Ducati Monster 821: PH2 Review
It's the end of an era for Ducati's Monster range - PH2 rides the water-cooled 821
True, the 696 and 796 are still in the model line-up, but these are existing models that are cheap to continue producing rather than the future. Should we be upset? It may be a controversial comment, but I won't miss the smaller capacity air-cooled Monsters at all. Don't get me wrong, I love the larger air-cooled bikes, but for me the small capacity bikes always felt a little insubstantial. I can appreciate their popularity but being over six feet tall I have never seen eye to eye with the 600, 620 or even the newer 696 and 796 bikes (the S2R 800, however, is bloody brilliant). Personal prejudices aired what's the new Monster 821 like?
Water-cooled yes, but not wanting for character
As soon as you fire the Monster 821 into life it sounds, feels and even vibrates like a Monster should. At tickover the exhaust emits a pleasing growl that you simply don't get on a Japanese in-line four or even the new Yamaha MT-09 or MT-07. The Ducati sounds raw and thumps out pulses of air as the V-twin idles away nicely. It may not quite have the rattle of the older Monsters due to it lacking a dry clutch, but other than that Ducati has done a fine job of recreating the air-cooled feel with the water-cooled motor.
And, best of all, the clutch is beautifully light and at low speed the throttle response is excellent, if also a little light. Yep, the new 821 comes with a digital throttle which as well as allowing it to have traction control and variable fuel maps, also gives an almost worryingly light throttle action. Next to the force required to open the carbs on older Monster 900 it's quite a shock, but it is just a feeling and you very quickly get used to it. And, personally, I like the feel of the 821 as with its larger stance, digital electronic assists and muscular look, the 821 gives the impression of being a 'proper' motorcycle, something the older small capacity bikes never quite did. It's a grown up Monster, despite its reduced capacity. And this feeling extends to the ride.
Far more composed than the smaller Monsters
When you up the pace on the air-cooled small capacity Monsters the suspension is quite quick to complain and the handling soon becomes a little skittish. Despite weighing a fairly low 180kg, the 821 has none of this feel and the suspension is certainly a cut above the units on the older bikes. It's not as refined as on more expensive models, but I would say is a very impressive half way house between high quality and basic units and leaves little to complain about at high or low speed. The brakes, which come with ABS as standard, are also excellent but one simple factor ruins the entire ride - the foot pegs. Not the rider's pegs, the pillion's pegs.
Absolute insanity
I really can't understand how this has happened, but if you buy your boots in anything other than kids' sizes the Monster 821 will drive you to distraction. You simply can't ride it with the balls of your feet on the pegs and instead you are forced to ride flat-footed due to the pillion peg hangers getting in the way. If you ride in a sporty fashion, with the balls of your feet on the pegs, you have to angle your feet outwards and ride pigeon toed to avoid the hangers. Frustrating isn't the word, it's a stupid piece of design that ruins the whole bike for me, especially as you can't (from what I can tell) remove the hangers as they are a one-piece cast section with the rider's peg.
A very desirable bike with one major flaw
I really want to recommend the Monster 821 as it is a great bike with a lovely engine, balanced handling and all the soul you would expect from a Monster. Compared to the older bikes it feels a more complete machine that is far from a toy, however the foot peg disaster of design drove me wild. If, and this is a big if, you can live with it then the Monster is a cracking bike that has a lot of trick kit as standard (although, annoyingly, not a fuel gauge) that makes its £8,995 price tag seem justified. Personally, I couldn't live with the pegs and I'd be forced to either get an angle grinder out and never take a pillion or look elsewhere towards the likes of the Yamaha MT-09 or Triumph Street Triple. Do any Monster 821 owners out there feel the same way?
DUCATI MONSTER 821
Engine: 821cc 8v desmo V-twin liquid cooled,
Power (hp): 112@9,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 66@7,750rpm
Top speed: 120mph (est.)
Weight: 179.5kg (dry)
MPG: 43mpg (est.)
Price: £8,995 (£8,795 for the Dark)
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