The Ducati Monster is an icon. For the last 28 years, it has been one of the most loved and fun naked sports bikes to own and ride. When the Monster first made its appearance back in 1993, it created an entirely new class of motorcycles. What began as a styling exercise by Miguel Galluzzi ended up being one of the most loved styles of sports motorcycles. The naked sports bike was born, and it offered a riding class that was both high in performance and usable for everyday use.

There have been many iterations of the Monster over the years, but the one thing that all Monster models shared was the muscular design. So, when we finally laid our eyes on the new 2021 Ducati Monster, we were obviously surprised to see a slimmed-down and compact sports bike. I wasn’t immediately thrilled to see the bike when it initially launched because I always loved its brawny road presence, so when I saw what Ducati had done to my beloved Monster, I was a little unimpressed.

A few months have passed now, and I have finally managed to get my hands on the 2021 Ducati Monster. I was still obviously excited because I had heard a lot of wonderful things about the bike, and the fact that it has the Ducati name plastered across the fuel tank, I felt assured that the performance of this machine would certainly put a smile on my face. I say that because I have ridden almost every version of the Monster that has come out of the hallowed gates of the Bologna factory since 2008, and each and every Monster I rode was truly amazing.

So, let’s see if the new Ducati Monster can continue to impress me.

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New Ducati Monster Ditches Trellis Frame

2021 Ducati Monster side rear

There is much to say about the design of the new 2021 Monster. It’s obviously not a bad thing that Ducati has decided to evolve the Monster into a nimbler and more compact machine. After all, the world has changed tremendously over the past two years, so why shouldn’t the Monster as well. At first glance, you can really see just how much smaller the Monster has become. In fact, you might begin to wonder if the Monster tag is good enough anymore because it doesn’t carry the same road presence as the older models.

The first thing you will obviously notice is they removed the traditional and much-loved trellis frame. Some might consider this sacrilegious, but that’s the way evolution works. They ended up removing a lot of the older parts to reduce the weight of the Monster. Starting with the trellis frame that has helped cut weight by 10 lbs, there is also the new glass-fiber-reinforced polymer subframe that has cut weight by a further 4.2 lbs, and then you have a new double-sided swingarm, new wheels, and, of course, the new engine, which altogether reduces the total weight down by about 40 lbs. That’s a significant weight drop. The fuel tank still has a sharp hump-like design, but they reduced its width as well. The handlebars are now closer to the rider, the footpegs further back, and the ergonomics are completely different. The addition of the new 937cc Testastretta 11° has also made the bike more compact. On the whole, they significantly cut down the Monster’s dimensions, and it looks a lot more athletic.

But smaller doesn’t necessarily mean that the new Monster doesn’t look good. On the contrary, it actually looks wonderful. You will even appreciate the manner in which Ducati managed to reduce the overall size of the Monster, but still allow it to boast a strong road presence. The Monster looks like it is ready to pounce on the tarmac and even while sitting still it looks sharp, aggressive, and menacing. Monster fans will obviously receive it with mixed reactions, but none of them can say that the Monster is not a sexy-looking motorcycle. It certainly has come a long way since the original iconic M900.

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New Testastretta Engine Adds Flavor To Its Incredible Performance

2021 Ducati Monster Engine
Ducati

Spanning over the Monster’s 28-year history, it has received many engines. The last iteration 821cc parallel-twin was a beauty and I really enjoyed that engine. The new Monster though gets a 937cc V-twin, and it’s the same engine used in the Multistrada 950, the Supersport, and the Hypermotard. This new-generation engine is wonderful, to say the least, and when I experienced it on the Monster, its incredible performance surprised me. Whatever shine the compact design might take away from the Monster’s namesake, the new Testastretta makes up for everything. Yes, the Monster is still a monster to ride. Riders will feel the explosive acceleration even more thanks to the increased power and the weight drop. The Monster feels like a raging beast when you twist your wrist because the throttle responsiveness is immediate. It’s definitely not much of a beginner-friendly bike. There's plenty of low-end grunt, and the torque spread is impressive.

