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ALL THE RIGHT STUFF: With dual front disc brakes and upside-down forks the Monster 695 is no budget bike.

NEW GRAPHICS: White lettering, red frame and blacked-out engine distinguish the new Monster.

HARD WORKER: The 695cc L-twin claims the most power and torque per cc of any Ducati air-cooled engine.

HOT START: The Ducati Monster 695 may be an entry level machine but it's no slouch in the performance department.

Ducati Monster 695 - coming to thrill you soon

February 24, 2006

695 is not merely a name, a number or an engine size – it represents a unique offering in the Ducati Monster family that, its maker says, is welcoming to novice riders but can deliver performance to thrill experts.

"It's still the entry-level Monster," Ducati says, "but will still transform a motorcyclist into a Ducatista - a member of a tribe of fans whose motorcycles look, feel and sound like no other."

The Monster 695 will replace the 620 and is, Ducati says, a huge leap forward in terms of handling, riding pleasure and performance whose 695cc L-Twin delivers much more power and torque – the most per cc of any Ducati air-cooled engine – as well as smoother and more fluid power.

The bike's most important technical advance is its engine – more, says Ducati, than its extra 77cc might indicate – and has come from enlarging the cylinder bore from 80 to 88mm while shortening the stroke from 61.5 to 57.2mm. Larger inlet and exhaust valves (they were 41 and 35mm respectively, now they're 43 and 38mm) can now be fitted ad piston speed has dropped by 17 percent.

The result is that the 47.5kW of the 620 has been increased to 55kW for the 695 with a nine percent increase in torque.

The Monster 695, though entry-level, still comes with Ducati's exclusive Adler clutch, a unique system that requires a very light pull – great for city riding.

There's also a slipper clutch that cancels the effect of rear wheel lock-up or chatter should the rider downshift a cog too far.

The Monster 695’s two traditional aluminium oval silencers are combined with advanced features of a new exhaust system and advanced electronic fuel-injection to guarantee an optimal air/fuel ratio in ever-changing conditions. A larger catalytic converter easily meets Euro3 clean-exhaust standards while still creating the unique, throaty Ducati exhaust note.

The 695 has the unique Ducati trellis frame: "light, rigid, beautiful and distinctively Ducati", its maker says, and any rider will be comfortable with the bikes low seat height, 30mm lower than any other Monster.

The Monster 695 has Marzocchi 43mm inverted forks and a Sachs rear shock with adjustable spring preload and rebound damping. At the front are Brembo brakes - two 300mm floating discs and floating twin-piston calipers. The single 245mm rear disc has a fixed twin-piston Brembo caliper.

Like other monsters, the 695 has an electronic, multi-function instrument panel that lets the rider switch to either oil temperature or clock or dim the panel at night. The odometer and trip distance readings are shown by a LCD and an anti-theft system is standard - its status is displayed on the instrument panel.

The Monster 695 introduces new graphics and colours in line with its increased performance. The frame and engine have a clean, uncluttered look as wiring and connectors have been hidden and ties eliminated.

What’s left is the simple elegance of the trellis frame around the engine.

Three colour schemes are available:

Ducati Red with red frame and black wheels;
Glossy Black with red frame and black wheels.
Matte Black, with matte black frame and black wheels.

"Engine and clutch cases are black," says Ducati, "a classic racer look recently reintroduced on the Sport Classic series. The black theme harmonises with matte black wheels."

New graphics include a subtle colour change to the Ducati logo on the fuel tank with the subdued silver of the 620 now a bolder white. The side covers have Monster in a much larger font with an even more dominating '695' screaming the bike’s new status.

Also new is the application of the Italian “tricolore”, a flash of red, white and green at the back of each side cover.

Every new Monster 695 only requires its first complete service at 12 000k

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