Ducati Monster

Ducati Monster
Manufacturer Ducati
Production 1993–
Class Naked bike[1][2][3]
Engine 90° V-twin, desmodromic valves
Transmission 6-speed
Frame type Tubular steel trellis
Wheelbase 1,440 mm (57 in) (all)
Seat height 770–800 mm (30–31 in)
Weight 168–177 kg (370–390 lb) (dry)

The Ducati Monster (called Il Mostro in Italian[4]) is a motorcycle designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi and produced by Ducati in Bologna, Italy since 1993. It is a naked bike, characterized by an exposed engine and frame.[1][2][3] The deliberate use of the trellis frame in the Ducati Monster is an integral part of the motorcycle's design allowing for both aesthetic appeal and for structural efficiency.[5] In 2005, Monster sales accounted for over half of Ducati's worldwide sales. Ducati motorcycles use almost exclusively 90° V-twin engines, which they call L-twins, with desmodromic valves, and tubular steel trellis frame, features designed by Fabio Taglioni (1920–2001).

The Monster line has had numerous variations over the years, from entry level 400 cc (24 cu in) bikes up to top of the line 130 hp (97 kW) multivalve, water-cooled superbike-engined versions, with as many as nine different Monster versions in a single model year.[6] The Monster's elemental simplicity has also made it a favorite platform for custom motorcycle builders, showcased at competitions like the Monster Challenge.[7] Monsters eventually accounted for two-thirds or more of Ducati's output.[8][9]

History

Conception and design

The Monster began as a styling exercise in 1992. The concept for the Monster was one Galluzzi had been thinking about for some time,[10] and it took time to convince the management at Cagiva and Ducati to build it.[4] Ducati technical director Massimo Bordi originated the idea for what they wanted the new bike to accomplish,[11] and assigned the design to Galluzzi. Bordi said he asked Galluzzi "for something which displayed a strong Ducati heritage but which was easy to ride and not a sports bike. He came up with a proposal and I thought, this was the bike Marlon Brando would be riding today in the film The Wild One!"[12] Bordi's intent was to enter the cruiser market,[13] with a bike that was made to be modified and would eventually have a wealth of bolt-on aftermarket accessories rivaling the range of custom and hot-rod parts available for Harley-Davidsons.[10][14] Previously Cagiva had attempted to move into this market with a more blatant Harley-Davidson cruiser imitation, the heavily chromed Ducati Indiana of 1986–1990. It made poor use of Ducati's desmodromic valve V-twin engines; and a full-cradle frame, not Ducati's signature trellis, played against Ducati's stylistic strengths.[15] Only 2,138 were made over four years.[15] Avoiding another embarrassment competing directly against Harley-Davidson with a banal imitation of the Harley cruiser, the Monster appealed to the same urban, style-conscious buyers who wanted a bike that could make an individualistic statement, but it did so with a motorcycle that they had not quite seen before, and was still unmistakably Italian and a Ducati.[16][17]

Because Bordi wanted Galluzzi to keep costs low,[12] the Monster was a humble "parts bin special," built not with newly designed components carefully engineered to work in unison, but by mixing and matching parts from existing Ducati models, beginning with the engine and forward half of the frame of a 900 Supersport,[4] a frame descended from the 851 superbike,[18] and the fork of a 750 Supersport.[19] Galluzzi penned a "muscular" fuel tank and minimalist bodywork that produced a visual impression of mass and strength, on a motorcycle that turned out to be surprisingly tiny and agile to the first time rider.[4] Motorcycle Consumer News design columnist Glynn Kerr described the Monster's statement as aggressive, "attributable to the head-down, charging bull stance."[20]

1990s

1999 Ducati Monster City

Ducati introduced three Monster models in its first generation: the M600, M750, and M900 (the numbers denote engine sizes). The first M900 was shipped in 1993, the M600 shipped in 1994, and finally the M750 arrived in 1996. In 1999, to close out existing stock of Monster parts, Ducati released several limited edition Monsters many with different levels of accessories, the most notable was the Monster City, which came in a unique blue color and featured leather briefcase style saddlebags and higher handlebars.

From 1994, a smaller displacement model, the M400, which produced 31 kW (42 hp) at 10,500 rpm, was built for specific markets where the tax or license system is particularly harsh on larger capacity or more powerful motorcycles. The M400 was mainly intended for Italy, Japan, and Singapore but was also exported to countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand. The M400 was based on the M600 with the same basic engine components, but a shorter stroke crankshaft and smaller diameter pistons.

