Ducati Motors

The Ducati Monster (Il Mostro in Italian) is a motorcycle designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi and produced by Ducati in Bologna, Italy since 1993. Its introduction marked the beginning of the naked bike movement, which is characterized by a fully exposed engine and frame. Monster sales account for almost half of Ducati's worldwide sales. Ducati motorcycles, including the Monster, are best-known for their Desmo engines and tubular steel trellis chassis, both features designed by the late Fabio Taglioni (1920-2001).

Ducati introduced three Monster models in its first generation: M600, M750 and M900 (the numbers denote engine sizes). The first, the M900, was shipped in 1993; the M600 shipped in 1994, and finally the M750 arrived in 1996. The bike remained relatively unchanged until 2000, when Ducati added fuel injection to the M900 model. Other technical changes that year included semi-floating front disc brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers, lighter Brembo wheels as well as 43mm Showa inverted forks.

In the third and current generation, there are four models, the M620, M800, M1000 and S4R. US prices range from $6,595 to $13,495, making the bikes relatively expensive compared to comparable Japanese motorcycles from Honda, Kawasaki or Suzuki. Most recently, Ducati added the S2R model to the Monster range; styled like the 4 valve S4R, but with the simpler 2 valve 800cc motor. A 1000cc version of the S2R using the 1000 dual spark engine is due for production in late 2005.

In November 2005, a new top of the range model was also announced, the S4RS Testastretta. This new model uses the engine from the latest 999 generation superbikes with Öhlins suspension front and rear and radial front brakes.