By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN29-StreetRally) vs Ducati Monster 821 (MY2014)
Yamaha MT-09 vs Ducati Monster 821: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
You'll feel the Yamaha MT-09 pull hard from low revs, and it's still rushing at the top. The Ducati Monster 821 snarls and burbles as you roll it on. Its exhaust crackles and pops every time you roll off.
So which one do you buy?
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Slight edge: MT-09
The MT-09 makes slightly more sense as a commuter. Thank lower running costs and simpler maintenance for that. Don't read much into a gap this small.
The Monster 821 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Edges it: Monster 821
In the twisties, the Monster 821 asks a bit less of you to go quickly. Call it a modest edge.
Which one's the smarter buy
Money won't decide it
Neither bike is the clear better buy at these used prices. The MT-09 costs less, but that doesn't make it the smarter spend.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
There's enough leverage in the MT-09's wide bars to flick it from one bend into the next on the Angeles Crest Highway. After about an hour, the thinly padded seat won't let you forget it.
Nils rode the MT-09 in 2014 (NastyNils Testride).
Monster 821
Steep geometry and a short wheelbase get the Monster 821 turning in with precision, and it's eager to dive for the apex. The suspension swallows bumps. In slow traffic, there's heat pouring off the right-side pipes onto your inner thigh. Its trellis frame draws eyes at every stop.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The MT-09 has the lower wet weight: 414 lb (188 kg) vs 453 lb (206 kg).
- The MT-09 makes more peak power: 115 hp (85 kW) vs 109 hp (80 kW).
- The Monster 821 has the larger fuel tank: 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) vs 3.7 US gal (14 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Look elsewhere
Neither one is built for long-haul comfort. For big miles, look at a proper tourer or sport tourer.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Both fall short
Learning on either of these is the hard way. A gentler bike will make you a better rider sooner.
Traveling with luggage
Both miss here
Multi-day trips with luggage aren't their thing. Travel light, or travel on something else.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
MT-09
What owners say
Strengths
- Thrilling CP3 engine with crossplane character
- Lightweight and agile chassis
- Excellent value for money
Trade-offs
- Snatchy throttle response in STD and A modes
- Underdamped suspension limits spirited riding
- Uncomfortable seat for long rides
Monster 821
What owners say
Strengths
- Characterful L-twin engine
- Excellent handling and agility
- Striking trellis frame design
- Good general reliability
- Light clutch and smooth gearbox
Trade-offs
- Excessive exhaust heat on right side
- Non-adjustable front fork on base models
- Dim stock headlight (2014–2017)
- Heavier than class rivals
- No wind protection
Known problems to check before you buy
MT-09
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Monster 821
- Oil leaks from pressure sensor, filter area, or cylinder head studs Multiple leak sources reported: oil pressure sensor O-ring failure, cylinder head stud/gasket weeping, oil filter left loose from factory (2014–2015 especially), and layshaft seal leaks. Some bikes left the factory with insufficiently tightened oil filters.
- Jerky, snatchy throttle response below approximately 3,500 rpm The ride-by-wire system produces abrupt, on-off throttle behavior at low engine speeds, making the bike difficult to ride smoothly in slow traffic. Caused by lean fuel mixture from factory emissions mapping and closed-loop oxygen sensor operation at low throttle openings. The behavior is less pronounced in Touring mode than in Sport mode.
What they cost used
These prices compare a 9-year-old MT-09 with a 9-year-old Monster 821.
- MT-09
- about $7,000
- Monster 821
- about $7,900
At nine years old, the Yamaha MT-09 sits around $7,000 while the Ducati Monster 821 runs about $7,900. That's a $900 gap in the MT-09's favor. These are US market estimates, not live listings.
What they share
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-09 | Monster 821 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.3 in (820 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 414 lb (188 kg) | 453 lb (206 kg) |
| MT-09 | Monster 821 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 847 cc | 821 cc |
| Engine | Inline-three | 90° V-twin |
| Power | 115 hp (85 kW) | 109 hp (80 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 9,250 rpm |
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) | 63 lb-ft (86 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 8,500 rpm | 7,750 rpm |
| Top speed | 143 mph (230 km/h) | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
| MT-09 | Monster 821 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 43 mpg (US) / 5.5 L/100 km | 52 mpg (US) / 4.5 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 4.6 US gal (17.5 L) |
| MT-09 | Monster 821 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 298 mm | 320 mm |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 180/60-17 |
| Wheelbase | 56.7 in (1440 mm) | 58.3 in (1480 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-09 | Monster 821 | |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Option | Standard |
| Traction Control | Standard (from 2016) | Standard |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Standard (from 2017) | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Not offered | Option |
| Slipper Clutch | Not offered | Standard |
| TFT Display | Not offered | Standard |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Option |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
