Prometheus from St. Petersburg: Ducati 796 X
It’s not for nothing that custom workshops are compared to a forge! Flames and sparks, sweat and fatigue, pain and suffering for the glory of creation! From the first forge, the titan Prometheus stole fire to give it to people, for which he paid with severe punishment from Zeus. Creativity means ups and downs, successes and failures, inspiration and despair, and only the ability to find a balance between the elements distinguishes a true creator! Master Leonid Skakunov from the cultural capital of Russia experienced this himself: inspired by the opportunities that had opened up, he gave birth to an idea, but circumstances were stronger than him. But, driven by determination, he still brought the idea to completion, took a stock Ducati 796 2011 and created a champion out of it. He entered the Drivein Workshop like a monster, and emerged from the forge like a beautiful Prometheus!
Leonid Skakunov
Master Leonid Skakunov began his career as a customizer as a mechanic in several workshops, which gave him an excellent set of basic skills. But driven by a thirst for creative freedom and a desire to make bikes, and not just service them, he found a small room and founded a workshop in it, calling it Drivein. Pretty soon this decision paid off, and he took home prizes at the international motorcycle exhibition IMIS and the Russian Handbuilt Cup.
This was followed by successful participation in the world championship in customization AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building , and it would seem, what else to strive for? But Leonid heard about a new competition, the participants of which are given a free donor and money to customize it! His application advanced to the second stage, the sketches were approved, and the final design, made with the help of his friend Yegor Smirnov, brought him to the top ten participants!
However, for reasons beyond his control, it all ended there, and only sadness remained. However, thanks to the support of a good man named Oleg, who invested money in the construction of the custom, Yegor’s magnificent drawings found life in metal!
Monster has always been a dream for me, over the past 2 years I have become the most frequent visitor to the Ducati showroom) I chose, tried on, received aesthetic pleasure from the Italian design) But there was no desire to purchase it as the first... After all, school on YBR and TVS Apache is easy in weight and easy to manage. The first season was a KTM Duke 125 miracle bike, it taught me a lot) The second season has come and... True biker))
I hasten to share my impressions of the anniversary version of Monster 796. It's damn good!!! And in the little things too... The steel “birdcage” frame is a masterpiece! Classic round headlight, and so many things... Italian: Brembo, Pirelli, Ducati...) You start the engine and the sound of the engine is mesmerizing - this is the heart of the Monster!!! You listen to this “music” with pleasure, it cannot be confused with anything else!!! How does it “bullet”, yes, after the KTM Duke 125 I have something to compare with) The Monster has a “short” first gear. He works to the limit! But at the same time it won’t make a “wheelie”) There is no indicator of the gear engaged, at first I was worried, but now it’s hard to imagine why it is needed at all) The absence of a windshield is only positive - you can’t leave the feeling that you are alone with the elements! The speed feels different. The anniversary version of the Monster has wonderful mirrors: round, large, the visibility is amazing. The standard seat was lowered, leaving the original materials, it turned out to be stiffer, but I stand confidently and evenly with both feet on the ground, and it’s easier to turn the bike around) Everything is fine in the Monster, but... There is one “but” - it’s hot! Literally and figuratively. At low speeds in traffic jams you feel all its “charm” - it’s hot...
A little about the details.. It’s difficult to make changes to a masterpiece of Italian design) But we were inspired by looking at the post Just photos. I would like to lighten the bike a little by replacing the pedal assembly and removing the “unnecessary” footrests for the second number, because Monster single.
Having tried the Panigale brake mechanisms - the reference ones, we were hooked on the Brembo 19RCS brake machines
I would like to install Rizoma jars, they are amazing...
And a short tail... At the moment, only a rear sprocket flange has been installed on the rear wheel (there is nothing else in Moscow yet). It directly affects the speed, for sure)) We thought for a long time about the exhaust: Termignoni, Akrapovic or Zard... We exhaled and decided it would be better to “throw out all the insides” from the stock pipes and achieve sound, giving the Monster a voice) It would be interesting to hear an opinion, maybe someone can recommend which one would light tuning be suitable for the Monster?
