2021 Ducati Monster Launched Overseas

The 937cc Testastretta motor has finally made its way into Ducati’s iconic naked

Ducati has rolled out a plethora of memorable motorcycles over the years, but while most of them are remembered for their paradigm-shifting performance and groundbreaking innovation, the Monster is iconic because it made the fabled Italian brand accessible. For 2021, the erstwhile Monster 797 and Monster 821 have made way for their successor, simply called the Ducati Monster.

It’s now powered by the 937cc Testastretta 11° engine that recently made its India debut in the newly launched Multistrada 950. In the Monster, it churns out 111.5PS, which isn’t a whole lot more than the Monster 821’s 108.7PS, but its 93Nm torque figure is a good chunk more than the previous 86Nm. More importantly, at just 188kg wet, the engine now has to pull around a whole 18kg less bike than before, so all in all, performance is sure to be a big step up.

A big chunk of this weight saving can be attributed to Ducati being its usual innovative self. Unlike the previous Monsters’ trellis frames, the new bike uses a front frame concept that’s very similar to its Panigale V4 superbike -- something in between a monocoque and a full perimeter frame. This alone has helped shave off nearly 5kg! Another couple of kilos were saved thanks to the glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) subframe, while the wheels and swingarm are good for a combined 4kg reduction. Most impressively, the 937cc version of the Testastretta motor, despite its greater displacement, is actually 2.5kg lighter than the 821cc version!

This may be an accessible Ducati, but in true Ducati fashion, the bike is loaded with cutting-edge electronics. The Monster offers cornering ABS, IMU-assisted traction control, wheelie control, launch control, and an up/down quickshifter, all of which are controlled via a colour TFT dash. It also gets ride-by-wire and three engine maps. Brakes are Brembos, the clutch is hydraulic, and the Monster is sprung on an upside-down fork and preload-adjustable monoshock.

Surely all this tech goodness means the Monster has lost its accessibility quotient, right? No! The Monster is the gift that keeps on giving, because starting at $11,895, it is priced almost identical to the KTM 890 Duke R. Sure, the Austrian might put out slightly better power and get more sophisticated cycle parts, but it definitely can’t match the sex appeal and heritage of the Monster.

As far as India is concerned, we expect the 2021 Monster to arrive sometime in the second half of next year, hopefully, around the Rs 13 lakh mark. Oh, and don’t be put off by the 820mm seat height. Ducati has low seat and low suspension options available, so you can perch yourself just 775mm off the deck. That’s only 10mm higher than the Meteor!