Jérémie’s reimagining of the Monster 821 is brash and unapologetic, but also tastefully executed. We certainly wouldn’t turn down a ride.
