2011 Ducati Monster

From its stripped-down styling and tubular trellis frame to its exposed L-twin engine and large dual exhaust cans, the Monster 796's road presence is all about elemental simplicity. Those raw visual cues recall an era when you could see through motorcycles, and they're backed up with simple mechanical underpinnings such as an air-cooled engine that incorporates the same desmodromic valve setup that Ducati has used for decades. 

The fuel-injected 803-cc engine produces 87 hp at 8250 rpm and 58 lb-ft of torque at 6250 rpm, which is relatively tame compared to all-out, liquid-cooled superbikes. However, considering the Monster 796 weighs only 369 pounds dry, or 373 pounds when equipped with the optional ABS system ($1000), those figures yield a class-leading power-to-weight ratio. Exhaust from the engine routes through a 2-1-2 setup using an updated heat-shield design, and the powerplant pairs to a six-speed gearbox through a hydraulically actuated, APTC-style slipper clutch. With its revised flywheel and engine castings, the 796's powerplant is actually lighter than the 696's (incidentally, maintenance costs have been reduced thanks to a 7500-mile service interval). Fuel economy is estimated at 42 miles per gallon (combined city/highway).