Italians have a flair for design and speed, whether it is the Colosseum in Rome or the Frecciarossa high speed trains which are capable of 355 km/hr, if its fast and sexy, it’s most likely from Italy. One of the prominent cities in Italy is Bologna, which has two very significant places. One is the Bologna University, which is the oldest academic institution in the world, founded in 1088. And the other, is of course Ducati which was founded in 1926. Today Ducati is owned by Audi through its Italian subsidiary Lamborghini, which too is headquartered in Bologna.Now Ducati has developed an seasonkerala market specific motorcycle, called the Monster 795, which is the most affordable Ducati on sale today. Targeted at countries like India, the Monster 795 is a mix of the Monster 696’s frame and the 796’s engine. First launched in 1993, the Monster range is in its second generation and now comprises of the 795, 796 and 1100. The Ducati Monster 795 is very important for the company as it accounts for a majority of their sales. The Monster 795 is Ducati’s most important model for India and priced aggressively to help get them the volumes.Styling – The Ducati Monster 795 boasts of Italian design and has excellent fit and Finish938844 on its minimalistic styling. This motorcycle is manufactured in Italy and assembled in Thailand. The naked 795 flexes all its muscles and does it proudly. The Ducati racing red color makes the Monster 795 a delight to ogle at. In the interest of reducing costs, the Ducati Monster 795 uses a double sided aluminum swing arm, instead of Ducati’s signature single sided one. The single sided swing arm looks terrific and is sorely missed on the 795. There are no grab rails for the pillion, which along with the twin underseat exhausts and stepped seat makes the pillion not very welcome on this very fast Monster.The round head light, uniquely designed rear view mirrors, exposed engine, meaty body, big tank with air vents on each side, floating seats, twin underseat exhausts and LED tail light are all part of the Monster 795’s eye candy appearance. The 3-spoke alloy wheels don’t look great although attention to detail is simply marvelous and one simply can’t miss the tastefully written 795 along with the Italian flag colors on the tank. The tank also gets a black plastic stripe running right through it. The Ducati Monster 795 is very difficult to miss on the road, with its tremendous presence resulting in people turning around frantically to get a glimpse of this Italian beast.Instrument Cluster – The all digital console of the Ducati Monster 795 is split into two parts. The bigger display carries a large digital tachometer, while the smaller display carries all the other bits like speedometer, tripmeter, odometer, temperature meter, clock, lap time recorder, etc. There are also the usual tell-tale lights including oil pressure, low fuel light, shift light, etc. You can browse through the console to activate various display modes. However there is no Ducati Data Anasultanlyzer or fuel meter present on the 795. Switchgear although basic, boasts of excellent quality with all the buttons having a robust feel to them. One can activate the rear brake light for as long as they want by switching the ignition position to parking. Headlight throw is fantastic with the round headlight offering illumination through two bulbs, each lightening a semi-circle.Performance – Powering the Ducati Monster 795 is a 803cc, L-Twin engine, which is nothing but Ducati speak for a 90° V-twin motor. This engine comes from the Monster 796 and belts out a good 86 BHP of power at 8250 RPM and 78 Nm of torque at 6250 RPM. The powertrain uses a single injector per cylinder unlike most other bikes which use a pair of injectors per cylinder. This Desmodromic air and oil-cooled motor uses 2-valves per cylinder and as you expect from a Ducati motorcycle, performance is nothing short of nerve wracking. At a dry weight of just 167 kgs, the Ducati Monster 795 has a power to weight ratio of 465 BHP per tonne, which lends it instant twist the throttle and ready to take off characteristics.With oodles of power on tap, the Monster 795 accele_45rates very brutally, reaching 100 km/hr in just 4.2 seconds and nudging past 150 km/hr in just 8.2 seconds. Gearing is tall and thus first gear is good for 90 km/hr, while second gear will see you well past 135 km/hr. However once past 150 km/hr, there is way too much wind blast as there is no windscreen present on the bike. The Monster 795 has a top speed of 210 km/hr and there is more than enough power on tap for our Indian roads. The 6-speed gearbox does feel a bit clunky although the hydraulic clutch is light and progressive.Riding Dynamics – Armed with the underpinnings of the Monster 696, the Monster 795 uses a trellis frame with 43 mm Marzocchi upside down forks at the front and Sachs monoshock at the rear. Ride quality is on the stiffer side but is still compliant enough on our bad roads. The Monster 795 does absorb bad roads in its stride with only sharp bumps unsettling the motorcycle. The mature suspension enables one to push the bike harder through that mid corner bump, though the bike tends to run wide. The made in India steel handlebars are not very welcome on a Ducati but is synchronized well with the saddle to offer maximum comfort to the rider.Verdict – It is safe to say that the 795 is the 796 for India, with the riding position more suited to Asian riders. While Ducati has cut costs to price the 795 aggressively, this Monster doesn’t loose out on the Ducati pedigree, which comprises of sharp dynamics, strong performance and delicious styling. The 795 is a Ducati in every way and performs like a true Monster. At Rs. 3.8 lakhs cheaper than the 796, the Asian specific Monster not only appeals to the head but even to the heart. The Monster 795 is thus a total delight, making it an excellent street-fighter motorcycle suited to Indian requirements.Ducati Monster 795 Specifications
Engine: 803cc, twin-cylinder, air-cooled, 4-valve
Power: 85.80 BHP @ 8250 RPM
Torque: 78 Nm @ 6250 RPM
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Top Speed: 210 km/h
0-100kmph: 4.2 seconds
Fuel Consumption: 20 km/l
Fuel Type: Petrol
Frame: Tubular chrome moly steel trellis
Suspension: Marzocchi 43 mm upside-down forks(Front), Sachs monoshock with double sided aluminum swingarm(Rear)
Tyres: 120/60/17(front), 160/60/17(rear)
Brakes: 320 mm Twin Discs(Front), 245 mm Disc(Rear)
Ducati Monster 795 Dimensions
Length x Width x Height: 2100 mm x 780 mm x 1060 mm
Wheelbase: 1450 mm
Seat Height(Rider): 770 mm
Ground Clearance: 159 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity: 15-litres
Kerb Weight: 187 kgs