The Ducati Monster
Ducati | October 22, 2010The creations of Ducati have always been show stoppers. In 1992, Ducati opened the doors to yet another magical creation, designed by Miguel Galluzi: the Monster 900. Of course, with a parent producer that combines the best of technology with sound business sense, you could expect a lasting buzz.
What is the Ducati Monster about? How it is different from other Ducati bikes? The Monster 900 was classic Ducati gone wild. It combined the bests taken from some of the best models around. It came with a Pompone engine derived from the Supersport range. This engine had a capacity of 904 cc along with air/oil option. The Monster also included a metal lattice borrowed from the 851/888 group of motorcycles. All these made sure that a new genre of bikes was ready to rule the road. The Monsters are machines with personality.
The success of this bike series inspired editions and revised editions since its launch in 1992. Today, the popularity of the series has reached great heights. Most models of this series have achieved the pedestal of instant recognition and unadulterated praise.
The first generation was not only about the Ducati M 900. The same generation also saw the birth of the M 600 and the M 750 (like the M 900 model, these numbers also denote the size of the engine). There was an offshoot model, a less-known M400, which was oriented mainly for the Italian market. The last decade of the 20th century saw the evolution of the bike, but the biggest success was to come in the new millennium (it accounted for half of all Ducati productions in 2004).
So, what were the transformations that the previous generation models faced? The 900M got metamorphosed into a fuel injected engine in 2000. However, more distinct renovations were set to come later. Actually, the following years came with lot of alterations for the Monsters. In 2001, the S4 was introduced; 2002 was the year of the innovative four piston calibers and 2004 saw the new model, the aptly titled Testastretta (S4RS); 2005 saw the inclusion of the twin-valved Desmodromic engine.
Today, there are four major models of this Ducati series. They are the 1100 S, the 1100, the 796 and the 696. They all have the regular feature of twin-valved engines, which are air-cooled. The twin valves of the powerful engine provide the greatest output power of all Ducati bikes. The suave Monster 696 was launched on November 07, with its formal ceremony being held at Barcelona in early 2008. September of 2008 saw the reincarnation of Monster 1100. Originally based on its popular predecessor, this model enters the game with an engine of 1078cc. Additional features included: lengthier suspension, swing arm (one sided), radial-brake calipers and bigger forks. The “S” design from the same series features completely adjustable components of suspension and disc brake carriers made of aluminum.
The popularity of Ducati has reached such unprecedented standards that today, owning a Ducati is a subject of pride for bike users.
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