Ducati Monster

[kvgs]

I was toying with a Ducati Monster being my next bike.
I figured I'd see what the vast pool of knowledge know as Gstwin.com
had to say about Ducati Monsters.
So whatcha think?

Thanks
Kevin

[budget speed demon]

I "know" (and by "know" I mean have talked to this one girl afew times who has one) and she says that its an awsome bike, when it runns. she said it has an electrical problem that no one seems to be able to fix. I've also heard, at the local bike spot on sunday mornings, about a constant charging problem with the battery. I have also talked to one other guy at my work, (I work at a motorcycle "gear" shop (helmets and jackets and stuff)) who had a monster and he said it was vantastic with no problems ever. what I seem to hear is that you can get either a "good one" with no problems ever, or a "bad one" with constant problems. so I guess your taking your chances and hoping you'd get a "good one".(but I guess thats the way with any bike)  the other thing is that insurance companies consider ANY Ducati a sport bike. so even thought the monster has no fairing, its still considered a sport bike. but honestly, you can not get a better sounding bike!!!! with the right exaust on them, they sound just like a rolling cloud of thunder going down the street. they have that super low bassy rumble that can not be beat. I cream myself every time everytime I hear one with a non-stock pipe.- sorry, alil of my immaturity comeing out there. what can I say, nice sounding bikes excite me    lol

[PatrickInNC]

Monsters are great. Ducati's are great. They've gotten a bad rap by most who don't know them. I have had mine for about 3 years and have had one problem of a rear (vertical) cylinder base gasket leak. This was a problem on the 750's, and it was done for me for free, even though the bike was out of warranty, Ducati "goodwilled" it. I also have a 998 and love it as well. Most I know have 0 problems with their ducatis. If you really want to check them out go to www.ducatimonster.org. That board really reminds me of this one, because everyone has the "mod bug." As far as reliability, one of the boards recent "monster of the month" was one that had 125000 miles on it, he was the original owner, bought it new in 1993, never had a problem, but its finally getting a rebuild. If you have any more questions give me a PM and I will answer them. I've been fiddling and working on mine quite a bit.

If you are seriously considering getting one, try to go for a 2000+ model, preferably a 900, but the others are cool too. Also try to spring for an FI model, ducati developed a great EFI system that helped out power alot on the bikes.

Common problems are small. S4's had bad batteries from the factory that leaked on the frame and engine. 2000 and below sometimes had leaky clutch slave cylinders (easy aftermarket fix) and also the voltage regulators would go out on them. Their really isn't alot of other things. They are an air cooled twin (sound familiar) that the engine has been around forever, and they just don't mess with a good thing, and keep using it (sound familiar?).

As far as insurance, its less than my 998 is less than my buddies pay for their r6's, and the monster is pretty reasonable too. about 250/yr. There are insurance threads on the monster board too if you wanna search.

By the way they sound damn sexy, and you get ALOT of attention on one. Also everyone thinks that since its a ducati it cost 30g's and goes 180+. Hope you join the club!

-Patrick
www.ducatimonster.org

[PatrickInNC]

So which ones were you interested in?

Buying new or used?

S2R,S4R series?

[JetSwing]

you can't go wrong with a monster...just don't get a 620

[kvgs]

Acually my original thought was a 620 but I'm thinken a
900 would be cool. Pry something fuel injected.
Would anybody suggest a certain model?
Why not a 620?
Im also planning on buying used.

[JetSwing]

620 is underpowered. trust me on this. you can even go ask on ducatimonster.org forum

[PatrickInNC]

http://www.ducatimonster.org/faq/faq_model_comparison.html

Check that thread if you would like some more info. My mom has a 620, and I do like alot of things about it. I gave her my leo vinci pipes and they sounded better on her bike than on my carbd 750. I do like the sound. It is also really fun nimble and light and it has a real easy clutch pull.

Alot of people relate the 620 to the "600cc sport class" but it is way off. Almost half the power of jap i4's of the same displacement. That doesn't mean alot though. The bike is alot of fun, with lots of usable power, which is alot more important that max hp at 16000 rpm.

My 750 was my second bike, and if I had it to do over again, I wish I could have gotten a 900. Dry clutch, longer stroke, and sometimes better suspension is cool, and you don't have to upgrade again. There really isn't that much price difference now between 900's and the rest. Some people want upper 6k for a 900, but with all the new monsters available now, the once supreme 900 is going down in the market. I've seen some go for as little as 4k or less.  Try to get a 2002 or newer 900, or a 1000. Those 1000's are awesome, tons of torque, but not like I4 1000's, usable power is what you get here. If anything try to get an fuel injected one. I have a carb'd one but the ducati fuel injection helps alot. Even with my flatslides I dont' have the power of some stock FI's. As a matter of fact my moms 620 has as much hp as mine, just not as much torque.

