The Goodwood Test: Ducati Monster 1200S

Heritage

Few bikes are instantly recognisable without a name on the petrol tank, but Ducati’s Monster is undoubtedly one. The classical Bolognese blend of V-twin engine, tubular steel frame and upright, exposed riding position dates back to the M900 Monster that began the line in 1993. Since then the Monster family has expanded with bigger and smaller models, sold more than a quarter of a million bikes and inspired a whole market sector of sporty naked roadsters.

The bigger Monsters have become much more powerful if not scarier over the years, especially since turning to liquid-cooling in 2014 with the original 1200 and 1200S. Last year’s 160bhp Monster 1200R pitched Ducati into the hyper-naked battle with Aprilia’s Tuono V4 1100 and KTM’s 1290 Super Duke R. For 2017 the Monster 1200S is upgraded in a similar direction, with more powerful engine plus revamped chassis and electronics.

Design

That Monster silhouette is unmistakable even in grey paintwork rather than the traditional (and alternative) red. The engine remains an 1198cc, DOHC eight-valve V-twin, with Ducati’s trademark 90-degree cylinder angle and desmodromic valve operation. Tuned with larger throttle bodies and increased compression, it thunders out 150bhp and is further enhanced by upgraded electronics, controlled by IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) black box trickery.

The chassis is sharpened too, with steeper steering geometry and a new, single-sided swingarm that helps shorten the wheelbase. The suspension is classy kit from Swedish specialist Öhlins. The 1200S doesn’t follow some high-end Ducatis by having a semi-active system. But its front brake blend of Brembo’s M50 monobloc calipers and 330mm discs comes straight from the 1299 Panigale super-sports flagship, complete with cornering ABS. 

Performance

Any naked bike with 150bhp at the end of its throttle wire demands attention, and the Monster 1200S is no exception. That big V-twin is as sweet-revving as it’s powerful, sending the Ducati hurtling towards its 150mph-plus top speed with an addictive combination of crisp throttle response (in a choice of three modes), broad torque curve and high-revving smoothness, enhanced by the quick-shifter that swaps cogs seamlessly both up and down through the six-speed box.

It’s all very controllable, too, helped by the easily adjustable traction control system, and anti-wheelie software that can quickly be disabled for a spot of hooliganism. The Monster’s typically stiff frame, lightweight and racy geometry give agile handling with stability. The Öhlins suspension, front end softened slightly from the previous model’s, blends sublime control with reasonable comfort.

Passion

It’s easy to fall for the handsome and charismatic Monster 1200S even before riding it. The TFT instrument panel is as comprehensive as it’s colourful; the Liquid Concrete Grey paintwork looks thick enough to bury a gang of Mafia victims. Neat details include a ski-boot style catch securing the front of the petrol tank, mimicking that of the original M900. The desmo V-twin rumbles and rustles despite being sanitised for Euro 4 emissions regs.

The Monster 1200S’s updates have dragged its price above £14,000, so it’s hardly cheap. (The basic 1200, with less exotic suspension and brakes, and no quick-shifter, costs £11,495.) But for naked fun with reasonable practicality, it’s difficult to beat. The Ducati pulls your arms off when you open the throttle and handles and stops like a thoroughbred fairing-less sports bike. Yet it’s docile and rider-friendly in town; a Bologna-built blend of beauty and the Beast that sums up why the Monster has been so popular for all these years.

Price tag of our bike: £14,495 with grey paint (Monster 1200S in red is £14,295)