There's a question I keep coming back to when I look at the used motorcycle market. Not which bike is fastest, or which one has the most tech, or which one will impress people at the servo. The question is simpler than that: which bike will actually make you feel something every single time you ride it?
For a lot of riders, the answer is sitting in classifieds right now, going for somewhere between five and eight thousand dollars. It's Italian, it's eighteen years old, and it might just be one of the most characterful machines you can put in your garage at any price point.
I'm talking about the Ducati Monster 696.
Why an old Monster still makes sense in 2026
Before we go any further, let's address the obvious concern. It's old. It's Italian. Those two things together can make a certain kind of buyer very nervous, and honestly, that nervousness isn't entirely unreasonable. But here's the thing, the Monster 696 was never a fragile or overly complex machine by Ducati standards. It was, in many ways, the bike that saved Ducati.
That's not an exaggeration. In the 1990s, Ian Falloon noted in The Ducati Story that Ducati had historically struggled with anything that wasn't a sports bike. The Monster was an experiment. A naked bike from a brand that lived and died by the racetrack. Nobody was quite sure how it would go.
It went extraordinarily well. The Monster became the first model in Ducati's history to sell over 10,000 units in a single year. In 2009 alone, they moved more than 12,000 of them. At its peak, the Monster accounted for two thirds of everything Ducati sold. Ian, as it turns out, had nothing to worry about.
Five Reasons to Actually Buy One
1. Nothing else at this price point feels like a Ducati.
That Desmo L-twin pulls from 3,000 RPM all the way up to about 9,000 RPM, and it does it with a character that no Japanese bike of the same era can replicate. There's a mechanical soul to it, a sound, a feel, a presence that makes the ride feel like something worth having. You're not just commuting. You're riding a Ducati.
2. It's light and genuinely approachable.
At 161 kilograms with a 770mm seat height, the 696 is a bike that works for a wide range of riders. New riders, returning riders, experienced riders who want something lighter and more flickable than their modern machine, it suits all of them. It's the kind of bike you can lean into corners with confidence, one that rewards you without demanding everything you have.
3. 68 horsepower is more than enough for the real world.
I know that number sounds modest in an era of 200-horsepower superbikes, but put it in context. You can commute on this. You can have a genuinely entertaining weekend ride on this. One mate even took his to Eastern Creek for a track day shortly after buying it. Sixty-eight horsepower on a 161-kilogram bike is not a slow experience. It's a brilliant one.
4. It's a genuine Ducati.
For five to eight thousand dollars, you are getting real Ducati ownership. A real trellis frame. Real upside-down forks. Twin discs up front. The desmodronic valve system that defines what this brand is. There's no other manufacturer where you can get into the marque at this kind of price point and still feel like you're riding something that represents the brand's actual identity.
5. The price is genuinely hard to argue with.
A quick scroll through the classifieds confirms it. 2008 models are sitting in that $5,000–$8,000 range depending on condition, history, and what's been done to them mechanically. For that money, you're not getting a compromise. You're getting the real thing.
What to Watch Out For
None of this means you should buy one with your eyes closed. There are a few things worth knowing before you hand over the cash.
The big one is the desmodronic valve system. It's what makes a Ducati a Ducati, and it's brilliant, but it operates on its own schedule. Belts need to be inspected at 12,000 kilometres and replaced, without question at 24,000 kilometres. Valve clearances need to be checked on a similar timeline. This is why you'll see a particular pattern in the classifieds: bikes appearing at around 21,000 to 22,000 kilometres, and again around the 45,000-kilometre mark. Sellers who either don't want to do the work, or are factoring the cost into the price. When you're looking at a bike, find out exactly where it sits in that service cycle and price accordingly.
The 696 reviewed here had 47,500 kilometres on the clock when it was purchased. The owner knew the belts needed doing, factored it into the negotiation, and bought it at the right price. That's the correct approach.
Beyond the valves, there have been reports of electrical gremlins in some of these bikes nothing catastrophic, but worth a thorough check before purchase. There's also the possibility of some cosmetic corrosion around the engine on older examples, which isn't a mechanical concern but is absolutely a legitimate bargaining point if you're negotiating. And one genuinely minor gripe: the mirrors are terrible. They work themselves loose. Pack an Allen key.
A Bike That Doesn't Need Saving
What struck me most riding this Monster was what makes it appealing. No rider modes. No traction control. No screens or menus or riding position customisation. Just an L-twin, a trellis frame, and you. In a world where we're increasingly managing our motorcycles through technology, there's something genuinely refreshing about a bike that just asks you to ride it.
The handling is excellent. The forks work beautifully. The front brakes have real feel and bite. And that engine that characterful, mechanical, endlessly entertaining engine makes every ride feel like it's worth something.
If you're after a modern superbike with the latest electronics and maximum performance, the Monster 696 is not that. But if you want a bike that looks incredible, rides brilliantly, carries genuine Ducati DNA, and won't destroy your bank account to own this old Monster is still very much alive.
Big thanks to Matt from Roads of Oz for lending us the bike. If you haven't checked out his channel, it's well worth your time.