Ducati has been producing Monsters for 23 years and they get lighter, stronger and sexier every time. The Italians launched the Monster 1200, 1200 S and this newest Monster 1200 R with the slogan: ‘The most powerful Ducati naked ever’.
That’s quite a statement. Especially considering that Ducati already has some very impressive bikes in its stable, including the 155bhp Streetfighter S and 162bhp Diavel. However, unlike the Diavel, this Monster 1200 R meets the stringent Euro 4 standards (and has quite a subdued roar as a result) and manages to weigh just 207kg ready to roll with its 1,198cc V-twin Testastretta engine (called an L-twin by Ducati) pumping out 160bhp and 97lb/ft.Looking good on paper is one thing but riding well on track is another.
Therefore, Ducati decided to launch the Monster 1200 R at the prestigious Ascari Race circuit in Spain, where there is plenty of room to explore the bike’s true potential.Set against the backdrop of the largest and most exclusive circuit that Spain has to offer, the Monster certainly looks the part with the familiar, stylish front end, narrow subframe and that fat 200/55/17 strip of rubber wrapped around Panigale-inspired forged Marchesini wheels.
Ducati has clearly raised the performance bar and also the seat height. The longer fork legs and rear shock mean that the saddle is now 20mm higher. The passenger footpegs are no longer integrated in one piece together with the rider’s and are directly attached to the subframe. That helps the chassis to be raised by 15mm to offer more ground clearance and a claimed 50-degree lean angle, even in right-handers, thanks to the cleverly designed 2-1-2 staggered exhaust. Despite growing in both stature and power, the Monster 1200 R has a shorter wheelbase.
Together with the high centre of gravity, low unsprung weight and fully adjustable Ohlins suspension, it has cat-like agility (depending on your suspension settings). And yet with ergonomics borrowed from the Monster S, it’s still a comfortable street bike. But 75 per cent of maximum torque kicking in at just 3,500rpm, on damp public roads? Really?
Thanks to new software, the big Vee has a smooth power delivery, which can be softened even further by switching riding modes. The ride-by-wire system allows urban, touring and sport modes to reduce or increase the power, traction control and ABS levels, and you can customise all of these settings as well.
The 1200 R also has a full TFT instrument panel that changes the way it displays information according to which mode you’ve chosen. With so many ways to change how the bike behaves, the smooth throttle response, abundance of torque and broad power band, the 1200 R thankfully has a very forgiving nature.
The ride-by-wire system allows urban, touring and sport modes to reduce or increase the power, traction control and ABS levels
It can be quite a beast, but it’s still a friendly monster rather than a scary one. Being able to loft the front wheel skywards is a given, as is the sheer onslaught of power as the revs build steadily towards the red zone, but it never actually feels brutal.
The same applies to the Brembo brakes. The front calipers bite into the 330mm double disc with just a two fingered squeeze of the lever, but they’re not fierce enough to draw blood. The Monster 1200 R is simply a very balanced bike.
Of course, as is the case with most Ducati Monsters, you might notice a little movement in the chassis under hard braking or acceleration, but it is generally tractable and maintains your chosen line in a calm and reassuring manner.
So is the Ducati Monster 1200 R really ‘the most powerful Ducati naked ever’? It certainly seems so. But that declaration misses the point, focusing on impressive figures and not the real magic of the model: its poise, balance and superb relationship between the chassis, suspension and electronics.
It is the obvious evolution in a long line of Monsters. And it’s ideal if you want to potter gently to your local cafe, grab an espresso and just sit there, admiring your stunning new bike and all the attention it commands. But the 1200 R has race DNA too and it’s equally rewarding for completely different reasons on track.
The most powerful Ducati naked ever? Perhaps they should have just called the Monster 1200 R the best Ducati naked ever.
At a glance
Engine
1,198cc cc 90-degree V-twin producing 160bhp at 9,250rpm and 97lb/ft at 7,750rpm
Transmission
Six-speed sequential manual, chain drive
Kerb weight
207kg
Seat height
830mm
Fuel capacity
17.5 litres