Lightweight yet powerful, the new 2009 Ducati Monster 1100 beautifully replaces the old S2R 1000. Even though the resemblance with the Monster 696 is striking, this new bike stands out in many ways.

In addition to new colors, the Monster 1100 gets a single-sided aluminum swingarm weighing only 5 kilograms as well as new, radially-mounted calipers up front. A 10-millimeter longer Showa upside-down fork combines with higher-profile tires to offer increased ground clearance -- something the smaller 696 is often criticized for.


Exotic powerplant
The new version of the 1,078-cc, air-cooled Desmodromic engine, featuring two valves per cylinder, is 3-kilogram lighter than last year's. Credit goes to thinner crankcases that were designed using a new high-pressure casting process which also improves stiffness -- an important element since the engine influences the frame rigidity of the new Monster. The compression ratio is up to 10.7:1 (versus 10.5:1 for the Hypermotard, which uses the same powerplant). The air box is integrated to the fuel tank and benefits from a more effective intake valve system. The engine is fed by a new Siemens electronic fuel injection system with a pressure probe in the exhaust line to improve combustion. The manufacturer claims that these upgrades translate into greater throttle response and greater efficiency at low and medium revs.

Typically Monster
The frame of the Monster 1100 is shorter than the S2R 1000's and thus requires a shorter though wider fuel tank. As a result, the rider sits closer to the steering column. The wide, relatively low handlebar makes for a typically Monster riding position, meaning even less upright than with most Streetfighter counterparts but not as radical as the previous generation.

For 2009, the Italian company also came up with an S variant of the Monster 1100. This sportier model rolls out of the factory with Öhlins forks and shocks, and the Ducati Data Analysis (DDA) package to capture and analyse riding data, a technology derived from racing.

The new 2009 Ducati Monster 1100 is a strong-character naked bike which does not seem to know what practicality is. Therefore, it will appeal to riders looking for an exclusive machine with no fancy stuff, not to mention sportbike-caliber precision and the flexible power of the legendary Desmo L-Twin, which has become a staple of Ducati.


Photo Credit : Ducati