new member

[jbullitt]

`Glad to have been accepted, to the Forum. I have been riding motorcycles, since the age of ten(40 years, plus)am a Lifetime member of the AMA, and hoping to become a Ducati owner, shortly!

[BerettaMato]

Welcome what models are you looking at.

[Curmudgeon]

Welcome!

Lots of old farts here, not just kids. What other bikes have you been riding and what's drawing you toward a Monster?

[jbullitt]

I started, 'in the dirt'-on a Honda XR250R, then a `79 CB650, to a 1988 HD FXR Superglide. Since, then I have owned a factory custom-American Ironhorse, and two other Harleys, beside the touring, Ultra Limited-currently in the garage. I have always like sport bikes, too-just never owned one. My recent day of riding with two of my friends, that have Standard Sportbikes-created the desire to actually want to 'scratch the itch', that I have had, since I first started riding. I spen the day, on a `12 Multi Strada-owned by a friend. There were four of us. My friend, was on his Aprilia, me, on the MS, and two others on BMW 1200Rs.. I like the Monster bikes, and have been doing research on them. A young guy where I work owns a Monster, and I get to admire it, pretty often.  After that day in the Hill country of Central Texas-a day of what I call, 'high speed touring'-I would like to get something with great suspension, lighter weight, than my current large, heavy, built-for-two, bagger. I have also considered, Yamaha FZ1, Kawasaki Z1000, Triumph Speed Triple, Honda CB1000R. I had my eye on a 2010 Monster 1100S, used-but it does not look like that will come to fruition.. So, I am still considering the possibility of used-but also a 2012 Monster 1100 EVO. I still have a couple more bikes to ride, at the local Duc dealer. I did ride a Streetfighter-but found it to be pretty uncomfortable!!

[Slide Panda]

not to put you off the Monster - but have you tried the MutliStrada 1200?

heavier than the monster, but still hundreds of pounds less than your big bagger. Great for high speed tours and no slouch in tighter stuff while still being civilized and comfortable.

I want one dearly...

[jbullitt]

Actually, I rode one-`12 Multi Strada-all day(borrowed from a friend). It was pretty darn awesome-I have to admit. But I am somehow, am attempting to keep the cost, "lower"-on this second motorcycle-and think that the big Monster, will be, more, "my style", versus the extremely nice, Multi Strada! It's a wonder that, my Wife is onboard-with me wanting to get a second motorcycle-which I would use exclusively, for self. I kept getting larger bikes, for the primary: needing something I can ride, across the country, with all of my gear, comfortable in the saddle for 600+ mile days..secondary: my Wife sold her Softail, to a friend, and that left us, as a 'one motorcycle' Family. She also has some back issues-further prompting me to get the bigest, most comfortable bike I could-and I have liked Harleys, most of my Life, too!

[Slide Panda]

Yeah, they are a bit costy. Hence my want vs possession of one.

If you're just planning 1-up day tripping on it - it'll be just fine. Little tank or tail back for sundries or lunch. If you need to cary more... eh bigger tail bag. If you need to carry a lot... hmm now that might be an issue.

And if you have notions of 2-up on it... eh. Are you a wee eye-tal-yun? For me on my 900, at 5' 11" and 190 2-up with my friend Sally wasn't much fun. She's about 5' 8-9" and that was a lot of body on a monster.

[jbullitt]

I honestly think, that 'if all of this works out'-like I want it to-my wife, would not be on the back-maybe never. I am about 5' 8 1/2" ? She is about 5'5", and 125 pounds. Because of the sloped design of the frame/riding position, and her scoliosis-I do not see here ridning on this, possible, second motorcycle...And I have been busy looking at the aftermarket-already-and think that the tail bag, would be more than adequate, for the short trips I am planning on using the bike for. If I were ever, to go 'beyond this'/longer trip-I would get creative, with gear!!