Ducati Monster 696 20th Anniversary - Specifications & Review

Company History

Ducati’s story begins in 1926 Bologna as a maker of radio components before postwar circumstances steered it toward engines and then motorcycles. From Cucciolo clip-ons to bevel-drive twins and on to belt-drive desmodromic L-twins, the brand cultivated a reputation for mechanical exotica that actually worked on the road. Racing success at Imola in 1972 set the tone, while the 851/888/916 lineage defined 1990s superbike aesthetics—Tamburini lines, single-sided swingarms, trellis frames, and the bark of a big twin. The 2000s brought sophisticated electronics, trellis evolutions, and Desmosedici MotoGP technology filtering to the street. Today’s V4s carry desmo heritage into new architectures, pairing intoxicating sound with blistering pace and rider aids that let mortals touch the edge. Yet the Ducati experience isn’t only lap times; it’s also design theater—red paint, machined details, and a sense that every component was considered. Historically, Ducati shaped what ‘Italian performance’ means: intense, beautiful, and emotionally involving. Owners speak of feedback through the pegs, the ritual of warm oil, and a community that treats a Sunday ride like an event. In an era of homogenized competence, Ducati insists that performance should move the soul as much as the stopwatch.