Within minutes, I was confident enough to hit the 8,500rpm rev limiter in three successive gears (the cut-out is harsh).This Monster feels docile in town, agile on twisting lanes and secure in motorway traffic. It has the physical presence to be noticed and the tucked-in, upright riding position allows excellent all-round vision. All Monsters handle well, but this is special; an endearing blend of nimbleness and solidity. And the mirrors are superb.Ducatis are cool, of course, and this one doesn't disappoint.

Mounted on the right, its twin, vertically stacked silencers stand out. So does a single-sided swing-arm in lightweight aluminium alloy. The striped paint job (here, red with white stripe) is simple but distinctive and the five-spoke Marchesini wheels both look and feel expensive.An upside-down, fully adjustable Showa front fork declares that this bike is built to be ridden hard. Everything about the performance confirms it; 95bhp might sound tame, but it never feels underpowered. Ducati has had a long time to get twin-cylinder, air-cooled technology right. The S2R 1000 is positively exuberant in the mid-range and won't strain until you get to 125mph.Granted, it's not a track-day racer.

But it is a totally practical motorcycle that makes everyday riding exhilarating and turns special roads into special moments. Ride faster than it happily carries you on anything less than an unrestricted autobahn and you might as well save the courts trouble and burn your driving licence.True, it's a naked bike, not designed for long journeys, but of all the Monster family it is the one I would take if I had to ride 1,000 miles in a day. Its suspension adapts easily to all conventional road conditions, braking is impressive and a tank bag wouldn't ruin the look. It is versatile enough to be an only bike.Niggles? The tiny fairing is so ineffective it might as well not be there.