Monster 1200
1200 - Monster Essence
The new Monster 1200 fully embodies those values that have seen bikers’ hearts race for over 20 years. A sports icon that is totally renewed while staying faithful to the values that have made it unique: even more beautiful, even more technological, still unmistakeably Monster.
A forward looking icon
With full, fluid power delivery at all speeds and maximum power of 150 hp guaranteed by the Testastretta 11° engine, the Monster 1200 offers the enjoyment and excitement of an authentic sports bike. Its muscular line, trellis frame and unmistakeable elements such as the tank and headlight confirm its status as a modern icon, ready to write the future of naked sportbikes.
The design of the Monster 1200 is unmistakeable: sporty and compact but also essential and sophisticated. The lines and shapes clearly recall the legendary Monster, reinterpretated with a modern twist.
The pre-set Riding Modes allow the rider to optimise bike behaviour depending on riding style. Each of the three Riding Modes (Sport, Touring and Urban), is programmed to act on the electronic Ride-by-Wire (RbW) engine control system and on the ABS, Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Wheelie Control intervention levels. The three different settings, which can be further customised according to personal preference, allow a rider to have the ideal bike for any route, whether in city traffic or on out-of-town paths, perfect for expressing the real Monster instinct.
COLOURS
The 2017 Monster 1200 is available in the following colours:
Ducati Red with red frame and black wheels
Call Ducati Manchester to learn more.
MONSTER 1200 VIDEO
Monster 1200 Equipment Overview
1,198 cm Testastretta 11 DS engine with 150 hp at 9,250 rpm and 126.2 Nm at 7,750 rpm
Euro 4 emissions
Exhaust with dual silencer
Wheels with ten spokes mounting DIABL
ROSSO™ III tyres, 120/70 ZR17 up front and 190/55 ZR17 at the rear
Adjustable 43 mm Kayaba fork
Adjustable Sachs shock absorber
Bremb
front braking system with 320 mm discs and M4.32 calipers
3 Riding Modes
Ducati Safety Pack (3-level Bosch Cornering ABS, 8-level DTC, 9-level DWC)
Colour TFT instrumentation
1200 DESIGN
When the Ducati Design Center started working on the Monster 1200, their goal was to come up with a sleek, compact bike with true sporting character, to get back to the “sport naked bike” concept but without making drastic changes to the lines of the existing motorcycle. Needless to say, considerable attention has been dedicated to the tank, now "tauter" and more modern: a fully overhauled design, but one that remains faithful to the approach taken by Galluzzi in 1993. To further highlight this link with the past , the anodized aluminium attachment clip has also made a comeback.
The short, compact, sleek tail, supported by the steel Trellis subframe, still lets riders set a seat height of 795 or 820 mm. The subframe also supports the passenger footpegs, now separated from the rider's pegs. This new configuration gives the Monster 1200 a sporting line while improving ergonomics.
Another feature that has always been a Monster hallmark is the headlight. Fully redesigned for this motorcycle, it now features dual parabolas and, on the Monster 1200 S, the DRL (Day Time Running Light) too. The adoption of this new headlight has led to the development of a new instrument panel support, now attached to the handlebar risers. This gives the front end a visually "lighter" look, thanks also to repositioning of the indicators, now underneath the top yoke and not on the headlight itself. Moreover, the motorcycle also features new switchgears.
Another important step taken by the Ducati Design Center has been to reduce - and simplify - the number of plastic parts. The expansion tank cover is now more compact, the radiator cap is minimalist and the exhaust manifold guard has a more “technical" look. These changes give greater prominence to the frame in side-on view.
More than twenty years on, then, Ducati continues to develop this incredibly successful model. A bike that has, over time, been remoulded and reinvented, has become a customisation and personalisation favourite and has exerted a huge influence on the entire motorcycle industry for well over two decades.
Monster 1200 Specs
1200 engine
The Monster 1200 is powered by the liquid-cooled 1198 cm3 twin, 4-valves-per-cylinder Testastretta 11° DS. Euro 4-compliant, the engine is also a structural element of the chassis set-up, with attachment points on the Trellis frame. This engine delivers a huge 150 hp at 9,250 rpm. Thanks to the new throttle bodies and the dedicated exhaust, Ducati has produced an impressive torque curve that means even more riding enjoyment, generating a maximum torque of 126.2 Nm at 7.750 rpm.