2000s

Customized S4R Monster
2002 Foggy Ducati

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 four-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,named after four time Ducati Superbike Champion, Carl 'Foggy' Fogarty.[21]

In November 2005, a new top of the range model was announced: the S4RS Testastretta. This new model uses the engine from the 999 Superbike with Öhlins suspension front and rear and radial front brakes. Also in 2005, Ducati added the S2R Desmodue (two-valved Desmodromic engine) line to the Monster family: styled akin to the four-valve S4R, but with the simpler two-valve 800 cc and 1,000 cc motors in the S2R 800 and S2R 1000, respectively. February 2006 marked the announcement of the 2007 Monster 695. It replaced the Monster 620 and was introduced June 2006.

The Monster 696 was announced in November 2007,[22] and officially launched early April 2008 in Barcelona. Its 696 V-twin features the highest power output per cc of any Ducati air-cooled engine. The Monster 1100 was announced in September 2008. Based on the Monster 696, it comes with a larger 1078 cc engine, a single sided swingarm, radial brake calipers, larger forks and taller suspension.[23] In 2009, Ducati sold over 12,000 696 models, the first of their motorcycles to sell over 10,000 bikes in one year.[24] The 1100 "S" model features fully adjustable Öhlins suspension components,[25] a different colour scheme and aluminium brake disc carriers, which account for a 1 kg weight reduction.[23]

2010s

2010 Monster 796

In April 2010, the Monster 796 was announced, producing a factory-claimed 87 hp (65 kW).[26]

In November 2010, Ducati announced the Monster 1100 Evo, replacing the Monster 1100 and 1100s. The exhaust was moved to the side as opposed to underneath the seat, and the dry clutch changed for a wet clutch. Also, there was a change in the paint schemes.[27] Another major change is the inclusion of Ducati Safety Package (DSP) which is standard with the motorcycle. This DSP consists of ABS and Ducati Traction Control.[28]

As of November 2010, the Ducati Monster family consists of the 659, 696, 796 and 1100 Evo.

In October 2011, Ducati unveiled a new addition to the Monster family, the 795.[29] Essentially a 696 frame with the larger 803cc engine from the 796 wedged into it, the 795 is aimed specifically at the Asian market and will be assembled in a plant in Thailand.[30]

In November 2013 at EICMA, Ducati introduced the 2014 Monster 1200 and 1200 S, featuring the watercooled four valve 135/145 hp 1198 Testastretta 11 engine. It replaces the Monster 1100 Evo.[31][32]

As of January 2014, the Ducati Monster family consists of the 659, 696, 796, 1200 and 1200 S. [33]

The 796 was replaced by the Monster 821 in mid 2014, equipped with the 821 cc Testastretta from the hyper line, and incorporating the same electronics suite as the monster 1200.

