2008 Ducati Monster 696 Photo Gallery

Ducati owes much to the popularity of the Monster lineup and we test the all-new Monster 696 at the Spanish press launch. Check out what we thought during our 2008 Ducati Monster 696 First Ride.

With its Monster 696 Ducati is aiming at big sales from those who want the Italian lines but don't need the top-shelf performance and pricetag from the 1098.

The Ducati Monster 696 does a lot of things well, and one of them is attracting attention from appreciative admirers.

. One flaw in the Monster 696 design is the amount of heat coming off the underseat exhaust, with the temps making a potential pillion ride a hot one.

The next gen Monster has its own personality, yet retains the line's attitude and overall appeal.

But the joy of the 696 is the slipper clutch. Even banging in the lower gears really hard into corners on the slippery Spanish mountain roads of the Ducati test route could not upset the clutch - or get the rear wheel near locking.

This is definately not the instrument cluster adorning the SportClassic line, with the Monster 696 going all digital.

Do you have to be a mod 20- or 30-something with a full head of hair to appreciate the Monster 696? Our test rider, who is neither, says no!

Bizarrely, the front brake lever is not adjustable and the reach, even for a full-size male like me, is far too long.

The Ducati Monster 696 remains a thoroughbred Ducati which anyone, of any experience or any income bracket, will be proud to own.

More good things come in the form of Showa upside down forks, rear shock and Brembo radial calipers.

Not forgetting the largest growing demographic in motorcycling, Ducati's Monster 696 has a light weight and low seat height for the lady riders out there.

The lightweight Monster 696 won't disappoint out on the road, with the Showa suspension and Brembo brakes delivering solid performance

The new Monster is supposed to be the Armani/Diesel/Gucci/Prada of the bike world.

Monster owners want to own a Monster. Technical specification is of far less importance than paying for, and getting, a Monster.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what king of crotchety beholder would find the sleek Monster 696 an ugly beast?

No one can say for sure if Ducati has another best-seller on its hands with the Monster 696, but it seems like a pretty safe bet to us.

In style and performance, the Monster 696 does exactly what it needs to do, give owners a beautiful machine that is also capable out on the weekend joy rides.