The Biker Torque teams thoughts on the 2023 Ducati Monster SP

There is nothing subtle about Ducati’s Testastretta hooligan machine. It is a lot of things, but is it really still a Monster?

Change is inevitable, especially in the world of technology and innovation. When it comes to the latest version of the Ducati Monster, one of the most controversial topics amongst Ducati enthusiasts is the lack of a trellis frame.  Is it a radical and disruptive departure from the iconic Monster design or is it a revolutionary step forward? Well in truth, it is actually a bit of both.

 

The Technical Stuff

The Ducati Monster SP is powered by the same engine that is in the Ducati Multistrada V2, the SuperSport 950, the DesertX and the Hyper Motard. It is known as the Narrow-head 11 degrees.  Testastretta literally translates as Narrow-head and this new version is a 937cc, liquid cooled 90 degree V twin, with 4 valves per cylinder and a desmo valve train that is pretty much as Italian as red and white checkered plastic table clothes and spaghetti.

It puts out a very good 111 bhp at 9250 rpm with peak torque of 93Nm @ 6500 rpm. It’s got a 6 speed gearbox with a slipper wet multi clutch and a Ducati up and down quick shifter.

The big change in recent versions of the Monster is in the frame which is an aluminium alloy front frame that is based on the one found in the Panigale V4, so it is lighter giving it a much better power to weight ratio.  To me, this evolution is in keeping with Ducati’s design principals as the original Monster’s frame was based on the their 851 super bike.

It has a steering dampener, fully adjustable 43mm Ohlins NIX30 USD forks and twin 320mm semi floating discs. The brakes are wonderful, they’re radially mounted Brembo Stylema 4 piston mono block calipers.  On the rear there is a fully adjustable Ohlins mono-shock and a double sided aluminium swing arm with a 245mm disc and a Brembo 2-piston floating caliper.

It has 17” rims front and rear with excellent Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV tyres that have great traction and feel.

TEGAN: We both liked those and it looks like the last reviewer had a fair bit of fun on them.

ROSS: I thought that was you.

TEGAN: Yeah, yeah, definitely me.

ROSS: Just own it.

The twin Termignoni exhaust is standard on the SP version and it looks great but probably doesn’t sound as raucous as it looks it should be.

It has a great suite of electronics such as cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, Ducati power launch, a pretty good and clear 4.3” TFT, and very, very cool dynamic turn indicators. But the best piece of electronic kit on this bike from a design perspective is the absolutely stunning halo LED daytime running light.

ROSS: I think there should now be a rule that all Ducati headlights have to look like that one, it really is a thing of beauty.  The seat height is relatively tall at 840mm.  Tegan I know you quite liked that.

TEGAN: Yes sure did. The height is great but because of the tapered seat I know both of us could easily flat foot it at a standstill.

It weighs 186kgs wet and has a fuel capacity of 14 litres that seems to disappear pretty quickly when you are having some fun with it.

The price of the 2023 Ducati Monster SP is from $23200 ride away and it has service intervals of 15000 kms with a valve clearance check needing to be done at 30 000kms.

There’s a lot to like.

ROSS:  First of all for me, it’s a Ducati.  I think all Italian bikes are exotic, Aprilia, Motoguzzi, Laverda, MV Augusta and of course Vespa, but Ducati is the top of the list.

TEGAN: Yes, when you say you're on a Ducati everyone knows exactly what what you mean, even non motorcyclists. There is always a bit of envy when I see someone ride by on one, particularly if it is red.

ROSS: On the back of that is the looks.  I can easily get past the lack of trellis frame, for me it is one of the best looking naked bikes on the market. This is highlighted by the absolutely stunning Halo headlight and daytime running light. That is truly a piece of art. It is not just form though, it also works really well, it is nice and bright.

TEGAN: I will say that red seat looks so beautiful and it really adds to that kind of sporty Ducati look.

ROSS: It will be interesting to see how the colour of that seat holds up over time, but agree it does look very cool when new.

TEGAN: I was also a big fan of the self cancelling progressive indicators, I thought they look quite edgy and modern. The build quality in general is excellent and typical Ducati. The paintwork is pops and all the the controls are really nice and easy to get access.

