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The Ducati Monster (Il Mostro in Italian) is a motorcycle
designed by Miguel Angel Galluzzi and produced by Ducati
in Bologna, Italy since 1993. Its introduction marked
the beginning of the naked bike movement, which is characterized
by a fully exposed engine and frame. Monster sales account
for almost half of Ducati's worldwide sales. Ducati motorcycles,
including the Monster, are best-known for their Desmo
engines and tubular steel trellis chassis, both features
designed by the late Fabio Taglioni (1920-2001).Ducati
introduced three Monster models in its first generation:
M600, M750 and M900 (the numbers denote engine sizes).
The first, the M900, was shipped in 1993; the M600 shipped
in 1994, and finally the M750 arrived in 1996. The bike
remained relatively unchanged until 2000, when Ducati
added fuel injection to the M900 model. Other technical
changes that year included semi-floating front disc brakes
with Brembo four-piston calipers, lighter Brembo wheels
as well as 43mm Showa inverted forks.
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In
the third and current generation, there are four models,
the M620, M800, M1000 and S4R. US prices range from $6,595
to $13,495, making the bikes relatively expensive compared
to comparable Japanese motorcycles from Honda, Kawasaki
or Suzuki. Most recently, Ducati added the S2R model to
the Monster range; styled like the 4 valve S4R, but with
the simpler 2 valve 800cc motor. A 1000cc version of the
S2R using the 1000 dual spark engine is due for production
in late 2005. In November 2005, a new top of the range
model was also announced, the S4RS Testastretta. This
new model uses the engine from the latest 999 generation
superbikes with Öhlins suspension front and rear
and radial front brakes. |
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