I haven't heard of the 696 don't you mean the 848? The superbike?
Ducati has had the most wins in World Superbike in recent years and even made history when they came out with the first street legal MotoGP bike the Desmosedici RR.
That kind of winning technology and innovation gets put into the bikes which have unbeatable acceleration and handling. Plus Ducati is Italian so it's a work of art and the exhaust is like nothing else on this earth.
A Ducati 750 Supersport was my first bike before my 996. A Ducati is a great beginners bike because they have the best handling and are solid as a rock through a corner.
I haven't ridden the Monster or the new 848 or 1098 but I have a 750 Supersport and 996 and they are very solid and fluid, like wiping your a s s with velvet.