Ducati Monster 937
The Monster reinvented for 2021 — Ducati's iconic naked dropped its tubular trellis frame for a monocoque aluminium structure (Panigale-derived) and shed 18 kg. The 937cc Testastretta 11° V-twin delivers 111 PS with broad torque. UK buyers get a more accessible Monster than ever — lighter, more forgiving, with adjustable seat (820mm/800mm). But it's still a Ducati: desmo valve service every 18,000 miles is a five-figure budget item, and theft risk in London is genuinely high. The reward is character no Japanese rival can match.
Default variant: Monster
- Engine
- 937cc
- Power
- 111 PS
- Torque
- 93 Nm
- Weight
- 188 kg
- Seat
- 820 mm
- Economy
- 47 mpg
medium
medium
Holding value
Bikes hold value far better than cars — typical motorcycle 3-year depreciation is 25–32%, against cars' 40–50%. Some bikes (Hayabusa, Gold Wing, classic Z1000) actually appreciate in the 7–15 year zone as cult demand outstrips supply.
Value loss by phase
Each band shows the share of original value lost during that window — not cumulative. Appreciation (green, marked +X% gained) is real for bikes that develop cult status.
How we estimate this
Phase depreciation derived from observed UK used-bike pricing — classified ads, dealer asking prices, and end-of-auction figures. Bike residuals depend heavily on theft history, service-stamp count, and crash-damage signatures. The figures here are indicative for clean, fully-stamped examples.
What it costs to own
Indicative running costs at 8,000 miles a year — the UK rider average. Chain-drive bikes carry a chain/sprocket consumable line; tax (typically £25–£100/yr) and depreciation are excluded — see the section above for value retention.
3-year total
£5,287
Per year
£1,762
Per mile
£0.22
Service costs assume independent specialist labour and OE parts. Tyre intervals reflect typical UK road riding — track-day usage burns through rear tyres in <2,000 miles. Fuel uses the variant MPG at £1.45/L. Lower-mileage riders see proportionally lower totals; higher-mileage commuters pay roughly linearly more.
Estimated insurance
Group 14/17 · ABI motorcycle scheme · Annual policy
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this bike. Bikes use the ABI motorcycle group scheme (1–17, not the 1–50 used for cars) — Group 1 is cheapest to insure. Pick the risk profile closest to your circumstances.
Estimated annual premium · typical
£1,400/ year
Roughly £117 per month
Typical
Suburban postcode, 3+ years NCB, standard security (Thatcham chain + disc lock), no recent claims.| Profile | Annual premium |
|---|---|
| Lower risk | £1,000 |
| TypicalSelected | £1,400 |
| Higher risk | £2,100 |
How we estimate this
Typical premium reflects . Lower/higher risk profiles synthesised from the observed underwriting range. Motorcycle premiums are far more sensitive to licence tier (CBT / A1 / A2 / A) and rider age than car insurance — younger riders or those on a CBT pay considerably more than this baseline. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Theft risk
Bike-specific · Met Police + insurance reporting
UK bike theft rates are an order of magnitude higher than car theft. Nakeds and supersports lose more to professional gangs; large adventure bikes and tourers are statistically much safer.
Theft risk score · 1 to 4
3/4High risk
High risk
Frequent theft target — appears regularly on UK police hot-lists, especially in London. Expect insurers to demand Thatcham chain + ground anchor + disc lock; tracker can knock 10–15% off premium.Theft hotspot postcodes
Postcode prefixes only; full London hot zone runs across E, N, NW, SE, SW, W boroughs depending on the model.
How we set this band
Bands derived from Met Police bike-theft reporting (most-stolen lists) cross-referenced with insurance industry underwriting data. Model + postcode are the two biggest factors in motorcycle theft risk in the UK, materially more than vehicle value.
What goes wrong
5 known issues · sorted by severity
Documented failure modes from UK owner forums, dealer service bulletins, and aggregated mechanic feedback. Mileages are approximate — different riders see different intervals depending on use and maintenance. Always address "high"-severity items before resale.
High severity
1
Medium
2
Low / cosmetic
2
| Severity | Part / issue | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| high | Desmo valve service Every 18,000 mi | £800-£1,000 |
| medium | Cam belt replacement Every 12-18k mi or 2 years | £250-£350 |
| medium | Stator / regulator 20k-30k mi | £350 |
| low | Throttle by wire glitches Any (early units) | Software TSB |
| low | Front tyre wear Every 7-9k mi | £180 |
How we score severity
High — strands the bike or causes consequential damage if left. Medium — service item that affects ride quality or risks failure. Low — cosmetic or minor inconvenience. Costs are independent-specialist UK rates for parts and labour together; main dealer prices typically run 30–50% higher.
Variant comparison
The default — sole variant (there's a Monster SP variant with Ohlins, but it's positioned as premium and not in the same shopping bracket). Budget £1k+/year in scheduled service when planning Monster ownership.
Known issues
- Desmo valve service every 18,000 mi (£800+)
- Cam belt replacement every 12-18k mi / 2yr
- Italian electrical (stator/regulator) long-term concern
Strengths
- +Iconic naked styling — defining Italian motorcycle
- +188 kg wet, 18 kg lighter than previous Monster generation
- +Adjustable seat (820mm/800mm) suits range of rider heights
- +Testastretta V-twin — character that's worth the premium
- +Strong residuals — Ducati holds value better than Japanese rivals
Watch-outs
- −Desmo valve service every 18,000 miles — £800 budget item
- −Cam belts need replacing every 12-18k miles or 2 years
- −Theft risk is high in London postcodes — Ducati = target
- −Not A2-restrictable (over 95 PS limit)
- −Italian electrical (stator/R/R) is a long-term concern