Prior to getting my beloved little yellow ducky ('03 620) I thought to myself what am I'm getting myself into!!! A Ducati, the most expensive, time consuming, unrealible moneypit on two wheels!!! But it wouldn't be a dream bike if it was practical. Well surprise, surprise!!
First surprise was the price. I got the bike used but in mint condition from an anal retentive, it was about the same price as similar used Jap 600's and cheaper than some. Then the insurance was cheaper than the Jap 600's. The 6k service was expensive but at 6k intervals I can live with it. The power delievery is great downlow which is perfect since 85% of my riding is city riding (commuting to work in NYC). I took a small spill and thought to fix the bike would take my daughter's college fund. Surprise again, with no fairing to replace and repaint all I needed were handle bars and foot pegs and I was golden. The ding on the tank was my initiation into the brotherhood, I could live with a ding but not with cracked fairings. The bike gets so much attention, I love it, I don't think I would get as much attention on a CBRR6GSXRZXwhatever. I park my bike outside my window and keep it chained and locked so parking lot budget goes to other things. SOOOOOOO many mods to do and some really cheap like exhaust and my tank ding ;D. I ride my bike rain or shine, blistering hot or freezing cold and ducky starts every time, although she takes a little warming up in the really cold. Many of the other Ducati riders I've meet are enthusiast who enjoy talking shop and most ride and encourage riding responsibly. Most Jap riders are a couple of weeks into a 600 until they want to move up to the litter bikes without even know the power there current bike makes or what they are moving up to (okay this one is a little subjective but its been experience). My ducky has been rock soild and so much more of an experience than I could have ever imagined.
THIS ALL SUCKS BIG TIME!!!!
When I first got my ducky my first thought was if I'm going to own something as impractical as a Ducati I might as well get a 996. But damn the monster has turned out to be so practical it blows my entire rationalization for getting a 996. Now all I have is my original reason, the one I fall back to whenever I can't fall back on logic. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE. Well for now I ride my exotic "super" bike for about the same trouble and money as the "pratical" jap bikes.
i know exactly how you feel, i have the same exact bike same year and color, and trust me i've been thinking of trading it in for a 748 or something like that.
but can't bring myself to do it. with the monster city bags on my bike and a centerstand, the bike right now with termi low mounts on it and a steering damper is for ME the best commuting bike there is. i can goto work with a change of clothes in it and pick up some groceries on the way home and not have to wear a backpack. which is great.
like you said, really convenient, just start it up and go, fun when you want to just go tooling around on a weekend for a few hours, really good for commuting in an urban environment (basically i think all monsters in general are great urban bikes) with the somewhat relaxed seating position, great gas mileage of 45-50mpg city/highway
like you i've considered upgrading to a bigger monster, but can't do it bc then i would have to spend more money to get that monster to the point where i want it, ie, termi, damper, mini faring, possible service, etc.. and i just don't have the money to do all that over again. my bike is so dialed in for me, that i can't get rid of it right now.
and no matter what ANYONE says, including die hard Ducati folks... its a DUCATI through and through.... (ok i admit i wish it had a dry clutch, but the conversion would cost more than the bike is worth)
Wow, that's a lot of words.
Quote from: Rameses on June 30, 2008, 11:27:14 PM
Wow, that's a lot of words.
Yeah. My lips are tired now.
Seriously, I would loooooove an 848. That bike just beckons to me. But, I've gotten used to my nice,
sensible monster.
Then again. Don't ever buy a scooter. They make a monster look downright uncomfortable. I just hope my wife takes it away from me soon, before it's too late....
Quote from: Drunken Monkey on July 01, 2008, 12:03:34 AM
Then again. Don't ever buy a scooter. They make a monster look downright uncomfortable. I just hope my wife takes it away from me soon, before it's too late....
What, when the _other flounders_ find out and boot you out? [laugh]
big (or update your profile, or something?)
This just can`t be true :o ;)
Quote from: big bear on July 01, 2008, 01:29:11 AM
This just can`t be true :o ;)
Yes it's true - Drunken Monkey _is_ Scooter Trash! [laugh]
big
QuoteBut damn the monster has turned out to be so practical it blows my entire rationalization for getting a 996.
Sounds like you need an ST4s.
996 goodness, but with a comfortable riding position and saddlebags to put stuff in. And you can ride the snot out of it same as your Monster.
Quote from: FatguyRacer on July 01, 2008, 04:31:09 AM
Sounds like you need an ST4s.
