Ducati Monster 821 Review India

Ducati Monster 821 Review India – Words by Syed Shiraz and Photos by Himanshu Sharma & Syed Shiraz

If you’ve been around motorcycles lately, or, to be specific, have witnessed and/or been a part of useless bike-banter in recent times, you might have noticed how words like hooligan, beast, pocket-rocket, etc., are being increasingly, and loosely, used to describe every second motorcycle that’s quicker than, say, an RE Bullet. It’s another matter altogether that even if you replace the word ‘second’ with ‘other’ in the previous sentence, the statement would still probably be correct. So, logically, if one of the slowest (or THE slowest?) motorcycles ever produced by man can still be called a bullet, the masses then certainly have all the right to write Tomahawk on the fly-screens of their 125 cc commuters. Between the cheap neon pilot lamps.

But, some nomenclatures are almost sacred. Irreverence towards them won’t win you genuine friends. Genuine motorcyclist friends, I mean. For example, if you turn up on a Pulsar with a loud exhaust, I (one of the aforementioned God-sent motorcyclist friends in your life) might just ask you, out of concern for your well-being, if you were okay… But, if you chose to simultaneously paint the tank red and put ‘Monster’ stickers on it, I see myself pulling a stoppie; taking a U-turn, and wheelieing off from the place that even has a whiff of that cheap paint or your even cheaper deodorant around it. Trust me, despite my elementary skills in bike-stunts, I’ll be running away from you quicker than a gold-digger leaving her boyfriend in the latter’s misery.

Ducati Monster

Point is, you just don’t disrespect a legendary moniker. Especially one, whose etymology, in the context of two wheels, can be traced back to 1993, when the first Ducati Monster, the M900, was born. Yes, the Triumph Speed Triple, incorrectly considered to be the first super-naked / street fighter, came later in 1994. So, again, for one last time, please don’t refer to your re-jetted, K&N equipped, Pulsar 180 as a Monster. No, not even as an adjective. The only other thing that makes my eyes and ears bleed even more is seeing/hearing words like car-porn, bike-porn, food-porn, eargasm, etc., being used to describe anything in the superlative. But that’s a topic for some other day… Let’s focus on the Monster for now.

821 vs 795

This Ducati Monster, the 821, has replaced both the 796 and 795 Monsters, which used to be the entry-level Ducatis until last year. But the new Monster is not your lowest ticket to the Ducati world anymore. That place has been taken by the nifty Scrambler now, which is keeping the accounts department of the Bologna-based company happier than ever before. So, the Italians sure know what they are doing. But, the main question, for you and I, is, whether the Monster’s raise in rank has come only due to seniority or has its CV actually seen a proportionate addition in skills to justify that promotion? Don’t worry, you won’t have to wait until the end to get the answer, which happens to be a resounding YES – the Monster 821 is enormously better than the bikes it replaces! And that’s saying something as both the 796 and 795 were brilliant machines.

Ducati Monster 821 and 795

I can say that with authority as the arrival of our media bike was preceded by my friend, Jasmeet Singh, collecting a spectacularly-unused 795 from a celebrity (a prominent sportsman) who hadn’t even put three digits on the odo. Naturally, while Jasmeet was more than eager to break-in his new pride and joy under the blessings of the bigger Monster, I was just too elated at getting the opportunity to ride both the bikes back-to-back to get a better perspective. Another offshoot of sampling both simultaneously was that I could get real time feedback from my taller (and heavier) friend on how well the ergonomics suited larger riders on the new bike. And he didn’t disappoint. Jasmeet could immediately notice that the handlebar on the 821 was easier to reach; the seat was more accommodating of larger derrieres (sorry Jas, you said so yourself), and that the 821 felt a lot more substantial than his 795 without feeling unwieldy.

Monster 795 and 821

I sat on the 795 and immediately loved it because it just felt custom-made for my five-foot-something frame! On the move as well, it showed all the fine Ducati traits of agile handling, spirited acceleration, and a firm yet unjarring ride. But, switching back to the 821 immediately reiterated just how much better the new Monster had become in every sphere and dimension. To start with, the engine, though only 18 cc bigger than the previous Monsters’ (795 and 796), makes 25 horses more! Torque output of 89.4 Nm is also not just significantly better (by more than 10 Nm) than the discontinued Monsters’, it is the best in segment! Yes, the bike is torquier than even the 898 cc Benelli which produces 85.6 Nm.

