Today Ducati will announce a new Ducati Monster in Milan. The new model dubbed the Monster S4RS will marry the Testastretta engine with the Monster chassis, as long rumored.

Two Great tastes that go together -- Monster frame, Superbike engine image by ducati

Confession time -- us 'Soup Army enlistees have always dug the Monster, with a couple of staff members owning them as their personal bikes. Miguel Galluzzi's Il Mostro first unveiled for the 1992 Cologne show created a whole new genre of two-wheeled machines, sometimes referred to as the "naked" class. It's the essence of motorcycling, with the exposed engine and frame showing the goods and a strong parts aftermarket range ready to transform a Monster into precisely the bike the buyer wants.

The iconoclastic Monsters have always been a strong seller for Ducati. Closing in on 15 years later, the model has remained surprisingly the same as the initial concept bike, but still looks fresh.

But the other manufacturers have gotten involved with their own Naked bikes and upped the power ante. Ducati's initial response was the original S4 with the previous generation four valve, water cooled 916cc mill, then the 996 cc S4R with a 113 horses and the single sided swingarm.

Now the bike gets the full 999/999s Testastretta engine, rated at 130 horses stock but pumping 150 with the addition of an optional performance exhaust. The bike also has Ohlins suspension at both ends and radial mounted Brembo brakes, not to mention some carbon fiber bits and 999-style wheels.

The bike will be delivered next summer as a 2007 model. Red with a white stripe and a pearl white model with a red stripe are the two available colors. Price? $14,995.