Ducati Monster Forum

I was just wondering with the amount of track talk how many people have actually taken their monster out on the track. ???

I didn't put a "plan to" option because everybody who has not would select that. ;D

Its just not arrow-dynamic and lacks a tad in power and lightness.  I'd rather just get a used Japanese sport/beater bike (ninja, R6...etc) for track purposes.  I am just too attached to my pretty garage queen to take her to the track on a regular basis.     

I haven't tracked a Monster, but I have tracked my Paul Smart (4 days).
There's always quite a few Monsters at the track days I've been to (6 total), & they seem to be having fun, & get around the track quite well.

This guy (behind me in this photo, but not for long  :P ) was FLYING (I think he's on a race team out of Waco, Tx.).

(http://homepage.mac.com/metcalfe/.cv/metcalfe/Sites/.Pictures/Track%20Day%20MSR%205-08/IMG_14798.jpg-thumb_269_202.jpg)

Whenever I get a chance, wich isn't very often unfortunately.

I have done a track day.  Riding school put on by our local dealer, MotoCorsa.  Great instruction!

Yes, I've done three days on my 695 (Zoom Zoom and Keigwin's track schools).

Fun, but easy to drag hard parts.  I found it a great way to improve my confidence.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/Keigwins_2007-10-08F%7E0.JPG)

I would love to do a track day, but I am not sure I would run my monster. There are just so many cheap fast bikes out there, that if i racked out I could walk away from and laugh. As appose to crying all the way home to ebay and ducatimonsterparts.com.

I've done a couple of track days, put on by my local Ducati dealer, MotoCorsa (http://www.motocorsa.com/). [thumbsup]

I kept to the "C" group, mostly for the instruction, but also that there was much more variation in the bikes in "C" group.  It's a great way to quickly improve your riding skills in a controlled environment.

Plus, you can go a fast as you want down the staights with no worrys about  [leo].

Yup.

(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc19/silentbob_pics/CP__4165.jpg)
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc19/silentbob_pics/CP__5398.jpg)

And here's the second owner at the track.

(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc19/silentbob_pics/CP2_2083.jpg)
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc19/silentbob_pics/CP2_2089.jpg)

Quote from: msincredible on May 26, 2008, 09:35:39 AM
Yes, I've done three days on my 695 (Zoom Zoom and Keigwin's track schools).

Fun, but easy to drag hard parts.  I found it a great way to improve my confidence.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/Keigwins_2007-10-08F%7E0.JPG)

That's a really awesome picture.  The way that you see the reflection in your visor is really amazing. 

I took my Cafe-Racer to the Streets of Willow track in the fall of '06 (IIRC) and had a blast!  Short straights, lots of turns, perfect for a 750 Monster!

A track day would be a good way to grind that thing off of my kick stand. Then again I work on that every time I ride.

I got an F4 to take to the track.

QuoteThere are just so many cheap fast bikes out there, that if i racked out I could walk away from and laugh.

EXACTLY.  Thats why I want a lime green Ninja ZX6R so bad!  I don't think you can fully appreciate Japanese sport bikes, until you have owned a Ducati or other highly finicky machine.  I mean when compared to the Monster in particular the Jap bikes have so much purpose and are so efficient.  Whereas the Monster is contradictory and not as efficient.     

Quote from: silentbob on May 26, 2008, 11:39:57 AM

And here's the second owner at the track.

(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc19/silentbob_pics/CP2_2083.jpg)
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc19/silentbob_pics/CP2_2089.jpg)

ouch!! Did you break anything.. on you?

Quote from: julianista on May 26, 2008, 01:37:09 PM
ouch!! Did you break anything.. on you?

Not me.  New owner.  Both the bike and rider were able to continue on with the rest of the track day.  Speedy Moto frame sliders, billet water pump, and Multistrada handguards worked great.  Oh, not to mention Vanson leathers too.  I just pried the shift lever out a little bit, ran the bike through tech, and got him right back out there.

Quote from: uclabiker06 on May 26, 2008, 12:54:48 PM
Whereas the Monster is contradictory and not as efficient.     

could you please elaborate on that statement?  [thumbsup]

Monsters are fun at the track.   [thumbsup]  You just gotta hang waaaaay off to keep the hard parts from scraping, but that just adds to the fun.   [moto]

Quote from: mostrobelle on May 26, 2008, 07:46:17 PM
Monsters are fun at the track.   [thumbsup]  You just gotta hang waaaaay off to keep the hard parts from scraping, but that just adds to the fun.   [moto]

'zactly.   [thumbsup]

ss's are fun too.   ;D

Tracked mine a couple times. But how do you post up a pic?(//)_2191

Quote from: mostrobelle on May 26, 2008, 07:46:17 PM
Monsters are fun at the track.   [thumbsup]  You just gotta hang waaaaay off to keep the hard parts from scraping, but that just adds to the fun.   [moto]

The S*R series has cornering clearance on par with a SBK.  If you have the ride height set properly, that is.

