2023 Ducati Monster SP

Admin · September 16, 2022

The new Ducati Monster SP takes the latest-generation Monster, adds premium brakes, suspension, and tires, and wraps it all in a paint scheme riffing off Ducati’s MotoGP team livery. (Ducati/)

Back in 1993, Ducati introduced a new bike destined to become a huge hit. The Monster was designed by Miguel Galluzzi, a talented 34-year-old born in Buenos Aires and educated at Pasadena, California’s prestigious ArtCenter College of Design. After working for Opel in Germany, his passion for motorcycles made it a no-brainer for him to jump to the Cagiva Group when the opportunity arose. Especially since it was, at the time, the most spirited concern in the Italian motorcycle industry, including such legendary names as Ducati and Moto Morini.

The First Monster

Claudio Castiglioni was impressed by young Galluzzi’s spirit and determination, and gave him a free hand to create the Ducati Monster, a machine which would ride the wave of a new generation of naked bikes that mixed striking styling with sportbike handling and spirited performance.

The original Ducati Monster was an instant success. Although completely new, its styling was reminiscent of the legendary Ducati Scrambler 250-350-450, and its performance was supplied by the Pantah SOHC air-cooled V-twin in displacements from 600 to 900cc. The original Monster rapidly overtook more classic models in sales, thanks to its versatility. The low seat, great low-speed maneuverability, rider-friendly power, and overall accessibility also made it a hit with female riders, a new segment for Ducati.

The Monster evolved through the years, not always for the best, at times growing bigger, more powerful, heavier. One of its best editions was the 797, featuring a brilliant 803cc SOHC air-cooled engine delivering 73 tractable horsepower in an advanced steel-tube-trellis frame. That bike’s success remained so consistent that it stayed in production until the Monster was totally renewed in 2021.

The New Monster SP

The present edition features a rather aggressive, bulbous fuel tank, its appearance slightly mitigated by the seat’s very clean profile. On the new Monster SP, that seat comes trimmed in red.

Monsters have always combined sportbike-inspired handling with naked-bike looks. The new Monster SP is no exception. (Ducati/)

The 2023 SP shares its power unit with Monster and Monster+ versions already on the market. This is the 937cc Testastretta 11°, a strong yet smooth four-valve desmo V-twin derived from the legendary 1,198cc unit that dominated the World Superbike scene in competition form. The 937cc Testastretta 11° is an “engine for all seasons,” currently powering a number of Ducati models, including the SuperSport and the Multistrada. It delivers 111 hp at 9,250 rpm, with 68.6 lb.-ft. of peak torque at only 6,500 rpm. That arch of almost 3,000 rpm separating peak torque and peak power is a mark of its flexibility and efficiency. The engine is mated to an electronically managed quick-shift gearbox with a hydraulically actuated wet clutch.

The chassis is a strong and light pyramidal aluminum structure using the engine as a stressed member. The big news is the suspension components, starting with the 43mm male-slider Öhlins NIX 30 fork and the gas-charged Öhlins shock, both fully adjustable units. Also new is the twin 320mm-rotor front brake with Brembo Stylema four-piston calipers. The new fork cuts 1.3 pounds of unsprung mass, and the new calipers and rotors another 2 pounds.

Adopting a lithium-ion battery cuts the total weight by an additional 3.75 pounds, making the Monster SP the lightest of the lightest version of the line at 419 pounds, ready to go.

A Termignoni 2-into-2 exhaust is just another of the Monster SP’s premium upgrades. (Ducati/)

To enhance the SP edition’s sporting cred, the bike gets more ground clearance. The seat height increases with it, now up to 33 inches with a 31.9-inch lowering kit available. The rider also leans more forward, adding weight to the front end. The chassis features steeper geometry, with steering rake down from 24 degrees to 23 degrees, trail reduced from 93mm to 87mm, and wheelbase equally shortened from 58 inches to 57 inches in the bargain. Tires are Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV radials, 120/70-17 front and 180/55-17 rear.

The Ducati Electronics Suite

Ducati has developed some of the most complete electronics packages in production today, and the new Monster SP benefits from this. The 4.3-inch TFT instrumentation screen features attractive graphics and versatile connectivity. The electronics suite includes basic safety functions, such as traction control, launch control, and wheelie control, as well as three riding modes: Road, Sport, and Wet. In Road mode the engine delivers full power, but with milder throttle response, and the ABS system operates at level three for maximum stability control. In Sport mode the engine response is full and the ABS system operates at level 2. Finally, in Wet mode engine output is reduced to 75 horsepower, while traction control is set at level 3, as is the ABS.

As part of the Monster SP’s electronic package, you get the expected selectable ride modes plus ABS cornering and even launch control. (Ducati/)