We ride Ducati’s 821 variant of the evergreen Monster naked bike to see how it takes to Indian roads.
It’s a given the Italians have a knack for creating masterpieces. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael were all great artists, and this trait seems to have followed in the way the Italians design their ‘veicoli’ as well. Be it cars or motorcycles, they are all somehow very smart, very fast and of course, often very red as well.
Ducati, for example makes motorcycles that are the stuff of bedroom posters. Even the recently launched, manic-on-paper Monster 1200R is stunning to look at. However, today we’ve taken its younger sibling out on Indian streets to find out how it goes.
The Ducati Monster 821 looks like it was well thought-out when it was still on the drawing board. The headlamp looks good, above a short, sporty front mudguard. There’s a smart instrument cluster that means business, and displays all relevant information when riding, easy to read even under the harsh North Indian sun.
The handlebars are flat, and easy to reach. Not just flat, but reasonably broad too. You sit in a sporty, yet comfortably upright posture. At the ends, well finished switchgear and easy-to-grip palm grips are the norm.
The Monster 821 tank is large, and looks a treat, with the inimitable hunch of a Monster. The Ducati’s red trellis frame making an appearance under the tank is a nice touch. The low-set seat is comfortable too, and lets you amble around for long in traffic, with heat from the engine or exhaust pipes never a problem. The Monster 821's rear cowl is removable, and reveals a seat for the pillion. The seat height is adjustable by 20mm, accommodating changes after removing two small panels on the bike sides.