Motorcycle specifications Ducati1200 Monster 2020 The hearts of men

The life of a Monster isn't always easy. You have to seduce, be esteemed, carry the love rating through the generations, live the road with emotion and, above all, not be stingy about giving it away. You also have to take risks, as was the case with the 1200. In one fell swoop, it took over from the 1100 Evo, heralding the demise of the Streetfighter range, while sounding the death knell for the big air-cooled twin.
The lady had grown in stature, shoulders and shape... All muscle, of course. And then, the demeanor had become gentrified, power had taken precedence over glee. The big Monster was shaking things up too much. Ducati was quick to address the issue and develop its flagship roadster. The stakes were as much tactical as symbolic.

the answer is here today, with a machine that has been clearly revisited to get closer to the original Monster spirit. There's what's visible, delicately redesigned, and what's hidden, far more demonstrative once the bike is alive. Let's take a look at what's changed.
First of all, the look, gently, without frightening, with just the right amount of lightening. The stern is influenced by the R version, with the exhausts gaining in volume and the folding seat taking on a more racy look. The passenger footrest plates are now anchored to the rear frame, making the supports for the rider's much more discreet. The headlight is more flexible in shape. Then there's the fuel tank, smaller with one liter less capacity (16.5), slimmer, with the addition of an aluminum attachment loop on the front for tilting without tools - just like in the old days. It's the kind of small attention to detail that really hits the mark.

it's easy to be seduced by this new 1200 Monster. The desire to ride is obvious, on a saddle adjustable to 795 or 820 mm. Once the ignition is switched on, you can and must provoke it - it's got enough to crush critics. With its engine, already much stronger than yesterday. When the 1200 Testastretta 11° first appeared on this model, Bologna gave it 135 horsepower as standard, 145 on the S version, and 160 on the R. That's simplified: both the Monster and Monster S are powered by 150 grunts. Big wattage, backed by even more torque, peaking at 12.9 mkg - almost 1 mkg more. Note: with a different measurement system applied since 2018, the power figures are reduced to 147 hp and 12.6 mkg - but rest assured, nothing has changed in the twin. This more than makes up for the 4 kilos the bike has gained, mainly due to the exhaust and Euro4. At 213 kilos, the 1200 Monster is no lightweight in its class...

everything's ready to get moving, and bend corners under the 1198 cm3's hammer blows. Get in hard, get out even faster... There's a lot at stake here, and the work on the chassis is going to have to be convincing. The trick is to shorten the wheelbase. The new swingarm reduces it by 26 mm (the width of an inch), giving a total distance of 1,485 mm. In addition, the column angle is retracted by 1°. The geometry and responsiveness of Ducati motorcycles are clearly influenced by changes of this calibre. The Monster 1200 should gain in agility and dynamic handling.
Confident in its minimalist frame and this chassis evolution, the manufacturer has renewed the suspension without modification. A fully adjustable 43 mm Kayaba upside-down fork is joined by a Sachs shock absorber with adjustable preload and rebound damping. For the most demanding riders, the 1200 is dubbed, as usual, an S version with Öhlins components.

you can't teach a Ducati to brake. It makes you take it. Brembo M4.32 calipers are found at the front, around 320 mm tracks. A 245 mm disc is at the rear. What's new is the presence of Cornering ABS. In fact, an IMU inertial unit has been added to the Ducat's electronic chips. It optimizes the anti-lock braking system, which is now active when cornering. Three levels of adjustment are available.
Part of Ducati's DNA for some years now, electronics make their presence felt, with three riding modes, 8-level traction control, 8-level anti-wheeling, an optional up&down shifter and a redesigned color dashboard. In other words, virtually the entire panoply of assistances found on a Panigale when it first came out.

the Ducati 1200 Monster, which was confusing and on the bangs of its public in its early days, has just made a fine effort to return to the hearts of its fans. More powerful, more dynamic, more 'Mostro', the Italian icon still demands a good wallet on entry. In exchange for a timeless personality and performance.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos