Having now spent a total of over two thousand miles together, I’m really settling into life with the Monster V2 . I’ve managed to get out on some lovely sunny B-road blasts, activating Sport mode and using more of the rear Pirelli while enjoying some twisty tarmac.
Now acquainted, it was time to make the bike a little bit more my own with some mods. First was a tail tidy from Evotech (£175), which transforms the looks, neatening up the rear end beautifully. Next up were bar-end mirrors (£305), also from Evotech.
The standard mirrors were fine, but these new ones really open up the front of the bike. I now have a completely uninterrupted view ahead and a better view behind, too.
While cleaning the bike, I noticed there were stones getting into the radiator, so I thought it’d be wise to get a guard. Of course, I went for the Evotech one with the little Italian flag on it (£82.99). It’s a nice aesthetic touch as well as a practical one, keeping bugs and stones out.
Next, my thoughts turned to crash safety with bungs for protection. Being a shorter rider , I always have that niggling ‘don’t drop it’ thought when executing slow manoeuvres.
Crash bungs mean if the Monster does take an unexpected lie down, it shouldn’t come off too badly. The Evotech bungs that I have fitted are £260, and were simple to install.
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Having found that the bite point of the clutch lever was right at the edge of my finger span, I thought that adjustable levers might help.
Fitting the Evotech Evo folding clutch lever, which adjusts further than the Ducati OEM one, has brought the bite point closer to the bar, making life a lot easier for me and removing the need to balance the clutch and throttle to pull away. It now pulls away nicely on just the clutch. Of course, I had to fit the matching brake lever, too (£150).
Next up was a trip to Ducati to fit mirrors that include lever guards and to have the low seat option fitted, bringing the seat height down 20mm from 815mm to 795mm. It has definitely given me a little bit more reach in my leg, making life a bit easier when coming to a stop or making tight turns (£200.23).
Finally, cruise control. Tantalisingly, the Monster V2 comes with the cruise control button, but if you press it, a message pops up to tell you that it isn’t activated, meaning you have to pay (£252) to have it ‘unlocked’. It is a welcome luxury, making long rides more comfortable and average speed camera sections less challenging.
So now I’m ready to get planning a little tour with some big-mile days and overnight stays to see if the Monster’s up to the challenge.
When accelerating hard up to higher speeds, I find that the steering starts to feel a little too light and the front end gets a little twitchy if you aren’t careful. All of that torque could bite you back, it is a Monster after all.
Charlotte joined the MCN team as a Product Writer in February 2024. Growing up in a family of bikers, it was almost certain she would eventually ride herself, and she passed her test in July 2021. Though her early fascination with motorbikes was strong, her passion for horses initially took precedence, consuming much of her time and finances.Eventually, Charlotte transitioned from horseback riding to motorcycling, purchasing a Suzuki SV650s. Her collection grew to include a Honda CBR600RR, but an accident caused by faulty traffic lights led to the bike being written off and Charlotte sustaining some injuries. Undeterred, she returned to riding as soon as she recovered, continuing with her SV650s. Recently, she added an Aprilia RS660 to her garage, proudly continuing her journey as a dedicated biker.
Little legs but with big plans, to get on track and off-road