“Naked Power” are the words used by Ducati themselves to describe their Monster 696 motorcycle. The 696 is a solid choice for first time Ducati owners who want to break into the Ducati motorcycle brand. The bike looks not only has that utilitarian yet appealing look of a Ducati, but also all the performance of one as well. We are going to take a brief look at this marvelous motorcycle.
While not an ultra fast, high performance racing motorcycle, the Ducati Monster 696 is still a formidable, yet approachable motorcycle. The bike is a “naked” or a standard motorcycle that is commonly used as a simple means of transportation, and most notably features an upright riding position. Ducati exclaims on their webpage for their Monster 696 that “less is more” and that they are taking a more minimal approach to this bike. Its most notable feature is that the frame is exposed showing all of its guts, hence the name “naked”. The frame itself is very lightweight and strong, and it is also designed to allow riders to accommodate different seats for a second passenger.
Ducati first introduced the Monster series back in the early 1990’s and they were met with much critical acclaim. These bikes were favored for their unique appearance, functionality, and performance. The Monster 696 was announced in 2007 and came out the following year, so it is a relatively new model. It has a 696cc Desmodue air-cooled, L-twin engine that provides the bike with around 80 horses. Make no mistake while this bike may not have the largest engine, it is very light-weight with a wet weight of around 407 pounds. Since the bike is lighter in weight it is still able to perform, and should not be underestimated.
The motorcycle also has a lot of nice features as well that Ducati provides. It has an advanced APTC clutch system that prevents the bikes rear-end from becoming unstable when downshifting. The bike has a strong, but light steel Trellis frame. It also features a minimal instrumentation system.
The Ducati Monster 696 is a minimal type of bike that somehow makes an aggressive statement. It has a solid balance of comfort and performance, and is a good introduction into the fantastic world of Ducati motorcycles. The bike starts at $9,295.
Photo from Ducati.com
