Month in bikes

Monster range reduced and new do-it-all bike introduced

All-new Ducati Monster

DUCATI IS SLASHING its range of Monsters and instead replacing it with this — a lightweight, 109bhp, 937cc V-twin with an aluminium Panigale-aping frame and a ticket price of £10,295.

Previously, there were four bikes in the Monster family, ranging from the £7995 797 to the £15,095 Monster 1200 S, but with none of these certified for the Euro5 emissions laws for bikes that come into effect from this January, Ducati has had to rationalise.

This bike, which uses a version of the motor used in the Multistrada 950, Supersport and Hypermotard machines should be a good step up in performance from at least the entrylevel monsters. Its 109bhp is 2bhp up on the old mid-level Monster 821, while it produces 6lb·ft more torque.

Losing weight has been key — at 188kg wet, Ducati claims it’s 18kg lighter, due in part to a cast-aluminium frame replacing Ducati’s once-trademark steel trellis.

Of course, there is all the electronic rider aids you’d expect in 2021, including a up-and-down quickshifter. There is also a ‘Plus’ model with cosmetic tweaks that retails for £10,545.

Run-out Monster 1200s are listed but when they’re gone, they’re gone.

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PLASTIC FANTASTIC As well as doing away with the steel trellis, the subframe is made from Glass-fibre Reinforced Polymer to save weight — the first time we’ve see this on a £10k middleweight There will also be an A2-compliant version available ERGONOMICS The new Monster is easier to get comfy — bars are 70mm closer to the rider and pegs are 10mm lower than the old Monster 821