Updated Ducati Monster Spied Testing

Quick Highlights: 

• The updated Ducati Monster was recently spotted testing 

• Will get a new 890cc L-twin motor

• Will likely cost the same or may be slightly cheaper than the existing model

Ducati Monster is a naked bike known for its compact design, sporty handling and powerful engine. The updated Monster was recently spotted testing, and here is everything we can expect from it.

New Engine Without Desmodromic Valves

The updated Ducati Monster will be powered by an all-new 890cc L-twin engine which was revealed back at EICMA 2024 in November last year. It gets a DOHC (double overhead camshafts) setup rather than the Desmodromic valves like other Ducatis including the current version of the Monster. This should make the motorcycle easier to maintain, as with the desmodromic setup, maintenance and adjustment of the valves are complicated and expensive. Because of this, Ducati got rid of the Desmodromic valves in its new-gen V4 engines, and now the Monster will be the first smaller capacity Ducati to not have the tech.  

According to Ducati, the new engine is also quite light and weighs just 54.4kg. Ducati made the engine in two variants - one with 120PS and the other one with 115PS. While the latter is designed for touring purposes, expect the Monster to come with the sportier 120PS tune. The peak torque is 93.3Nm. In comparison, the current 937cc L-twin Desmodromic motor in the Monster makes 111PS and 93Nm. 

Design 

The Ducati Monster is a proper street naked motorcycle with compact yet muscular bodywork. The spy shots of the updated version reveal that Ducati wants to keep the overall silhouette intact, but with a few tweaks here and there. The new headlight design along with conventionally mounted LED indicators look different from the ones mounted on the tank shrouds in the current version of the Ducati Monster. It gets fairly large radiator shrouds for a cleaner side profile. The tail section is new as it uses a new subframe. The spy shots also reveal new design for the twin exhausts, alloy wheels and rear view mirrors. 

Underpinnings 

The spy shots reveal that the rear monoshock is mounted differently which could have been done to accommodate the new engine. Even though it’s unclear in the images, expect the frame to also have been tweaked to accommodate the new engine. The fork still looks like the same 43mm inverted fork. Brakes too look similar - dual 320mm discs up front with Brembo M4.32 radial calipers, and a 245mm rear disc with Brembo caliper. The double-sided swingarm also looks the same as the existing model.

Expected Price, Launch Timeline And Verdict

The current version of the Ducati Monster costs Rs 12.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and the updated version could be priced similarly or will be slightly more affordable (since it does not have the complex valve mechanism). Expect the updated Monster to debut at the EICMA 2025, in November this year. With big changes in the engine department, it’s evident that Ducati wants to ensure peace of mind for its customer base, so doing away with Desomodromic valves on its smaller capacity bikes is a step in the right direction. The updated Monster will go up against the Kawasaki Z900 and the Triumph Street Triple 765. 

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