About time to update this thread, after 3 weeks with my orange 790 Duke.
Compared with the Monster 821, the 790 feels LIGHTER.
The sound of the engine is also more satisfying, especially when you downshift from 6th to 5th using the quickshifter, you get like an engine backfire (stock exhaust), that simply makes you smile
I remembered the Monster having a little more power, but that might also be only my impression because I had a SMR450 back then, so the difference in power was huge, and also because my 790 is still braking in, and I didn’t went above 6.5k RPM yet.
The position is kinda similar, meaning that you don’t see the bike when you ride, but I definitely like having the 790 more than the Monster.
With the 790 I have more versatility, because I can easily equip it with top case, side bags and windshield and go for a longer ride, (comfortable for you and the passenger), then remove them, install the race pillion replacement seat, and have a hooligan ride.
This is something you can’t do with the Monster: that bike is made to be used just as it is, you can’t rock a big windshield or a top case without ruining the look, and it won’t be a hooligan, because it’s more of a classic retro look, with no tech involved.
For the romantics, that love to ride solo for short to medium rides, don’t care about tech and comfort, the Monster is the better bike.
For the holligans that want a lighter, faster and MORE FUN and faster accelerating machine, the 790 is the better bike.
With the 790 you won’t be cool when you leave the bar or restaurant around the Mediterranean coast, and a girl you just picked up wants to ride with you.
With the Monster you won’t feel the egoistic fun that the 790 brings, when you are using the launch control, or ride in the twisties with the fun + safety that the MTC, MSR, MSC and Supermoto mode are offering.
Basically, with the 790 you can go crazy and push the limits, knowing that it will take care of you, while with the Monster you have to be gentle, or it might punish you.
You won’t regret 100%, no matter what the choice would be.