Ducati’s Longest-Running Motorcycle Just Got Smarter, Lighter and Even More Approachable

From the MotoGP-derived Panigale and the whip-smart Multistrada to the uber-quick Diavel and the SAK-versatile DesertX, the Ducati stable is packed full of notable motorcycles.

However, one of the Italian manufacturer’s most important models — the Monster — isn’t plastered with winglets or powered by some ludicrous V4. Rather, as a naked motorcycle, it takes a decidedly simpler approach.

Even still, since its 1993 debut, the Ducati Monster has become the longest-running name in the lineup, and it’s a bike that arrived just in time to save Ducati from going belly-up. As such, it’s easily one of the brand’s most impactful motorcycles of the modern era.

Ducati

Now, thanks to Ducati’s latest update, the Monster just got simultaneously more capable and also more approachable than ever.

A new Monster is on the loose

The big news for 2026 is that Ducati is moving the Monster from a 937cc twin to its new 890cc twin, as it’s an update that makes for a number of improvements despite the slight drop in displacement. 

Ducati

For one, the new V2 sheds some 13 pounds compared to the previous Testastretta Evoluzione engine,  so the switch clearly aids in the bike’s svelte 386-pound curb weight. With an empty tank, this puts it a total of 8.8 pounds lighter than the outgoing model.

What’s more, the addition of intake variable timing (IVT) distribution means that the Monster’s engine is much smoother and more efficient. So, even though output is marginally less than last year (110.7 horsepower versus 111 horsepower and 67 lb-ft of torque versus 69 lb-ft of torque), it delivers more than 80 percent of its maximum torque between 4,000 and 10,000 rpm. 

Ducati

In other words, it offers even more usable midrange power (the kind you want on the road) compared to its Testastretta-powered predecessor. 

For this reason, Ducati has also updated the braking and suspension, chassis and tech. Along with some new Showa suspension and beefy Brembo M4.32 radial calipers, this means that the Monster benefits from a fresh double-sided swingarm and the latest and greatest in electronic rider aids.

Between Ducati traction control, wheelie control, engine brake control and cornering ABS, the bike has a lot going for it from a safety perspective. And we haven’t even gotten to what makes next year’s model even more approachable than past versions.

Ducati

Ducati doubles down on its icon

When Ducati launched the Monster in 1993, it engineered the bike to be both attainable in price and accessible in its riding performance. It’s this combination that turned the model into an overnight sensation.

In keeping with the spirit of the original, Ducati has worked to ensure the 2026 version is even more approachable. Beyond being easier to handle thanks to its lower weight and more manageable thanks to its gentler power curve, this means that it benefits from some ergonomic changes to make it more palatable.

Ducati

Along with a lower 32-inch seat height (though this can be lowered even further), the bike also now comes with a narrower saddle, thereby making it easier to touch the ground. Moreover, the handlebars are both higher and also more forward, allowing for a position that’s sporty but also comfortable because of its more upright nature.

Add to that some styling that reinforces the classic look and some longer 28,000-mile maintenance intervals for lower running costs, and the result is a bike that looks to the future while being as much of a Monster as ever.

Ducati

Pricing and availability

According to Ducati, the Monster will hit United States dealers in April 2026. Available in Ducati Red and Iceberg White, pricing will start at $13,995 and $14,195, respectively.

Ducati

2026 Ducati Monster V2

• Starts at $13,995

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.

Related Topics