The 1198 Testastretta 11° DS gulps in air via Mikuni Ride-by-Wire oval throttle bodies (equivalent diameter 56 mm) and features a twin-spark set-up: the double flame front ensures complete combustion within an ultra-short interval, giving - together with the secondary air system that optimises performance by reducing combustion cycle dispersion but without affecting emissions - smoother power delivery and an even more enjoyable, exciting ride.
Keeping the engine cool is a curved radiator with two high-efficiency electric fans.
The Monster clutch, instead, is of the oil bath slipper type with ultra-low effort lever control. Spring load is automatically increased by a progressive self-servo system. The outcome is much better fingertip "feel", ensuring excellent comfort when frequent gear changes are inevitable (e.g. in city traffic) or on long rides. When the rear wheel exerts back-torque, the same mechanism reduces pressure on the clutch discs, activating the slipper function and so preventing rear end destabilisation during aggressive downshifting.
The exhaust ducts, with a cross-section of 50-52 mm, are part of a 2-1-2 system designed with identical lengths for both cylinders in order to maximise power and delivery efficiency. This system features a lambda probe for each cylinder to make fuelling both autonomous and optimal. Ducati's nonstop investment in quality and reliability means the Testastretta 11° DS engine on the Monster 1200 has lengthy maintenance intervals: valve timing adjustment is now needed just once every 30,000 km (18,000 miles).
Features
The Monster 1200 is equipped with fully adjustable suspension and shock, both by Öhlins. The braking system, produced by Brembo, sees two radially mounted Monobloc M50 callipers acting on two 330mm discs at the front; the same components as those on the 1299 Panigale sports bike.
Frame
On the Monster 1200 the engine acts as a load-bearing element, the Trellis frame being attached to the cylinder heads, a racing-derived concept first applied on a factory bike with the Panigale project. This configuration gives a highly compact, light frame, while large cross-section tubing gives the high torsional rigidity that is perfect for bringing out the motorcycle’s dynamic performance. The Monster 1200 also boasts an all-new, beefier swingarm and a compact 1,485 mm wheelbase.
The rear seat-carrying subframe - also attached directly to the engine - has been redesigned to provide a compact structure that also supports the new passenger footpeg struts. These pegs are separated from the rider's to ensure greater freedom of movement in sport-style riding. Both rider and passenger footpeg attachments are made of die-cast aluminium and mount aluminium pegs. To underline the Monster's sport pedigree, the rider's pegs also feature aluminium heel guards.
Suspension
The Monster 1200 features fully adjustable 43 mm Kayaba forks up front, while the Sachs shock absorber at the rear has spring pre-load and rebound damping adjustment. The Monster 1200 S, instead, mounts 48 mm fully adjustable Öhlins TiN coated forks and a fully adjustable Öhlins shock absorber. At the rear, the shock absorber works in concert with progressive linkage; it is attached directly on the vertical cylinder head at one end and on the die-cast aluminium single-sided swingarm at the other. The Monster 1200 employs a Sachs shock absorber, while the Monster 1200 S features a fully adjustable Öhlins model.
Tyres and wheels
The Monster 1200 is equipped with light 10-spoke Panigale style alloy wheels, 3.5” x 17” at the front and 6.0” x 17” at the rear, while the Monster 1200 S offers up wheels with three Y-spokes that have undergone finer supplementary machining. Moreover, the wheels on the S version have exclusive “S” graphics to highlight their racing character. Both models mount Pirelli DIABLO ROSSO™ III dual-compound tyres, 120/70 at the front and 190/55 at the rear, that combine mileage-enhancing durability with constant grip, even in assertive cornering. These quality tyres implement Pirelli Enhanced Patch Technology (EPT) to maximise the contact patch area whatever the lean angle, and Functional Groove Design (FGD) to optimise performance in the wet.
Maintenance
Ducati's nonstop investment in quality and reliability means the Testastretta 11° DS engine on the Monster 1200 has lengthy maintenance intervals: valve timing adjustment is now needed just once every 30,000 km (18,000 miles).
Ducati guarantees all its bikes for a period of 24 months from registration, with unlimited mileage.
Learn more about Ducati Warranty
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