NEW MONSTER 821

[ducpainter]

But Galluzi's sketch was not what Ducati delivered, and the success or lack of it with a 4V as the introductory model can only be speculation.

I think the Monster allowed people that didn't have SBK wallets to get into the brand.

For whatever reason the 2V Monster was a hit.

[Triple J]

Exactly...the Monster had a 2-valve motor until I believe 2001, when the 1st "SBK motor" was introduced. The Monster was established as a sport standard, not as a naked SBK.

[Speeddog]

Exactly...the Monster had a 2-valve motor until I believe 2001, when the 1st "SBK motor" was introduced. The Monster was established as a sport standard, not as a naked SBK.

Yes, 2001 and 2002 were S4, with pretty much an ST4 motor fitted with the close-ratio transmission.

I suspect that it was, again, a surplus of ST4 engine parts, and a surplus of 748 transmissions.
IMHO, the ST4 916cc engine isn't aided by the close ratio trans, would've been better with the wide.

Galuzzi's personal bike/prototype was built around an 888.

As was said previously, a surplus of 900SS motors determined what the production bike would be fitted with.

I went to an event at the Doffo Winery/Ducati Museum in Temecula last year, and met both Galuzzi and Terblanche.
Really nice guys, spent a little while chatting with each of them.
Galuzzi said the 'Monster' name came from a souvenir/giveaway doll that his kids always asked for when he traveled during that time frame.

[brad black]

ducati thinking is that the top engine of the time is reserved for the superbike only.  hence the s4 and st4 having a 916cc motor, not a 996.  in 92, the 851/888 was superbike only, so the only motor available for the monster was the 900.  it made much more sense as a 2v anyway at the time, as the 2v motor wasn't as underpowered in the market as it became later and it gave them the easy ability to do what they'd done in the past model range wise: put various size versions of the same motor into the same chassis to sell anywhere they could.  they sold nearly 6,000 900ss in 91 and 92.  if they had surplus engines, i wonder how many they expected to sell?  they sold about 10,000 each of the 900 monster and ss 93 to 95.

i know it's all about prestige, etc, but the top engine thing is a really silly idea imo.  the s4 and st4 would both have sold much better if they had the 996 motor from the get go.  the only reason there was a dual seat sps motor'd model in 2001 (euro 996s) was because the 996r was out with the testastretta. 

really, they should have had the sps motor in the st4 and s4.  advance the inlet cams and that motor is smooth, tractable and just great to use.  anyone who says it has less low down power than a std cam 996 has never ridden a good one.  put that in the st4s and it would have been a pretty serious sports tourer in any comparison.

altho, people in au say that the "biggest motor" demand is a real melbourne thing.  in other states the smaller engined models sell much better comparatively for ducati i'm told.

the close ratio gearbox thing is odd, as by 2000 they were building a unique output shaft box for the 900ssie.  everything else used the longer 916 or 748 based shaft.  i think it was just that someone in planning figured that the close ratio box was better suited to a naked bike with a theoretical lower practical top speed.  in practice it just hurt a bike that was more an all rounder.  they built an st, so if you wanted to tour, buy that sort of corporate mentality.  like when bmw make 5 versions of the same thing and one just doesn't sell, they started making everything a bit more segment focused.  the 900ssie became more focused seating wise, because they had the st2 for touring.  whereas the 900ss was as much an all rounder as the m900 really.

anyway, we're getting ot now.

[thought]

To be honest if I could have purchased a brand new with warranty full framed Duc I would have.  

SF848 is still around... just not aircooled.  But I would say that the clock is ticking on that model too.

[TWDucfan]

I would not toss 140hp out of bed but she is so ugly I would not perform well anyway 

140hp is like a woman who looks great when she is angry...

[The ModFather]

For me if Im not tracking a bike like that 140hp does seem a bit of overkill. Which for the money steers me towards the 821 but as it goes with these bikes its the details that really stand out to you. e.g. I love the single sided swingarm on the 1200, I hate the coffin reservoirs on the 821, would love to have Ohlins but again if Im not tracking the bike thats a lot of dough for an under utilized feature. If moneys no issue for me Id certainly go 1200s but Im trying to justify the price delta.

[SpikeC]

 Do not discount the value of the Ohlins on the street! They not only give you great control in the twisties, butt they also can give you a very comfortable ride in everyday putting about.
My M1100S rode like a dream and was fantastic in the corners!

[Howie]

Do not discount the value of the Ohlins on the street! They not only give you great control in the twisties, butt they also can give you a very comfortable ride in everyday putting about.
My M1100S rode like a dream and was fantastic in the corners!

Xakly,  less stiction = more comfy ride

[Duc796canada]

I'm thinking MV 800Brutale Dragster about now!

[The ModFather]

I'm thinking MV 800Brutale Dragster about now!

+1

[mdgore]

I've been holding off on this because I wanted read reviews and other write ups, but most of that is in and it's been underwhelming.  Unless you need the tank to say "Ducati" There is no reason to buy the 821 over the Yamanail FZ-09. (and there are at least 3k reasons to buy the 9) All the Ducati signature stuff is pretty much gone. The FZ-09 looks better as well.  If I were buying my new bike now, instead of a year ago, the Yamaha would be in my garage.  Or maybe even the Kawi Z1K.............I like Kawasaki's.    I feel somewhat lucky and glad that I got a 2014 796 ABS, with the SSSA and butt pipes and air/oil engine, etc.  The electronics package on the 821 sounds nice, but I doubt I'd ever need it. I am glad for the ABS on the 796 though.  So yeah, I guess I bought at the right time to get that Ducati vibe happening for me.   

[Speeddog]

FZ-09 better looking? Sez you.....
Me, not so much.

Have you ridden an FZ-09?
I've seen reviews that say the fuelling is crappy.

[Curmudgeon]

Not a fan of triples personally, and the suspension on the FZ-09 is definitely bargain basement. More than agree about the possibly underappreciated 796. Costs peanuts to "fix" and more bike than most will ever use. Only downside, depending on yout point of view..., it likes to live at 80 MPH. 

The 821 is probably worth the $$$, but I can do without the 4V complexity and plumbing too. Just my

[duccarlos]

They've compared the FZ-09 to other triples apples to apples and basically the biggest upside is the cost. The Yamaha would be really low on my list if I was looking at triples.