Ducati shakes up Monster range

Ducati has tweaked most of its popular Monster range for 2002. There’s currently five different engines in the Monster range: The 600, the new fuel-injected 620ie, 750ie and 900ie and the daddy of all Monsters – the 916-powered S4.

All the bikes except the Monster S4 which already has most of the mods, and the Monster 600 Dark which stays the same, have received a host of changes.

The 620ie gets twin discs in place of the single disc set-up, fuel-injection, and new mufflers with a catalytic converter. The bigger version, the 750ie now comes with fuel-injection, and ride-height adjustment on the new Sachs rear shock.

There’s also a 750S ie which is for the U.S. market only. That gets a new swingarm, headlight fairing, increased ground clearance with a ride-height adjuster plus carbon fibre side panels and heat guards.

The 900ie has been updated with new fully-adjustable Showa front forks and a sidestand cut-out switch.

Every bike also gets a new 30-per cent stiffer frame derived from the Monster S4, and handlebars which are set lower and further forward to improve comfort on long journeys. All Monsters also now feature new instruments complete with a clock and a control to adjust the brightness of the backlights like in many cars.

There’s also now a Monster 620S with greater ground clearance, carbon fibre sidepanels and heat guards, an aluminium swingarm and an S4-style headlight cowl. All Monsters now feature fuel-injection except the Monster 600 Dark. No prices have yet been set.

Ducatis ST2, the 916-powered ST4 and ST4S get new silencers with a catalytic converter and an aluminium clutch housing. There are no other changes.

Follow the link, right, to check out other new bike news, including details of the new Ducati 998 and Multistrada.