Ducati 1200 Monster S Black on Black 2020 — Specifications

At Ducati, black has always been a matter of positioning. The old "Dark" versions played the affordability card, stripping away the frills to better appeal to those who count their euros before signing. The Monster 1200 S Black on Black takes a radical stance against this logic: it costs more, it does more, and it owns that without apology at 17,790 euros.

Visually, the proposition is coherent. Matte and gloss black share the bodywork with an almost military precision, until the eye catches those red pinstripes on the wheels. A touch of red on black is as old as Bologna itself, but it still works. The Monster has that exposed steel tubular trellis frame that remains one of the most honest styling signatures in the segment — a structure that says exactly what it is rather than hiding beneath plastic panels. At a standstill, under any lighting, the machine commands attention without trying too hard. This is calculated restraint.

Beneath that monochrome skin lies the same engine as on the standard 1200 S: the 90-degree L-twin displacing 1198 cc produces 147 horsepower at 9,250 rpm and 123.6 Nm of torque at 7,750 rpm. This is an engine with character, delivering a sharp mid-range punch that keeps the wrists honest. It doesn't rival the inline-fours of the Kawasaki Z1000 or Yamaha MT-10 in terms of raw power, but it possesses that distinctive character that Bolognese V-twins transmit better than anyone. The steel trellis frame links the two cylinder heads — a design that dates back decades but has proven its relevance on the road time and again.

The S version's equipment justifies part of the premium. The Öhlins suspension — a 48 mm inverted fork up front and a rear monoshock — is fully adjustable. Radially-mounted Brembo calipers bite on 320 mm discs, placing the braking performance at the top of the class for a roadster of this displacement. The electronic package is extensive: IMU inertial measurement unit, cornering ABS, traction control, anti-wheelie, three riding modes, bidirectional quickshifter, color TFT display. On a machine whose DNA was once meant to be raw and direct, this accumulation of electronic technology makes for a sharp contrast. For some, it's a betrayal of the original concept. For others, it's precisely what allows a sensible rider to exploit 147 horsepower on a machine weighing 185 kg dry without ending up in a ditch.

The target audience is fairly clear: the experienced rider who wants a roadster with character, technology, and a recognizable look, and who isn't watching the pennies too closely. This is not a beginner's motorcycle, nor strictly a track tool in any real sense. It's an object of urban and road desire, designed for those who care as much about what they see reflected in shop windows as what they feel at corner exit. The Black on Black is essentially a 1200 S dressed to go out. Nothing more, nothing less — and that's already saying something.