Basic Instinct: A Ducati Monster 797 from Hong Kong

The Ducati Monster is one of motorcycling's greatest success stories. Miguel Galluzzi's brainchild first rolled out of the factory in 1993, and has remained part of the Bologna line-up ever since. Even 26 years on, the DNA of the original M900 is still very visible in the Monster range—and it's especially clear in the entry level Monster 797, the most basic yet traditional Monster in the set. Instead of using the liquid-cooled Testastretta motor employed by its bigger siblings, it has the simpler 803 cc air-cooled mill used in the Ducati Scrambler. And its stripped-back design makes it ripe for...