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Development of the Ducati Monster 696

Monster stories

Its development began in spring 2004, it was presented in November 2007, and it will be launched in May 2008: the Ducati Monster 696. Even the smallest detail fits, say its developers? up to the ignition key that takes the shape of the tank.

Sleepless in Bologna: Drifted for some time D.ucati asked about the new monster around. While the sport models cam and went, the naked bike stayed essentially the same ?? 14 years and almost 200,000 copies long. Almost a myth on wheels. And a water carrier that ensured the continued existence of the brand in lean years. The gradually falling demand, however, made extensive renovation more and more urgent.

Fundamentally changing a cult motorcycle can, however, go mercilessly in the pants, as Ducati learned from its super-sporty figurehead. The boss’s announcement to the developers was correspondingly cryptic: Make everything new? but changes as little as possible. Project manager Giulio Malagoli, designer Bart Janssen-Groesbeek and their colleagues have been working on the implementation since spring 2004. The main features of the project with the internal code 0404 were soon clear: more horsepower, better drivability, more comfort ?? and, as the most difficult task, a fresh, yet not revolutionary look. Ducati learned an apprenticeship from painful experience in developing the 999 and from the outset employed the engineer Andrea Ferraresi as coordinator between designers and technicians.

Design sketch: Ducati

It took almost four years from the first drafts to the series.

Extracting more horsepower from an air-cooled engine is no easy task given the ever-tightening standards. “We used our experience with the 1100 two-valve engine in the Multistrada and the Hypermotard and gave the new 696 engine a similar layout,” explains project manager Malagoli. The bore and stroke remained the same compared to the 695, but a revision of the pistons, cylinders, combustion chamber and cooling fins made it possible to improve the thermal properties and thus a power output of 80 hp, seven more than before. A catalytic converter keeps the two-cylinder clean, and two lambda sensors control the engine management. An additional throttle valve sensor, which enables a more precise measurement of the throttle valve position, ensures easier drivability. That improve the response? Annoying jerking in city traffic should be a thing of the past.

Muscle bike

Barbanti

All in white: the trend color makes the monsters look very delicate.

The significantly increased steering angle from 27 to 32 degrees also improves drivability and comfort. An elementary problem for designer Bart Janssen-Groesbeek, since the larger steering angle got into the tank. “The thick tank cheeks have always been the characteristic feature of the monsters, we absolutely had to keep them,” says Hollander. He solved the conflict elegantly with two air inlets that leave enough space for the handlebars when fully turned. The tank looks just as dominant as it used to be, but now houses the airbox in the front part, while the actual 15-liter fuel barrel extends from the middle of the seat to the tank cap. The new Monster should remember its origins as a muscle bike, just in a different environment than 14 years ago, which resulted in a more extreme design. So the developers came up with the all-important idea with the split frame: at the front a traditional tubular space frame with thick 34 instead of 28 millimeter tubes, at the rear a rear frame made of aluminum. “We were inspired by the Desmosedici. In itself a pretty crazy idea to base the entry-level model on the flagship, but we said to ourselves: why not like high straight away? "Says project manager Malagoli frankly. It worked, the design was approved at the end of 2005, followed by a clay model, then a wooden model and finally, in November 2007, it was presented at the Milan Salon. Further characteristics of the new ones are the exhaust pipe over instead of under the engine and the laterally mounted strut. "The focus is on wheels, engine and frame, nothing should distract the eye here, "says Malagoli.

Barbanti

Created with great attention to detail: Ducati Monster 696.

The decision-making process was not as easy as it sounds in retrospect: "At the beginning we had marathon sessions of up to 16 hours," the project manager recalls with a sigh. Mighty, powerful, robust? These principles determined the design of many other components, from the massive double swing arm to the short but thick mufflers to the reinforced fork bridge. Not to forget the headlights, another characteristic feature of the new monsters. “It should be flat. We worked on the solution for a long time and finally succeeded by attaching its aluminum bracket to the front rather than the back, ”explains designer Janssen-Groesbeek. This is how the line could be perfected: »Flat nose, thick fork, wide handlebars and a mighty tank: A strong neck is essential between a large head and broad shoulders. Many naked bikes don’t have that, and they look as disproportionate as Mike Tyson with his thin neck. “With the 696, however, the silhouette is right from front to back and down to the smallest details ?? right up to the ignition key, which has the shape of the tank. "The new one is immediately recognizable as a monster, "says Andrea Ferraresi with satisfaction." At second glance, there are many improvements, also and especially in terms of driving behavior. "The moment of truth will soon come: The 696’s driving report appears in MOTORRAD 9/2008.

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