I built my monster to be a track bike and it has served me well the last 6 or so years. Even when pile driven into the pavement at 70mph. just give ducpainter the tank and throw on a few bits and off I go again.

Quote from: ducvet on May 26, 2008, 09:05:23 PM
I built my monster to be a track bike and it has served me well the last 6 or so years. Even when pile driven into the pavement at 70mph. just give ducpainter the tank and throw on a few bits and off I go again.

Took you a lot longer to heal than the bike.   ;)

I rode my monster on the track for five years...I rode it to every track day too..and home again.

The very first time I hauled it in a truck to the track I crashed it.

Then I got something to haul that I didn't need to ride the next day.

I tracked my bike for Ducati Owner's Club trackday a couple of years ago.  I have a trackbike but I thought I had to bring the Ducati to get the special price (I didn't) and I wanted to track the Monster once just to compare it to my trackbike (Suzuki TL1000R).

I rode down one group level because I planned on riding the Monster more cautiously than I normally ride on the track.  Like Silentbob said, S*R series don't really have cornering clearance issues.

The last DOC trackday, I brought my tiller.   8)

As many know, I'm a major proponent of having a dedicated track tool, whether it's a Monster or any other bike.  When you crash a track tool, you only have to make it functional again.  When you crash a street bike... well, you have plastics, paint, and other tasty cosmetic bits that need to be fixed.  To each his own, but for me I knew that I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun on my Monster as I do on my SV, just because with the SV, I'm mostly concerned with my own mortality and not the mortality of my beautiful paint.  I had a get off on a track day last year, and the whole repair cost me $10 (one brake lever).  Everything else could be bent, zip tied, duct taped, or turned on a lathe to get it back in working order.  Had that n00b mistake been on my Monster, I don't even want to think of the expense it would have been to get it back to what it is now. 

If you PM Zooom, I know he has a street bike and a separate Monster track bike.  He has had a blast.

All that said, I'm intensely curious to see what it would be like to take a Monster to the track.  I would love to race a 620 in ultralights when I start racing, but I just don't see the funds for that happening.

Yes, track days are fun....you go your own pace.
(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/CenterlineF4/Ducati%20Monster%20S4RS/IMG_11591.jpg)

Yes I finally have, and I can't wait to do it again in two weeks  [thumbsup]
(http://photos-209.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v251/224/112/600300209/n600300209_1174201_2640.jpg)

Quotecould you please elaborate on that statement?  waytogo

Well,  its a powerful sporty bike but its naked arrow dynamics work against it, leaving one a tad perplexed.  Is it a cruiser or a racer; even though we all know the answer.  That is where the Monster gets its charm from...and all that stuff.  [thumbsup]

QuoteMonsters are fun at the track.   waytogo  You just gotta hang waaaaay off to keep the hard parts from scraping, but that just adds to the fun.   

Interesting and good to know.

QuoteWhen you crash a track tool, you only have to make it functional again.  When you crash a street bike... well, you have plastics, paint, and other tasty cosmetic bits that need to be fixed.  To each his own, but for me I knew that I wouldn't have had nearly as much fun on my Monster as I do on my SV, just because with the SV, I'm mostly concerned with my own mortality and not the mortality of my beautiful paint.  I had a get off on a track day last year, and the whole repair cost me $10 (one brake lever).  Everything else could be bent, zip tied, duct taped, or turned on a lathe to get it back in working order.  Had that n00b mistake been on my Monster, I don't even want to think of the expense it would have been to get it back to what it is now.

EXACTLY.

Yes Once or twice, but have a R1 that I use for track days [thumbsup]

Quote from: Centerline on May 26, 2008, 09:31:42 PM
Yes, track days are fun....you go your own pace.
(http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii13/CenterlineF4/Ducati%20Monster%20S4RS/IMG_11591.jpg)

Hmmm... Looks like MotorSport Ranch  [thumbsup]

i am signed up for my first track day june 10th, so i 'plan to'.  it is one of those buell inside pass track days done through STT, so i should get to spend half of the day on my bike, then the rest running buells.  considering i almost bought one, i am really looking forward to riding a xb12*  and I may not think the 1125r is the cutest girl at the dance, but i can wait to ride that one too. 

and it is at Road America, im soo excited. 

