Car Auto Design

Moving to the current Monster Range, there are three models: the 696, 1100, and 1100S. The Monster 696 was announced in November 2007 and officially launched early April 2008 in Barcelona. The Monster 1100 was announced in September 2008. Based on the Monster 696, it comes with a larger 1078 cc engine, a single sided swingarm, radial brake calipers, larger diameter forks and taller suspension. The 1100 "S" model features fully adjustable Öhlins suspension components, a different colour scheme and aluminium brake disc carriers reducing weight. All models have been praised by the press and public alike, and in what is quite a rare achievement actually take the best of the older models and improve upon them both technically and aesthetically.

Like most enthusiast marques, there is a very active trade in aftermarket performance parts and customisation with a lot of owners choosing to fit freer flowing exhausts, premium suspension, lighter wheels and carbon fiber accessories from manufacturers such as Termignoni, Arrow, Fast By Ferracci, Akrapovic and Ducati Performance, ohlins, Marchesini and Showa to name but a few, all of these parts taking an already good standard bike and making it better.

The Monster range has also spawned several signature products including Monster watches and clothing, but most notably the Ducati Burton snowboard, a collaboration between two of the hottest brands of the present day, Ducati and Burton snowboards. The Ducati Monster snowboards were produced in strictly limited numbers, appearing in a gloss red or matt black, adorned in both cases with a stomp pad manufactured to look like the fuel filler on the Monster roadbike. Both are very rare and very collectable.

2010 Ducati Monster 696
Alas, we're quick to forget the little guy. The glory-grabbing superbikes from Ducati owe much to the sustainability of the Monster line, now 17 years after it was first seen. Ducati knows this. They know it to the point that opening night of the world press introduction for the 2009 Monster 696 in Barcelona was a gala dinner at the Museu D'Art Contemporani De Barcelona, replete with local dignitaries including Italy's ambassador to Spain and all the Ducati chieftains.

Before I sheepishly sneaked away from the dinner table, averting my gaze when any impeccably groomed, tan-skinned persons passed by for fear of them recognizing me the following day by my pauper's toggery, I noted various trademark components of the new bike, large and small, were displayed like the art that many consider them to be. The Monster, it was everywhere.

Motorcycle 2011 Ducati Monster 696 Edition Red