Salutations,

I live in Austin and have recently become fixated on getting a motorcycle.  It seems once I'm locked onto something, I keep at it until something dramatic changes my mind.  So, I believe I'll be getting a Monster in the future.  I have no riding experience, other than screwing around on a dirt bike.  I want to bring more adrenaline and joy into my life, and my current car just ain't cutting it.

Currently, I'm really in love with the Monster Diesel (yeah, I know).  The looks of it really pique my interest, but I do not like the co-branding.  I would immediately remove all traces of it if I were to get one.

So... that leads me to wonder if getting a new ride is a really bad idea for a scrub, such as myself.  Also, do you think the 1100 would be too much for me?  I like to think I have restraint, but am aware that a lot of things can go wrong, real fast. 

Anyways, thanks for the read.  I'll be lurking.  Any advice is much appreciated.

welcome to the board. take the time to do your research before you buy. and take an MSF course.

Shredder, it sounds like you're young (my assumption) and looking for adventure (your quote: "bring more adrenaline into...my life").  Great!  However, mixing a 1100cc bike with little-to-no riding experience and a desire for adventure is a formula for disaster.  Street riding is dangerous, because even if YOU are in control and safe, other cars/trucks/pedestrians/bicyclers/livestock may not be.

If you are after adrenaline, consider two alternatives.  First is to get a dirt bike and just spend weekend ripping it up off-road.  You can slid the tail out, go off jumps, and basically go balls out, without the dangers associated with street riding.  Second option is to get a track bike and do track days.  You can ride faster and corner harder than on the street but without opposing traffic, lane changers, dogs running in the road, etc.  You can probably buy an older 620cc Monster and a basic trackbike like a GXXR for the amount you would spend on Diesel.  I don't want to speak for others, but I'm pretty sure most people on this site would say dirt bike or track riding is a lot more fun than even the best street riding.

I wrote a summary reflecting on my first year on a bike here, if that helps:
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=62217.msg1150358#msg1150358

One final note on the Diesel thing: look around this site here.  Theree are example of tons of mods that prove, whatever your Monster looks like, you can change it quite a bit.  So if you like the look of the Diesel bike but not the branding, consider getting a basic monster and then doing some mods to get the look you like.

Herm, I will be doing quite a bit of research and thanks for the welcome.  I figure I'll be doing little steps at a time and not jump into this without full commitment.  I'll be taking the MSF course soon.

1.21GW, I guess that is relative.  I'm 26 and I realize how brash that comes off.  One of my favorite things growing up was driving my dad's fast car on the highway. It would bring me a lot of joy.  I was never reckless and I've always been a cautious enough person.  I would hope I could find similar joy just riding the motorcycle.  Now... I commute to work in a civic, which does not bring me quite as much joy.  I respect how dangerous the road is and am aware of the variables that I cannot control. 

What makes a bigger engine more dangerous?  Is it simply that things can go wrong much faster?  Do you lose control a lot faster?  I assume everything is just less forgiving.  I will check out what you wrote.

Modding is something I've considered, but I have a hard time with buyers remorse, so modding would be a long and difficult process for me.  I'm not making any sudden moves.

No worries, I think I understood your tone---hell, I was same.  In fact, back when I had a car the only thing that kept me from getting crazy on the road was that I drove a 95 civic with about 42 effective HP.  But damn if I didn't use every one of those 42 going to the grocery store and the post office.

The bigger engine tends to make a heavier bike and thus harder to control.   More importantly, the brakes and throttle basically cover a wider range of power than a smaller engine bike, but in the same lever/grip movement, so in essence they are more sensitive.  If you're not used to it you can quickly over rev and the bike jumps off, possibly leaving you behind; or conversely, you might brake heavier than expected and end up at the wrong angle and fall.  Just go on youtube and watch bike "FAILs"---many will be a bike taking off or braking in ways that the rider doesn't expect.

In any case, I'm not trying to discourage you.  Getting my M license and my bike(s) was definitely one of the best decisions I've made in the past decade.  And keep poking around here, lots of good advice from people much wiser than I.

As a fellow new rider, let me reiterate the importance of the MSF course:

it will help you develop good habits from the beginning - I relate this a lot to the instruction I received from my driving instructor when I was 15. He helped me develop some really good proactive habits, things like slowing down and checking both ways at intersections (this is where the majority of motorcycle accidents occur, by the way), always assuming someone is going to take your right of way and pull out in front of you, etc.

The more proactive and in-control you are of your ride, the safer you are.

I will always advocate the ATGATT philosophy too - All The Gear All The Time. Helmet, padded jacket, gloves, long pants and boots. Even if you're only going a mile or two.

They will teach you how to ride safe and in-control from the most basic step, starting with just sitting on the bike and progressing from there.

It really is helpful.