The Frankfurt Motor Show was the best occasion for Ducati to unveil the newest addition to the Monster family, the new Monster 1200R. This machine is dubbed the most powerful naked motorcycle ever to roll out Ducati's factory, and it takes the heritage of the Monster 1200S into pure superbike territory.
Monster 1200R is animated by the R-spec version of the 1198 cc Testastretta 11° DS twin-cylinder engine. Power plant revisions allowed Ducati's engineers to squeeze 10% more power and 5.5% more torque from the engine, so the 1200R brags on 160 hp and 97 lb-ft (131.6 Nm) of torque. peak power is produced at 9,250 rpm, while the peak torque is delivered even lower, at 7,750 revs per minute.
Grunt is transferred to the rear wheel by means of a wet multiplate clutch, a 6-speed gearbox with straight-cut gears and a chain final drive.
Top specs for a top bike
The signature tubular Trellis frame rolls on fully-adjustable Ohlins 48mm USD forks in the front, and a single-sided aluminium swingarm equipped with a progressive linkage with a fully-adjustable Ohlins monoshock. The Marchesini wheels are shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires and loaded with dual radial Brembo Monobloc evo M50 4-piston callipers in the front and a two-pot caliper in the rear.
An Ohlins steering damper is standard, as well as the riding modes (Sport, Touring and Urban), power modes, DSP Ducati safety Pack (3-level ABS + 8-level DTC), RbW, and the full-TFT color display, carbon front fender, the flyscreen and passenger seat cover.
Ducati's new Monster tips the scales at 180 kg (397 lb) dry, while the kerb weight is 207 kg (456 lb), including the 17,5 liters (4.6 US gal) of fuel it ca carry. The seat is 830 mm (32,7 in) high, and has a revised shape that also provides good support for longer rides and commuting.
We are waiting for the price of this mean machine, and we expect it to retail for two or three grand more than the 1200S.
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