look, i hate sport bikes. i had my fill of them when i was a puppy and now i just like to ride. the whole put on matching leathers and put your knee down around the corners to me is well, kindve fast and the furious. I just like to ride.  and i was drawn to the monster because, at the time, I felt that it wasn't a full on sport bike. I find myself constantly telling people that my monster is something all its own. i always say that if you asked a second grade girl to draw a motorcycle, she would draw a monster. just an engine, frame and wheels. my bike, to is definatley not in the sport bike category since it has no chance, performance wise, against any comperable bike. my s2r eighthundred for all of its appeal, doesn't get out of its own way. I don't mind that but i am sick of trying to tell people who don't know anybetter that its not a sportbike. this whole situation reached its zenith on saturday when my friends wife asked my nephew why he got the same bike that i have. I wanted to hurl, he rides a Kawasaki Z-1000.  
This the reason i hate the 696 soooo much. it just looks like the star of the sequel to torque.  what do you think.  i mean there are plenty of sportbikes out there. cant everyone just realize that my monster isn't a sportbike? please

the  ron[evil]

  I picked sport bike just to irk you! 

Quote from: the ron on July 01, 2008, 07:49:48 PM
and i was drawn to the monster because, at the time, I felt that it wasn't a full on sport bike.

Same here. Full fairing sport bikes are for power rangers; I have no interest in that aesthetic or that specific subculture. Ride like a hooligan, not like a repli-ricer!  [moto]

-GMP

Well let me tell ya....

Up till a few weeks back American Family Insurance wanted to call it a sport bike.  Last year insurance was less than $125 (multiple bikes), this year they wanted near $700.  Am Fam had her lumped in with the sport bikes.  My FJR is under $300!

Several pictures, pounds per HP comparo for real sport bikes v the M900, and several snotty-grams including a request for contact info for their CEO, and AM FAM reclassified the monster as a standard motorcycle.

I am now figting the good fight on behalf of Ninja 500 owners everywhere.  Yep, 56 HP 500 twin beginner bike is classified as a sport bike!

I'll post up results when I hear back on the EX 500.

Quote from: WannaDucBad on July 01, 2008, 08:10:11 PM
I picked sport bike just to irk you! 

+1 

I just read an article in a mag called "Italian Motorcycles" in which they had a history of the Monster.

The journo described the Monster as a "Naked Sportster"

It is a bike unto it's own fame . It's a naked in my book. I don't believe Progressive Insurance thinks of it other than a bike unto it's own. Their premium reflects that. Not a sportbike.

It doesn't really matter what you call it, as long as you call it fun. Except for the insurance company, they call it a sport bike.

Sport bike.  Look at the old 750 Super Sport.  No fairings.  Still a sportbike and it didn't go, stop, or turn as well as your S2R.

The Monster is a sport bike, a naked bike, and a standard.  It is not a Super Bike as that is defined by a specific racing class.

Where's the option for "I love the 696"?

the Rameses 

There is no voting option for MONSTER

According to the Navy it is a sport bike.  I have to take a "sport bike" specific safety course to maintain my privilege to ride.   Their cut off is riding position.  Feet out in front = Not sport bike.  Feet underneath or behind you = sport bike 

Back in 93 Ducati reffered to the Monster as a naked sports bike, so I guess it is.  Clearly lacking in power and lean angle, but, non the less, a sportbike.

I'd say the Monster is THE naked motorcycle - it started the trend. And it's definitely NOT a sports bike. Ducati makes sports bikes with the same engines, sure.. but the monster range tends to carry decidedly tamer power plants: makes them more rideable in the city etc.  And I think that philosophy distinguished the Monster from pretty much every other bike out there - everyone else was going for raw horsepower & top speed bragging rights... and Ducati stepped back and said "hey, let's do something crazy - let's get back to the type of bikes our fathers used to ride."

Welcome back Ron! 

My Monster seems to be whatever I need it for that particular ride.  I my friends and I are going to the mountains, its a sportbike (though the slowest of the bunch).  If I am heading to work, its a city commuter.  If I leave my house in the rain, its my bad weather bike.  I ride my Monster on all occasions because it is all I have to ride (at the moment).  I would have to say that it is something of its own.