Monster 821 torque

But, most importantly, while the 795 appealed more to shorter riders (the taller folks found it to be too tiny) the 821, in striking contrast, should be a perfect fit for everyone from 4’10” to 6’2” and even beyond. Ducati has thoughtfully made the standard saddle adjustable for height.

Ducati Monster 821 seat height adjustment

It takes less than a minute to take the seat height from 810 mm (highest) to 785 mm (for perspective, the Yamaha YZF-R3’s is 780 mm), and Ducati also offers not one but two more seats as options, the lowest of which stands just 745 mm off the ground. Even Tyrion would want to order one now, I reckon. No, seriously, a pat on Ducati’s back for providing this option as generally 98 per cent of big bikes require you to have an inseam rivalling Claudia Schiffer’s or Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s to flat foot on both sides.

Ducati Monster 821 fuel tank capacity

And once you do swing a leg over, the 821’s big fuel tank gives you a proper big bike feel, but without getting intimidating at any point. Its 17.5-litre capacity also ensures that your number of visits to the fuel station are fairly reduced under ‘sensible’ riding. Now, Ducati says that the 821, with that tank filled up to 90 per cent, weighs 205.5 kg. That’s light for the segment and, depending upon how hyperactive your right wrist is, you’ll be bringing that figure further down to 190s much too often… I would also like to mention here that the best value-for-money proposition in this segment, the Kawasaki Z800, weighs 229 kg. In fact, its weight and the tall, 834 mm, seat height, are two of the biggest reasons that contribute more to the Triumph Street Triple’s sales in India than the latter’s own shining highlights. And it’s these two motorcycles, plus the Benelli TNT 899, that comprise the main competition for the Monster 821. By the way, the Benelli, at 231 kg, happens to be the heaviest in segment. Heck, even the featherweight 675 cc Street Triple weighs around 188 kg with all liquids. Still, these three are formidable machines, people, so just being better than the Monster 795 won’t cut it for the new Ducati. Let’s quickly see then if it has what it would take to make people look beyond the Z800 and the Street Triple.

Ducati Monster 821

It all starts with the looks, doesn’t it? The Monsters have always been fantastic lookers from day one, thanks to their ‘less-is-better’ design theme. And the latest is no exception. The trademark trellis is still there, but it has gotten shorter and now bolts on directly to the cylinder heads. The single-sided swingarm has been ditched (the Monster 1200 has it though), which is a pity, but I welcome the omission of the fly-screen. Those miniature wind-deflectors are an eyesore on all naked bikes. You want protection from wind-blast? Buy a faired bike. Thank you.

Ducati Monster 821 speedo

The instrument console is an LCD unit which, other than constantly showing you the speed, rpm, and the chosen ride mode, also tells you the current fuel consumption, average speed, average fuel consumption, engine coolant temperature, the weather forecast, and whether you’ll be getting lucky tonight.

Ducati Monster 821 decals

The build quality is top notch, but I don’t know if the previous tester used Scotch Brite to clean the bike or someone tried to intentionally (but unsuccessfully) peel off the decals, but a couple of tank stickers had started to come off when I went to pick up our test bike. However, since they didn’t budge any further while the bike was with us, it tells me that it’s not a quality issue and that someone might have been up to some mischief. Someone, perhaps from the species mentioned at the beginning of this story…

Monster 821 vs 795

Also, unlike the 795 & 796, where the big under-seat-but-jutting-out exhausts took away a lot from the compactness of the motorcycle, all visual mass in the 821 is where it should be in a motorcycle – bang in the centre! The Monster 821 is actually a study in ‘how to make mass-centralisation look great in a motorcycle’! Or, vice versa… The slash-cut exhausts are raised at just the right angle (perfectly parallel to the seat’s slant) and stop at just the right point – try drawing an imaginary straight vertical line from the rear axle nut to the rear edge of the seat cowl, and you’ll see the line slicing through the joint where the exhaust tips meet, before touching the tail end. That’s a perfectionist designer at work, ladies and gentlemen; hats off to him!

