Unleash the MONSTER!

The Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Ducati, owned by Volkswagen, caused quite a stir at the German auto salon when they revealed the latest addition to the Monster family. The Monster 1200 R is the top-of-the-line and most exclusive Ducati bike thus far, with performance-driven R design. 

Ducati is always looking to squeeze more power from its bikes. At the heart of the 1200 R is an upgraded 1.2-litre Testastretta two-cylinder engine that pounds out 158 horsepower and 97 lb-ft. of torque, which is an improvement of 15 hp and 5 lb-ft. over the current Monster S by increasing the compression ratio from 12.5:1 to 13:1 and affixing an exhaust with larger interior diameter.

The body features track-ready R chassis and superbike-derived components. The manufacturer says that they have shed 4.5 pounds off the bike, and the new model tips the scale at 397 pounds. The Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas-shod wheels measure 3.5 x 17" and 6.00 x 17". Additionally, the machine sports a new rear section, which looks leaner and more svelte. In fact, all in all, the 1200 R looks more sophisticated. Colour-wise, buyers can choose either black with a black trellis frame, or red with a red trellis frame. 

There’s also a host of electronic features, including the Ducati Safety Pack (ABS, eight levels of traction control) and three riding modes (Sport: 160 hp, aggressive throttle response; Touring: 160 hp, smooth throttle response; Urban: 100 hp, very smooth throttle response).