Undeniably the bike at the forefront of the naked sport class, Ducati’s Monster first debuted 30 years ago, and Ducati want to celebrate.
That celebration is coming in the form of an Anniversario model, which is priced at $29,586 and limited to just 500 examples.
The Monster 30° Anniversario version is the Bologna-based manufacturer's tribute to a motorcycle that revolutionized the world of two wheels and which since 1993 has won over the passion of more than 350,000 owners all over the world.
The 30th-anniversary model maintains the now iconic features of the Monster family but adds extra flavour into the mix to create a bike worthy of a special edition plaque on its top yolk.
First up, the 30° Anniversario sports a very attractive Tricolour 30th Anniversary livery inspired by some of the sportiest Monsters of the past.
The very Italian livery is further enhanced by the gold colour of the rims, which were specially made for this model, along with the Öhlins NIX30 fork. Other stand out elements are a seat embroidered with the 30-year logo and the dedicated animation of the dashboard that starts when the ignition is switched on.
A special edition bike isn’t all that special if it doesn’t have a build number shown off on the bike, and the Monster 30° Anniversario is no different. Each motorcycle is made unique by a plate on the upper clamp with the model’s name and copy number, certificate of authenticity and dedicated motorcycle cover.
The bike isn’t all show, and in addition to enhancing its appearance, Ducati has taken steps to improve its dynamic qualities, including trimming the fat – something which the current generation of Monster already has of– to arrive at a kerb weight of 184 kg, or 4 kg less than the standard model.
Peak power of 111hp is still delivered by a Testastretta 11º engine at 9,250rpm with peak torque of 93Nm arriving at 6,500rpm.
The fully adjustable Öhlins suspension boasts a fork that is 0.6 kg lighter than the one used on the Monster and Monster+, and improves the feeling, as well as increasing ground clearance and consequently lean angle. The suspension setup is sporty, and this allows the Monster 30° Anniversario to give great fun when riding on mixed roads, but also between the curbs of a circuit. The Öhlins equipment is completed with an adjustable steering damper that increases precision and accuracy at the highest pace.
The braking system features Brembo Stylema front calipers (-0.4 kg than the ones on the Monster) and aluminium flanges for the 320 mm front brake discs (0.5 kg lighter than standard on the Monster) and makes the Monster 30° Anniversario perform better in braking and nimbler thanks to a reduction of inertia at the front end. The bike’s nimble character is further improved thanks to the brand-new forged rims, which reduce unsprung weight by 1.86 kg, decreasing the moment of inertia of the front wheel by 21.8% and the rear by 26.9%.
The electronics of the Monster are at the top of the segment. Standard equipment includes ABS Cornering, Ducati Traction Control and Ducati Wheelie Control, all of which can be adjusted to different levels of intervention. The sporty character of the new Monster 30° Anniversario is also highlighted by the Launch Control which ensures lightning-fast starts. This top-of-the-range motorcycle equipment, which also includes the adoption of a lithium battery that contributes to the reduction of the total weight of the motorcycle, allows the Monster 30° Anniversario to safely express its performance.
Tech-wise, everything is easily managed through the handlebar controls and the 4.3-inch colour TFT dashboard, featuring racing graphics that recall those of the Panigale V4, with a large rev counter and a complete set of information on the left-hand side.