Ducati Monster 821 seat height

Most would know that I don’t generally wax eloquent on the design details of a motorcycle, because the looks are and will always remain subjective, but, once in a while, it does not hurt to look at it from a designer’s eyes. Especially when the subject is decidedly beautiful! While at it, tell me if you have seen pillion grab rails as neatly integrated as on this one? Yes, your girlfriend would need them on days she chooses to give you a cold shoulder… Don’t fret though; she won’t be able to stay adamant for long. Just dial in the revs and increase the pace to get her hands where they are supposed to be – on the TANK, you pervert! I suggest Sport mode to put the love back in your lives.

Monster 821 stability

But I didn’t start in Sport mode where it makes the most power. As usual, I chose the least powerful mode to begin with. Ducati calls it the Urban mode. It still makes almost as much power (75 hp) as the detuned Street Triple (78.2 hp) that Triumph sells in India, but throttle response is toned down in this mode, while Traction Control and ABS are on High Alert to check any and every stupid move that you might make in urban (read ‘chaotic’) traffic. Imagine a Duke 390, but with a dull throttle response – that is exactly how the bike feels in this mode. Great in rains and slippery conditions, but highly boring otherwise. I grew tired of it in the first ten minutes, and changed to ‘Touring’ mode where all 112 horses are available, but still reined in by the aforementioned electronic nannies, though the leash is not as restraining as it is in Urban mode. Another half an hour in the saddle, and I just couldn’t control the urge to shift it into Sport, where all electronics sit back with their hands folded behind their head and say, “go have fun!” The BRRRRAAAAAPPP from the exhaust got way louder, which told me that I was now sitting on the Wild One. Massimo Bordi would approve…

Ducati Monster 821 exhaust

But, damn! I wasn’t prepared for THIS – the instantaneous, almost vicious, response from the ride-by-wire throttle, I mean. Whatever little hesitancy there was at low revs in Urban and Touring, it just vanished in Sport and the bike just flew right from the word go! And the pull just keeps getting stronger! I can’t even begin to think what the Monster 1200 would be like!

Ducati Monster 821 top speed

I can assure you of one thing folks – after riding the 821 the way it’s supposed to be ridden, you would never take anything lightly that is not a 200 bhp superbike. Ducati would do well to lock the Sport mode for the first couple of thousand kilometres for the new owners, especially the ones financed by daddy dearest… Or the bike manual can perhaps include a warning on the lines of, “Choose Sport mode after consulting your insurance provider”. The bike is so quick here that I feel it might be quicker than even some of the bigger and more powerful nakeds out there. I tried an informal, impromptu, acceleration run and you may check the raw clipping below where, despite a pathetic launch by me, the 821 still touched 100 km/h in four seconds, before taking another three to touch 145 km/h. A perfect launch by a better rider might see a 3.1-3.4 sec. 0-100 sprint… The second video clip shows the top speed we managed to attain on this Ducati.

I just realized how pathetic the quality of the second video has become (the first one is no good too, but you can at least follow the speedo readings) after editing. So I’ll just share a screenshot below of its top speed taken from the raw video.

monster 821 top speed

And it’s not a bad city bike too! In fact, it’s quite good at tackling our rubbish peak hour traffic. The light clutch and precise gearbox make moving along in bumper-to-bumper traffic a tireless affair, while steering lock is generous enough to facilitate tight U-turns.

Monster in city

The 821, unlike the 796 and 795, is liquid-cooled and you won’t get any prizes in guessing that it certainly runs cooler than its outgoing (pun unintended) air-cooled brethren.