ROSS: I also really liked the tail light which I thought had a bit of an 80s vibe.  It was a bit of a departure to the very modern halo on the front, but pretty cool none the less.

In terms of the seat it is really narrow and a very compact design.  When you sit the bike, the narrow seats helps to get your feet on the ground despite the 840mm seat height. So shorter riders need not be concerned.

TEGAN: I always have it in my head that being on a Ducati it is going to be a really aggressive riding position, but the ride position is excellent.  You feel really in control.  Because of that tall seat you feel up nice and high and slightly over the bars.  As you’d expect from a bike with its frame based off the V4 Panigale the handling is excellent, it tips in quickly and holds a line brilliantly.

There’s is a lot to like about the 2023 Ducati Monster SP, but there are a couple of things that we were not so keen on.

The main thing is a pretty common Ducati issue and that is the heat from the engine. It certainly gets hot when you are stuck in traffic.

TEGAN: Outside of traffic it was absolutely fine but sitting in Sydney traffic for about 45 minutes on a Friday afternoon was not fun.  On a country road on a cool morning that heat from that seat was actually quite nice.

 

ROSS: The throttle was just a little bit snatchy in Sport mode when you are in traffic but if you put it into Road mode it completely smooths out. I rode it in Road mode for about 2 minutes then put it back into Sport, because, well, quite simply, it was just more fun.

We are probably cop a  bit of flack, but neither of us were a fan of the Moto GP inspired paint scheme.  The red and black is wonderful, but not really sure that the burgundy patch on the sides of the tank is necessary. Mr Ducati, can you please just keep it that lovely red next time?

Anyway, let’s ride.

I think we both agree, this bike is fun through the twisties, it basically wants to you to either ride everywhere at 5000 rpm+ or get off and walk. It is really agile, the engine is a scream, it looks good and is easily one of my favourite looking naked bikes.  I bet plenty are going to disagree.

We had the Monster SP on loan from Ducati for just over a week.  The first day we had it was a stunning spring day here in Sydney so we thought no point in staying at the  studio, the editing of Biker Torque videos could wait and it was off for a days riding.

Tegan had it for most of that day. We took it up to the northern side of Sydney and onto the Old Pacific Highway, stopping off at the very popular Pie in the Sky at Cowan.

ROSS: I always have mixed feelings when I ride the Old Pac, and also when I go to Pie In The Sky. The last time I got to do a ride with my dad was on the Old Pac back in about 2008 or so and it always brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad. Not long after that ride my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers and of course had his licence cancelled, so I always have mixed emotions when I ride that road, but it was a beautiful day on a beautiful bike, so this was a good day.

TEGAN: We wanted to get some good rolling shots of the bike so I got to do a few laps up and then back down from Brooklyn to the Pie Shop while Ross positioned himself on the side of the road to get some video.  That stretch of road on the Monster was seriously fun and I reckon I could have ridden up and down that bit of road all day.

ROSS: After I managed to pry the keys away from Tegan, I did to get a couple of rides through the Royal National Park on the weekend which was a heap of fun and we both ended up doing a couple of commutes to the Biker Torque studio on it.

TEGAN: In the end we both agreed that this bike was best used on some open twisty roads, it’s OK as a commuter, particularly in the cooler months because that heat from the engine kept me toasty.

ROSS: The Monster has been an icon in the motorcycling world since it was first released in 1993. It was the model that basically saved Ducati but was essentially just made up of left over parts that Ducati had from other bikes in production, a frame from the 851 and the engine from a Pantah, foot pegs from this one a speedo from that one.  As motorcycle enthusiasts, it's natural to feel a sense of attachment to the traditions and characteristics of a much loved model. There was a bit of noise when Ducati replaced the trellis frame with a new version in 2021.

It's important to remember that the essence of the Monster lineup goes beyond just a frame design. The bike was and still is about pushing the boundaries of what a naked should be, embracing new technologies, and delivering cutting-edge performance.

The Monster SP has nice lines, a great suite of electronics and a striking LED headlight that showcases Ducati's commitment to blending style and function seamlessly.  We reckon the new Monster SP is a true work of art that embodies the spirit of Ducati.