First day on Monster
Ducati 796 X
The Ducati 796 X motorcycle was rolled into the workshop, and Leonid was finally able to do what he does best - make a showstopper!
Monster is the ideal basis for the project: single-sided swingarm, short frame, inverted fork and radial calipers, I really like its chassis,” Leonid smiles.
Having undressed the Monster and attached large-scale sketches to it, Leonid began to figure out what changes would need to be made to the design. It was immediately obvious that the bike's large factory airbox would need to be modified to accommodate the tank. In the right hands, both the tank and the airbox will retain their volume, and Leonid began to shape the aluminum tank in the traditional spirit of Drivein Workshop, in which the features of an 80s superbike echo the neo-cafe racer.
Custom Ducati 796 X
TEST DRIVE: Ducati Monster 796 – 79.6% thrill
Having announced the release of an 803 cc “monster”, Ducati finally formed a model range of “air” models and occupied a unique niche in the market that was lost several years ago. If we take the Monster 1100 series as the ideal, then the Monster 796 is 79.6% closer to it
MOTOGONKI.RU, August 8, 2010 — I, like many journalists, did not attend the official launch of the “796” in Borgo Panigale because of the Icelandic volcano. I had to save my drool until the next chance given to me by Ducati UK - the “monster” waited two months for the start of sales in Britain.
To avoid beating around the bush. All “monsters” look and feel very light, small and perfectly controllable. It seems that the pilot does not need muscular strength at all to show off astride the Kvevetka. Despite all this, “796” is somewhat different in ergonomics from both “sister” and “Big Brother”. The seat is higher than on the “696”, but lower than on the “1100”. The wide handlebar gives excellent control over hard front-ends and direction changes. But the difference between “696” and “1100” has always been very large, both in concept and in terms of requirements for the pilot. Who is the “new middle class” designed for?
If you're an average rider, you'll never be able to figure out all the intricacies of a Ducati's dashboard, especially in "all in the road" mode. It will take a long time to study the panel and with a book, it seems that from model to model this device is becoming less and less friendly and readable. However, we often don’t really care how many degrees outside and how many tenths of a liter of gasoline we saved today. I decided not to exhaust myself and carried out a simple test: I filled a full tank (15 liters) of gasoline and drove until it was completely gone. It turned out to be 160 km. Yes, Monster does not suffer from thirst and drinks greedily, to the last drop. But I don't have exact numbers, just these.
The only clearly visible number on the control screen is the gear number, which is important to know (and feel), especially when you're kneeling on the asphalt on some free but fast track near Manchester. Fortunately, I managed to avoid a bunch of speeding tickets - I looked at the speedometer especially carefully during all five days of testing. But in sixth gear, which is declared as “economical,” the vibrations on the steering column were as unreal as in the “696,” so I had to either ignore the mirrors or slow down.
But the practical application of the “monster” is a completely different matter. Nobody, including me, worries about such “little things.” I drove the monster the way it should be driven, with a fantastic chassis, big wheels and tires that can grip even gravel. All this gives a thrill from the moment of start to the very finish. People with serious moral principles could curse me with the last words while watching me rape this motorcycle. But I have no moral principles, except in relationships with women, children and the elderly, and Monster 796 is neither one nor the other, nor the third!
“796” is an excellent partner in long-term figure “wheelies”, “stoppies” and other rubber annealing. No one dares tell me that his puny L-twin, blood-red frame and killer Brembo brakes are “made for someone else.” In fact, he resembles a sexy chick at a Saturday night disco with “fuck me” written all over her in big letters. If you have a chance to do it, why deny yourself the pleasure?
