The second generation 821cc Testastretta 11° engine, now becomes a fully-stressed chassis member with Panigale-style attachment points for the Trellis frame.

The Desmodromic motor uses a number of important and highly effective features to deliver an impressive 112 hp @ 9,250rpm and a ride-enhancing torque of 65.9lb-ft (9.1kgm) @ 7,750rpm.

In addition to the crankshaft now rotating on shell main bearings lubricated with a new-style oil pump, a number of well-proven technical advancements in Ducati’s twin-cylinder technology have also been combined to create an exciting, customisable and user-friendly character for the new generation mid-range Monster.

Breathing through circular Ride-by-Wire throttle bodies, the 821 Testastretta 11° uses the latest fuel injector positioning to target spray directly onto the rear of the hot intake valve instead of the relatively cold surface of the intake port wall.

The enhanced vaporisation achieved as the fuel hits the valve, fully atomises the incoming charge, eliminating the chance of compromised combustion efficiency experienced if droplets of fuel enter in liquid form.

The engine, which is cooled with a stylishly curved radiator equipped with two high-efficiency electric fans, also uses Ducati’s secondary air system, maintaining performance-optimised fuel mapping for smoother cycle-to-cycle engine operation, without compromising emissions.

The Testastretta 11° engine concept effectively increased user-friendliness by reducing the amount of valve over-lap from around 41° – typical in performance engines that operate constantly at high RPM – to just 11°, which enhanced mid-range and overall smoothness.

The Monster 821 engine features an oil bath, cable-operated APTC clutch with ‘slipper’ function and super-light feel at the lever. Its design uses a progressive self-servo mechanism that presses the plates together when under drive from the engine, enabling the reduction of the clutch spring rates.

This results in a much lighter clutch lever at the handlebar, ideal in stop-start traffic or long journeys. When the drive force is reversed (over-run), the same mechanism reduces the pressure on the clutch plates, enabling them to provide a race-like ‘slipper’ action, which reduces the destabilizing effect of the rear-end under aggressive down-shifting and provides a much smoother feeling when closing the throttle or down-shifting under normal riding conditions.

The impressive 50-52mm (1.96-2.04in) section exhaust headers lead the 2-1-2 system through power-enhancing equal lengths that help enable the Monster’s efficient power delivery.

The engine management system dedicates a lambda probe to each header to provide precise fueling, while the stylish vertically-merged silencers carry the catalytic converter to provide Euro 3 conformity and electronically controlled mid-section valve to optimise exhaust pressures throughout the rev-range.