With 111 hp and 69 lb-ft of torque, there is more than enough power for you to play with. On a high-speed run, I managed to get the most out of the engine, and the manner in which the Monster picks up speed is exhilarating. The engine revs freely, and the power delivery is linear and keeps on building as you go faster. In true Ducati fashion, the engine is still a little rough around the edges and is certainly not the most refined engine out there. When you are in the low rev range (maybe around 2,000 rpm) you can feel the engine shudder and shake, but with the right fueling approach the engine certainly has loads of character, and that makes the ride all the more fun. Compared to the older 821 Monster, the new bike is a lot more exciting in terms of engine performance.

It also features a wonderful gearbox. Ducati’s IMU-managed bidirectional quickshifter aids gear shifts, and it works very well. Again, it’s not the smoothest transmission, but it feels great. There are also different rider modes you can toggle with depending on your mood, which means you don’t always have to live with a super aggressive engine.

Related: A Look Back At The Evolution Of The Ducati Monster

Improved Handling Makes The Monster A More Intuitive Motorcycle

2021 Ducati Monster Rear

Based on the new Monster's design, it's no secret that Ducati's designers were aiming to make the bike a more responsive handler. The lightweight and compact dimensions come to play here and as soon as you swing a leg over and saddle up on the Monster you will immediately feel the lightness of the bike. I also felt that the seat was a little more comfortable than before. What I didn't like, though, was the new seating position that somehow managed to make my legs positioned in a sportier manner while my back and arms were in an upright riding position. One of the things I like about the 821 Monster was the manner in which I had to slightly bend over the massive fuel tank to grab the handle bar. With the new Monster, it's a much more friendly rider stance.

After riding the Monster around some nice hilly sections of road with sweeping curves and tight corners, I began to see just how effective the Monster's diet has been. The bike feels very light on its feet and incredibly agile. The front-end is even lighter than before, and where the older Monster felt a little more planted and heavy, the new Monster feels like a ballerina swooping and twirling across a stage. The Kayaba suspension setup is non-adjustable, and Ducati engineers managed to find the sweet spot between calm urban riding and aggressive canyon carving. You get great feedback all-around, but there are times when the front feels a little unstable. That's how much lighter the Monster feels.

The handling capabilities and ease of riding make it a truly accessible big-capacity bike that is also light enough and easy enough for a wide range of riders. With an increased steering lock, the new Monster offers more room to move the handlebars.

The Ducati Monster Is Better Than Ever, But It Won't Please Everyone

2021 Ducati Monster front side

Once again, I was truly amazed by a Ducati Monster. Not only does it get a wonderful engine in a compact body that offers exciting riding dynamics, but the Ducati Monster also gets some new fancy tech. There are plenty of rider aids such as traction control, wheelie control, cornering ABS, and launch control. The engine has three riding modes (Sport, Touring, Urban) and you can decide how you want the throttle to respond. You can also customize the settings. There is also a nice 4.3-inch TFT display that works very well.

The Monster seems like a great motorcycle, and it really is. It is certainly a better package than other Monster before it. It's now a more friendly bike to use as an everyday machine, and it offers even more sportiness. However, it's not perfect, and it's not the best in its segment. A lot of tall and heavy riders might find the Monster to be too small for them. I am over 6-feet tall, and I certainly felt a little cramped, but it was tolerable. The design also isn't very appealing to a lot of Ducatista loyalists, but that's debatable. In terms of performance and price though, it will compete with the Kawasaki Z900, the Triumph Street Triple R, KTM Duke 890, and the BMW F 900 R just to name a few. These are also some seriously quick and fun bikes to ride and some of them offer a lot more in terms of an overall package. But if you like the Italian design, the iconic appeal, and the monstrous engine that the Monster offers, it's still a pretty good bargain with a starting price of $11,895.