First Ride: 2016 Ducati Monster 1200R

When Ducati introduced the totally redesigned Monster 1200 in early 2014, the bike represented a paradigm shift for the 21-year-old model line. It was larger, more comfortable, and more usable than any of the compact and feisty machines that had come before. All good things for sure, but in becoming a more mature and practical Monster the 1200 and up-spec 1200S sacrificed some sporting prowess.

Meet the 2016 Monster 1200R, the latest addition to the Monster family and a bike designed and built for those who want a little more athleticism from their iconic Italian naked bike. The R sits on new Öhlins suspension that's 15mm longer, raising the bike's stance for some much-needed cornering clearance. Ducati also blessed the R with more power—a claimed 160 hp and 97 pound-feet of torque compared to the S-bike's 145 hp and 91.8 pound-feet—by way of a higher compression ratio, bigger throttle bodies, and a redesigned exhaust. It's also rolling on lightweight forged-aluminum Marchesini wheels shod with the same track-ready Pirelli Supercorsa SP tires as the 1299 Panigale superbike.

Other notable additions and improvements include an adjustable Öhlins steering damper that resides behind a new mini-fairing, a carbon-fiber front fender, separate rider and passenger footpeg assemblies with new knurled footpegs, a higher seat, and a totally redesigned and attractively compact tail section. Ducati says the bike is 5 pounds lighter than the 1200S, weighing in at a claimed 456 pounds with a full tank of fuel.

Since the 1200R is tuned for performance, Ducati invited journalists to the beautiful 3.4-mile Ascari circuit in southern Spain to put the new machine through its paces. Ducati isn’t presenting the 1200R as a track bike, but rather as a sporty naked that is as at home on the track as it is on a twisty back road. And Ascari represents those two environments beautifully, combining the tight features of the best Alpine pass with fast turn combinations plucked from the finest racetracks in the world. It’s a stunning facility, and the Monster 1200R was a fantastic bike on which to enjoy it.

The R’s handlebar is the same wide, comfortably high setup as on the other bikes, but the taller seat puts you further over the front of the bike in a satisfyingly aggressive yet still fairly upright riding position. Your feet now rest on grippy textured-aluminum racing-style footpegs instead of rubber-clad pieces, and there’s ample room for your boot heels now that the passenger footpegs hang from their own separate brackets. The new mufflers don’t crowd your right foot like they do on the 1200S, either, but the baritone beat coming from the dual cans sounds as exciting as ever.

Cornering clearance is greatly improved on the 1200R—we ground the heck out of the footpegs and the servo-controlled exhaust valve on the low-riding 1200S we tested at the Streets of Willow circuit during our 2014 naked-bike shootout—but as the pace picked up the sidestand and footpegs occasionally kissed the ground. That’s not to say bike has low-hanging parts, rather, it’s a testament to the Pirellis’ grip and the bike’s rock-solid feel at full lean.

The 11° Testastretta engine has always been a performer, but this latest version feels even better. Power is strong off the bottom, kicks in hard in the midrange, and carries through to the 10,500-rpm redline without losing much intensity. I was downshifting to second for some of the hairpins, but later discovered that the bike pulled just as hard in 3rd, leaving more revs to drive out of the corner before having to shift. And unlike the last few Ducatis we’ve ridden, throttle response is excellent even in Sport mode, the most aggressive of the three available engine modes.

Ducati’s eight-level traction control is at the ready when you get greedy with the throttle at full lean, as I did numerous times while savoring the nirvana that is Ascari. The Monster turns surprisingly quickly considering its long wheelbase (lighter wheels and a higher center of gravity surely help) and it has great front-end feel that encourages you to trail brake all the way to the apex. Braking from the superbike-spec Brembo setup is gentler than expected but plenty powerful. The rear brake is particularly soft; I prefer it that way but others might not like how far the lever travels and how little braking it yields.

As you might expect, the premium suspension components ensure that the tires follow the road and chassis movements remain smooth. (We did add some compression damping to the fork later in the day to offer more support while braking.) The gearbox (and gear spacing) is great, clutch action is smooth, there’s just enough engine braking, and the ABS is acceptably lenient for track work. Overall I was impressed with how well the bike’s systems are calibrated and how they work together to make the R-bike easy and really fun to ride. For the average sport rider, the Monster 1200R is going to be a treat at the track.

All of the changes that make the 1200R what it is yield a positive outcome in terms of performance and fun. More cornering clearance is a big plus, the higher seat improves the riding position, the new footpeg layout allows greater range of movement, the mini fairing and reshaped tail look great, and who doesn’t like more power? None of the changes should impact the bike’s practicality, but we haven’t actually ridden it on the street yet. The only obvious downside is the price. The 1200R is $18,695 in red and $18,895 in black. That’s nearly $3,000 more than the 1200S, and that price slingshots this newest Monster past every other bike in the big-bore naked-bike class. That includes the current class leaders, the wickedly powerful $16,999 KTM Super Duke R and the ridiculously fast and ultra refined $14,950 BMW S1000R.

Can the Monster 1200R compete with the other brutes in the class? It’s not likely to perform as well as the category’s front runners in terms of outright performance (or price!), but this latest evolution of Ducati’s naked bike certainly keeps it in the race. And considering it’s not based on a superbike like many of its competitors, the new Monster 1200R is a pretty impressive track machine.