Stopped since last March 13th, with the exception of the Research and Development Department activities, Ducati has finally got the engines back this week. A "gradual return to normal" which at the moment involves only a part of the workers destined for the production lines. First the workshop workers were back, then the engine assembly workers and, from 28th April, also the motorcycle assembly ones. For all other employees (such as designers, project managers and designers) the use of smartworking will remain mandatory, with access to the plant allowed only to those who have no physical way to carry out the activities remotely. In compliance with the safety protocols issued by the Italian Government, internal production has been completely reorganized, for example from an 8 hour shift to two 7 hour shifts to allow the minimum number of people to be inside the plant at the same time and, therefore, reduce possible contacts. Furthermore Ducati, thanks to an agreement between the unions and the employers, have established even stricter rules, such as the use of masks, regardless of the distance between workers. In total safety, the reopening of the production lines will allow Ducati to get back on track immediately: Ducati's aim is obviously to lower the negative effect of the production halt, unfortunately at the worst time of the year, given that Ducati has a large order portfolio and costumers are waiting for their bikes.
Anyway, even if Ducati wouldn't have been able to manage this chrisis, awesome German bikergirl and "metalhead and Bike addict" Mrs Black Soul was already prepared to get back on tracks with her stylish, iconic and a little retro looking 2011 Ducati Monster 796, which she got last year. It won't be straight from the factory, nor full of up to date tech and besides storage and wind protection are minimal but that model is still a work of art in performance and efficiency (not including the manageability).
Getting an used motorcycle is right now a really good choice, especially when industries are slowly starting out but we do need to speed up riding and moving around the city quickly, safely, without problems or parking or social distance. Believe me, Mrs Black Soul definitely knows what she is doing. As her Instagram account declares: "Working in the motorcycle industry, it‘s not just a hobby!"
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Ten years ago, in April 2010, Ducati unveiled its newest naked bike, the Monster 796, producing a factory-claimed 87 hp (65 kW). Before the 2011 Ducati Monster 796 was unveiled, the rift within the Monster lineup was considerable: the entry-level 696 served as a great advanced beginner bike, while the 1100 offered a considerably more ballsy option.
Ducati's lineup sticked to a lightweight, performance-oriented theme, and the new Monster 796 adhered to the level of form and function we've come to expect from the Italian manufacturer. A steel trellis frame helps the naked middleweight achieve a dry weight of 368 pounds, and the air-cooled 803cc L-twin engine produces 87 horsepower at 8,250 rpm and 58 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm, a gain of 7 hp and 7.4 lb-ft over the 696 model.
Like the Monster 696, the 796 featured non-adjustable Showa 43mm inverted forks up front, while the rear monoshock by Sachs was preload and rebound adjustable. The Monster 796 incorporated a wet, hydraulically actuated clutch with an APTC slipper unit (a la Hypermotard 796), and unlike the littlest Monster, the 796's swingarm was a slick, single-sided design. As with the Monster 1100, the 796 received aluminum tapered handlebars and Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires; the wheels and tires were identical to the big bore Monster's, apart from their black finish with short section pinstriping. Dual-disc, 4-piston Brembos were found up front, with a 2-piston disc at the rear.
The Monster 796's ergonomic triangle was been revised for greater comfort: the handlebar was .79 inches taller, the saddle had been re-shaped for greater comfort (and sits .39 inches lower than the 1100's), and 4-point adjustable hand levers had also been incorporated.
Thanks to the re-contoured seat and slightly revised ergonomics, the Ducati Monster 796 naked middleweight feeled noticeably more comfortable than its predecessors. The single-sided swingarm's design moved the seat .2 inches higher than the Monster 696's (to an altitude of 31.5 inches), and that repositioning might deter those of shorter stature. But the added clearance benefited the bike's handling, especially when it came to canyon carving. Though it was still got a sporty, arms forward posture, the comfier seat resulted in a less intimate relationship to the tank, reducing sensations of between-the-legs claustrophobia.
The Monster 796's gruntier engine and single-sided swingarm were notably more lust-inspiring than what the 696 had to offer, and with a price difference of only $1,000, those two distinctions cannibalized sales from the smaller-engined stablemate. That said, the 796 still now hones in on the qualities many riding enthusiasts are looking for in a naked middleweight: a quick, nimble, reasonably comfortable, and appropriately priced ride with loads of personality.
The 796 was replaced by the Monster 821 in mid 2014, equipped with the 821 cc Testastretta from the hyper line, and incorporating the same electronics suite as the monster 1200
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