Monster 821 is liquid cooled

Right now we are in the middle of the harshest Indian summers, and while Jasmeet was regretting riding to work on his 795 in this weather, I was caressing the 821’s radiator cap as an appreciative gesture…

Ducati Monster 821 Radiator cap

Of course, like any big bike, this one also heats up in stop and go traffic, but if it never became unbearable even in 46° Celsius, it would never form the reason for taking the car instead to work…

Monster 821 ground clearance

The suspension is stiff (it has to be) but the bike held its composure on the km-long broken section near my residence, which I usually take quite gingerly on most other bikes (and cars)… And though the 821’s fat 43 mm USD forks cannot be tinkered with (821 Stripe’s can be, but the variant is not yet available in India), the Sachs unit below your seat does allow for preload and rebound adjustment. I didn’t touch it as the factory settings worked great for me everywhere. From 20 km/h to above 200 km/h as well. Also, there’s ample ground clearance that ensures you won’t find a speed hump big enough to graze this Monster’s belly.

Monster 821

The handling of the 821 is again fabulous. It’s here that you understand the benefits of using the engine as a stressed member (for those not in the know, please look at the picture below and you’ll see that there is no familiar downtube, which the engine is usually bolted “on” in most bikes).

Monster 821 engine

Less mass, more rigidity, better positioning of the engine, etc., are some of those benefits that massively aid in making all such machines terrific handlers. Therefore, diving in and out of corners takes little effort and the best part is that the agility has not come at the cost of stability – the bike remains superbly planted at all times, both while cornering and in a straight line too, even while you are gunning it to attain top-end nirvana!

Monster 821 handling

And Lord! Those front brakes are from another planet! The Brembo Monobloc M4-32 callipers on this motorcycle are the BEST that I have sampled yet! Tremendous stopping power and equally good feel at the lever makes you shed speed like a champion. Perhaps only a wall would make you stop any quicker. Of course, the sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tyres help here too.

Pirelli tyres

I must also tell you here that while both Street Triple and Z800 employ 310 mm discs, you get 320 mm units on the Ducati. I couldn’t check their performance in wet, but, with the Ducati Safety Pack (the aforementioned riding modes and the varying levels of traction control and ABS intervention) always watching your back (yes, even in Sport mode), I wouldn’t bother. Moreover, you can even change the pre-set traction control and ABS levels within the riding modes and though I doubt anyone would ever do that (because the three modes are actually all encompassing), it’s great that we have this option as well, and that too at this price point!  So, a pat again on Ducati’s back for letting us FEEL at least that it’s us who are in charge, and not the electronics. Yes, you can switch the traction control and ABS off completely on the 821, but, on such a trigger-happy machine, you simply won’t have the balls to do it.

Monster 821 review

But, there’s one thing that left me even more astounded than everything else about this Ducati. It’s the fuel efficiency of this bike! I mean, which 800 cc motorcycle on earth gives you an un-bloody-believable 17.5 km to a litre when redlining it in every gear is all you have been doing under the garb of road-testing? The 17.5-litre fuel tank (what a coincidence!) means the 821 would at least give you a 306 km range even if you are riding like a maniac. Saner riders might extract 20 km/l pushing the range to 350 km on a tankful.

Ducati Monster 821 vs Monster 795

You get all of this at INR 9.72 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi/NCR) for the Monster 821 Dark (the all-black 821 basically, which does not get the rear seat cowl) variant, while the red number that we tested is dearer by 53 thousand rupees. The TNT 899, Z800, and Street Triple cost INR 9.48 lakh, 8.13 lakh, and 7.91 lakh, respectively (all prices are ex-showroom, Delhi). Their respective power-to-weight ratios are 516 hp per tonne, 416 hp per tonne, and 486 hp per tonne. The Monster 821’s? A whopping 545 hp per tonne. It should be clear by now that the Ducati will beat the crap out of the other three on a drag strip; it would out-handle and out-accelerate them on a race track (the Triumph will keep it in sight here though, despite its power deficit); it would be easier than even the Street Triple to live with in the city, thanks to its adjustable seat height, a lot more power (can get you out of a sticky spot in a jiffy), and riding modes. And it will do all of that while still keeping you relatively safer than the other three, courtesy – the comprehensive Ducati Safety Pack. The 24 months unlimited warranty and the insane, 15,000 km, service intervals are like the cherry on top. It’s a different level, this motorcycle.