Monster Jugs

MONSTER JUGS

Is this the Ducati Monster perfected? Hard not to think so, because the 2006 S2R 1000 marries the Italian company's coolest styling with arguably its best streetbike engine: the air-cooled Dual Spark 1000.

Making a claimed 95 horsepower, the desmo engine is essentially unchanged from its duty in both the big Multistrada and SS1000, which is a good thing. Unlike the S2R 800 (returning unchanged), the 992cc version gets a fully adjustable Showa fork and Brembo Gold brakes at the front, using four-piston calipers rather than the lowerspec, sliding-pin dualpiston jobs fitted to the smaller-engined model.

The cool alloy swingarm is equipped with tunable ride height and a Sachs spring-preload/reboundadjustable shock. Best of all is the price of $9995.

“Four bucks cheaper than a Triumph Speed Triple!” pointed out a Ducati rep.

-Mark Hoyer