Hi and welcome.
Like Chris, I've got an 1100 Evo and can enthusiastically recommend them. The previous 1100 is also a great bike.
The old 1100 came in base and blinged-up "S" model with Öhlins suspension, lightweight wheels and various carbon bits.
Differences between 1100 and Evo? Well, there's the obvious over & under shotgun exhausts on the Evo. The Evo engine is in a slightly higher state of tune, giving a claimed 100 HP against the old bike's 95 HP, although I can't feel the difference on the road.
Having said that, I reckon the old 1100 arguably has the sweeter motor, being smoother running than the Evo, especially at lower speeds and in town. The old 1100 has the "Dual Spark" motor with two spark plugs per cylinder, which helps combustion, especially at low revs.
Another major difference is that the Evo has a wet clutch while the 1100 has a traditional (for Ducati) dry clutch. The dry clutch can be a bit tricky for novices as it tends to be a bit grabby or unpredictable. It's also heavier than the Evo's wet clutch.
Finally, all Evos and the 1100s from 2010 have ABS, which is a handy safety net, especially if you've not ridden on the road for a while. The Evo also has traction control, which, again, you might find helpful as you gain experience.
I think the Evo that Chris mentioned as being up for sale is this one:
http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/s...ad.php?t=54430
Or, if you fancy an older, classic style Monster, how about an S2R 1000? This has a similar engine to the 1100, being twin spark, dry clutch. It's just 992cc instead of 1078cc. There's a very nice example here:
http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/s...ad.php?t=54414
Whichever one you go for, you won't be disappointed. Happy hunting! ☺