Ducati has unveiled the latest iteration of its iconic model, the “Monster”, a naked motorcycle, first launched in 1992. More than 30 years later, this iconic model is now in its 5th generation.
Now in its 5th iteration, instead of redefining the naked motorcycle formula, Ducati instead chose to revisit the same formula that made the original Monster a huge success – lightweight, precision handling, and an iconic engine.
Ducati has put a major emphasis on making the motorcycle lighter than its predecessor. which it has achieved by making the latest Monster the lightest in its history, and to achieve that, Ducati equipped the 2026 Monster with a lighter technopolymer trellis subframe bolted to a double-sided swingarm and an aluminium monocoque. But perhaps the bigger part is played by the new 890cc V2 engine, which Ducati claims is 6 kilos lighter than the previous Testastretta engine. The engine also acts as the stressed member of the chassis.
The new 890cc Desmodromic V2 engine gets Ducati’s latest Intake Variable Timing (IVT) technology, improving the Motorcycle’s trackability. The engine produces 109.5 bhp at 9,000rpm and 91 Nm of torque at 7,250rpm, and thanks to the IVT technology, 80 per cent of that torque is available between 4,000 and 10,000rpm.
The suspension duties are handled by a 43mm upside-down fork and a preload-adjustable rear shock, sourced from Showa. The latest setup is said to strike an optimum balance between rideability and performance.
As for the braking department, the monster gets the top-of-the-line Brembo equipment. A dual Brembo Monoblock M4.32 radial-mount four-piston callipers and 320mm discs at the front and a single two-piston floating calliper and 245mm disc at the rear.
The 2026 Ducati Monster gets updated with the standard current-generation Ducati electronics. Such as a six-axis IMU powering the ride-by-wire throttle, which enables the rider to choose from four different preset riding modes – Sport, Road, Urban, and Wet. Each setting alters the power delivery, wheelie control, engine brake control, cornering ABS, and level of traction control intervention. Rider can toggle through these modes via a petal-shaped joystick placed on the handlebars and a 5-inch TFT display. Apart from being able to play with the riding modes, the TFT display also allows riders to utilise the in-built Turn by Turn navigation and enable cruise control.
Stylistically, the 2026 Ducati Monster still retains a similar design philosophy to the original Monster, albeit with a few modern additions to keep the motorcycle fresh. Carrying a very similar bare naked silhouette, with an upswept exhaust adding the extra bit of drama to the overall styling.
