Ducati Monster 796 (2011 onwards)

Ducati Monster 796 (2011 onwards)

The Monster has been an important model for Ducati. Its superbikes might have grabbed more headlines, but it is the Monster which has kept the production line moving with almost a quarter-of-a-million bikes sold since 1994.
The new generation 696 Monster, launched in 2008 was the first Ducati model to sell more than 10,000 in one year.
The new version - as well as a thorough mechanical revamp adopted a new riding position that was a noticeable improvement over the stretched arms versions that had preceded it. The Monster 1100 followed six months later, combining the practical new ergonomics with the impressive power of the Hypermotard and Multistrada 1078cc air-cooled V-twin engine. And now there's another addition to the family, the 2011 Monster 796.
Most comfortable yet
This new middleweight is clearly the most comfortable Monster yet. The tapered aluminium handlebars are 20mm higher and the four-point adjustable levers ensure riders of all hand sizes can find a setting that suits them. The 800mm seat height is 10mm lower than the 1100 Monster and while the 796 retains the traditional trellis frame, a new sub-frame makes the aftermarket pillion handles easier to add. It's supposed to sit neatly between the 696 and 1100, so it's powered by the 803cc Desmodue engine which offers a friendly, but punchy 86bhp at 8,250rpm and 58lb ft of torque at 6,250rpm.
Power delivery is predictable and smooth, with the twin's characteristic vibes only really noticeable if you scream the engine like it's an in-line four. A torquey lump always encourages a lazy rider and the 796 responds well if you stick it in third gear and leave it there. However, it is less forgiving if you drop to a village dawdle in sixth (oops!).
There's nothing really crazy-new about it, it's simply another Monster which is certainly no bad thing. Riding the 796 on the world launch in Bologna, I didn't expect this new Duke to be a complete revelation but I was surprised at just how easy it felt, largely due to the more natural riding stance.
Twisted spaghetti
The Italians have a habit of picking the twistiest roads imaginable to highlight a bike's agility and this launch was no different. Endless switchbacks curled around hillsides like stands of twisted spaghetti, demanding my full attention and the putting the 796 through paces unlikely to be replicated in Britain (unless you're lucky enough to live in a very special place).
Weighing an easily manageable 167kg, it flicks from side to side with confidence and reassuring stability. The Showa 43mm upside down forks are non-adjustable but absorb most challenges without too much complaint, the rear benefits from a preload and rebound adjustable Sachs monoshock.
The 796 is quite capable of delivering an enthusiastic ride, satisfying a sporty rider's fix for knee-down action (with 30mm more ground clearance than the 696) and the random lifting of one wheel, but slower corners do need slightly more input on the bars than Yamaha's new naked middleweight FZ8 and if the asphalt is less than smooth, the front end feels hard worked.
Steering lock is certainly less restrictive than on some of the original Monsters, but it's still a challenge to complete a U-turn without stopping to add a dab of foot or a quick paddle backwards.
It's nigh on impossible to find serious fault with the 796. It is predictably sexy-looking, fun to ride, with an oh-so-practical right angled tyre valve on the front rim and even the mirrors are OK (who'd have thought of saying that about a Ducati?). It's the kind of bike that will encourage a relative newbie to explore new riding skills rather than scare the bejesus out of them. What's more, advanced riders won't get bored waiting for an adrenalin rush. Snapping the throttle back won't exactly turn the world inside out, but it will inject a few giggles into your ride.
And should you need to scrub speed in a hurry, there are double discs, with four-piston radial callipers for the front and a single disc, two-piston on the rear. Grabbing a fistful hauls the anchors on progressively and very effectively and ABS (available as an option) feels far more refined than on the Multistrada 1200. It's the same system with different software. Where it sometimes kicks in prematurely on the tall adventure bike, I couldn't activate the Monster's at all on dry asphalt. It's an impressive, unobtrusive safety net.
Colour schemes
In modern Monster style, you can personalise your bike in an instant. Ducati launched its Monster Art project last year, which is basically 10 additional colours over the three standard options (in this case red, white and black) that come in the form of a kit. You simply switch the tank panels, front mudguard bikini fairing and single seat cover for the replacement colours you prefer.
Ducati has gone one step further for the 796 by introducing 'Logomania'. It retains three of the most popular Monster Art colour schemes and adds seven more to celebrate various historical bikes and events throughout Ducati's history.
The Monster 796 is a fun middleweight with all the sex-appeal of its bigger brother, more poke than the entry-level version and the most comfortable riding position of all. So if you fancy a Monster, the 1100 is too big and the 696 too small, perhaps the 796 will be just right.
Facts at a glance    
Model    Ducati Monster 796, £6,995 (ABS version £7,695)
Engine    air-cooled, V-twin of 803cc, producing 86bhp at 8,250rpm and 58 lb ft at 6,250rpm
Transmission    chain drive through six-speed gearbox
Weight    167kg
Seat height    800mm
Fuel capacity    15 litres (13.5 litres ABS version)