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If there was a list that would include the most iconic bikes, the Ducati Monster would surely be a part of it. It has been the workhorse for Ducati alongside the scrambler raking in sales hands over fist. But, time spares none and the Monster was also starting to show its age. Well, not anymore because we have a new Ducati Monster for 2021.
The new Ducati Monster will be replacing the Monster 797 and the Monster 821 in Ducati's lineup. A slight quirk here is that it does not have any numbers and will simply be called Ducati Monster. We like that! About the timeline, the new Ducati Monster will hit the dealerships somewhere around April 2021.
Talking about the motorcycle, the new Ducati Monster is a rather radical upgrade and not just some facelift. We've got the 937cc Testastretta 11° engine. The styling is very modern and yet, in line with the OG Monster of the era bygone. There has been a substantial reduction in weight and that's saying something because the Monster was already very... well, monstrous.
In addition to all of that, Ducati is also offering a lot of customization options for the new Monster which we think is a major step forward. Why? Decal packages and replaceable designer plastic covers from the factory? That could actually be a norm or a cue for other manufacturers to follow!
Talking about the engine, it is now Euro5 compliant, of course. There are 110 horses on tap which is not a lot of gain over the Monster 821 but the new Ducati Monster thrives on Newton-metres more than horsepower. The engine is good for 93 Nm of torque quite a bit of which is available in the lower revs.
But the biggest 'news' regarding the new Ducati Monster is the weight... or the lack of it. 188 kg of kerb weight is nuts! To put it into perspective, that is nearly 18 kg less than its predecessor! That is why 110 bhp, 93 Nm, and 188 kg (kerb) is the headline here as we believe the new Ducati Monster will be a hoot to ride.
Diving a little deeper, let us talk about the reduction in weight than just the number. The biggest contributor to this weight loss regime is the new front frame design. It takes a lot of cues from the Panigale V4 and Ducati claims this new frame alone helped the new Ducati Monster shed around 4.5 kilograms.
Another 2 kilos were cut by using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) for the subframe. The wheels and the swingarm also contributed to around 4 kilos of weight loss. The new 937cc Testastretta 11° is also 2.5 kilograms lighter than the engine on the Monster 821.
Accessibility is also a major benefactor or detractor in sales when it comes to this segment. The new Ducati Monster excels there as the seat height is 820mm with a lower seat and lower suspension option that can make the saddle as low as 775mm.
Now, being the most affordable Ducati does not mean it is not a Ducati so the electronics are top-notch too. Cornering ABS, IMU-assisted traction control, wheelie control, launch control and a colour TFT dash are to name a few. Ride-by-wire tech with 3 modes should not even be a surprise but what should be is the inclusion of an up/down quickshifter.
The clutch is hydraulic and uses a radial pump along with the front master cylinder. Brembo brakes are on offer but the not the top shelf ones which is very much in line with the segment and the budget. The suspension system though disappoints a little as it could have used more than just preload-adjustable rear shock.
The only problematic bit that we can think of is the reaction of Ducati loyalists around the world as the new Ducati Monster says goodbye to the single-side swingarm and the trellis frame. If we had a choice between more fun, more tech and tradition, we'd probably go with the latter but the same cannot be said of everyone...
And here are some more photos:
The new Ducati Monster will be replacing the Monster 797 and the Monster 821 in Ducati's lineup. A slight quirk here is that it does not have any numbers and will simply be called Ducati Monster. We like that! About the timeline, the new Ducati Monster will hit the dealerships somewhere around April 2021.
Talking about the motorcycle, the new Ducati Monster is a rather radical upgrade and not just some facelift. We've got the 937cc Testastretta 11° engine. The styling is very modern and yet, in line with the OG Monster of the era bygone. There has been a substantial reduction in weight and that's saying something because the Monster was already very... well, monstrous.
In addition to all of that, Ducati is also offering a lot of customization options for the new Monster which we think is a major step forward. Why? Decal packages and replaceable designer plastic covers from the factory? That could actually be a norm or a cue for other manufacturers to follow!
Talking about the engine, it is now Euro5 compliant, of course. There are 110 horses on tap which is not a lot of gain over the Monster 821 but the new Ducati Monster thrives on Newton-metres more than horsepower. The engine is good for 93 Nm of torque quite a bit of which is available in the lower revs.
But the biggest 'news' regarding the new Ducati Monster is the weight... or the lack of it. 188 kg of kerb weight is nuts! To put it into perspective, that is nearly 18 kg less than its predecessor! That is why 110 bhp, 93 Nm, and 188 kg (kerb) is the headline here as we believe the new Ducati Monster will be a hoot to ride.
Diving a little deeper, let us talk about the reduction in weight than just the number. The biggest contributor to this weight loss regime is the new front frame design. It takes a lot of cues from the Panigale V4 and Ducati claims this new frame alone helped the new Ducati Monster shed around 4.5 kilograms.
Another 2 kilos were cut by using glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) for the subframe. The wheels and the swingarm also contributed to around 4 kilos of weight loss. The new 937cc Testastretta 11° is also 2.5 kilograms lighter than the engine on the Monster 821.
Accessibility is also a major benefactor or detractor in sales when it comes to this segment. The new Ducati Monster excels there as the seat height is 820mm with a lower seat and lower suspension option that can make the saddle as low as 775mm.
Now, being the most affordable Ducati does not mean it is not a Ducati so the electronics are top-notch too. Cornering ABS, IMU-assisted traction control, wheelie control, launch control and a colour TFT dash are to name a few. Ride-by-wire tech with 3 modes should not even be a surprise but what should be is the inclusion of an up/down quickshifter.
The clutch is hydraulic and uses a radial pump along with the front master cylinder. Brembo brakes are on offer but the not the top shelf ones which is very much in line with the segment and the budget. The suspension system though disappoints a little as it could have used more than just preload-adjustable rear shock.
The only problematic bit that we can think of is the reaction of Ducati loyalists around the world as the new Ducati Monster says goodbye to the single-side swingarm and the trellis frame. If we had a choice between more fun, more tech and tradition, we'd probably go with the latter but the same cannot be said of everyone...
And here are some more photos:
nice try to make us think it will be reliable
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