We had the opportunity to ride the Ducati 821 Monster around the roads of lush Chiang Mai in Thailand. Here is what it feels like from the saddle
It's official! Italian superbike manufacturer Ducati is the latest bike maker to enter the premium end of the Indian automotive market. We had the opportunity to ride the Ducati 821 Monster around the roads of lush Chiang Mai in Thailand. The Monster's design theme follows what the management describes as "Bologna dove corre la passione" (Bologna drives passion).
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Indeed, the Monster 821 looks strong and uncompromising, yet compact. Its muscular and sculpted 17.5-litre petrol tank combines with the signature minimalist LED headlamp unit to hold an aggressive stance. The effect is drop-dead gorgeous. Details like the double-sided swing-arm, steel handlebar, sculpted aluminium mirrors, the all-LCD instrumentation, double barrel exhaust and the exposed trellis frame only add to its charm.
The Monster's core however, is full of techno-wizardry. The bike is powered by an 821.1-cc 11° Testastretta, Desmodromic four-valves-per-cylinder, liquid-cooled L-twin engine, which makes 112 horses at 9,250 RPM, and 89.4 Nm of twist at 7,750 revs. According to Ducati, the engine's peak output has been compromised to make for a more even power delivery through the rev range.
Diagonally placed Sachs monoshock is directly mounted to the bike's double sided swing arm
How does all this translate on road? Well, the comfortably high handlebars and their relation with the seat and the foot-pegs make for a really comfy riding position, even on the 230-km ride we undertook. The engine is a peach: refined and quiet at low revs with vibrations down to a minimum.
But it isn't without character. Wring the throttle hard and you're rewarded with a throaty menacing growl befitting its name. Power delivery is linear, which means the bike can be ridden through traffic easily. Easily enough for rookies to get used to this machine. At the same time, if you want to ride really hard then the bike's riposte comes in the form of hair raising acceleration.
The 821 gets three levels of ABS along with Ducati Traction Control Pics/Ducati
The ride on the 821 is on the firmer side, but isn't so stiff that the undulations on the road are a bother. Tackle a few curves, though, and you can really see how the suspension set-up is a boon for its handling abilities. A good set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres and a relatively light 205.5-kg 'wet' weight means cornering is an absolute breeze.
To stop, the Monster's 320-mm twin Brembo discs upfront and 245-mm single disc at the back, equipped with ABS, are more than just adequate. Stopping is achieved quickly and reassuringly with a firm tug of the brake lever.
The Cost
In India, the entry level Ducati Monster 821 Dark can be yours for R9 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) while the red is priced at R50,000 more.
Electronics
There are three levels of ABS, which affect the system's involvement at both wheels, and an eight-level Ducati Traction Control (or DTC) for added stability. The electronics can be optimised through three riding modes — Urban, Touring and Sport — which riders can also switch between on the fly.
Seat adjustment
The standard seat can be adjusted between 785 millimetres and 810 mm, providing much needed flexibility (and confidence for shorter riders).
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