Culture

On September 21, 2008,[34] a gathering of Ducati Monsters in Hamme-Moerzeke, Belgium, broke the Guinness Record for the "largest parade of motorcycles of the same brand and type." 405 Ducati Monsters were tallied.[35]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brown, Roland (2004), History of the Motorcycle: From the first motorized bicycles to the powerful and sophisticated superbikes of today, Bath, England: Parragon, p. 145, ISBN 1-4054-3952-1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Domino, Kevin (2009), The Perfect Motorcycle: How to Choose, Find and Buy the Perfect New Or Used Bike, 671 Press, p. 54, ISBN 0-9821733-3-4
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 de Cet, Mirco (2001), The Complete Encyclopedia of Classic Motorcycles: informative text with over 750 color photographs (3rd ed.), Rebo, p. 90, ISBN 90-366-1497-X
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Cathcart, Alan (July 1993), "CW Riding Impression: Ducati M900; The Monster Lives", Cycle World (Newport Beach, California: Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.) 32 (7): 42–46, ISSN 0011-4286
  5. ↑ Kepler, Jørgen, Structural optimization as a design and styling tool - with emphasis on truss structures..., Denmark: Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Aalborg University, CiteSeerX: 10.1.1.116.5691.
  6. ↑ Ducati (2011), Model Year archive, retrieved 2011-01-15 (Nine models in 2005. 2008 Monster S4R S Tricolore, claimed 130hp - 95.7kW [sic] @ 9500rpm )
  7. ↑ West, Jim (August 2006), "Monster — Ducati's 2006 Monster Challenge: finally, a biker build-off worth watching", Motorcyclist: 58(5)
  8. ↑ Ash, Kevin (3 June 2006), "This beast's a beauty Kevin Ash examines Ducati's latest Monster, the 695", The Daily Telegraph (London): 7
  9. ↑ West, Jim (October 2010), "2006 Ducati Monster Challenge - Family Album; Meet the motorcycle builders behind the bikes", Motorcyclist, retrieved 2011-01-15
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brown, Roland (1 4 August 1993), "Motoring: Ducati's heavenly Monster: The legendary Italian manufacturer has put its dark days behind it with a classic sportster, says Roland Brown", The Independent, retrieved 2011-01-19 Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ↑ "'Monster' Ducati", American Motorcyclist (Westerville, Ohio: American Motorcyclist Association) 47 (2), February 1993: 26, ISSN 0277-9358, retrieved 2011-01-17
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ash, Kevin (November 2001), Ducati people: exploring the passion behind this legendary marque, Sparkford, Nr Yeovil, Somerset, England: Haynes, pp. 26–31
  13. ↑ Ash, Kevin (2 August 2003), "The mother of all monsters", The Daily Telegraph, retrieved 2011-01-17
  14. ↑ Thompson, Jon F.; Bonnello, Joe (1998), Ducati, Saint Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks Workshop/MBI, pp. 87–92, ISBN 0-7603-0389-4, retrieved 2011-01-14
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Falloon, Ian (2004), Standard Catalog of Ducati Motorcycles 1946-2005, Iola, WI: KP Books, pp. 148–149, 156–170, ISBN 0-87349-714-7
  16. ↑ Ash, Kevin (6 January 2002), "A gamble worth taking; On Two Wheels Long-term test Ducati Monster S4", The Daily Telegraph (London): 7
  17. ↑ Ash, Kevin (18 February 2006), "Forever young; First Ride Ducati's new S4Rs demolishes any idea that the Monster is ready for its bus pass, says Kevin Ash", The Daily Telegraph (London): 7, retrieved 2011-01-19
  18. ↑ Dowds, Dowds (2002), Superbikes, Tangerine Press, ISBN 0-439-42466-6
  19. ↑ Falloon, Ian; Taglioni, Fabio (FRW) (2006), The Ducati Story: Racing and Production Models from 1945 to Present Day (4th ed.), Haynes, pp. 144–153, 192, ISBN 1-84425-322-8
  20. ↑ Kerr, Glynn (February 2008), "MC Design; Three Cheers!", Motorcycle Consumer News (Irvine, California: Aviation News Corp) 39 (2): 41, ISSN 1073-9408
  21. ↑ "2002 S4 Forgarty". Ducati. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  22. ↑ webbikeworld Ducati announces Monster 696
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Weir, Simon, "Ducati Monster 1100", RiDE (November 2008): 94–97, ISSN 1360-3507
  24. ↑ Ash, Kevin (3 Jun 2010). "Ducati Monster 796 review". Telegraph (UK).
  25. ↑ Roadracing World announces Monster 1100 and 1100S
  26. ↑ "Monster 796 - Technical Specifications". Ducati. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  27. ↑ "1100s vs. 1100 Evo". Bike Comparison. Ducati. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  28. ↑ Madson, Bart. "2011 Ducati Monster 1100 EVO First Look". Motorcycle USA. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  29. ↑ http://www.monster.ducati.com/M795.html
  30. ↑ http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/577/11353/Motorcycle-Article/New-Ducati-Monster-795-for-Asian-Market.aspx
  31. ↑ http://www.eicma.it/en/2013/11/ducati-monster-1200/
  32. ↑ http://www.cycleworld.com/2013/11/05/2014-ducati-monster-1200-and-1200-s-first-look-review-photos/
  33. ↑ "New Monster 1200 - The New Monster Ducati". Ducati. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  34. ↑ Omorogbe, Janie (29 August 2008). "Join Ducati monster bunch". The Sun.
  35. ↑ Omorogbe, Janie (10 October 2008). "Ducati have made it into the Guinness Book Of Records". The Sun.

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