Ducati Minichamps Monster Superbike 2008

Just when you though it was safe to assume the Ducati Monster range was complete, the buggers bring out a new model. Even sexier (if that was possible) even faster, even lighter, even more desirable. You may have guessed from this intro that I want one of these more than is sensible. I have convinced my wife that if it doesn’t have a fairing it won’t be very fast, so I stand a chance of being allowed to buy one.

The Monster S4R S Tricolore is billed by Ducati as the flagship of the Monster range and they are being rather coy about exactly how many of these will be produced in 2008. I suspect it somehow depends on how many advance orders they get.

Based on the 998 S4R Monster, this one doesn’t seem to be an awful lot different, but somehow the Italian flag colors make it look more refined, slightly less dangerous than the matte black version. The addition of a few more carbon fiber panels should make it slightly lighter, but it weighs in at the same - 390 lbs.

Ducatis in general and Monsters in particular need a little more TLC than a typical bike. Lets face it, Ducati is not world famous for their electrical engineering skills, and these have more awkward to reach nooks and crannies than a Thomas’ English muffin. What they are famous for is producing incredibly sexy, desirable bikes that are serious fun to ride and this Monster is no exception. 130 bhp from a 998 cc unfaired street bike. Can anybody say, “Wheelie?”

Top speed should be around 150 mph which is more than enough thank you on a bike with no fairing. But these are not built for high speed long distance touring. This is what you want for a trip down to the local gelato shop to impress the girls and have some serious fun at the same time. Since their introduction, Monsters have been great hooligan bikes and while it may no have the same bay-boy appeal and all out nastiness of a Z-1000 with a straight thru pipe, it’s a Ducati and for that alone deserves a little respect.

Ducati’s creative use of an out-of-date engine has to be admired and this particular Monster is probably not going to be the last in the range. Despite the awkward cleaning problem I still want one – that’s what wives are for. (Just ruined my chances of being allowed to buy one.)