The same cannot be said for the ABS system however. Instead, every time the key is cycled, ABS settings automatically return to the ON setting — a trait that can be bothersome at times. It’s not necessary to turn it off however, since the front ABS is not very intrusive, nor is it abrupt when it is initiated. And while the rear ABS is slightly more intrusive, it rarely affects the ride. Of interest though is the fact that on certain occasions, the rear ABS of the test unit I rode had a tendency to pump, a characteristic that almost seemed to increase stopping distance.
Both the ABS and DTC can only be changed when the bike has come to a stop and are activated via the switch on the left handlebar, which doesn’t take too long to get used to. The system is relatively straightforward and Monster owners will surely be comfortable with the switch procedure after just a day or two of owning the bike.
The Thrill Continues
It’s amazing that after 18 years of existence, the Monster is still as strong and as popular as ever before. And the revamped 2012 Monster 1100 EVO, which is one of the most fun, comfortable and enjoyable motorcycles I have spent time on in a long while, is a sign that Ducati has no plans of letting the Monster lineup go idle for any amount of time. Why would it though? After all, the bike has been key to the manufacturer’s success for years now. But do I think Ducati engineers planned on the Monster being this successful? Well no, but thankfully for Ducati, not everything goes as planned.
| Monster 1100 EVO |
| MSRP: $11,995 |
| Engine |
| Type |
Air-cooled L-twin SOHC four-stroke, 2 valves/cyl. |
| Displacement |
1078cc |
| Bore x stroke |
98.0 x 71.5mm |
| Compression ratio |
11.3:1 |
| Induction |
Siemens EFI, 45mm throttle bodies, single injector/cyl. |
| Chassis |
| Front tire |
120/70ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II |
| Rear tire |
180/55ZR-17 Pirelli Diablo Rosso II |
| Rake/trail |
24 degrees/3.8 in. (97mm) |
| Wheelbase |
57.1 in. (1450mm) |
| Seat height |
31.9 in. (810mm) |
| Fuel capacity |
3.6 gal. (13.5L) |
| Claimed dry weight |
373 lb (169 kg) |