Ducati Monster

Ducati Monster at Wheels Of Italy

The Monster (informally called Il Mostro in Italian) is a motorcycle designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi and produced by Ducati Motor Holdings in Bologna, Italy since 1993. It is of the naked bike style, which is characterized by a sport bike with a fully exposed engine and frame. In 2005, Monster sales account for over half of Ducati's worldwide sales. Ducati motorcycles are best-known for their L-twin Desmodromic valve engines (also known as a 90° V-Twin) and tubular steel trellis chassis, both features designed by the late Fabio Taglioni (1920-2001).

History

1990s

Ducati introduced three Monster models in its first generation: M600, M750 and M900 (the numbers denote engine sizes). The first, the M900, was shipped in 1993; the M600 shipped in 1994, and finally the M750 arrived in 1996. The bike remained relatively unchanged until 2000, when Ducati added fuel injection to the M900 model. Perhaps more importantly, in 2001 Ducati also introduced the S4, which added the liquid-cooled 4-valve Superbike engine to the stable. Other technical changes that year included semi-floating front disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers, lighter Brembo wheels as well as 43 mm Showa inverted forks. 2002 saw the introduction of the limited, 300 edition, high-spec, S4 Fogarty

Customized S4R Monster

S4 Fogarty Monster

2000s

There are currently eight models, the M620, M620 Dark, M695, MS2R, MS2R Dark, MS2R1000, S4R, and S4Rs. For 2007, the M620 and M620 Dark will be replaced by the M695 and M695 Dark, respectively. US prices range from $6,795 to $15,495. For 2005, Ducati added the S2R model to the Monster range; styled akin to the 4 valve S4R, but with the simpler two valve 800 cc motor. In 2005, the S2R1000 has extended the Desmodue (two-valved Desmodromic engine) S2R line.

In November 2005, a new top of the range model was also announced, the S4RS Testastretta. This new model uses the engine from the 999 Superbike with Öhlins suspension front and rear and radial front brakes. February of 2006 marked the announcement of the 2007 Monster 695. The 695 L-twin features the highest power output per CC of any Ducati air-cooled engine. It replaced the Monster 620 and was introduced June 2006.

November of 2007 saw the announcement of the Monster 696 due for release in 2008.

Official Links

• Official Ducati Monster product page

• Ducati vs Japanese Motorcycles Ducati compares their motorcycle offerings to those of Japanese manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki.

External links

• Ducati Monster Production & Distribution Table Complete Ducati Monster Production and Distribution numbers for the USA and Europe covering the years 1993-2004.

• DucatiMonster.org Large online community dedicated to Ducati Monsters.