First Look! Ducati Monster 30th Anniversario

Ducati’s Monster 30th Anniverario celebrates three decades of Monster.

Thirty years ago, Ducati’s M900 Monster was introduced, creating a whole new generation of Ducatisti. It was the first model generated by the cooperation between the Cagiva and Ducati staff after Argentinian designer Miguel Galluzzi had been hired by Cagiva CEO Claudio Castiglioni. Galluzzi was attached to the Ducati staff to give life to a new model that would transform the traditional Ducati sportbike. His creation would be a more relaxed roadster that attracted a wider section of the public with an elegant, dynamic style and rational, easy riding posture—but still very much a Ducati in technology and performance.

The Monster was a huge success, projecting Ducati to higher sales numbers than ever before. Ducati kept the Monster alive throughout the years by pumping its performance potential, progressively reaching up higher into the shelves of its Pantah-derivative air-cooled SONC 90-degree V-twins, all the way to the very strong Monster 1100 Evo. Ducati’s Monster never gave up its attractive, relaxed allure even surpassing 100 hp.

Around 2008, the range of the SOHC desmo air-cooled V-twins received a substantial improvement and so did the chassis, and the Monster fitted even more attractively in its role of a naked that could challenge many sportbikes up a twisty mountain road.

A special livery punctuates the Monster 30th Anniversario look.

When Euro 5 emission standards hit motorcycling, Ducati replaced the glorious air-cooled Pantah derivatives with the very smart eight-valve desmo Testastretta, specifically the 937cc, capable of 111 hp. This unit is one of the most all-around successful of the present Ducati engine line. Strong, fully reliable, cheaper on maintenance (valve adjustments every 18,000 miles), and very flexible and pleasant to put through its paces both in town and on an inviting twisty road.

The 2023 Monster SP version represented the highest evolution of the model, and now it is the base on which the Monster 30th Anniversario is created. It will be produced in a limited series of 500 units, each identified by a numbered tag. Just 100 units will be reserved for the US market. This 30th Anniversary edition comes in a highly distinctive tricolor paint scheme that further enhances the attractive styling characterized by the “charging buffalo” tank profile, nicely coordinated to the lean, embroidered sport seat.

The core of the technical section, cylinders and heads and cast aluminum frame, comes in matte black that exposes the polished crankcase covers. The 937cc Testastretta unit features 94mm bore and 67.5mm stroke and a compression ratio of 13.3:1. It breathes through two 53mm throttle bodies to deliver 111 hp at 9,250 rpm and 69 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,500 rpm. In these numbers is all the great flexibility and performance potential of this unit, given the 3,000-rpm separation between the peak torque and the peak horsepower, an exceptional feat for an engine delivering in excess of 100 hp/liter. The exhaust system is a special Termignoni twin-muffler design that further enhances the sporting vocation of the limited edition.

Öhlins suspension is fitted to the Monster 30th Anniversario.

A very rigid Panigale V4-inspired cast aluminum frame enhances the Monster’s agility on twisty roads, maneuverability through downtown tight traffic, and, in general, gives a more precise steering response. Steering rake is 23 degrees and is matched to a 3.4-inch trail. The wheelbase is a generous 57.9 inches, for a weight distribution that remains well balanced even with two aboard. Seat height is an average 33.1 inches, but an optional seat is offered to lower the reach to the pavement to 31.9 inches.

Suspension is a 43mm Öhlins NIX 30 fork along with an Öhlins cantilevered rear shock absorber on a twin-arm aluminum swingarm. Wheels are forged aluminum in 17 x 3.5-inch and 17 x 5.5-inch sizes, shod with Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV in 120/70-17 and 180/55-17 measurements. Brakes are dual Brembo 320mm discs squeezed by Stylema four-piston calipers. At the rear a single rotor in 245mm diameter is teamed to a Brembo twin-piston floating caliper.

The Monster 30th Anniversario claims a dry weight of 361 pounds, 4.5 lighter than the SP version, thanks to the use of special lightweight components like carbon fiber fender, lithium-ion battery, and more.

Ducati fitted a Termignoni exhaust to the Monster 30th Anniversario.

Electronic rider aids include three selectable riding modes and eight power modes, cornering ABS, traction control, wheelie control, Ducati quickshift up and down, and Ducati Launch Control. The 4.3-inch TFT instrumentation also acts as an infotainment control system.

Pricing for the US is set at $18,595. With only 100 available units, expect the Monster 30th Anniversario to sell out quickly.

Check out our Ducati Monster inventory