Monster

The Ducati Monster S4Rs Testastretta gets a 999 130bhp engine and a chassis to match any superbike. Wide bars, wide attitude, wide grin.

It might be called progress by some. But in a world where more and more motorcycles are becoming increasingly refined and civilised, others might feel the traditional character of bikes is being lost.

Like the original but on steroids, the Monster S4 grasped bare-biking from Bologna by the bars and took it into the new millennium. But are there any bugs? Used-bike fact hound Bertie Simmonds finds out.

The Ducati Monster 695 (2006-2008) fills a niche for a more powerful but well-priced bike that retains the legendary design touches of the marque

Passing their bike test was the easy bit. Now our band of intrepid new bikers have been set the task of choosing a first bike from five models aimed at new riders

The old style is still very much in place on the Ducati Monster S4R but, with that alloy single swinger and those hi-level pipes, it’s got a much racier attitude

The Ducati Monster M620ie has the potential to be one of the brand's most important money spinners, following its impressive refinements