Things I like:
The titanium color scheme w/ silver wheels
SSS
The tank vents are growing on me
Dry clutch


Things I don't:
They cut the fracking frame in half again!!! Hate hate hate. This ruined the entire bike for me. The frame is iconic.
Rear sets
Ugh. The exhaust.
Weird swoopy pipe
When I sit on the 696, I'm forcefully shoved against the tank by the angle of that seat. Looks the same here.
Headlight



But, to each their own. If you like it, go buy it and ride it. I'll happily stick with what I got.

Fix the damn headlight already.  Not only is the bar that divides the headlight in two wrong, but the sloping angle is wrong. 

Maybe it is time to divide the board into two boards.  One for the classics and one for the newbies. 

So it's a 696 with a SSS... Hum? Some will love it, some will hate it. I won't be selling my bikes for it. 

Quote from: lazarus7 on September 25, 2008, 06:28:09 AM

ducati needs to get rid of the engineers and get a DESIGNER again...

You couldn't be more wrong.  The beauty of the old bikes are that every part drew it's form from the function of the bike's design.  Only a good design engineer can do that.  The new bike's were drawn by "designers".  Plastic tank covers?  No engineer would do that shit.  Big, fat, un-aerodynamic exhaust cans?  What's the engineering purpose in that?  That stupid little zit of a fairing that blocks no wind, and protects no portion of the bike ... sorry, only an "artist" would even consider it.  (The quotes are because good artists, or designers, wouldn't do it either!)

I am an engineer at a very successful product design firm.  The thought that anyone would blame engineers for that bike just pissed me off.  You are welcome to your opinion, but you obviously don't know any engineers or designers.  

Sorry for the rant.

Quote from: Travman on September 25, 2008, 07:01:35 AM
Fix the damn headlight already.  Not only is the bar that divides the headlight in two wrong, but the sloping angle is wrong. 

Maybe it is time to divide the board into two boards.  One for the classics and one for the newbies. 

Amen on the headlight.  That thing is a tragedy.  I wouldn't mind seeing some pics of 696s with new headlight configurations.  It would be interesting.

 

Bee-aaa-utiful

Still looks like the stock seat would be a nutcrusher... but otherwise very very nice. I'm glad they included the updated headlight instead of putting that same crap you could find in the back room of any motorcycle shop like on other monsters. I really like the SSS too, good idea. And those wheels? Awesome.

Who cares about the exhaust cans? Most duc owners mod the crap out of them anyway right? Get a set of Termis or LV's and call it good. I happen to like the stock cans but to each their own I guess.

So are they going to make an S4R version too? It would have been nice if they gave the s2r1000 the ohlins too.   

 


No thanks

Quote from: mmakay on September 25, 2008, 08:21:00 AM
You couldn't be more wrong.  The beauty of the old bikes are that every part drew it's form from the function of the bike's design.  Only a good design engineer can do that.  The new bike's were drawn by "designers".  Plastic tank covers?  No engineer would do that shit.  Big, fat, un-aerodynamic exhaust cans?  What's the engineering purpose in that?  That stupid little zit of a fairing that blocks no wind, and protects no portion of the bike ... sorry, only an "artist" would even consider it.  (The quotes are because good artists, or designers, wouldn't do it either!)

I am an engineer at a very successful product design firm.  The thought that anyone would blame engineers for that bike just pissed me off.  You are welcome to your opinion, but you obviously don't know any engineers or designers. 

Sorry for the rant.

+1

form over function = industrial designer

function over form = engineer

making an iconic design like the gen1 monsters = 1 in a million gifted Italian Artistic Engineer

<tangent>

I gotta give Duck-Stew props for being ahead of the curve.  His last two full-bike projects had a SS-style shock position on a DSS (ala 696) and an ss-style shock position with a SSS (ala 1100).   And look what Ducati came out with . . .

</tangent>

I have to admit, the look of the bike has grown on me but the ergos -> not for me.  I rode the 696 and it's VERY easy to ride but after 5 minutes, you're wanting more.  I couldn't imagine owning nor riding one for longer periods of time.  Even with more motor, I'd get bored easily...  Too Motard for me...

Sorry Ducati, sticking w/ my S2R800...

I think we're gonna need to see a nice well modified one...

I don't like the look of the stock S2R/S4R really at all(I can appreciate it though) but I think the modded ones look absolutely awesome.  (Slightly lower bars, no headlight fairing, exhaust, etc.)

Yep, I agree w/ SS3035. 

Weren't people drooling over the one at the IndyGP w/ the 4v crammed in it and bling bits all over?

It's a new canvas for somebody to work on 

Like the 696, out of the box, it looks cheap.  With a bunch of mods it can be made into something to be desired.  With all the $$ and time to do so, it just loses my interest.  Kinda looks like the MV Agusta with the SSS. 

I think one major thing people haven't said yet is that the new monster is a hypermotard minus about 20 lbs .  Switch out the cans, crappy passenger pegs, and I think you have a winner.  The one at indy was freakin' rad!  I don't think I'll need a 4 valver for awhile though.  The hypermotard brings the front end up pretty easy and I'm sure this one will too.  I'm definately interested in a dark version which I think will be the 1100.  I'll just throw a gsxr front end in like I have on my s2r and I'll be happy. + dry clutch woohoo!