Ducati goes back to its Monster roots, but with a motorcycle that’s new in both form and function.When  Ducati  designers  started  working  on  the  new  Monster  1200,  they  drew  their  inspiration  from  the basics behind that ground-breaking 1993 model: the concept of a “sport naked bike”.

The Monster 1200 is packed with new design and content, but with true Ducati naked flair. Available also as a higher-performance S version, the Monster 1200 has a sleeker tank, a fully redesigned sports-style tail, an all-new technologically advanced headlight and a first-rate electronics package derived from the one on the 1299 Panigale.

The  Monster  1200  is  Monster  through  and  through.  Shaping,  silhouettes,  fuel  tank  and  headlight  are faithful  to  the  linesof  the  bike  that  came  out  in  1993.  The  iconic,  unmistakeable  steel  tank  has  once again been fitted with an attachment clip, just like the first Monster.

The  Monster  1200 features the  latest  version  of  the  Testastretta  11°  DS  engine,  ensuring  not  just outstanding  power  and  torque  but  also  full,  smooth  power  delivery  right  off  the  bottom  end.  When combined with an always-smooth, easy-to-handle throttle response, the result is pure riding enjoyment. The twin-cylinder Ducati power unit on the Monster 1200 delivers150 hp at 9,250 rpm (15 hp more than the previous Monster 1200 and 5 hp more than the previous Monster 1200 S) and a maximum torque of 126.2  Nm  at  7,750  rpm.  Accurate  Ride  by  Wire  calibration  gives  the  Monster  1200  extremely  fluid performance, ensuring exciting, precision riding. Moreover, the new Monster 1200 meets strict EURO 4 standards.

The  frame  is  a  classic  Ducati  Trellis  that  employs  the  Testastretta  as  a  stressed  chassis  element. Attached to the engine are the new, compact single-sided swingarm and the all-new die-cast aluminium rider pegs, separated from the passenger pegs.

A  comprehensive  electronics  package  with  three  different  Riding  Modes  (Sport,  Touring  and  Urban) includes  the  Inertial  Measurement  Unit  (IMU)  that  feeds  information  to  the  Bosch  Cornering  ABS  and Ducati  Wheelie  Control  (DWC)  systems.  Top-drawer  electronics  gives  the  Monster  1200  true  Ducati sport  naked  performance,but  in  a  way  that  makes  it  accessible  to  everyone,  ensuring  high  levels  of active safety at all times.

The exclusive Monster 1200 S sharpens that Monster sports performance to an even finer edge thanks to a 48 mm Öhlins fork and rear Öhlins monoshock, both fully adjustable. Awesome braking is provided by  two  330  mm  Brembo  discs  at  the  front  working  in  concert  with  Brembo  M50  monobloc  calipers. Moreover, the Monster 1200 S featureswheels with three Y-spokes featuring exclusive “S” graphics and a front carbon mudguard while the front headlight is characterised by the DRL (Daytime Running Light) system and LED -not bulb type -indicators.

The Monster 1200 is a perfectly balanced motorcycle that, thanks to engine, brakes, chassis set-up and electronics,  provides  ultimate  riding  pleasure.  Its  superb  handling,  power  and  torque  guarantee unparalleled, uncompromising fun.

Engine

The Monster 1200 is powered by the liquid-cooled 1198 cm3twin, 4-valves-per-cylinder Testastretta 11° DS.  Euro  4-compliant,  the  engine  is  also  a  structural  element  of  the  chassis  set-up,  with  attachment points on the Trellis frame. This engine deliversa huge 150 hp at 9,250 rpm. Thanks to the new throttle bodies  and  the  dedicated  exhaust,  Ducati  has  produced  an  impressive  torque  curve  that  means  even more riding enjoyment, generating a maximum torque of 126.2 Nm at 7.750 rpm

The  1198  Testastretta  11°  DS  gulps  in  airvia  Mikuni  Ride-by-Wire  oval  throttle  bodies  (equivalent diameter 56 mm) and features a twin-spark set-up: the double flame front ensures complete combustion within an ultra-short interval, giving -together with the secondary air system that optimises performance by reducing combustion cycle dispersion but without affecting emissions -smoother power delivery and an even more enjoyable, exciting ride.Keeping the engine cool is a curved radiator with two high-efficiency electric fans.The Monster clutch, instead, is of the oil bath slippertype with ultra-loweffort lever control.

