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The brand new Ducati Monster 696 is the next generation of naked
motorcycle and according to Ducat,i the final word in urban excitement.
Ducati have designed the Monster 696 so that you can ride it around
your favourite downtown streets in a relaxed style or, when the moment
takes you, unleash its darkside on your most testing twisties to
deliver an even more naked performance than ever before.
Design
Ducati have refined the style and design of the monsterand these art the clear
motivations behind the new Monster and their continued perfection of
the Desmo engine ensures that its ‘saint and sinner’ image will impress
any style of rider. Ducati say that they have designed it with a
comfortable and confidence-inspiring chassis, this combined with the
famously smooth and powerful Ducati L-Twin engine will provide the most
enjoyable riding experience.
They have balanced new technologies
expressed in stylishly finished materials and has been shaped around
the original cool Monster heritage. They have maintained the
traditional Monster silhouette, and the 696 now looks more muscular
than ever. Its wide tank tapers to the thin waistline of a comfortable
narrow seat ensuring sure-footed confidence when at the traffic lights.
The large diameter Hybrid Trellis frame blends stylishly into an
aluminium sub-frame and swingarm while minimalist instrumentation and
simple controls at the front of the Monster contrast with twin, bold,
Ducati-style mufflers at the rear to enhance its urban-ready image.
The
fuel tank form has been created with ingenious removable outer skins
that also enable quick and easy colour swaps, this will also allow you
to change the personality of your Monster to go with your own, and this
has never been easier. They have designed a quickly removable rear seat
cover which makes it even easier to completely colour coordinate and,
when removed, reveals a place for your favourite pillion.
The Monster Cult
Ducati say that the Monster is the original
‘naked’ motorcycle. It launched to rave reviews in the early ‘90s, and
it immediately created a totally devoted following and soon became a
cult motorcycle. With its fully exposed engine and ‘less is more’
minimalist attitude, the Monster always delivers style and with real
sport bike performance. It has defined the ‘naked’ class and become the
bike of choice for top designers, Hollywood stars and Formula One
racing drivers alike while creating a unique motorcycle lifestyle that
is accessible to everyone.
Chassis
The 696 ergonomics have been improved with subtle
but effective changes to the riding position. A shorter reach to the
bars and a slightly lower, more forward footpeg position, together with
the lowest seat height of any Ducati and a reduction in weight,
empowers any rider to become the master of this Monster.
The
chassis of the new Monster is made up of a new Hybrid Trellis frame
with larger diameter tubes directly inspired by the 2007 World MotoGP
title-winning Desmosedici GP7 machine. To this is attached a rear
aluminium sub-frame.
The front brake system is the envy of its
class and becomes the new benchmark for the category with two 320 mm
discs and four-piston radial calipers. At the rear, the dual-sided
aluminium swingarm draws inspiration from Ducati Corse’s finest racing
products in this area.
The instrumentation is now totally
digital and continues the tradition of all Ducati’s latest-generation
hypersport models, guaranteeing lightness, ease of use and a wealth of
information.
The new exhaust system stands out for its re-routed
downpipes that now give the underside of the Monster a cleaner
appearance and terminate with twin, bold Ducati-style mufflers.
The headlamp unit is characterized by a new triple arc main beam, while the rear light uses modern LED technology.
The unmistakable tank boasts ingenious removable outer skins which makes it easy to change the personality of the Monster 696.
In
line with the latest-generation Ducatis, the new Monster 696 has
undergone a weight reduction of 5kg from the previous model and now
becomes the lightest bike in its category (359 lbs – 163 Kg).
Engine
The
engine of the new 696 is an evolution of the previous 695 version.
Measuring 696cc it boasts a series of updates and refinements. Power
output gets a 9% boost to 80 hp (59 kW) and an 11% increase in torque
to 50.6 lb-ft.
This new engine continues to have the best
horsepower per litre ratio of all Ducati’s air-cooled units, and it
ensures a smooth and powerful delivery for a relaxed but thrilling ride
in all conditions.
This increase in power has been achieved by
the introduction of new cylinder heads, which are now similar to the
ones on the 1100 2V engine fitted to the Multistrada and Hypermotard.
Bore and stroke remain identical to the previous 695 model at 88 x 57.2
mm, but the pistons and combustion chamber have been revised to
optimize the fluid dynamics of the new ports.
The camshafts now
rotate on bearing surfaces directly in the cylinder head and are
supported by means of oil pressure. The elimination of the bearings has
enabled the weight of this unit to be reduced considerably and the
layout simplified.
Furthermore the cooling fins of the cylinders
and the cylinder heads have a new shape, and an improved casting
process allows them to be produced closer to one another so as to
increase their number and improve thermal exchange.
Like its
predecessor, the new Monster 696 has an advanced APTC clutch, which
makes down-shifting safe and helps keep the clutch lever action light
and easy, especially in urban riding where frequent stops require high
use.
Like every bike in the new range, the Monster 696 also
has a new scheduled maintenance programme that reduces costs for the
customer.
New Color Schemes for the
Monster 696
Following the world unveiling at the last Milan
Motorcycle Show (EICMA07), the new Monster 696 reveals
its two new color schemes just a few weeks from its
arrival on the market.
In addition to the ‘Ducati red’, the Monster 696 will
also be available from April 2008 in the new ‘pearl
white’ and traditional ‘matte-black’ or ‘dark’.
‘Pearl white’, already featured on other highly
successful Ducati models like the Superbike 848,
emphasizes the muscular lines of the Monster 696 which
contrast sharply with the seat, sub-frame and
Hybrid-Trellis frame.
The ‘dark’ version demonstrates how the Monster
silhouette remains totally uncompromised by centralizing
the bike’s volumes and masses. Both colors are
complemented perfectly by black wheels and frames
The new Ducati Monster 696 best identifies the next
generation of naked bikes. It is a bike that
perfectly combines fun and excitement in any type of
environment – relaxed in the city, but at the same time
ready to unleash its sport character with top
performance.
Refined style and design are the clear motivations
behind the new Monster and the continued perfection of
the Desmo engine ensures that its ‘saint and sinner’
image will impress any rider. A comfortable and
confidence-inspiring chassis combines with the famously
smooth and powerful Ducati L-Twin engine to provide the
most enjoyable riding experience. The balance of new
technologies expressed in stylishly finished materials
is shaped around the original cool Monster heritage.
Maintaining the unique style and character built on
15 years of world-wide success, the Monster now moves
forward into a new era.
