2014 Ducati Monster 696, Less is MonsterThe ???less-is-more??? philosophy behind all Monsters underlines Ducati???s never-ending pursuit of genuinely compact, high performance motorcycles, but these new models have succeeded in being even more ???pared down??? than their predecessors.Every single component has been redesigned and redeveloped so now more than ever, form follows function. With any details detracting from the Monster concept being eliminated, ???less-is-more??? also means ???less-is-Monster???. Less weight plus more torque equals fun-filled riding.Monster StoryIn 1992 Ducati unveiled a new prototype that was to become an icon. Ducati???s creation awed the crowds and the world???s media of that year???s Cologne International Motorcycle show. The 900 Monster was a motorcycle that created a truly new niche ??? dramatically styled, minimalist in stature yet bristling with innovative engineering solutions. The Monster???s radical styling has also provided the inspiration for an entire after-market sector specialising in hot-rod parts for this legendary machine. For this reason, rarely do you see two Monsters the same. This radical and refreshing design departure also influenced other manufacturers but, as the old adage states: imitation is the highest form of flattery??? The Monster is characterised by a long and successful history, by its introduction during the years of numerous cylinders and uncountable colour options, but above all by a constant technological evolution that this year brings us to the birth of the last version: the Monster 1100EVO, ???The Ultimate Monster???.