Ducati Monster 1200 S 2017 — Specifications

When Bologna decides to revisit its most iconic naked bike, it would be naive to expect a revolution. The Ducati Monster 1200 S doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel; it makes it spin faster, more precisely, and with more character. At €16,790, you enter a category where every detail is justified, and on this point, Ducati has taken care to substantiate its arguments.

The S version exists precisely for those who find the standard Monster too tame. And the technical specifications of the 2017 Ducati Monster 1200 S leave little room for doubt. The 1,198 cc Testastretta V-twin engine spits out 150 horsepower at 9,250 rpm, for 126 Nm of torque available at 7,750 rpm. It’s not an engine; it’s a statement of intent. The 213 kg fully fueled weight weighs what it weighs, but this engine provides sufficient impulse to make you forget the scale. Faced with a BMW S 1000 R or a KTM Superduke 1290, the Bologna V-twin plays its own part, more organic, more sonorous, less surgical. Those seeking the aseptic fluidity of a four-cylinder engine will look elsewhere. The others will remain.

The 43 mm inverted Kayaba fork, fully adjustable, works in concert with a Sachs mono-shock adjustable in preload and rebound, mounted on an aluminum single-sided swingarm. It’s not the most exotic equipment in the segment, but it is consistent, effective, and allows for fine-tuning of the handling according to the rider. Braking is of the level expected for a motorcycle of this standing: double floating discs at the front with radial four-piston calipers, cornering ABS integrated. The wheelbase of 1,511 mm and the saddle placed at 785 mm compose a geometry that requires a minimum of physical involvement. It’s not a motorcycle for Sunday riders.

The onboard electronics are comprehensive. Three riding modes, traction control on eight levels, adjustable wheelie control, ABS coupled with an IMU inertial unit. Ducati has clearly wanted to cover all cases. The risk with such a panoply is to transform piloting into simple supervision of algorithms. Fortunately, the character of the V-twin still shines through the software layers. The six-speed gearbox with bidirectional quickshifter also helps to maintain the connection between the rider and the machine. For those who dream of a Termignoni Ducati Monster 1200 S, the original exhaust already allows this particular timbre to be expressed, but a full-system transforms the sonic experience even further.

On the used market, the Ducati Monster 1200 S generates constant interest. The 2014, 2015, 2016 model years, up to the 2019 and 2020 versions, are distinguished by progressive evolutions, without radical disruption. Consulting a Ducati Monster 1200 S forum often provides a reliable image of real-world reliability: the Testastretta handles the kilometers well if maintenance is followed, and parts remain accessible. For a buyer who is hesitating between new and used, a used Ducati Monster 1200 S from 2017 or 2018 often represents a price/performance ratio that is difficult to beat in the premium naked category.

It’s not a neutral motorcycle. It has character, a way of expressing each acceleration that distinguishes it in a peloton of increasingly smooth and rational naked bikes. The experienced rider will appreciate it for what it is, a precise and engaging instrument. The beginner will break their teeth on it. And that’s very well done.