For more than two decades, the Monster family of models has lured fresh blood into Ducati dealerships. By default, Monsters have filled an entry-level role at the Bologna-based company. But over the years, even seasoned Ducatisti have embraced flagship versions of this Italian naked, recognizing it as a practical alternative to Ducati’s hard core sportbike offerings.
The new Monster 1200, a third-generation bike, continues that tradition, especially the S model with its upgraded suspension, brakes, and electronic mapping that unleashes 10 additional peak horsepower. Both new Monsters, though, deliver a fresh take on the model’s iconic styling while delivering a higher level of engine and chassis performance that’s complemented by a refinement that showcases Ducati’s commitment to leveraging the latest technologies. Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali, on hand at the Monster’s international press introduction in the Canary Islands, explained: “We are working very hard on the combination of mechanics and the electronic systems to make the engine and the bike able to cope with many different situations. When we entered into the Audi family, they pushed us even more because they want the company to be a technological leader.”
While liquid-cooling has been a feature of select Monsters in the past, the 2009 introduction of the 1098-based Streetfighter also ushered in a new chapter of the Monster story with the air-cooled Monster 1100 and more recent 1100 EVO. Now, with the liter-class Streetfighter no longer being built, a large-displacement liquid-cooled Monster makes perfect business sense.