2008–2014 · Naked Bike · Buyer's Guide
Light, Loud, Genuinely Italian
The Monster 696 is the version of Ducati's naked family built to be lived with rather than survived. The air-cooled 696 cc L-twin makes 80 hp at 9,000 rpm and 51 lb-ft at 7,750, and in a bike that weighs 408 lb wet that is enough to feel genuinely quick without ever feeling like a handful. The hardware around it is honest and uncomplicated: upside-down fork, 320 mm front brake, six speeds, chain drive, a slipper clutch as standard. A 30.3 in seat and narrow waist put short riders flat-footed. This is Ducati presence at a size almost anyone can manage.
It rides the way the numbers suggest. Light, quick to change direction, happy in traffic, and still eager enough on a good road that you never feel short-changed. The rear shock takes preload adjustment, the fork is fixed, so you set the back for your weight and ride the front as Ducati built it. As these bikes age, the honest caveats are ownership ones rather than riding ones: clutch plates wear fast under aggressive use, batteries drain if the bike sits, and fasteners corrode after wet winters. ABS was an option, not standard, so check any bike you look at.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 80 hp (59 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 51 lb-ft (69 Nm) @ 7,750 rpm |
| Displacement | 696 cc |
| Engine | L-twin |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/60-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Seat height | 30.3 in (770 mm) |
| Wet weight | 408 lb (185 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
| Fuel economy | 37 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Main wiring harness recall
Ducati recalled MY2009 Monster 696 motorcycles (NHTSA Campaign 09V142000) because the main wiring harness could contact the vertical cylinder head and exhaust pipe, risking electrical damage or unexpected loss of engine performance. Dealers reposition and fasten the wiring harness to the frame free of charge.
Premature clutch wear
Aggressive riding can lead to clutch slipping and premature wear of clutch plates, sometimes necessitating replacement as early as 18,000 miles.
Rear brake moaning
A persistent moaning or squeaking noise from the rear brake, often reported after break‑in period and difficult to eliminate.
Oil leak from left side of engine
Some owners report an oil leak originating from the left side of the engine, requiring multiple dealer visits to resolve.
Battery drain issues
Some bikes suffer from excessive battery drain when left unused for a few days, possibly due to parasitic draw or a weak charging system.
Corrosion on components
Some owners report corrosion on fasteners and metal parts, particularly after winter riding or exposure to rain.
Where this Ducati Monster 696 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Monster 696 is actually built for.
For learning lines on the Dragon and the Blue Ridge, this is a good tool. It is light, forgiving, and honest, so you can work on technique instead of managing a bike that intimidates you.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
Perfect weight and character for a Saturday loop through the Twisted Sisters. Just know the 4.0 gal tank and no wind protection set the pace of your day, not the engine.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
It will hustle up Angeles Crest happily and it survives the traffic to get there. If you chase outright pace with your fast friends, though, you will find the ceiling before the bike disappoints you elsewhere.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2006–2008
Real Ducati, Real Accessible
Compare to the previous model →If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Ducati Monster 696. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2009–2017
Reliable Naked, Rock-Bottom Running Costs
Roughly $1,200 cheaper used than this bike at 12 yr
Competitor · 2007–2018
Italian Twin, Forgiving Soul
Roughly $900 cheaper used than this bike at 12 yr
Competitor · 2003–2008
Reliable, Flickable, Costs Nothing
Competitor · 2010–2013
Italian V-Twin With Touring Manners
Roughly $1,000 cheaper used than this bike at 13 yr
Competitor · 2012–2015
One Cylinder, Zero Filter
Roughly $600 cheaper used than this bike at 12 yr
Same Platform · 2009–2011
Torque, Soul, Light Steel
Roughly $600 pricier used than this bike at 15 yr