The Monster was a classic “parts bin special,” created in 1991 by designer Miguel Galluzzi. He built a stripped down version of a Ducati 888 Superbike and that was his daily ride to work. Claudio Castiglioni saw him riding it one day and immediately told him to get it production ready. Cagiva owned Ducati at the time and the plan was to sell the Monster as a Cagiva model. Massimo Bordi, Ducati’s manager, saw the 900 Supersport wasn’t selling well so there were a lot of engines available and wanted to use them instead of the 888 plus there was a battery fit problem trying to squeeze the battery for the 888’s fuel injection into the Monster package. With many of the components for the Monster coming from Bologna, why not build it there and call it a Ducati? And so it is.
If you remember the first Monster 900, the appearance took some getting used to. It set the stage for all of the models to follow but it was very different from the Ducatis we were used to seeing. After all of these years, the Monster now looks perfectly normal and it’s become extremely popular, but it’s the rare person who can keep all of the various Monster models and variations straight.
If you’re even casually familiar with the Monster, you already know there have been air cooled and water cooled bikes, 2 valve, 4 valve, 600cc bikes, 1100cc bikes, and everything in between with numerous R and S versions, special paint and finishes, limited production specials, the variety is mind boggling. Lucky for you, Ian Falloon has written the definitive book on every one of those models year by year, carefully explaining the changes, the high points, the weak spots, everything you need to sort it all out.
There are 160 pages and 150 high quality photos, closeups, tech specs, drawings, it covers it all. Beginning with the Monster’s first appearance and ending with the 2011 model year and current developments, it’s a fine resource for the Ducati section of your bookshelf. The book is brand new and just becoming available. I rate this one a definite “buy.”
Will Silk says
I own Fallon’s “Standard Catalog of Ducati Motorcycles” and find it to be an exceptional resource. This book on the Monster hopefully follows the same format, and if so, will no doubt live up to its title. Thanks for the review of this book.
todd says
OK, gotta get this book too, thanks for the tip. I have a ’93 Monster 900 and, though it isn’t my favorite, it gets plenty of attention and comments – more so than any other 18+ year old bike I own. There is definitely something appealing about a basic, no frilly-extras bike like the Monster that is also getting terrifically difficult to find in a new bike these days. The current generation of Monsters has lost that trait (what’s that on the headlight and tank?) but there’s still a lot of the original design left.
-todd
Blair says
Isn’t it funny on reflection how once radical designs get incorporated and soon become common place, even standard. I have a Suzuki SV1000s which was criticized on it’s release in 2001 for being too edgy and having a look that would date. Soon after the Japanese superbikes started taking on similar edgy looks and now the 10 year old SV still doesn’t look out of place next to more modern equipment.
After a quick google search I see that Triumph followed the monster just one year later with the Speed Triple.
Ian Falloon says
Thanks for the comments. I am pleased you like the book. Ian