Ducati Monster 797

The Ducati Monster has always been praised for its simplicity wrapped in the quintessential Italian flair. The Ducati Monster 797 continues to have that same sense of simplicity, however, given how the competition is moving ahead with new features and technologies on board, the Ducati Monster 797 feels slightly basic and has started to show its age.

The front face of the Ducati Monster 797 still has got the same rounded headlamp, which now features better contours on the sides and enhanced daytime running LEDs in its middle portion. The inverted triangular visor above this headlamp unit, which features a part transparent windshield, makes this front face look even bigger.

The turn indicators, though clear lens units, look dated in comparison to LED units on some other bikes. The chopped front fender makes the front look of the bike, especially the front tire, quite big. 

When you move towards the sides, the Ducati Monster 797 exhibits both muscularity and minimalism. Say, for instance, take the muscular fuel tank, which has curvy knee recesses, and just below the fuel tank, the massive trellis frame partially exposes the beautifully designed black finished powertrain. What adds even more aggression to the motorcycle is the stubby exhaust can and curvy exhaust pipes flowing out of the engine. 

The minimalist tailpiece of the Ducati Monster 797 makes it look beautiful from the rear, with the small fender and wide tail cowl, the latter of which is optional for covering the pillion seat. The seat of the Monster 797 is wide and large enough to accommodate two adults with ease.

The rider’s cockpit of the motorcycle looks simple, with a fully digital instrument console comprising of all the data on display, including speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, odometer, trip meters, temperature gauge, and some other data. The handlebar looks wide and big enough, and the view of action feels wide with the large fuel tank and wide handlebar. For a premium motorcycle, the fit and finish levels are just apt.

The Ducati Monster is known for its great ride and handling balance, which has sharpened and become more mature over the years. The motorcycle is equipped with hood hardware, consisting of a trellis frame under the skin as well as upside-down forks at the front and mono-shock with aluminum swing-arm at the rear. The brakes too are quite nice too, with a double-disc setup at the front and a single disc at the rear. 

The Ducati Monster 797 is powered by the smallest engine of the Monster family, which is a four-stroke, twin-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected, 803cc engine. This engine is paired to a 6-speed gearbox and pumps out a maximum power output of 74 PS and a peak torque output of 67 Nm.

The engine might seem to be a bit underpowered on paper, but then, it impresses with its meaty torque band and low-end grunt. This nature of the engine makes it an effortless big bike to read.

The Ducati Monster 797 is fitted with a dual-channel ABS as the only safety feature onboard. Given the placement of the motorcycle and its positioning as opposed to its peers, the list of safety features feels scarce.

The only issue with the Ducati Monster 797 happens to be the very little equipment list it features, which could have been longer, for it is positioned as a premium middleweight motorcycle. Rest assured, the Monster 797 is a very mechanically sound product, with a very tractable powertrain as well as a balanced suspension setup. The riding ergonomics are perfect for both urban and highway riding duties, making it a perfect all-rounder of all sorts.