2023 Ducati Monster SP review

IT’S a chilly start to the launch ride of the new 2023 Ducati Monster SP, with lingering fog and the temperature hovering around five degrees. We were there to try out Ducati’s latest, greatest naked, and some chilly conditions weren’t about to put a stop to that!

The 2023 Ducati Monster SP is the latest evolution of one of the most iconic motorcycles ever built. The Monster is widely regarded as being the bike that saved Ducati, as a sales slump in the mid-1990s bit hard. It’s simple, with timeless styling, a punchy delivery and playful demeanour. Those traits quickly made it a firm favourite, with Monster models making up half of Ducati’s global sales by 2005.

2023 Ducati Monster specs and pricing

The modern-day Monster comes in three flavours, the standard Monster, Monster + and new Monster SP. The plus gains a quickshifter, flyscreen, and seat cowl, while the SP gets a more comprehensive smattering of parts. First up there is the Öhlins fully adjustable suspension front and rear, and powerful Brembo Stylema callipers that are matched to radially mounted master cylinders. The SP also gains a steering damper and a very attractive Termignoni end can. The paint on the SP is inspired by Ducati’s MotoGP bike, and a seat cowl and flyscreen come as standard. The stock bike will set you back £11,295, while the ‘Plus’ comes in at £11,595. The top-spec SP, which - let’s face it - is the one to have, comes in at £13,995.

While that does mean there is a sizeable jump in price between the top and bottom of the range, you are getting quite a bit of big-name kit to adorn your garage with. It might also cause a slight quandary for potential new owners, as the top-spec SP is just £2,000 less than the Ducati Streetfighter V2. It also means the SP sits right at the top of the middleweight naked tree based on price alone, and is around £2,500 more than the latest Triumph Street Triple RS.

2023 Ducati Monster SP engine

At the heart of the new SP is the incredibly good 937cc Testastretta V-twin as found in the Multistrada V2, Hypermotard, and DesertX. In this bike it produces a claimed 111hp and 69lb-ft of torque. Prod the starter button and you’ll be greeted by that trademark Ducati symphony, as the motor belligerently turns over before spluttering into life. Typical of the marque, the engine has all that rattle and pop we’ve come to expect of the Italian naked machine.

As the sun is beginning to creep through the fog, we decide to hit the road, and with a heave of the industrial-feeling clutch lever, we head off into the Northamptonshire mist. With cold tyres, and even colder roads, the gutsy delivery of the engine easily has the back-end squirming, and the traction control lights flashing like a pervert at the park. In this world of 200+bhp super nakeds derived from sports bikes, it’d be easy to dismiss a machine with only 111hp as somewhat below par, but there’s something deliciously naughty about the way the Monster gets down the road. Bury the throttle to the stop and it’ll dig in, drive hard from low revs and shriek excitedly towards the 10,000rpm redline. At the other end of the straight, roll off the throttle, jab the quickshifter down a couple of gears and you are rewarded with a delightful burble from the stacked Termi’ pipe as great dollops of fuel make good their escape. Whether you want to ride the low and mid-range torque and be lazy with your gear shifts, or dance around the ‘box, the Ducati Monster SP is more than happy to oblige.

Like the DesertX we rode a couple of weeks back, the bike is blessed with a beautifully set-up electronic throttle; it really is a joy to use. There are no fluffs, glitches or issues, you simply get the precise amount of power that you ask for. (Not something that can’t be said for lots of other Euro5 bikes using a ride-by-wire system.) Like the throttle, the quickshifter on the bike works well, matching the revs both up and down the box nicely. The gearbox is joined with an assisted slipper clutch, which does its best to help when downshifting aggressively. There were a couple of downhill sweepers that had the Pirelli Rosso Corsa IVs slithering about, but overall the bike [or ‘the Monster SP’, up to you] worked well in the greasy conditions.

2023 Ducati Monster SP suspension brakes and handling

As mentioned at the top, the main difference between this and the other bikes in the range is the chassis hardware that’s used. The front end is supported by a set of Öhlins NIX 30 43mm forks, while the rear gets a fully adjustable Öhlins shock with a progressive linkage. Unlike some of the older generation Monsters, the 2023 edition gets a double-sided swingarm, something that will no doubt irk some traditionalists out there. Another upgrade for the SP is the move to Brembo Stylema callipers and radially-mounted master cylinders for both the brake and clutch. The front brakes on the bike operate on 320mm floating discs, and the entire braking system is governed by an IMU system, meaning lean-sensitive traction control, ABS and wheelie control.

On the sometimes-bumpy roads around Ducati’s Silverstone HQ, the Monster SP felt agile, dancing across the road from bump-to-bump as if it was searching out the bit of Tarmac it likes the most. It’s got a kind of nervous, excited energy to it, never really wanting to sit still for very long. The Öhlins set up on the bike isn’t the plushest, and the occasional, unavoidable potholes had me bracing for impact. Obviously, with a fully-adjustable system, you could dial in a slightly softer, more compliant setting for the bike, but the way the Monster SP handles really is its trump card, and I’d happily sacrifice comfort for this level of agility.

