The revised 2018 Ducati Monster 821 updates the motorcycle without making any startling changes.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Ducati’s first Monster model, and the new 821 is one of five new bikes that will debut at EICMA this year. This sneak peek at the machine shows it won’t be changed that much, but the updates for the 2018 model should prove pleasing to long-time fans of the Monster lineup.
The Monster 821 still has the same liquid-cooled Testastretta V-twin, with six-speed transmission, three riding modes and traction control (a quickshifter is optional). However, there has been a fair bit of restyling, with tank and tailpiece reworked to look like the original Monster 900 model, but also like the modern Monster 1200. That yellow paint that proved so popular on the original Monster is also back (only available on the 821 this year — the bike is also available in red or black), and the headlight is reworked to look like the current 1200 model. There’s also a new exhaust.
Ducati included a new TFT dash on the 821, bringing it in line with much of the Euro competition. The new gauge displays speed, RPMs, gear selection, fuel level, and other details.
Now for the bad news: the updated 821 is Euro-4 compliant, but that means peak horsepower is down to 109 hp at 9,250 rpm. Peak torque is 86 Nm at 7,750 rpm.
The 821 still runs on 43 mm inverted forks and adjustable rear monoshock, and the braking system still has dual 320 mm discs up front and a single 245 mm disc in rear. Brembo supplies the braking components.
We still haven’t seen Canadian pricing for the new 821, but we’d expect that in the coming weeks. Costa gets to ride the new Monster at the end of next week, and then the Ducati World Premiere runs on Sunday, Nov. 5, so we’ll likely have full technical details at that point.
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