Quoteand it is at Road America, im soo excited.

As you should be.  [thumbsup]

I did the same day as Grifo. Hard as hell to get out from behind a SBK when you can't pass in corners :-\
(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb20/FreeDuc/Copyof__7_00229Medium.jpg)

as often as we can.......

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/1718439214_a51d66821f.jpg?v=0)

can't wait for DESMO track day at Loudon, June 9th.

Quote from: aaronb on May 27, 2008, 06:23:38 AM
and it is at Road America, im soo excited. 

Bring a stack of magazines for those straights.   [moto]

Hi everybody,
greetings from Belgium.
Since I have my Monster, I love doing trackdays...
(http://touchmybikeanddie.net/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8101&g2_serialNumber=1)
this is my monster on the first day I got it, she is much more sexy on it than me...and when I saw them together I felt like a happy man!
I have had a supersport and a superbike before, but the monster seems to fit me better, even on track...I feel a lot more confident on it.
I am not a big talent, but I improve everytime I go on track.
This week, after 8 years of riding, I got my knee down...this is not a big deal for many, but to me it is the holy grail of motorcycling.
My Monster is bonestock, except for crash bobbins and uprated suspension (i'm +95kg) Aaah yes, I also run Pilot Power 2ct's...It's propably overkill for my pace, but it gives me peace of mind.
Peace of mind, trust, confidence...those are the right ingredients for a track day!
(http://touchmybikeanddie.net/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8097&g2_serialNumber=1)
This picture was taken on a Ducati only trackday, on the track of Spa-Francorchamps. It's a Formula One racetrack (where the GP of Belgium is ridden) and it's very big and fast. It's 7 km long, with a lot of elevation changes. I got a top speed of +245 km/h on the longest straight with my bonestock S4RT. I love this track, and I'm going back on june 12.
(http://touchmybikeanddie.net/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8092&g2_serialNumber=1)
This picture was taken last week May 16. It's on the track of Zolder. Zolder was a Formula One racetrack until the late 80's and it hosted races to legends like Jaques Villeneuve and Niki Lauda.
Today there is a lot of biking going on. It's 4.2km and has no very long straights. My topspeed here is only 215 km/h.
But it's a nice track, it's only 15 minutes from my house and it has a lot of grip. Here I put my knee down for the first time!
(http://touchmybikeanddie.net/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8100&g2_serialNumber=2)
Sometimes we do trackdays a little further from home, and this is how I travel and sleep: I have a little LR Defender with a roof tent, and a cheap trailer.

I would like to know how it works in the US? Here in Belgium we pay between 65â,¬ an 115â,¬ for a trackday. And we gat 5 or 6 sessions of 20 minutes. Personaly I think this is cheap, because there are doctors, med's, officials, ambulances, tech support, instructors etc....
In Belgium we have to use our stock cans to track our bikes. We live in a very close populated country, and there is a 95dB limit on our racetracks. We have to put transponders on our bikes that measure the sound on a couple of places at the track. There is a gouvernment official present, and if you are over the sound limit you get a warning. Then you have to do something about it. The second time you violate the sound limit, they take away your numbers and your trackday is over. Even with a stock bike you have to worrie about this. My friends bonestock 848 can't go full throttle passed the measuring poles.
But I am willing to make this sacrifice in order to keep the tracks open!

Aah yes, and the monster S4RT?? It's limits are a lot beyond mine...so it will grow with me for a wile. I just LOVE IT ond the track.
thx,
Geoffrey

pic from my 2nd trackday
(http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s236/grubbywarrior/hooliganisms/Putnam056.jpg)

Sweet D90 EasyD [thumbsup]

Taken to the track a couple times in AZ.  Firebird Raceway offers $20 trackday to Ducati owners a couple times/year.  That low-low price includes all day riding, instruction and leathers (if you need them).   [thumbsup]

I also had a free trackday with the purchase of the Monster.

Quote from: msincredible on May 26, 2008, 09:35:39 AM
Yes, I've done three days on my 695 (Zoom Zoom and Keigwin's track schools).

Fun, but easy to drag hard parts.  I found it a great way to improve my confidence.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/Keigwins_2007-10-08F%7E0.JPG)

i freakin love this photo... its awesome seeing the track in your faceshield

(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/hoosierhooligans/Washington%20DC/Putnam048.jpg)

(http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb126/hoosierhooligans/Washington%20DC/Putnam051.jpg)

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/VIR061.jpg?t=1213144802)

me

(http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd110/grumpylawyer/VIR063.jpg?t=1213144847)

wife


hell yeah track it.

