The Ducati Monster 1200 not only delivers more power than ever, but also “monster” service intervals of 30,000km for valve clearance checks.
CHECK OUT THE FULL-SIZE IMAGES ON OUR PINTEREST PAGE
The new Ducati Monsters arrive in Australia around the end of April at $19,990 (plus on-road costs) for the 1200 and $23,990 for the 1200 S.
The new models are powered by the 1198 Testastretta 11° DS super bike engine with 99.3kW of power at 8750 revs and 106.6kW in the 1200 S model. Standard service intervals are 15,000, while the distance between major service intervals requiring valve clearance checks will be 30,000km like the Hypermotard and Multistrada.
When it was unveiled at the Milan motorcycle shops late last year it won the award for the most beautiful bike of the show and its lines certainly are modern, even though the model line passed its 20th anniversary last year. It certainly has a cute rear end, although it remains to be seen what the ADRT compliance will make of the spartan tail assembly and rear wheel hugger. Up front, the Monster gets halogen headlights and LED position lights with full LED lighting in the rear.
The Ducati Monster 12009 and 1200 S are 209kg fuelled and ready to go with a larger and more touring friendly 17.5-litre fuel tank. Two-up touring is also enhanced by a 60mm longer wheelbase, new adjustable-height seats with 80mm of foam and handlebars that are 40mm higher and 40mm closer to the rider. Ducati’s first 
adjustable seat uses a simple block-and-pin system to go from 810mm to 785mm and even further to 745mm with the accessory low seat – Ducati’s lowest yet.
The standard model is suspended on Kayaba forks and Sachs shock while the S gets fully adjustable Ohlins and the Brembo brake system features Bosch’s three-level ABS that integrate with the three pre-set riding modes of “Sport”, “Touring” and “Urban”. To further inspire confidence, the Monsters come with eight-level traction control.
Ducati has vastly improved its instrumentation in recent years and the Monsters are no exception with their Thin Film Transistor technology to present a stunning display that changes layout according the Riding Mode selected. The customisable display is programmed for its riding modes with three different layouts called “Core”, “Full” and “Track”. They rearrange the priority of information displayed according to your riding mood.
Ducati Monster 1200/1200 S
Price: $19,990 (1200), $23,990 (S) + on-road costs
Warranty: 24 months, unlimited km
Service: 12,000-30,000km
Engine: liquid-cooled 1198cc Testastretta 11° L-Twin cylinder, Desmodromic 4 valve per cylinder
Bore x stroke: 106×67.9mm
Compression: 12.5:1
Power: 99.3/106.6kW @ 8750rpm
Torque: 117Nm/124Nm @ 7250rpm
Transmission: 6-speed, chain drive, slipper clutch
Frame: tubular steel trellis
Wheelbase: 1511mm
Rake/trail: 24.3°/93.2mm
Suspension: fully adjustable Kayaba forks, preload-rebound-adjustable Sachs shock/Ohlins forks and shock (fully adjustable)
Wheels: 3.5×17
Tyres: 120/70 ZR17; 190/55 ZR17 Pirelli Diablo Rossi II
Brakes: 320 and 245mm semi-floating discs, Brembo 4-piston callipers, ABS (330mm on S)
Fuel: 17.5L
Wet weight: 209kg
Seat: 785-810mm
Height: 1117mm
Length: 2156mm