2024 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:13
The motto of the Ducati Monster 1100 Evo is clear: less is more! The pure-bred Italian motorcycle has been fundamentally revised by the Bolognese manufacturer.
By Thilo Kozik
Ducati's monster family is already in the third generation to mischief in the two-wheeled cosmos. Since then, the Italians have sold more than 246,000 units to men and women - that is a record for the Bolognese manufacturer, whose annual production of all model families together is just over 45,000 units. With immediate effect, the new Ducati Monster 1100 Evo is a new head in the Ducati shop window, which is basically based on the predecessor Monster 1100, but has been revised technically and in terms of equipment.
Ducati with a classic V2 engine
As a typical representative of the "less is more" philosophy, the racy Italian offers all her charms undisguised, from the eye-catching hybrid frame to the classic V2 to the distinctive double silencer on the right-hand side. For the "Evo", the designers revised the rear with an LED light for the license plate and rubber-mounted indicators; However, they have wisely not changed anything about the striking, brawny silhouette with the mighty tank as an eye-catcher.
Since the beginning of history, the traditional heart of every monster has been an air-cooled 90-degree V-motor, the two valves of which are desmodromically controlled. Not only the numerous modifications inside the engine, which the Monster took over from its sister "Hypermotard 1100 Evo", make the exactly 1,078 cc "Desmo-Due" the most powerful of its kind. Rather, the new, conspicuously curved exhaust system and the intake air ducts ensure that the air-cooled two-cylinder for the first time provides a maximum of 100 hp at 7,500 rpm and an impressive torque of 103 Nm at 6,000 tours.
Significant load changes when accelerating
Apart from significant load changes when applying the throttle in the lower speed range, the 1100-cc engine is a delight with good throttle response and happy revving. From 3,000 revs the V2 delivers adequate propulsion, full pressure then sets in from 4,500 revolutions and stops until the maximum revs of 8,000 rev / min. The engine can inspire with its extraordinary smoothness and a full-sounding bass, in which the hair on the neck is positively charged.
The precise and smooth-running six-speed gearbox rounds off the good impression, especially since the new hydraulically operated oil bath clutch significantly minimizes manual forces and acts like a slip clutch when downshifting. The much too long first gear alone requires a high level of concentration and slight clutch play when starting off in order not to stall the engine.
Good ergonomics
The all too sporty ergonomics have been defused with a higher handlebar and a newly contoured bench seat, but the familiar monster feeling with a strong forward position and slightly flared elbows sets in when you sit up. The Duc is and will remain a puristic road sweeper for the sporty and ambitious.
If these give the head of the family the spurs, a very comfortable suspension setup is soon revealed, which quickly leads to unwanted movements on uneven ground. To remedy this, the fully adjustable USD fork and the spring strut adjustable in the spring base and rebound stage can be adjusted accordingly. The new handiness of the Monster 1100 Evo is very positive, the new Pirelli Diablo II tires as well as the more harmonious coordination and the good weight distribution make it easy for the monster driver to be fast.
And sure enough. Because the Italians equip their 1100 series with the Ducati Safety Pack (DSP), which offers a Bosch Brembo ABS and traction control. The stop elements are designed to be far less aggressive than one would expect from radially attached four-piston fixed calipers. The brakes act very defensively and a lot of manual force is required for good delays. The Ducati Traction Control (DTC), which can be set in four stages, regulates depending on the respective lean angle and, depending on requirements, gently reduces the torque via a later ignition point or clearly noticeably by blocking the fuel supply.
By default, the DTC is set to level 2, and country road riders will soon have worked their way up to "1".
In addition to the technical equipment, the 1100 Monster is well equipped with extras such as an adjustable hand and brake lever. The instrument, which is now highlighted in white, offers a perfectly readable bar LED tachometer as well as a tiny, barely visible digital speedometer. The evolution of the monsters has succeeded: the sporty naked bike remains true to the tried and tested monster concept, but has been refined in almost all aspects and made safer. Incidentally, without any surcharge: Despite all the innovations, the 1100 Evo costs 11,390 euros hardly more than last year's Monster 1100. (mid)
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