Ducati Monster review

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By Andrea Stindt for Drive On

Updated: 12:42 p.m. Tuesday to correct pricing.There's a reason Ducati refers to its premiere lineup of bikes as the Monster.
Between its aggressive styling and addiction to an open throttle, the Monster has served for years as the training vehicle of choice for naked bike enthusiasts. The 696 has long been Ducati's formidable beginner's bike, while the muscular 1100 is not to be trifled with, even among seasoned riders.
Between that gulf comes the Ducati Monster 796, a nimble middleweight that the manufacturer hopes will illustrate the more practical side of its two-wheeled beasts.
There's no mistaking a Monster, though this model serves as something of a monster mash. At only 368 pounds dry and held together by Ducati's steel trellis frame, the 796 shares many of the design elements of its Monster brethren, including a single-sided swingarm design and Ducati's "micro-bikini" fairing, needless unless you need to to cut down wind buffering on your sternum.
But there are smart touches throughout. Ducati lowered the 796's seat height to 31.5 inches, 0.4 inches lower than the 1100's saddle. (To be fair, it's still higher than the 696's 30.3-inch high seat, and shorter riders may have trouble putting heel to ground.)
But high-rise living gives the 796 improved ground clearance, essential for tight canyon turns and rocky city streets.
The bike also utilizes an aggressive stance that keeps the riders' arms in a more forward position, making the crotch-to-gas tank relationship a little less intimate.
Though Ducati is known for its minimalist Italian design, the 796 offers 10 design modifications, including removable faux fuel tank panels, passenger rails and seat cowling.
As stunning as the hand-built Monsters look, their real beauty is on the road, particularly at higher revs:
For a non-Harley-Davidson, the 796 has a surprisingly throaty snarl, one fully capable of setting off car alarms. While the bike can feel like its lugging out of first gear, the 796 has impressive torque at midrange speeds.
In fact, the faster the 796 travels, the smoother it rides. There's no buffering of the elements per se, so gear up well. But for a bike that weight less than 400 pounds, the 796 may be the smoothest middleweight on the highway today. At anything over 3,000 RPM, the 796 is as stable as a gymnast on a balance beam.
The light frame helps the air-cooled engine produce 87 horsepower at 8,250 RPM, more than enough zip to get to freeway speeds in a hurry.
The 796's ergonomic improvements include a handlebar that is 0.79 inches taller, putting the rider more upright, and Pirellie Diablo Rosso tires keep the bike on the road like Velcro.
If there's a design flaw to the 796, it's the bike's LCD instrument panel. While the bike has an RPM gauge that stretches across the panel, the digital speedometer sits in the lower right corner and is difficult to see in backlight. Speed kills bikers, not revolutions per minute, and a clearly read speedo would be a welcome revision.
But Ducati has found the right balance here. It may not be your first choice for cross-country touring, but the 796 may be the pragmatic middle ground the bike maker is looking for: older motorcyclists who still live to ride and ride to live -- but appreciate easy parking and a carpool lane.
The stats:

• Engine: Air-cooled, fuel-injected 803cc L-twin.
• Output: 87 horsepower at 8,250 rpm, 58 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm.
• Transmission: Six-speed, with APTC slipper clutch.
• Final drive: Chain.
• Front brakes: Twin-disc, four-piston 320mm Brembo.
• Rear brake: Single-disc, two-piston 245mm Brembo.
• Front suspension: Inverted 43mm Showa, with 4.7 inches of travel.
• Rear suspension: Sachs monshock with spring preload and rebound damping.
• Seat height: 32.5 inches.
• Dry weight: 369 pounds (373 pounds with ABS).
• Fuel tank capacity: 3.8 gallons.
• Fuel economy: 42 mpg (U.S. cycle, combined).
• Service interval: 7,500 miles.
• Warranty: Two years, unlimited mileage.
• Price: $10,295 ($11,295 with ABS).