Hey all,

Back on 'the old board' I posted up as an Ducati MOB Alumni to let you all know I'd ordered a 696 (I'm now back in Blighty).

Anyway, I picked it up at the weekend, and have now clocked up 270 miles (all at running-in pace, I'm afraid).

First of all, the obligatory pics...

The bike:
http://www.nigelstreet.com/bike.jpg

I'm impressed:
http://www.nigelstreet.com/impressed.jpg

My daughters are harder to impress:
http://www.nigelstreet.com/notimpressed.jpg

First impressions:

Extra power over my previous 620 very noticable, even at running-in revs (<6K) 

I'm finding it harder to ride smoothly at low speeds (< 35 mph) which I think is because the lower torque/power of the 620 allowd me to develop a bad habit of controlling the speed on the throttle rather than smoothing clutch control.

The noise is much improved over the 620, and there's just a taste of how good it's going to be when I have to back off at 6K rpm 

Handling is great, hard for me to gauge, but it feels good.

Turning circle is slightly smaller than a container ship.

The heat from the engine quickly gets too much when sat on the bike when stationary, almost painful through leathers. this was never a problem on the 620.

Everyone seems to agree that it looks a lot better in the metal, and with the [very] small fairing that comes with the 696+ (note the '+' which gets you a rear seat cowl and that 'bikini' fairing for $500 over the straight 696 here in the UK). All early 696s will be the ''+" variant here in the UK.

It's noticable smaller than the 620.

Initial run-in period is 600 miles, after which I'll find out what it's *really* like :-)

So far, it's run perfectly, has been faultless, and I love it.

Congrats!   Thanks for the initial report, can't wait to hear more.

I like it! Keep us posted...

Congrats!

I hope you bring it by one of our get-to-gethers. What part if the Bay do you live in?

Cool stone wall. - looks like Europe.

Thanks all!

Quote from: Desmostro on May 12, 2008, 03:01:24 PM
Congrats!

I hope you bring it by one of our get-to-gethers. What part if the Bay do you live in?

Cool stone wall. - looks like Europe.

Sorry Desmostro, it is Europe 

I've moved back to the UK, so no chance to bring it along to a Bay meet, I'm sorry to say. Would love to see my 696 parked outside the Zeitgeist, like my 620 in old times.

I rent a small house on a race-horse stud farm, and that wall is the back of a row of horse stables. I hope to get some good photo opportunities, but I'll have to promise not to rev too much 

nige!  howsit?

good to see you back on a steed.

nice pics... makes me nostalgic... those buildings look *so* english   

Thanks for the information 

I finally get to see one in person this Friday 

Quote from: ROBsS4R on May 12, 2008, 03:20:54 PM
I finally get to see one in person this Friday 

Love to know what you all think, esp. compared to the photos. Get a test ride if you can, that won me over.

It took me a few visits to 'get it', but I like the looks now, well mostly

It also helps to hear and ride it, where, imo,  it scores over the 620 

I don't understand.  In the photo's, not only is the ground dry, but there are shadows.  Are you sure that isn't Burlingame?

Quote from: enzo on May 12, 2008, 06:56:20 PM
I don't understand.  In the photo's, not only is the ground dry, but there are shadows.  Are you sure that isn't Burlingame?

I was paid to Photoshop the backdrop and shadows by the English Tourist Board, they said something about "not breaking the Hollywood image of quaint old England for the yanks" 

Seriously, It's unbelievable biking weather over here at the moment.

We had *perfect* biking weather on the day I took a test ride back on the 26th April (no way was I not going to buy with that utopia), and it hasn't rained since. Sunny days in the 70s - perfect!

The only losers in this are the bugs, but they should be honored to be amongst the first bugs in the country to be splattered on a 696.

Sweet, and no need for a tail chop..!!  Tell me something, does it feel taller than the older Monster ??

Quote from: Juan on May 13, 2008, 10:05:38 AM
Sweet, and no need for a tail chop..!!  Tell me something, does it feel taller than the older Monster ??

I think the pipes could be spared the hacksaw, but the plastic hotdog tray (wouldn't want to risk a beer on the narrow tray  ) needs to go!

It feels about the same as the 620 to me, maybe slightly lower. A friend with a 600 tried it and thought it was lower (she could put both her feet down flat). Officially, it's Ducati's lowest ever seat height, I believe.

However, 'cos it feels like you're sat more 'over the front wheel' it feels different in that you can see more of the road immediately in front.

Hope that answers your question.

Quote from: Snips on May 13, 2008, 10:56:41 AMbut the plastic hotdog tray needs to go!

I think you've just named the new beer tray for good. Long live hotdog tray (now it will be cut off ever quicker!).

Quote from: Snips on May 12, 2008, 02:09:20 PM
I'm finding it harder to ride smoothly at low speeds (< 35 mph) which I think is because the lower torque/power of the 620 allowd me to develop a bad habit of controlling the speed on the throttle rather than smoothing clutch control.

Uh oh. Am I the only one that senses similar problems that the 695 has?

I might as well start letting the new Monster design grow on me because it seems it will be here to stay, but am I the only one to think the mini fairing looks like this?