Testing the wheelie control on the 2021 Ducati Monster. (Photos by Gregor Halenda and Mike Levin)

Over the years Ducati has produced several iconic motorcycles which have withstood the test of time. Many enthusiasts credit Ducati?s 916 as the one that stands above the rest in it?s revolutionary design and styling. But there?s another Ducati that has made its own mark in similar fashion ? the Monster ? which established the ?naked bike? style.

Unveiled at the Cologne show in 1992, designer Miguel Galluzzi said, ?All you need is: a saddle, tank, engine, two wheels and handlebars.? Though designated the M900, it became known by its nickname, ?Monster.? Like Frankenstein?s monster, the M900 stitched together the steel trellis frame from the 851 Superbike, the air-cooled, 904cc L-twin from the Supersport Desmodue, a ?bison-back? gas tank, a low handlebar and a round headlight.
Is something missing" The Monster’s iconic steel trellis frame has been replaced with a Panigale-style modular frame that uses the engine as a structural member.

Over nearly three decades of production and more than 350,000 units sold, the Ducati Monster has seen multiple evolutions in terms of styling and technology, and it has been offered in a range of displacements, from 600cc to 1,200cc. The commitment made by Ducati to enhance and keep the Monster relevant is evident from the latest version of this iconic motorcycle, which brings together a Superbike-inspired chassis, a road-go...