Ducati Monster 695 (2006-current)

The Ducati Monster 695 has bigger bores but shorter strokes than the Ducati M620 Monster combine to deliver 10bhp more than the old 620 and the highest output per cc of any Ducati air-cooled V-twin ever.  But the Ducati Monster 695 is no breathless, rev-happy psycho. It’s meaty yet free revving and flexible with glitch-free throttle response.

Around town the Ducati Monster 695 is light, lithe and easy, and all the better now for the improved responsiveness and smooth flexibility of the bigger engines. While out on the open road, although the suspension is a tad soft, corners could still be tackled briskly and confidently on the Ducati Monster 695.

The Ducati Monster 695 is not the budget motorcycle the smallest Monsters once were. Although suspension is fairly basic the Ducati Monster 695 has ‘proper’ twin front discs, the same dual dial instrument pod of its bigger brothers and plenty of decent detailing. On the black version, for example, there are black bar clamps, mirrors, levers and even footrest hangers.