What we’ve learned after 1580 miles
Jim reflects on our first miles with the Monster
I’VE ALWAYS HAD a hankering for Italian engineering. The passion and elegance that seems to be inherent in everything from an espresso machine to a Le Mans race-car calls to my soul and I am invariably able to forgive many foibles for that all-encompassing emotive feeling. And Ducati is one of the names that instantly gets my heart going.
Some Ducati tifosi see the ‘21 Monster as a bit too Japanese; it’s done away with the trellis frame and adopted the 937cc V-twin used by the Multistrada 950. But is it a ‘real’ Monster or a toned-down offering that uses the name alone? We spent 1600 miles finding out…
1 The engine is delightful
Anyone who has ridden the Multi 950 will know that the big V-twin is lovely. It has a slightly rough edge to it, so you know it’s a living, breathing thing and has a note that doesn’t so much suggest an intent; it screams it at you. The first time I blipped the Monster’s throttle as it was warming up, the grin on my face was instant. As soon as I got it back from the 600-mile service and the full rev range was unlocked, the smile grew and hasn’t abated. It’s powerful in the mid-range yet continues to pull as you hang on to the revs — the power and torque curves show it’s incredibly smooth. Peak torque is 69lb·ft but it has more than 60lb·ft from 4000rpm to 9500rpm. And when you open the throttle wide, oh, the induction roar is pure opera… Noooo compare...
2
The chassis works perfectly with it
The latest Monster is not fully-active, fully-adjustable with electronic damping tweaks, rider modes and blah blah blah… The front suspension has no adjustment and the rear shock pre-load only. And it works, for 85kg me. I get on it and ride it and it responds instantly. It is an incredibly flattering bike to ride and I’ve already written about the voice that goads you into committing harder to corners but then reassures you that together, you’ve got this. It can be a little harsh on long, straight roads but that’s not what it’s about — it’s about tipping it in and riding it through as many fast A- and B-road twisties as you can find. Part of that is down to the weight — 188kg — and part to its compactness, as a result of its new frame. But the result is a bike that is amazing fun to ride.
3 The brakes are awe-inspiring
With the kind of performance and handling that the Monster offers, it’s no surprise that the brakes, using radial Brembo calipers, are superb. The front-brake lever action is light but tactile and the bite is firm without being grabby. The outright power is staggering – you can easily get the rear wheel light. The rear isn’t quite so inspiring; I tend only to use it in corners to get the bike balanced or in traffic but find there’s little feel to it — the
pedal works but it feels dead.
4 It is remarkably versatile…
In the three months I’ve been partnered with the Monster, we’ve been through most riding scenarios. On the open road, it is delightful — it’s where it was born to be. And on the racetrack, it also excels, as the closed-environment means you can really explore its — impressive — abilities. It does okay on traffic-clogged motorways and dual carriageways and filtering through traffic is easy — it’s light and manoeuvrable and that booming V-twin is a warning to others of your presence in its own right. Initially I didn’t like urban riding, as the engine shunted a fair bit at low speed slipping the clutch makes it happier there. It will do — almost — everything, including carrying a photographer pillion, leaning off for a shot of sports boots for the opener for last month’s Product Test…
5 … but it’s not perfect
However, like much Italian machinery, it does have those foibles. It will do motorways for a while but get much past 80mph and it gets noisy and hard work to hold on. And at these speeds, vibrations in the bars make my fingers start to tingle after 30 minutes and go dead after 45 and by butt follows suit after around 75 minutes — good job you need to stop for juice every 90 minutes or so. The mirrors are hopeless — you have to stick your head out or your elbows to your belly button to see what’s directly behind you and they too vibrate so that on the motorway, you can make out vague shapes at best. The motor also produces a vast amount of heat, which at lower speeds, can start to become uncomfortable on the legs.