+1......of all the bikes that ducati has ever made, I believe the ST lineage is the most all-around, practical bike. The ST bikes give you really good wind protection, terrific power, excellent handling, and they're pretty pleasing to the eyes. I can't think of any other bike made that can do it all as well as the ST.......a person can comfortably do a SaddleSore 1000 and drag a knee, all while carrying enough for a four-day weekend. I know if I ever had to drop down to only one bike, it would be the ST2 that stays.
maybe it's cause i'm coming from a 1975 CB400f that's been chopped up and cafed to death, but the monster seems extremely practical and reliable to me; i.e., i've ridden it for 5 days and all i've had to wrench on is the left mirror so far.
honestly though, that's why i bought it.... small and good in the city where i spend most of my time, great for the weekend runs... there's 4 other current production ducs that i'd like, but this was by far the "practical everyday" choice
Quote from: cmorgan47 on July 01, 2008, 08:28:55 AM
honestly though, that's why i bought it.... small and good in the city where i spend most of my time, great for the weekend runs... there's 4 other current production ducs that i'd like, but this was by far the "practical everyday" choice
+1 ... Being one of the big-bore Monsters, The S4 seems like an impractical choice for city commmuting. I've always had a soft spot for the 916 engine however, so I went ahead with acquiring one. I must say that I commute in and out the city on it every chance I get, and she's suprisingly happy puttin' around town, no complaints from the ol' 916!! I thought at first that this was going to be a pure hooligan toy (and it is [evil] ) but it's certainly way more at home in the "concrete jungle" than I thought it would be. Of course, a 14T sprocket helps greatly, but just wanted to give a [thumbsup] for the Monster being a great city bike (Even the bigger ones), from someone who rides around the city all the time.
Quote from: Desmo Demon on July 01, 2008, 08:02:45 AM
+1......of all the bikes that ducati has ever made, I believe the ST lineage is the most all-around, practical bike.
Funny, isn't it, how there are bikes that lots of people say are "sensible, practical" bikes, but they're _rarely_ big sellers... Ducati ST's, Honda VFRs, Suzuki Vstroms - all "sensible", but people buy Monsters or CBGSXRRRs or Softtails instead...
big
Quote from: bigiain on July 01, 2008, 08:53:31 PM
Funny, isn't it, how there are bikes that lots of people say are "sensible, practical" bikes, but they're _rarely_ big sellers... Ducati ST's, Honda VFRs, Suzuki Vstroms - all "sensible", but people buy Monsters or CBGSXRRRs or Softtails instead...
Most people buy motorcycles with emotion, as it is not a necessary purchase....that's one of the biggest reasons that I bought my 748; emotion. If people bought bikes because they were their only mode of transportation, I believe the demographics would be highly skewed toward sport-touring bikes.
When I bought my ST2, I didn't want it. I didn't like the looks, didn't care for the touring aspect, and I didn't like the color, but........I bought it new for $2000 less than what used ones were going for in 2001, and I fell in love with the bike (took me several days to buy it, but I got it OTD with panniers for only $8500). What I'm really surprised with is the weather protection. If I tuck in at 60 mph in a heavy rain, the only parts of me that get wet are my hands and jacket sleeves. I was shocked to see that not only did my legs stay dry, but so did my feet!
I wasnt looking for an ST before I bought mine either. I was pefectly happy with my Monster. I had all the Courtech bags and a tank bag too. Loaded touring wasnt an issue with it. What swayed my was some demo rides on a new ST3s and a Monster S4R. After 15 min on the ST3 I had to have an ST. The ride was that good. But I have a need for brute force power like the S4R. So I figured the ST4s would have the best of both. Once I got home i started scouring the internet for all the Ducati Dealers in a 1000 mile radius of D.C. to see who had NOS or used ST4s bike. I found one at BMW-Ducati Charlotte. I called them up, got ahole of a great sales guy named Chris, he sent me pictures, I loved it, I sent a deposit site unseen and drove to NC with my wife to pick it up and pay for it. I bought it, put on my gear and rode it 600 miles home. I havnt looked back. Sold the Monster a month later.
My ST4s was a passonate purchase if you consider the manner in which I aquired it. From a demo ride to one in my garage in less than 10 days.
the only thing that is bad about the ST series from ducati is that you have to be somewhat tall to ride the bike as the seat hight is way up there and balancing at stops is a bit tough with the heavier weight of the bike than a monster.
the ST would be a consideration for me as a second bike, when I can consider what I need. But if I can only have one bike I think my heart and my wallet are the two deciding factors (and my wife [roll])
Quote from: FatguyRacer on July 02, 2008, 04:11:56 AM
I found one at BMW-Ducati Charlotte. I called them up, got ahole of a great sales guy named Chris,
Chris is a good guy. He's on a local forum that I hang out at and he seems to be a really good person. All the guys rave about him. I still haven't met him, yet, though.