A dash of Italian spicing

There are very less motorcycles that enjoy the same popularity as Ducati Monster. Few motorcycles enjoy the kind of popularity the Ducati Monster does in the world of naked streetbikes. The Monster line-up, which you see now, has made its silver jubilee as one of the most successful street-naked motorcycle in the world. With attractive styling, good handling and powerful performance, the Monster has always managed to allure bike enthusiast all over the world. The Monster 821, of course, has always been important, positioned as a middleweight naked, and is now available in a refreshed avatar. We recently got to ride one of these Italian beauties. Let see if it managed to keep up with the standard of its predecessors.

Design
 Like it is said that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but in Monster's case, it is an exception. The new Ducati Monster 821 is a very definition of what a naked sportbike should look like. At the front, the round LED headlight and beefy fuel tank are taken from its elder siblings, the Monster 1200. Also, there's a small detail on the tank, with an aluminium clip that is a nod to the Monster family’s original M900. Fun fact, it was the first Ducati Monster M900 that started the trend of the modern naked street bike, or the ‘streetfighter’ design as it's called today. The Monster 821 comes with muscular front, stylish design, steel trellis frame, sleek tail section and exposed engine, which overall give the new Monster 821 a very aggressive stance.

ENGINE
Mechanically, it still retains the 821cc, liquid-cooled L-twin engine that produces 109 hp at 9,250rpm of power and 86 Nm of torque at 7,750 rpm. After spending a couple of hours in the saddle confirmed that the Monster did not need a bigger engine though, as the existing engine’s performance is thrilling enough. It took Monster just 4 seconds to go 0-100kmph, which is pretty impressive for a middleweight naked motorcycle. The six-speed gearbox works well too, though it can call for a little effort at times.

PERFORMANCE
Handling has always been the USP (unique selling point) of the Monster line-up, and it goes the same for the Monster 821.

The sharp steering makes for quick directional changes in traffic, with help from the wide handlebars. In fact, its powerful engine performance coupled with its sharp steering make the Monster 821 quite a head-turner ride in city traffic. Simply put, the Monster 821 doesn't just slice through traffic, it slays traffic. Talking about the gearshifts, they are precise and slick, but as mentioned before it does call for a little effort. The quick-revving motor, complemented by a burbling and crackling exhaust note, pulls from down low in the revs, and a quick switch to Sport mode awakens the beast inside and less experienced riders will need to be cautious with grabbing a handful of that throttle. Braking prowess is also excellent thanks to the high-end equipment on the Monster 821.

It comes equipped with twin 320mm, semi-floating discs upfront along with radially mounted monobloc Brembo M4-32 callipers. The brakes help the Monster 821 slow down from speeds quickly in a progressive manner and overall stability when braking hard from high speeds is very good too.

VERDICT
The new Monster 821 comes better upgrades that make it even more likeable, as the tried and tested powertrain is now met by a fresher, more alluring physical appearance. As far as dynamics are concerned, the new Monster 821 is as impressive as ever, portraying every trait of being a Ducati on this crucial front with its sportiness.

The updated Monster 821 thus has all the ingredients to make for a great everyday middleweight naked, with that extra dash of Italian spicing. But all these qualities will come at a price. The Monster 821 comes with a price tag of '10.99 lakh ex-showroom, which makes it a little expensive when you compare it with is rivals available in the market.  

But it is not about how much extra you are paying for the new Monster 821; it is about how much extra you are getting. You cannot ignore the fact that equipment levels on the Monster 821 are also higher than a lot of its competitors. Of course, for the price you pay for the Monster 821, you get a motorcycle that not only looks gorgeous and goes like the stink but also brings with it a legacy unlike most of its rivals.

And if you're the kind of rider who wants your ride to be special, and turn heads on the street, a yellow (or red, or matte black) Ducati Monster 821 could be all you need to announce your arrival.