I can still remember the first time I set eyes on a Ducati Monster. It was 1995 and I had just abandoned 13 years of Harley riding, having had my eyes permanently opened after borrowing a friend’s Suzuki Katana. After realizing that modern motorcycles could indeed be fun even with functioning brakes, reliability, speed and handling, I sold off my Shovelhead Lowrider and got seriously into sportbikes. A ritzy new dealership was opening up in the Pittsburgh area that rumor said, would carry all sorts of exotic European brands. I’d never actually seen a Ducati before walking into the Point Cycle showroom, but the sheer uniqueness of the sleek, red Italian naked bike struck me from the off. The stubby proportions- emember what sort of bikes I was used to- gracefully-welded steel trellis frame, the air-cooled engine and unusual bodywork all created a lasting impression. The salesman fired up the M900 for effect and I remember hearing that wickedly alluring clatter of desmodrinoc valve gear for the very first time. What a glorious noise. I decided then and there to invest in a Ducati as soon as finances permitted and apparently, I was far from alone. This week, Ducati’s Bologna, Italy factory rolled the 350,000th Monster off the assembly line, a feat that reveals the enduring appeal of this modern cafe racer.
