MONSTER’S A BALL
Fresh air-cooled simplicity returns to Ducati’s Monster range
Tradition is playing an ever more significant part in Ducati’s current good fortunes. The Scrambler range, which relies heavily on the firm’s history, has sold over 32,000 units since its launch in 2015 and there is a clear strategy to make more of the rapidly-expanding retro scene. The good news for Ducati on this front is the fact that the 1993 Monster M900 gives them a legendary air-cooled café racer to draw upon. The bad news is that in 2014 they canned production of air-cooled Monsters in favour of water-cooled versions. But this wrong has been righted in 2017, and the Monster 797 sees air-cooling make a welcome return. Ducati have also ensured the Monster 797’s price, while still erring on the side of premium at £7895, is around the same as its successful Scrambler. The engine is the same 803cc air-cooled unit, the fork is non-adjustable, while components such as the steel tank and LED lights are shared with the Monster 1200. But this is far from a parts-bin special as Ducati have ensured the small details that keep it true to the Monster ethos. It has top quality Brembo brakes, a wet weight of just 193kg and styling cues that hint strongly at its café heritage. The ignition is recessed in the tank and there’s a ski-boot style buckle to hold the tank down, just like on the original Galluzzi-styled Monster. It’s basic, generally devoid of plastic infill panels – unlike the Monster 821 – and it mirrors exactly the philosophy Galluzzi used when designing the original. And it rides the same, too.
The wind in your face
When you’re carving through the bends on the new 797 all you see before you is the road ahead. There are no distractions, and the LCD dash is set nicely below your eye level so that it is easy to read when required, but not obstructive to your view. This is a bike that’s all about enjoying the sensation of being on two wheels – and thanks to the wide, flat, bars you feel exposed and open to the elements, which is exactly the feeling you want from a bike like this. Yes, I could moan about the lack of weather protection, but if you want a screen to hide behind, buy a tourer. Handling has always been an integral part of the Monster’s heritage and the 797 doesn’t let the side down. The
suspension is quite firm, and down a twisty (and it has to be said smooth) road the 797 displayed stacks of agility. This is a bike that can really be enjoyed in the bends by both newer and more experienced riders alike. As you would expect, those Brembo brakes bite hard, adding to the 797’s sporty feel, but I think they could do with a bit more feel. Those braided lines deliver a dead sensation that I’m not sure suits a bike aimed at retro riders or those wanting a good-looking town bike. And, unlike Monsters of old, the 797 really does work in city streets.
Making light work of it
The addition of Ducati’s APTC clutch (which first appeared on a Monster) means your left hand doesn’t get a workout at every gear change, and although the ’box is quite clunky, it’s a fitting part of the bike’s overall retro appeal. And the air-cooled motor is the icing on this Monster’s cake. Some riders go all misty-eyed over an air-cooled Desmodue engine, personally I’m more practical. Yes, it certainly looks far more aesthetically pleasing than the water-cooled 821, but for me it is the way it responds that I like so much. The throttle connection is superb, the deep rumble from low revs is just what I want a Ducati to sound like, and it’s got more than enough get-up-and-go to be fun. The revs run out at around 8500rpm, and with just 74bhp on tap it’s not that fierce, but V-twins are about their low-to-midrange drive, and the Monster has more than enough of that. In fact, 80% of its maximum torque is delivered by the time 3500rpm is visible on the dash. But for me the real deal-sealer is that despite ultimately not being as fast at the 821, the 797’s air-cooled motor is more fun to use. And that’s what Monsters have always been about – the simple joy of being on two wheels. It’s also why I’m actually very pleased it doesn’t have traction control, variable fuel modes or an anti-wheelie system. This is the most rare of modern bikes – a turn-key fun, simple machine. Just get on and enjoy without the need to read a two-inch thick instruction manual before you pull away.
‘The 797 is fun, and that’s what Monsters have always been about’