-Patrick

[juggernaught]

I've owned a 620 dark for about 2 years now.  They were fuel injected in the early 00's so they have about the same HP as a pre carbed 750 monster.  I have ridden year round to work with it and not once has she failed me.  It's an easy ride and the 64+ HP is more than sufficient for me.  If you can handle a gs then a monster should be just as easy.  i'm all of 5'5" 125# both feet flat on the pavement.  You can't lose except in maintenance which can be a bit pricey though you can get some good maintenance deals on a new one such as free 600 + 7000 mile maintenance but ya gotta negotiate.  Displacement isn't so bad that insurance tries to steal your wallet all the time.  Ps...she's got nice torque...if i'm at the front on a red light there has not been one cage yet that didn't make it to my rear view mirror in about 2-3 seconds,,  

[juggernaught]

Patrick...fyi...just got back from Vegas.....i wanna live there now...!!!  

[JamesG]

The Monster 620 is Ducati's version of the GS500.  

[Alphamazing]

Maintenance and reliability are the only issues I'd have with Ducati. Monsters and Supersports seem to be on the more reliable side, with minor problems trickling through. Also on the Monster and SS front, the engines are typically very simple, which means I could do the maintenance myself. I don't have $1000 a year to drop on valve adjustments.

[PatrickInNC]

cool man, if any of you guys visit out here be sure to give me a ring. You can check out the GS and ducati's and I can show you some of the good spots. At the moment I live right across from the Palms.

alpha, you can do the adjustments yourself, but you would have to ride about 20000 miles a year to spend 1000 bucks on valve adjustments at the dealer. I don't know what you've heard but its not that bad. Take this from someone who has to take them there.

-Patrick

[The Buddha]

The Monster 620 is Ducati's version of the GS500.  

Yea the monster is just a wanna be GS500 ... Yea.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Mk1inCali]

I recently made the ride over to http://www.ca-cycleworks.com/ to pick up some cam belts for my dad's 00 ST2, and ended up talking to the proprietor for about a half hour about the various models of Monster.

His take:

620 is too slow to be worth it, when upgrading from a GS500.  Not much faster, not much more top-end speed and not a whole lot better suspension.

750 carbies are the minimum to be worth an upgrade.

His top picks, either an S2/4R for big money spenders, less if you go without the SSSA, or a carbie 900 for the big torque and FCR fun.  He's got 100HP out of a 900, which would be very very crazy on the street.

Me, I'm saving up for a 900 carb to hack up and paint bright friggin orange and go nuts with after I get out of school and get a real job.

[PatrickInNC]

You talked to Chris,
He frequents the monster board alot. His service is great too! I try to order as much as I can from him. My buddy just got an s4 on ebay. I'm going to pick it up for him. I really like these as well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4588862270&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT

-Patrick

[mp183]

Hey, I blew a 999 Ducati away in traffic on my way home today.
Guy did not know what happened.  Was trying to get home before
a rain storm.  Very black clouds were on the horizon.  Picked up about
30 seconds with that move on route 17 and lost about 20 seconds at a stop light in Waldwick.  Got soaking wet in just 20 seconds a few hundred yards away from my house.  If I would have made that light I would have had 10 seconds to spare.

[Mk1inCali]

yes, chris was his name.





Whoever said you had to be a smart person/good rider to buy a Duc?

[jag69]

I absolutely love the Monsters.

[jbeaber]

Hatter motorsports in Marin, CA had a demo day yesterday.  We were able to take a Monster 620 for a test ride.  They also had the new Monsters, the liter bikes, but we decided we weren't comfortable riding them.  Bit big and I wasn't prepared to sign a waiver that said I would pay for any damage I did to it.  One guy had already cost himself $5000 when he ran into a car.  So, the Monster 620....  I'm going to compare it to my girlfriends SV650, comparable bike in some ways.  They have about the same power.  The riding position is also very similar.  The suspension setup, though, is very different.  The Monster handles so beautifully.  I thought I went into a turn a bit hot.  The bike quickly reassured me I hadn't and handled it beautifully.  The bike just goes right where you want it to go.  It was a sweet ride, better than the SV.  Now, we weren't able to fully play with the bike.  It had 12 miles on it when I got on it, so nothing above 4.5K.  It was sweet.  Call your dealership, see if they have a demo day coming up.  Sadly, as I drool over an R6, this dealership (also carried Yamaha) doesn't do test rides on them....  Boooooo...