The grip is excellent as usual. This is what the Monster series has been famous for for many years. Even in the juicy mid-rpm range, it is 100% accurate and predictable. The 803cc “air” has much more power than the “696”, so I wouldn’t hesitate to forget about the small-capacity model, leaving it for motorcycle schools. “796” turned out to be quite obedient, so for beginners who have already passed the driving test, I recommend it without a second thought! It's not as extreme as the 1100, but it's much more fun in every way than the 696. A sharp start in first gear showed that the engine's potential is much higher: it doesn't take much effort to lift the front wheel into the air! But unlike "1100", this no longer happens on the second. This is the difference, small but very important. “1100” is a machine capable of killing its owner due to a couple of careless movements, requiring concentration and a certain amount of willpower from him. For simpletons like me, 803 cc is enough. [nxtpage]
If you are not concerned about environmental protection, if you have not yet become the owner of a battery-powered motorcycle for the sake of “zero” emissions, then buy yourself a real “zero emissions” from Termignoni, and mail a heavy unit with a Euro3 label to residents of the Gulf of Mexico. With the right tune, the 796 engine will sound different and improve its behavior for the better.
The engine displacement is the same as the Hypermotard, but Ducati claims that they are not the same - primarily due to the box and the relationship within it. 803 cc produces 87 hp at 8250 and 78.4 Nm at 6250 rpm, which is 10% more than the motard, all other things being equal. Here you need to play with the speed in the first three gears, since you won’t be able to get going in the higher gears. Driving at low speeds will also seem like a living hell if the numbers “4” or “5” appear on the dashboard. “796” allows you to use revolutions with greater efficiency than “696”. But lowering the tachometer to 1000 in top gear and feeling a solid kick in the ass when you open the handle - this is not about the “796”!
Acceleration over 160 km/h inspires optimism, so the newcomer surpasses the old model in terms of maximum speed. But after the 100-mile mark, there's nothing to protect you from the wind except a muscular neck and a good, sporty helmet. The Monster is the same as the Hypermotard 796 in many respects. The chassis looks “very similar,” as do the dry weight, suspension (not Ohlins at all, just Showa), wheelbase (1450 and 1455 for HM), 24-degree rake, wheel and tire sizes , even the brand of tires. But Monster allows you more, it is much more dynamic!
In the city, the Monster 796 is close to ideal. Not many motorcycles can get you from point A to point B as quickly as the 796 in comfort. All the while cutting through traffic jams, I felt like the king of the situation. The motorcycle is very light, which helps in any situation.
Total.
The Monster 796 is a true city expert, nimble enough to tackle narrow country roads thanks to its signature Ducati chassis. But on the highway the wind will provide serious resistance, because the apparent excess power of the 1100 cc engine will no longer be enough for you. At high revs the 796 does vibrate, but in Britain, where highway speeds are limited to 112 km/h, I couldn't figure out which ear it was buzzing in. The new Monster looks much more pleasant at medium speeds, for which it was created, and in all respects it approaches “1100”. Do not exceed the 6000 rpm limit and you will be happy! But I would prefer a full-fledged espresso to a cup of Americana, simply because it tastes better.
Pros: + Much better engine response and driving pleasure than the “696”, and in the “middle” it approaches the performance of its Japanese classmates. + Very easy to control + Excellent city bike Cons: - The control panel is oversaturated with functions, but not at all friendly - Vibrating mirrors in 6th gear - yikes!
Thor Sagen from Manchester Specially for MOTOGONKI.RU Photo: Martin Layfield
Possible motorcycle malfunctions
The motorcycle is characterized by specialists and owners as quite reliable and not causing much trouble. The most common malfunctions:
- Melting of the plastic screen and fuel line pipes located next to the exhaust. The repair consists of installing additional thermal insulation.
- The engine crankcase may be damaged at the side stand attachment point. If detected, replacement is required.
- Destruction of steering limiters. They are restored by removing old parts and installing new ones.
You can purchase original Ducati Monster 696 spare parts and have them repaired at the company’s specialized services.
