2009 Ducati Desmosedici Monster Concept

A streetfighter Casey Stoner would ride!

By Kevin Duke, Jul. 08, 2008, Photography by Luc1

Ducati’s road-going MotoGP replica, the Desmosedici, is the raciest street-legal machine ever available to the public. Its GP-derived 990cc V-Four motor kicks out around 200 horsepower to the rear wheel, creating a top-end surge of power that inhales run-of-the-mill literbikes.

But behind the Desmosedici’s aerodynamic bodywork is a riding position that is kindly referred to as “committed.” The less-limber among us would describe its ergos as “torturous.”

But what if you could get that gloriously devastating motor in a naked sportbike with upright ergos? Well, the Ducati factory briefly toyed with this fanciful idea, according to European contributor Tor Sagen who commissioned this photo rendering from Italian designer Luc1.

“We have called it the Monstersedici,” explained Sagen. “In the world of B-Kings, Vmax and Brutales, such a concept wouldn't be too way off, and that's why Ducati actually did a small study of such a concept.”

Not surprisingly, any plans for a production bike were nixed by the enormous costs of producing the Desmosedici’s exotic and hand-built V-Four engine.

More likely to enter production, however, is a Monster stuffed with the 1098’s V-Twin motor, which may debut as soon as this fall’s Milan show.

“Ducati would not give us any official comment on this story,” said Sagen, “But off the record, one of my sources stated that he wouldn't buy such a bike because it would have too much power. Any Suzuki B-King owners or potential Yamaha Vmax II buyers that beg to differ?”