The Monster SP tips the scales at 166kg dry, which, thanks to lighter suspension and a lithium battery, means it's 2kg lighter than the other bikes in the range. 2kg in a bike is tricky to put your finger on, especially on the road, although it is decidedly more nimble-feeling than I remember any of the other machines being. That low weight intensifies the sensation when you haul on the Brembo stoppers, which are phenomenally powerful. The lever feel is nice and progressive, and allows you to dial in ultra-precise amounts of braking power when needed. The rear brake feels equally as powerful, and has the rear end of the bike twitching with ease as I enter fast sweeping bends.

It's almost a shame that the press ride for the 2023 Ducati Monster SP took place on the road, because despite how much I enjoyed it, I can’t help but feel that on the track this bike would really come into its own. And that’s not to say that this is a compromised road bike - slightly firm suspension aside, it’s an ideal B-road weapon. I’d just love to see what it could do when the potholes, road markings and adverse camber are taken out of the equation.

2023 Ducati Monster SP electronics

Like every bike from the Borgo Panigale manufacturer, the Monster SP and its siblings are graced with top-spec electronics and full IMU control. On top of the quickshifter, you get Ducati Power Launch (launch control), riding modes, power modes, traction control, cornering ABS, and wheelie control. The ride modes cover Rain, Road, and Sport, and the whole system is adjusted via a clear and bright 4.3” TFT dash. It’s not the most user-friendly interface, with the indicator stalk doubling as the system’s enter/exit button, and I found switching modes and adjusting settings much easier on some of the bigger Ducatis – Multistrada, Panigale and Streetfighter for instance. That said, you can still go in and make the adjustments that matter and, like the DesertX we rode a short time ago, all of the modes are customisable.

The system also saves your last setting, returning to it when you switch the bike back on again. I spent the entire ride on the SP in Sport mode, and then I manually went in and dialled out some (but not all) of the wheelie control. In this setting the throttle is direct but not aggressive, and small slips and slides from the rear are reminders that the bike is nearing the limit. It’s exciting, and engaging, and pretty much every straight piece of road of any significant length became a launch platform for a wheelie that had me giggling into my AGV Pista GP. And while we are on the subject of wheelies… It’s something the Monster range has been known for since its launch in the early 1990s, and I’m happy to report that Il Monstro still loves to hoist a mono. The wheelie control will be handy for those nervous about looping the bike, as it accurately holds the front wheel aloft at a controlled height regardless of what you do with your right hand.

2023 Ducati Monster SP comfort

My first impressions of the Monster SP were that its fairly firm seat was going to be a pain in the backside, although that really wasn’t the case. Yes, it is a fairly flat seat, with very little contour to it, although by the end of the ride, I wasn’t really in any discomfort. The riding position is relaxed, and the seat-to-peg distance should allow those taller than me to ride for long periods without any issues. One feature that would have been handy on the press ride was heated grips and, while not fitted to the bikes we rode, they are available as an option from the official Ducati accessory catalogue.

As we didn’t stop for fuel I can’t give you a precise MPG calculation or range, although going by the 14-litre fuel tank and claimed economy from the TFT dash, you’re going to be looking for a petrol station around every 100 miles or so.

What we like about the 2023 Ducati Monster SP

• Trick hardware hasn’t overshadowed the Monster’s trademark fun factor
• Stunning braking performance
• Stonkingly good engine with beautifully crafted electronics

What we didn’t like about the 2023 Ducati Monster SP

• Clutch lever is heavy
• Termignoni exhaust doesn’t sound much different to stock
• At a shade under £14k, it is on the pricey side for a mid-weight naked

2023 Ducati Monster SP verdict

I was worried that SP’ing the Monster could have a slight negative effect on the model, as there is a risk that adding such drool-worthy kit to a bike that is designed purely to be fun can sometimes have the opposite outcome. Thankfully, that isn’t the case. The Monster SP is still the giggle factory it’s always been, and the chassis tweaks for this model simply add another dimension to the bike.

It’s still playful, always ready to cause some mischief and is very engaging to ride. It’s also now got this slightly more serious side to it, not in a menacing way, but you do have to give SP a little bit of respect.

One question mark does remain though and, as ever, it’s around the price and positioning of the bike. It is only £2,000 less than the faster, more powerful, and more focused Streetfighter V2 and, as far as we can tell, more than any mid-weight competitor save for the Brutale RR from MV. Granted, you are getting a lot more kit and ability for that £2,000, but I don’t know if that is what potential new Monster owners were looking for. Whatever the answer to that is, I’m sure you’ll let me know once you’ve ridden it, as the new 2023 Ducati Monster SP is in dealers and waiting for your test ride.

More information on the bike can be found on the official Ducati UK website.

Launch pics: Jamie Morris

Launch video: Gary Chapman

2023 Ducati Monster SP specs