Ducati Monster 1200 R Teaser Photo

When Ducati debuted the Monster 900 in 1993, the bike was an immediate hit. The Monster’s popularity was three-fold – it provided comfort, raw L-twin power, and a distinct naked look that exposed its trellis frame.

The bike morphed over the years, and ahead of its 21st birthday, Ducati released the latest edition – the 2015 Monster 1200, which was also available in a 1200 S model with upgraded Ohlins suspension and larger brakes.

The Ducati Monster 1200 models arrived with a second-generation 11-degree Dual-Spark (DS) 1198cc engine – the same engine that arrived in the 2014 Multistrada and Diavel. The Monster 1200’s engine produced 135 horsepower in the base model, and a 145 horsepower in the S model due to different mapping.

The Monster 1200 and 1200 S impressed with its comfort, but the bike did lose some of that raw essence offered on previous models, such as the Monster S4R and 1100 EVO.

But Ducati is out to change that with an all-new 2016 Ducati Monster 1200 R, which was teased Monday with the above photo. Ducati offered little information, saying “The most powerful Ducati naked ever is almost here: a more powerful engine, a sportier chassis and an advanced design.”

The Audi-AG-owned Ducati reports that the Monster 1200 R – a “first taste of the 2016 Ducati Range” – will be unveiled during Volkswagen Group Night in Frankfurt, Germany, Monday, September 14, an event that takes place just ahead of the IAA 2015 (Internationale Automobilausstellung in Frankfurt am Main). Ducati says the Monster 1200 R will be on display at the IAA September 15-20.

The picture shows little, but from previous R models, we can expect much more horsepower, Ohlins suspension upgrades and some lighter weight due to use of Carbon Fiber. Stay clicked to Ultimate MotorCycling for an official preview when the info is released.

For more on the 1200, visit Ducati Monster 1200 Preview and Ducati Monster 1200 vs. BMW S1000RR.