The Dirt Monster that Ducati Didn’t Make
The Ducati Scrambler of the 60′s was popular in the USA, it’s primary market but disappeared when the company stopped producing singles to concentrate on twins. Aside from the pantah based, Cagiva Elephant, there hasn’t been a Ducati dirt bike since. Pierre Terblanche (yes he of 999 infamy) on his way to being shown the door designed the Ducati Scrambler 1100 that never saw the light of day. But you can buy a Ducati Monster based dirt bike, just not from the factory. It’s called the Terra Mostro.
In the summer of 2006 Kent Harle and Blaine Dehmlow of Overland Motorcycles, started with a drawing on a napkin of a true 50/50 dual sport bike that would be purpose built for the rider that has to explore those outlying places in order to feel at home in this world. The napkin progressed into a full fledged motorcycle in late 2008. Overland Motorcycles concept is pretty simple. Take a previous generation Monster 695, and add dirtbike suspension and wheels to create the
The 695 engine offers just the right amount of power and is critically 20lbs lighter then the larger Desmodue engines although that hasn’t stopped at least one customer creating an S2R Terra Mostro.
The front forks are XR650 sourced 46mm Kayaba cartridge units and just one of the Monsters disc brakes are retained. Out back a longer, extruded aluminum swingarm massively extends the wheelbase to 60.4″ (1537mm). A longer, fully adjustable Wilbers shock goes along with it and Takasago Excel alloy 21″ and 18″ rims complete the dirt transformation. In this form the bike has 210mm (8.3″) wheel travel at both ends. The engine is remapped with a Power Commander to suit the Dave Miller Concepts silencer with spark arrestor.
You end up with a reportedly friendly dual sport bike on and off road and one that seemed to impress veteran bike journalist Alan Cathcart when he tested it:-
“But the real pleasure of riding the Terra Mostro comes on the surface it’s named after: hard-packed dirt, or gravel. It’s here where the light, precise handling and easy power delivery make it a great ride for inexperienced dirtbikers. it’s an ideal took for exploration, as well as exhilaration and inspiration..”
link: Earth Monster Review (PDF)
And based on the video below the bike crashes well too!!
You can see the Terra Mostro in action in the trailer for the First, Last Race about a man riding Pikes Peak nine years after his first and only race there.
The bike starts at US$16,590 although a number of upgrades and options are available. More details are available at the Overland Motorcycles website.
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