2nd Hand Ducati LAMS bikes - advice - comments

[BretMorris]

Hi all,

My son has just got his learners licence to ride a bike and has been looking at the range of LAMS approved bikes in South Australia.  He is a pretty big lad around 6ft 1in tall and 105kgs so a small 250 wont be comfy.  He is looking at a new Suzuki GSX650 F that is nice but also looked at a second hand 620 Ducati Monster.  He can get the Suzuki brand new versus the 6 year old Ducati done about 22,000kms.  He likes the Ducati but I am tempted to go for the Suzi.  Any comments from those who have ridden the LAMS Ducati.

Bret

[Wells]

Hey mate,
Quick thoughts on the 620.. It's a tail of two bikes.
With the throttle stop on - they're fine for learners, terrible to the point of dangerous for an experienced rider... Would recommend that if you do get one then you remove the throttle stop after a while, otherwise he'll get used to the idea of wide open throttle riding and do himself some damage in the long run.
With the throttle stop removed, they're a great bike... been happy with mine.

First bike material? - well, kind of depends on your son...
If he's working to a budget and considering second hand for the Monster then I'd consider steering him down the path of a mid capacity second hander like a GS500 and put the extra money in to some draggin jeans, a good jacket, boots, helmet, yadda yadda...

If he's dead set on the monster then good luck trying to sway him.
I was never going to buy anything else and I think most of us here have suffered the same affliction.

Cheers,
Max

[mattyvas]

Hey Brett,

    Good words from Max as a current 620 owner.
I had mine for 2yrs or so and it was my first bike. I rode it with the trottle stop on for a few months until I was used the size of it then went to full noise!

Looking back I still wouldn't change anything about what I did but I must say riding a first bike with as little steering as the monster does have certainly gives you a distorted idea of what bikes are about when it comes to low speed travel.
And let's face it in the beginning most of our issues happen at low speed when the monster is possibly at it's worst for most riders especially newbies.
I still struggle with low speed work on my bike now.

Giving objective advice I'd say go for the Japa learner for the start of a career then progress to the monster when the skills are learned and enjoy it all the more.

[Two dogs]

Suzuki SV650 worth a look
They are a big bike with the S model has clip ons which increase the reach even more
a relatively cheap, plentiful V twin with a very large following.

[Wells]

Suzuki SV650 worth a look
They are a big bike with the S model has clip ons which increase the reach even more
a relatively cheap, plentiful V twin with a very large following.

Fantastic bike but they have to de-tune it (ECU) in order to make it LAMS approved. (The SV650S LAMS).. I don't believe that earlier models are on the LAMS list

[Sundog]

Performance and handling aside, I am also 6' 2" and looked at a used M620 LAMS as my first bike. However the 620 is the lowest seat height of any of the Monsters (about 700-710cm I think?)and he will just plain old feel like a bump on a log on it. His knees will be in the way and he will not feel comfortable in covering the K's that a learner needs to do to be roadwise and competent on 2 wheels. That's my input anyway.

As for the GSX650F, it's a great bike to learn on, I did. It's a big bike and he will feel very comfortable on it, it has enough power for a learner and looks pretty good for the bling factor. It handles surprisingly well for a 245Kg bike and is agile enough to throw it around bends with relative ease. Getting one 2nd hand is a good bet, they've been out long enough to get a good one now, they were new when I bought mine and hard to come by on eBay etc. The only down side is that you cannot replace the ECU on the 650F, Suzi don't sell them and you have to sell it to move to non-LAMS perfromance.

For my 20c, stick to the Suzi and get a M1100 when he graduates onto his full license.

[BretMorris]

Thanks guys for all the advice.

I rode the GSX 650 FU for him today and it is a lovely bike.  It is much bigger than the other alternatives in the market except maybe the SV 650 Suzuki and the Supermotards and 650 Beemer GS.

I think he is swaying towards the GSX 650 Suzi as he rekons once his 12 months restricted licence expires he can ride either my S4R Monster, XR1200X Harley or my new BMW K1300R......  Good luck son....

The difficulty in de-restricting the Suzuki has some upside were it is so easy to do on the Yamahas...  Anyway you can always try to source a second hand ECU from a standard GSX 650 F and try that!!

Anyway thanks everyone.

Bret

[Sundog]

You sure could try and find an ECU from a wreck I suppose, but the bike is registered as a LAMS bike and to do so would invalidate the registration, unless you got it certified again and re-registered. I looked at all the in/outs of doing it but in the end it was just easier to sell it and get a new bike. There are whole web topics discussing ECU swaps for that bikes, bloody Suzuki 

[Monstar_100]

G'day Mate,

I havent been on the forums for a fair while due to some new and up coming work...

I ride a 620 monster and i love it to bits!!!! i originally rode with the throttle stop on but after a while i took it off its only 44Kw un restricted, its not big power, but it can still get you in trouble...

I am 6'2" and i am comfortable on the bike.

The problems i have had with my bike are things like the electrics, they all died...   I have just finished fitting my second hand ecu, dash and key set from the states... I also replaced the regulator and the alternator because everything was dead...

I did how ever ride most other bikes before choosing my monster (GS500 SV650 ER650 SXV550 Aprilia) The Aprilia is a top bike, but the maintenance on them is ridiculous... you have to break the engine down around 90hrs to replace the seals.

In some sad news as much as i love my bike i will be selling it in the not too distant future...

If you would like to ride my bike to see what its like you are more then welcome.

Cheers,
Marty