The arrival of the new 1100 and 1100 S now increases the size of the Monster family, a family that redefines the naked motorcycle and stakes its claim as the new icon of Italian excellence.

The ‘less-is-more’ philosophy behind all Monsters underlines Ducati’s never-ending pursuit of genuinely compact, high performance motorcycles, but these new models have succeeded in being even more ‘pared down’ than their predecessors. The Monster 1100 weighs 169kg (168kg for the S version), making it by far the lightest bike in its category.

The new Monster 1100 design perfectly balances sports performance, riding pleasure and stunning looks. With its new single-sided aluminium swingarm, high level of componentry, race-oriented chassis and 15 years of evolution, the Monster 1100 now takes its place at the head of the Monster family.

The Monster 1100 S is a pure concentrate of lightness, power, design and exclusivity. The ‘S’ features 43mm Öhlins forks and progressive Öhlins rear shock absorber. Carbon fibre cam belt covers, silencer guards and front fender reduce weight by a further 1kg (2.2lb). The distinctive racing gold coloured 5-spoke wheels of the Monster 1100 S give it an elegant style and the same sporting look as historical Ducati racing models.

Both versions of the new Monster 1100, which comes factory-personalised with removable single seat covers and neat micro-bikini fairings, are powered by the charismatic two-valve 1100cc Desmodromic twin-cylinder engine delivering 95hp at 7500rpm and an impressive torque of 10.5kgm (79.5lb-ft) at 6000rpm.

The first public appearance for the Monster 1100 will be at the International Motorcycle Show in Cologne, Germany (INTERMOT – Hall 8) starting form the 8 to the 12 October.