VOLUME 58 ISSUE 22 JUNE 2, 2021 P115
allowing you to lock your legs in
easier while cornering. Ducati is
after new riders big time with the
new Monster, so anything that
can make the machine feel like a
natural fit has been explored.
Part of the new rider push is
a relaxing on the ergonomics.
Aside from the varying seat and
suspension heights (see specs)
with the handlebar now 2.6 inch-
es closer, and the footpegs 0.4
inches lower and 1.4 inches fur-
ther back, all helping you main-
tain a straighter back and taking
weight off your wrists. Compared
to the outgoing Monster 821 that
would get rather uncomfortable
after a couple hours, I knocked
out the best part of nine hours in
the saddle when testing the '21
edition in and around San Fran-
cisco and hopped off feeling, not
brand new, but definitely not as
damaged as I could have been,
most notably in my aching knees.
An area of interest is the
suspension. At the best part
of $12K, it is surprising to see
the 43mm inverted fork isn't
adjustable at all, while the rear
shock only gets preload adjust-
ment. Considering many of the
Monster's class competitors
cost less and come with proper
suspension adjustment, this is an
omission.
However, there's a saving
grace in that the suspension
does its job admirably, especially
when you consider when I sat on
it (I'm 190 pounds without riding
gear), it felt a little on the springy
side. In action, the Monster's
non-adjustable front-end per-
formed far better than I expected,
soaking up the harsh compres-
sion bumps we found in the city
just as well as it provided good
stability under brakes when we
hit the redwood forest twisties.
