Ducati Monster 1200 25° Anniversario
Ducati Monster 1200 25° Anniversario
By Réhann Coetzee
To celebrate the Monster’s 25th birthday, Ducati announced a limited edition of the 1200 version.
The Monster was first presented at the Cologne trade fair in 1992 and production began in March 1993. And Ducati says in just a few years the bike reached icon status in the world of motorcycles.
They say the Monster was responsible for launching the category of naked sports bikes and an ever-growing and ever more devoted community of riders grew up around it: the Monster fans.
To celebrate 25 years of history of their icon – more than 325 000 of them have been made since 1993 – Ducati has decided to create the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario.
The production run will be limited to 500 numbered motorcycles. Ducati says the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario Ducati embodies the maximum expression of a naked sports bike.
It has exclusive livery featuring the three colours of the Italian flag on the nose fairing, fuel tank and passenger seat cover, inspired by the 2008 Monster S4RS Testastretta Tricolore. The special colour scheme partners perfectly with the prestige seat that is embroidered with the 25th anniversary logo.
The gold-coloured frame and forged Marchesini wheels with W spokes in the same colour are another distinguishing feature of this Monster, which also has numerous other prestigious details machined from solid aluminium, such as the mirrors, frame plugs, handlebar end weights and the petrol cap, which is a standard fitting. The articulated brake and clutch levers as well as the plate holder are also in aluminium, while the front and rear mudguards, the keyhole cover and the exhaust heat guard are in carbon fibre.
The Monster 1200 25° Anniversario also comes with a bike cover, decorated with the special limited-edition logo.
As for the chassis set up, the Monster 1200 25° Anniversario has a tubular steel trellis frame and single-sided swing arm in aluminium, paired with a fully adjustable Öhlins fork with 48 mm diameter stanchions, fully adjustable Öhlins rear suspension, as well as a steering damper also supplied by the Swedish firm. Front braking is from two 330mm diameter Brembo discs paired with Brembo M50 monobloc callipers. The rear 245mm diameter disk is matched with a Brembo calliper.
Propulsion is by the latest evolution of the Testastretta 11° DS that has high levels of power and torque as well as fluid and full delivery even at low revs and a manageable gradual accelerator response.
Ducati says that, thanks to the constant attention paid by them to quality and reliability, the Testastretta 11° DS engine guarantees long maintenance intervals. Setting of the valves, for example, is due every 30 000km.
The electronic package features three different riding modes (Sport, Touring and Urban), as well as an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that supplies information to the ABS Bosch Cornering and Ducati Wheelie Control (DWC) systems. It also includes Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Ducati Quick Shift Up and Down (DQS) for swift gear changes without using the clutch.
Ducati says the colour TFT instrument panel allows the rider to regulate the Riding Mode settings through a user-friendly interface. The headlight is equipped with a DRL (Daytime Running Light) system.
The Monster 1200 25° Anniversario will be available in Europe from September but can already be ordered from Ducati dealers.
Technically speaking: Monster 1200 25° Anniversario
Engine: 1 198cc, V4-cylinder, double-overhead cam, four valves per cylinder
Power: 108kW @ 9 250rpm / 124Nm @ 7 750rpm
Gears: 6 speed, chain
Fuel tank: 16,5 litres
Seat height: 795-820mm
Tyres: 120/70/17 front, 190/55/17 rear
Brakes: 4-piston, 320mm double disks (front); 2-piston 245mm single disk (rear)
Wet weight: 210kg
Price: R259 995