At giant fairs like SEMA, EICMA or the Tokyo Motorcycle Show, standing out among thousands of bikes and builds is almost an impossible mission. That’s why the Japanese gear brand HYOD decided that if it was going to attract attention, it would do it in a big way: with a Ducati Monster S2R 1000 literally transformed into a mythological creature, named “Argos” and created by Deus Ex Machina Tokyo.
The commission is born: a real showstopper
With the challenge of capturing the attention of distributors and an international audience, HYOD could have taken the easy route: decorating a modern superbike with the colors of one of its star riders. Instead, they picked up the phone and called Tomoyuki Soeda, workshop chief at Deus Ex Machina in Tokyo and a metalworking master known for his brat-style creations. Among the bikes in his own collection, the perfect base appeared: a Ducati Monster S2R 1000, one of the models that helped save the Italian brand and that combines the charismatic two-valve Desmo twin with high-end chassis components.
From Monster to mythological monster
Soeda had always thought that the custom builds based on the Monster fell short of what its own name suggests. For this project, he decided to go much further, drawing inspiration from the thousand-eyed giant of Greek mythology, Argos, and from the fantastic Japanese “Nine Tails” figure from manga. The idea was clear: a bike that looked like a living creature, unsettling and asymmetrical, capable of attracting stares and provoking visceral reactions.
Major surgery: chassis, subframe and tank
The first step was stripping the Ducati down to the last bolt and rethinking the rear end from scratch. Instead of settling for the typical shortened subframe with a clean loop, Soeda built an entirely new rear structure, with a very short upper rail that extends forward. This tube serves a double purpose: it supports the seat and acts as the rear mounting point for a completely new fuel tank, leaving behind the long, recognizable tank of stock Monsters. The result is a more compact and aggressive silhouette that sets the stage for the rest of the transformation.
Metal, nickel and a new scrambler tank
Once the welding work was finished, the subframe was polished and coated with a nickel finish that highlights the lines of the original tubular chassis. The handmade tank abandons the traditional Monster aesthetic in favor of a scrambler style, integrating elegantly within the Ducati chassis triangle. It features side knee indents, a lowered front section that allows the original ignition switch location to be retained, and a solid filler cap housed in a meticulously crafted filling tunnel.
Minimal bodywork and a front end that’s downright scary
The rest of the bodywork is kept restrained so it doesn’t compete with the visual protagonist of the build. Up front, there’s a classic-style carbon fender; at the rear, a large carbon hugger that wraps around the tire and reinforces the muscular presence of the back end. But the wildest element is the front: an asymmetric, almost melted-looking fairing that seems ripped from a nightmare. The lights are offset, combining a main LED headlamp with a yellow-lens auxiliary projector, evoking those “evil eyes” from the legends that inspired the project.
Colors and HYOD craftsmanship
To complete the build, the chassis, tank, and lower triple clamp received a soft cream paint that contrasts with the metallic finish of the engine. The front fairing is painted to match the engine tone, while the single-sided swingarm sports an elegant silver finish. The seat, of course, is a perfect showcase of HYOD’s leather expertise. A high-quality leather piece with diamond stitching and topstitching. The dry clutch is left exposed, uncompromising, displaying its mechanics and warning anyone who gets too close.
Mission accomplished
Argos, the Ducati Monster S2R 1000 reimagined by Deus Ex Machina for HYOD, is not meant to be a clean café racer. It’s a bike designed to stop people in their tracks at a crowded show. More than a custom build, it’s a statement of intent on how Japanese craftsmanship and myth come together in today’s motorcycle world.
🔗Deus Japan |