VIR( 2 race schools and 8 track days), Barber, Mid-Ohio, Summit Point. Started with M900 and then some friends mentioned how expensive it would be to re-create all that I have done to it should I have a mishap, so that is why I bought the S2R.(http://www.mad-ducati.com/Gallery/ghunt/G360/_JON5799-%20web.jpg)

YEEEHAAAWW  ;D

http://ducatimonsterworldwide.org/index.php?topic=4599.0

i love this photo, so im posting it again.  it's just after turn 14 looking up the hill on RA's loooong front straight. 

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v669/nenmu/aom/IMG_1778.jpg)

Quote from: rsoffar on June 10, 2008, 05:22:14 PM
i freakin love this photo... its awesome seeing the track in your faceshield

Thanks, it's one of my favorites too. :)

i tracked mine this past monday at buttonwillow. first trackday as well. she made me proud! gonna do another day as soon as my schedule allows...maybe 6/20 at the streets of willow  ;D

i think eventually i'd get a bike strictly for the track but for now i don't have a problem using my Foggy.

(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm6/analogypsy/misc/IMG_7928.jpg)

(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm6/analogypsy/misc/session5b.jpg)

For me it's just a matter of time.  I've owned the bike for a couple of months now and having gone out to Big Willow about a month ago or so on my dedicated track bike (R1) I honestly did not have as much fun as I do riding the Duck on the street or canyons.

I'm actually slowly parting out the R1 to buy Monster parts believe it not.  I'll look for this post when I get a knee dragging shot on my Monster while cresting Turn 4  [moto]

I just found these from my second track day  [moto]

(http://www.railingit.com/grovesstudio/novice/red-n/images/IMG_1365.jpg)

(http://www.railingit.com/grovesstudio/novice/red-n/images/IMG_3699.jpg)

Yes....


(http://www.teamatomicracing.com/Site/Media/transparent.gif)

(http://www.teamatomicracing.com/Site/Media/transparent.gif)

 ???  no pictures? I'm not sure what happened. Oh well, I have pictures here of the 620 on the track    www.teamatomicracing.com

Quote from: fasterblkduc on June 12, 2008, 10:21:32 AM
???  no pictures? I'm not sure what happened. Oh well, I have pictures here of the 620 on the track    www.teamatomicracing.com

Think you just copied and pasted the wrong link by accident.

Here you go, looking good. [thumbsup]

(http://www.teamatomicracing.com/Site/Photos/Pages/CRA_May_files/Media/CRA08_BIR05_C017/CRA08_BIR05_C017.jpg)

(http://www.teamatomicracing.com/Site/Photos/Pages/CRA_May_files/Media/CRA08_BIR05_0187/CRA08_BIR05_0187.jpg)

Talk to desmosome... he races his m750.... He rides it to the track.... takes the lights, blinkers, mirrors, plate, and kickstand off.... then he throws on a 999 fairing that he custom "fit" to his bike... and off he goes. I will see if we can find some pics.  ;D

Quote from: msincredible on May 26, 2008, 09:35:39 AM
Yes, I've done three days on my 695 (Zoom Zoom and Keigwin's track schools).

Fun, but easy to drag hard parts.  I found it a great way to improve my confidence.

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/Keigwins_2007-10-08F%7E0.JPG)

cool pic, i like the reflection in your visor [thumbsup]

the ron [evil]

Quote from: MuscovyDuc on May 26, 2008, 07:39:16 AM
I was just wondering with the amount of track talk how many people have actually taken their monster out on the track. ???

I didn't put a "plan to" option because everybody who has not would select that. ;D

I've done it one two of my Monsters. Had fun (on one, the other spewed oil). Low mounts also.

more pics! :D


(http://www.myinsidepass.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=insidepass_roadamerica_06-10-08_sm_gm5v013557&file=insidepass_roadamerica_06-10-08_sm_gm5v0135_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/22/2)
(http://www.myinsidepass.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=insidepass_roadamerica_06-10-08_sm_9c4w195450&file=insidepass_roadamerica_06-10-08_sm_9c4w1954_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/22/2)
(http://www.myinsidepass.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=insidepass_roadamerica_06-10-08_sm_gm5v15007&file=insidepass_roadamerica_06-10-08_sm_gm5v1500_medium.jpg&dir=galleries/22/2)