Braking well on a motorcycling is something that takes considerable skill and experience especially in an emergency situation so it makes sense that when Ducati returns with ABS technology which was last seen on the ST4S it would be on the baby Monster.

In keeping with it’s entry level status in the Ducati family, the Monster 696 is due to gain antilock braking (ABS) next year. According to MCN, leaked documents show the technology comes with no weight penalty and is tuned for more aggressive riding in keeping with Ducati’s sporty brand positioning.

The tipping point is quickly being approached where it will become de rigeur for ABS braking on mainstream machinery. Once the arcane option on high end BMW tourers, ABS is now available in a flavor more appropriate for sportsbikes as seen on CBR600’s and Fireblades and the Monster implementation will only add to the momentum.

The optional feature will likely add around $500 to the sticker price in the USA.