Ducati Monster 1200 S 2016 — Specifications

When Ducati revamped the Monster in 2014, the Bolognese brand didn't simply refresh an icon: it redefined what a V2-powered roadster can be. The S version of this 1200 pushes this logic even further, and the result is a machine that almost deserves a different name, so much does it move away from the previous air-cooled Monster twins.

Beneath this muscular fairing, brimming with exposed mechanicals, beats a Testastretta twin of 1198 cc, producing 145 horsepower at 8750 rpm and 124.5 Nm of torque at 7250 rpm. Ten horsepower more than the standard version, a difference that is concretely felt on the road and partly justifies the requested supplement. With 182 kg dry weight for a machine of this power, the power-to-weight ratio is seriously sharpened. The Ducati Monster 1200 S doesn't seek to intimidate with its mass: it prefers to surprise you with its liveliness. Faced with a KTM 1290 Super Duke R or an Aprilia Tuono V4, the Bolognese plays the card of Latin temperament rather than Germanic or transalpine brutality, but the result is just as effective.

The chassis betrays an obvious lineage with the 1199 Panigale. A tubular steel trellis frame attaches directly to the cylinder heads of the twin, a solution that transforms the engine into a structural element and offers significantly greater torsional rigidity than previous generations. The suspension is signed by Öhlins: a fully adjustable 48 mm inverted fork at the front, a progressive mono shock equally adjustable at the rear, with a single-sided aluminum swingarm that recalls that this motorcycle openly flirts with the track world. Braking comes directly from the Panigale, with floating discs gripped by four-piston Brembo radial calipers. The Bosch 9MP ABS manages three levels of intervention according to the selected riding mode.

These modes, indeed, constitute one of the strengths of the Ducati Monster 1200 S technical specifications. Three engine mappings cover radically different uses. In Urban, power is limited to 100 horsepower with a very safe electronic management, ideal for the city or slippery roads. In Touring, the 145 horsepower are available with moderate traction control. In Sport, the aids fade away to the maximum to let the rider directly dialogue with the 1198 cc. A TFT dashboard synthesizes all this information, the saddle adjusts between 785 and 810 mm, and major revisions are spaced at 30,000 kilometers: as many arguments that make the Ducati Monster 1200 S used particularly attractive on the used market, especially for the 2016, 2017 or 2018 models whose value has fallen compared to the 16,490 euros requested at launch.

The target audience is clearly the experienced rider who wants a versatile machine without compromise on pleasure. This is not a motorcycle for beginners: 145 horsepower in 182 kg of chassis requires respect and a firm hand. But for those seeking a premium roadster with character, the Ducati Monster 1200 S price remains justified by the quality of its standard equipment. The triple Y-spoked rims inspired by the Panigale S, the red stitching on the saddle, the dark silencers: every detail is cared for. This Monster S is not a motorcycle dressed up to look good in photos. It is a motorcycle built for those who ride fast and appreciate that their equipment is up to their ambitions.