Let’s start with the good news: the new Monster weighs just 416 pounds wet, a ~40 pound reduction from the current model. The 937cc Testastretta motor produces 111 horsepower and a healthy 69 lb-ft of torque (and desmo service intervals are up to 18,600 miles). The bad news: it doesn’t look like a Ducati, does it? Discuss!
If you’re curious, the dry weight is just 366 pounds. Other basics you should know:
– There’ll be two models (both with the 937cc engine): the Monster ($11,895) and the Monster+ ($12,195). The three hundred dollar difference gets you a seat cowl and flyscreen.
– Ducati bucked tradition when they dumped desmo valves for the new Multistrada, and they’re doing it again by dumping the trellis frame that’s defined the Monster from the beginning.
– It’s full of the requisite tech that’s now making its way downmarket: TFT display, cornering ABS, launch control, wheelie control, bi-directional quickshifter, and ride modes.
Mechanically, this seems very impressive (particularly the technology and the low curb weight). Visually, it’s cool but it doesn’t feel like a Ducati. In fact, it looks Japanese to me. That doesn’t mean it’s ugly, it just means it blends in too much.
If there weren’t any decals on the tank, I might have guessed this was a new Suzuki SV650 at first glance.
Are the visual sacrifices for light weight going to be worth it? Hopefully I’ll get the chance to find out. Until then, here’s Ducati’s Press Release for more details. It’s entitled “Light, Compact, Accessible And Fun“. Expect the new Monster at your local dealer in April 2021.
(or if you’re a visual learner, here’s Ducati’s video):
Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), December 2, 2020 – The Ducati World Première web series has come to an end with the fifth and final episode in which the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer unveiled the new Monster. A motorcycle that marked the history of Ducati like few others. It is the best-selling model ever: more than 350,000 have been produced since its presentation.
The new Monster represents all the essence of Ducati in the lightest, most compact and accessible form possible. You can already guess it from the name: Monster, nothing else.
The recipe is the original 1993 Monster: a sporty engine, but perfect for road use, combined with a Superbike-derived frame. All that you need to have fun, every day.
The new Monster is based on the same concept that binds it to the unforgettable Monster 900, the first, true sports naked, but reinterpreted and updated. The result is a bike with an advanced, easy and efficient chassis, capable of immediately establishing the perfect feeling with the rider. The riding position is easier on the wrists and the engine offers an excellent balance between power, torque and ease of handling.
To create the new Monster, the engineers and designers started from scratch, but with a clear idea of the key points around which the new bike was to be built. Lean and agile, the bike integrates the guidelines incorporating the DNA of each Monster that make it immediately recognizable: fuel tank shaped like a “bison back,” “shoulder-embedded” round headlight, clean tail and engine at the heart of the bike. The design language, however, is new and modern. The shapes have evolved in a direction in which essentiality and technology are enhanced by design, as in the circular profile of the front LED headlight and in the “sweeping” direction indicators.
The new Monster is sporty and fun.
The Monster is powered by the Testastretta 11° 937 cc twin cylinder L-shaped engine, with desmodromic distribution. Compared to the previous 821 it increases in displacement, power, torque and decreases in weight (-5.3 lb) to contribute to the lightness of the bike and offer better rideability. It now delivers 111 hp at 9,250 rpm with maximum torque of 7 ft lb (9.5 Nm) delivered at just 6,500 rpm, delivering efficient and reactive throttle response. Thanks to the increased displacement, the torque is improved across all revs, particularly in the medium-low range, most suited to the road and through corners. This will guarantee thrilling performance as well as riding ease and pleasure, also supported by the new gearbox and the Ducati Quick Shift Up / Down fitted as standard.
The new Monster is light.
To ensure maximum fun, great attention was paid to weight reduction in the creation of the new Monster. Chassis, accessory elements and superstructures have been redesigned from the ground up to create a compact and lightweight bike, perfect for everyday use as well as for sports use.
The aluminum Front Frame replicates the same concept found on the Panigale V4. It is short and attached directly to engine heads. With a weight of only 6.6 lb this frame is 9.9 lbs lighter (60% less) than the previous trellis, helping to reduce the dry weight of the bike to just 366 lbs.
Each component has been redesigned and lightened: the rims lose 3.75 lbs and the swingarm is lightened by 3.5 lbs. The rear subframe decreases by 4.2 lbs thanks to the GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) technology with which it was made, that has allowed the optimization of shapes and surfaces to the benefit of lightness and dimensional compactness. The total weight saving is 39.7 lbs compared to the Monster 821.
The new Monster is easy, in any situation.
The height from the ground of the seat of the new Monster is 32.3 in (820 mm). This, combined with the narrow sides of the bike, allows the rider to put his feet on the ground very easily. A seat is available as an accessory that reduces the height from the ground to 31.5 in (800 mm), while still maintaining good padding. And, for those who wish, a spring kit can be purchased to lower the seat height to 30.5 in (775 mm).
To ensure maximum maneuverability at low speeds and facilitate maneuvering from a standstill, the steering angle has been increased to 36° (+7° compared to the 821). The handlebar has been brought closer to the rider’s torso by about 7 cm to have a more upright riding position that guarantees greater comfort and control. The foot position has also been changed, to reduce the bend of the leg. All this translates into greater riding ease, even in city traffic.
The new Monster is technological.
The standard equipment includes ABS Cornering, Traction Control and Wheelie Control, all adjustable to different levels of intervention. The sporty character of the bike is also underlined by the Launch Control which ensures lightning-fast starts. This electronic equipment allows to express the performance of the bike in all safety.
The new Monster is equipped with three Riding Modes (Sport, Urban, Touring) that allow to shape the character of the bike according to tastes and needs. Everything is easily managed through the handlebar controls and the 4.3″ color TFT dashboard featuring racing graphics that echo those of the Panigale V4, with a large rev counter that shows the indication of the gear inserted.
The Monster has always been a symbol of customization.
To allow each Monsterista to make their bike even more unique, sticker kits have been created that enhance the shapes of the Monster and celebrate Ducati’s sportiness. For those wishing to accentuate the style of their Monster in an even more distinctive way, alternative styling kits will be available. As with all Ducati motorcycles, a wide range of Ducati Performance accessories is also available, such as the double Termignoni approved silencer with carbon fiber end caps. In the section dedicated to the configurator on Ducati.com all the customization options can be viewed.
The new Monster is available in Ducati Red and Dark Stealth with black wheels, Aviator Grey with GP Red wheels. For those who want the bike with an even sportier image, there is the Plus version in the same colors with an aerodynamic windshield and the cover for the passenger seat as standard. United States pricing for the Monster will begin at an MSRP of $11,895 for the Ducati Red color, with the Monster Plus starting at $12,195 for the Ducati Red color. The Monster in Dark Stealth and Aviator Grey color will have an MSRP of $12,095, while the Monster Plus starts at $12,395 for the Dark Stealth and Aviator Grey color. For Canada, the Monster will start at an MSRP of $13,495 CAD for Ducati Red and an MSRP of $13,895 CAD for the Monster Plus in Ducati Red. The Monster in Dark Stealth and Aviator Grey will start at an MSRP of $13,695 CAD for Canada, and for the Monster Plus in Dark Stealth and Aviator Grey it will begin at an MSRP of $14,095 CAD.
The Monster will be available in Ducati dealerships in the United States and Canada starting from April 2021.