Spring load is automatically increased by a progressive self-servo system. The outcome is much better fingertip “feel”, ensuring  excellent  comfort  when  frequent  gear  changesare  inevitable(e.g.  in  city  traffic)  or  on  long rides.  When  the  rear  wheel  exerts  back-torque,  the  same  mechanism  reduces  pressure  on  the  clutch discs,  activating  the slipper  function  and  so  preventing  rear  end  destabilisation  during  aggressive downshifting.

The exhaust ducts, with a cross-section of 50-52 mm, are part of a 2-1-2 system designed with identical lengths  for  both  cylinders  in  order  to  maximise  power  and  delivery  efficiency.  This  system  features  a lambda probe for each cylinder to make fuellingboth autonomous and optimal.Ducati’s nonstop investment  in  quality  and  reliability  means  the  Testastretta  11°  DS  engine  on  the Monster 1200 has lengthy maintenance intervals: valve timing adjustment is now needed just once every 30,000 km(18,000 miles).

01-monster-1200-s

Frame

On the Monster 1200 the engine acts as a load-bearing element, the Trellis frame being attached to the cylinder  heads,  a racing-derived  concept  first  applied  on  a  factory  bike  with  the  Panigale  project.  This configuration  gives  a  highly  compact, light  frame,  while  large  cross-section  tubing  gives  the  high torsional rigidity that is perfect for bringing out the motorcycle’s dynamic performance. The Monster 1200 also boasts an all-new, beefier swingarm anda compact 1,485 mm wheelbase.The rear seat-carrying subframe -also attached directly to the engine -has been redesigned to provide a  compact  structure  that  also  supports  the  new  passenger  footpeg  struts.  These  pegs  are  separated from the rider’s to  ensure greater freedom  of movement  in  sport-style  riding.  Both  rider  and  passenger footpeg  attachments  are  made  of  die-cast  aluminium  and  mount  aluminium  pegs.  To  underline  the Monster’s sport pedigree, the rider’s pegs also feature aluminium heel guards.

Suspension

The  Monster  1200  features  fully  adjustable  43  mm  Kayaba  forks  up  front,  while  the  Sachs  shock absorber  at  the  rear  has  spring  pre-load  and  rebound  damping  adjustment.  The  Monster  1200  S, instead,  mounts  48  mm  fully  adjustable  Öhlins  TiN  coated  forks  and  a  fully  adjustable  Öhlins  shock absorber. At the rear, the shock absorber works in concert with progressive linkage; it is attached directly on  the  vertical  cylinder  head  at  one  end  and  on  the  die-cast  aluminium  single-sided  swingarm  at  the other.  The  Monster  1200  employs  a  Sachs  shock  absorber,  while  the  Monster  1200  S  features  a  fully adjustable Öhlins model

Tyres and wheels

The Monster 1200 is equipped with light 10-spoke Panigale style alloy wheels, 3.5” x 17” at the front and 6.0” x  17” at  the  rear,  while  the  Monster  1200  S  offers  up  wheels  with  three  Y-spokes  that  have undergone finer supplementary  machining.  Moreover,  the  wheels  on  the  S  version  have  exclusive “S” graphics  to  highlight  their  racing  character.Both  models  mount  Pirelli  DIABLO  ROSSO™ III dual-compound tyres, 120/70 at the front and 190/55 at the rear, that combine mileage-enhancing durability with  constant  grip,  even  in  assertive  cornering.  These  quality  tyres implement Pirelli  Enhanced  Patch Technology (EPT) to maximise the contact patch area whatever the lean angle, and Functional Groove Design (FGD) to optimise performance in the wet

03-monster-1200-s