Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/270748
VOL. 51 ISSUE 9 MARCH 4, 2014 P65 All three power modes deliver a combination of RbW (Ride by Wire) throttle response, DTC and ABS settings. While Sport offers the full bomb setting of "High" RbW throttle response, reduced DTC and level-one ABS, Touring offers a "Medium" RbW response and increased DTC with level-two ABS. The Urban mode offers a decrease in power to 100 hp with a low RbW throttle response, even more DTC and level-three ABS for maximum braking sta- bility and rear lift-up prevention. Sport has no rear lift prevention while Touring is only slightly ac- tivated. I am pleased to report that Ducati has a fine bike in terms of function, but what about form? Well at first I wasn't so keen on the big Monster's new styling, but after a full day of riding I was really starting to like the looks of the new bike. It's long and seems rather big in general, but it is ac- tually a lot more nimble than it looks. To achieve a more muscular and aggressive image, Ducati went with a narrower waistline and a very compact headlight and dash setup. New tapered style aluminum inch-high bars also give the new Monster a very minimalist look. The tinted transparent brake and clutch res- ervoirs are a nice touch and go well with the streamlined cast aluminum mirrors. The new sin- gle-sided swingarm compliments a newly redesigned tail section that features a very small and thin look and comes with a race style single-seat cover as standard. The seat cover can be removed to provide ample room for a pas- senger and the nicely shaped grab-rails blend in well to accent SPECIFICATIONS 2014 DUCATI MONSTER 1200/1200 S ENGINE: ................................... liquid-cooled Testastretta 11° DS, L-Twin cylinder, four- valve Desmodromic DISPLACEMENT: ........................... 1198.4 cc BORE X STROKE: ................. 106 x 67.9mm COMPRESSION: ...................................12.5:1 POWER: .........135hp @ 8750 rpm (1200 S 145hp @ 8750 rpm) TORQUE: ................ 86.88 lb-ft @7250 rpm (1200 S 92 lb-ft @ 7250 rpm) FUEL INJECTION: ...... EFI with 53mm Mikuni throttle bodies with ride-by-wire EXHAUST: ........2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and twin lambda probes EMISSIONS: .......................................Euro 3 GEARBOX: ........................................ 6 speed PRIMARY DRIVE: ...........Straight cut gears, 1.84:1 FINAL DRIVE: ....530 chain, front sprocket 15, rear sprocket 41 CLUTCH: ................. Wet multi-plate clutch. Self-servo action on drive, slipper action on over-run FRAME: ............. Tubular steel Trellis frame WHEELBASE: ........................... 59.48 inches RAKE: ................................................... 24.3° TRAIL: ........................................3.66 inches STEERING ANGLE: ..................................60° FRONT SUSPENSION: ....................... 1200 – 43mm Kayaba fully adjustable fork; 1200 S – Ohlins 48mm fully adjustable fork REAR SUSPENSION: ....1200 – Progressive Sachs monoshock with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping; 1200 S – Fully adjustable Ohlins FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: .............. 5.1 inches REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ..............5.98 inches FRONT BRAKE: .....................1200 - Brembo Monobloc M4-32 four piston calipers, 230mm discs; 1200 S – Brembo Monobloc M50 four piston calipers, 330mm discs REAR BRAKE: ................ Two-piston caliper, 230mm disc FUEL CAPACITY: .........................4.6 gallons DRY WEIGHT: .............................401 pounds WET WEIGHT: ............................461 pounds SEAT HEIGHT: ...........Adjustable from 30.9 inches to 31.8 inches HEIGHT: ......................................... 44 inches LENGTH: .....................................84.9 inches ELECTRONICS: DTC, R-b-W, Riding Modes MSRP: ..... 1200 - $13,495; 1200 S - $15,995 1. It's still a Monster. 2. The Monster's front frame section bolts directly to the cylinder heads of the retuned Testastretta engine. 3. The Monster uses a two-into-one-into- two exhaust system. 4. The dash is quite trick with the display changing based on the different mode you are riding in. 5. The S model gets an Ohlins fork; the standard model uses a Kayaba. 5