Ducati Monster 900 Review

Used Buyer Review

The Monster 900 is one of those bikes that genuinely deserves its legendary status, but buying one used demands serious homework. That air-cooled 904cc two-valve Desmo is an absolute gem when properly maintained — torquey, characterful, and sounds genuinely spectacular. But 'properly maintained' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. Desmo valve services are expensive and frequently skipped by previous owners. Always ask for documented service history, and budget another $600-800 immediately if you can't prove one's been done recently. Early carbureted models from the mid-90s are rawer and cheaper to maintain than later fuel-injected versions, but the carbs need attention if the bike's been sitting. Check for oil weeping around the cylinder heads — it's common and usually cosmetic, but confirms the service history story. Suspension is soft by modern standards and benefits from a rebuild on anything with serious miles. Frame and engine are tough as boots though.