Ducati Motorcycles India today launched the Multistrada 950 at Rs 12,60,000 and the Monster 797 at Rs 7,70,000 (ex-showroom India), taking into account the GST structure. Deliveries are slated to commence from July 1.

The Italian marque has expanded its Multistrada and Monster series with the two new downsized variants, both positioned as entry-level offerings in the adventure and naked sports categories respectively. The two bikes, which were first showcased at EICMA 2016, are being brought into the country via the CBU route from Ducati's assembly unit in Thailand. 

While the overall styling and aesthetic treatment on the motorcycles remains similar as their higher displacement siblings, the Multistrada 1200S and the Monster 1200S, the sole change lies on the powertrain front.

The Multistrada 950 gets a 937cc L-twin engine, which develops 113bhp of power and 96Nm of peak torque. The engine comes from Ducati's Testastretta series of motors. The motorcycle also gets a double-sided swingarm from the bigger sibling, but gets a new pair of cast 19-inch (front) and 17-inch (rear) alloy wheels, with option of both rally as well as off-road tires developed in conjunction with Pirelli, on offer. 

Safety kit includes the three-level ABS system from Bosch and Ducati's Traction Control (DTC). The bike comes with four riding modes, including Touring, Sport, Urban and Enduro, to complete its adventure expedition motorcycle positioning.

The Ducati Monster 797 comes powered with an 803cc Desmodue L-twin motor, developing 75bhp and 69Nm of peak torque. It gets a new swingarm with the same 16.5-litre fuel tank and LED headlamps from the Monster 1200S.

According to Ravi Avalur, MD, Ducati India, "Ducati India aims to enhance the reach of its motorcycles by launching entry level versions of the two popular series." He added that the company is going to take a different approach from the competition and continue offering its products in the Indian market as CBUs from its Thailand assembly facility, using the benefits of the FTA between India and Thailand. 

"Ducati India aims to focus more on its sales and aftersales network in the country and will expand to 10 outlets by the end of FY2018 from the current six, with areas like Kolkata also included in the expansion," he said.

Till now, Ducati has recorded sales of a little over 1,000 units in India, 580 of them in FY2017 which was a year-on-year growth of 18 percent.