Ducati Monster  Review Action Shots

Ducati Monster 821 Review: Middleweight Machismo

Performance – A full blown monster

Ducati Monster 821 Review - Action Shots (4)

Ducati has armed the Monster 821 with some serious fire power. To put things in perspective, the outgoing Ducati Monster 796 delivered 87hp of power and 78Nm of torque. In comparison, the Monster 821 shares its Testastretta 11°, 4-valve-per-cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled power plant with Ducati’s 2014 Hypermotard and puts out an impressive 112hp of power and 89.4Nm of torque at 7,750rpm. The wet weight of the Monster 821 stands at 205.5 kg which gives the motorcycle the power-to-weight ratio of 545 hp per tonne.

Ducati Monster 821 Review - Details - Frame and Engine

Ducati has also equipped the Monster 821 with a new throttle body to increase the torque at low and mid RPM range. Ducati has rigged the Monster 821 with a full ride-by-wire system. Through ride-by-wire system, the engine decides the ideal power response depending on the selected Riding Mode and throttle input.

Another feature that grabbed our attention was the clutch mechanism. The Monster 821 features an oil bath, Adler Power Torque Clutch (APTC) with slipper function. The mechanism enables a lighter clutch action on the lever at crawling speeds, enhancing comfort in start/stop traffic. When the drive force is reversed, the mechanism reduces the pressure on the clutch plates, enabling them to provide a slipper action. Reducing the pressure on the clutch plates reduces the destabilizing effect of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting.

Ducati Monster 821 Review - Details - Switchgear - Left Side and Rear View Mirror

But how well do all of these aforementioned features translate in the real world? Crank up that motor, put the wheels in motion, and the first thing that anyone who has ridden the Monster 796 would notice is the refinement and smoothness of the new Monster 821. As claimed by Ducati, the mid-range has improved significantly. The 821 feels like a full-size, punchy motorcycle with no compromises. The grunt from the mill, once you hit the open roads is intoxicating, with loads of torque available for confident, effortless overtaking even in a relatively relaxed rev range. It’s only at the bottom of the rev range that this Ducati shows some discomfort, but not to an extent that should bother anyone.

While there isn’t any real dearth of power in the low rev range, you can clearly feel a step-up in the power delivery as you transition above 4000 rpm. The bike feels more eager, and build power with more alacrity once post the 4000 mark, and keeps building the revs at the steady pace thereon. The beefy mid-range is followed by an exceptionally powerful top end, which can be sensed post 8000 rpm and has the kind of grunt to scare the noobs away. Peak power kicks in at 9250 RPM and this is where things get astonishingly fast. Those who would like to use this motorcycle for relaxed highway riding, can cruise at 120-130 kph at a little above 4000 rpm in top gear.

The gearbox is crisp and light with great feel and feedback. Except for a rare few occasions where we heard the grinding noise of metal against metal, the six-speed unit delighted us during our 250 km ride.

The media ride began in the Touring mode which has been tuned to deliver the full 112 hp of power but with a softer throttle response. The response, however, was still quite crisp and the throttle felt pugnacious even with a soft twist.

Ducati Monster 821 Review - Action Shots (17)

But the real persona of the Monster 821 reflected when I got down to some serious business and switched to Sport mode. The power of 112 ponies made itself evident with the slightest input to the throttle. The speedometer readings shot up and the horizon grew bigger as the Monster 821 raced on the Thai tarmac. While the ascent to the double ton was strong and enticing, the naked streetfighter cannot quite offer resistance from strong windblasts. Not that I slowed down one bit, though. After the scheduled photo sessions and lunch, we started our journey back to the hotel through some more spectacular stretches of road.

Ducati Monster 821 Review (54)

The journalist caravan eventually entered the busy city streets of Chiang Mai in Thailand and this is where I engaged the Urban mode. Urban mode brings down the power output to 75 hp with low throttle response which is ideal for everyday city riding. Though the power output is reduced and throttle response blunted for a smoother experience in slow moving traffic, the 821 felt more than capable of handling the bustling urbanscape.

Ducati Monster 821 Review - Details - Front Brake

That’s that with the performance but what about the stopping power? What exactly would be ideal to stop a near 200 kilogram of mass moving at a seriously fast pace? This is where the dual 320 mm semi-floating discs, radially attached Brembo Monobloc 4-piston callipers at the front and 245 mm disc, 2-piston calliper at the rear with ABS as standard equipment come into play. A gentle squeeze of the adjustable front brake lever and I was reminded of the school lessons on the law of inertia. The bite from the twin disc units is remarkable, and translates into good feel and feedback for the rider too. Rear brakes, though neither as significant. nor as sharp as the front units, do a fair job of dropping the anchors at their end.

Read ahead for Ergonomics and Handling

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