Ducati India has launched its new Monster 821 at Rs 9.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Along with a BS-IV-compliant motor, this mid-sized Monster gets some design and equipment upgrades for 2018. The company says pricing announced is introductory.
Powering the new motorcycle is the same 821cc, 90 degree V-twin motor from its predecessor, but it has been tweaked to make it BS-IV compliant. The trade-off for lower emissions is that peak power has dropped to 110hp (down by 2hp), while torque has gone from 89.4Nm to 86Nm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox, and a bi-directional quickshifter is an optional extra.
The updates haven’t been restricted to just the powertrain front, though. The new Monster 821 also features a redesigned fuel tank and the tail section that is sharper and more compact now. Along with this, the bike also gets a new Monster 1200-borrowed headlight with LED DRLs. The all-digital LCD instrument console from the older bike has been replaced with a TFT display, which not only looks better but also offers more functionality. Electronic aids consist of eight levels of traction control and three ride modes – Urban, Touring and Sport – along with switchable ABS. For suspension, the bike uses a 43mm fork and preload-adjustable monoshock.
In terms of competition, the Monster 821 takes on the Triumph Street Triple S (Rs 9.19 lakh) and the Yamaha MT-09 (Rs 9.55 lakh). The new Monster 821 will also face competition from the likes of the Suzuki GSX-S750 and the Kawasaki Z900, which are currently priced at Rs 7.45 lakh and Rs 7.68 lakh, respectively.
(All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
Vishal Venugopal
Ved Janve
Azaman Chothia
