I want a 696 but I'm scared of the price tag

[Veda]

I sat on a 696 at the dealer today and really liked it.  I currently ride a ninja 250 and am in the market for my next bike.  I sat on a 696 and a ninja 650 side by side and found the 696 to be a better physical fit for me.  I'm a bit of a petite rider and appreciate the slightly lower seat height and weight.  But I'm having such a hard time swallowing the price tag.  It's almost $3k more than the ninja 650.  I've never had a bike as expensive as the Ducati and I'm getting a little sick to my stomach thinking about possibly dropping it, or messing it up. 

I don't really care about cc's and horsepower - I ride a ninja 250 and am pretty pleased with it.  So I don't care if the 696 can beat the 650 on the track.  My requirements are: fuel injection, smooth handling at highway speeds, and short seat/lightweight.  If Kawasaki makes their next 250 fuel injected I just might stick with 250s.  So how can I justify the price of the 696 when the equivalent japanese bikes are so much less dough?

[herm]

if you are willing to look at used, the monster 620 is a great bike, especially for someone smaller. they should have a much easier price tag as well.
check out the monsters for sale listing at the left of the page.

good luck whatever you decide

[Raux]

a few things. are you looking for a longterm bike or a shortterm ride. resale value alone can help you decide since Ducatis hold their value. check out insurance rates on both. that might help decide. also if you are financing check your rates and break points for term financing. i found i needed to spend more than 10k to get longer financing and lowering my payments.

as far at the bike. a couple people have noted a few things about size. if you are petite, check the F brake/clutch lever distant. you may have to upgrade to adjustable levers to get a good grip.

if you are concerned about small tips, or even more, a lot of people are getting frame sliders. i bet the body panels on the Ninjas get expensive too. check costs on replacement parts for things like all your levers, body panels, etc. the 696 has plastic panels for the tank, probably easy to fix and replace compared to large ninja panels.

price wise i've seen 6499 for the Ninja 650 and 8775 for the 696.

[Roy]

I
I don't really care about cc's and horsepower - I ride a ninja 250 and am pretty pleased with it. 

Why not just keep your current 250 or get the new re-designed ninja 250R...I know they aren't fuel Injected but they are really great bikes at a good price tag!

[Statler]

not a fan of financing toys.   You are upside down in the loan as soon as you sign the paperwork and then if you get in an accident you still owe the bank for your expensive paperweight.  If you're paying cash, it only hurts for a second, and then if something goes wrong at least it's not a financial issue.

two choices for your feelings on price and on ruining the bike:  either have the funds to fix anything that goes wrong, or be able to live with scratches, tank dents (or tank cover dents for the bike in question), etc.   remember, it's just a bike...and even if it's a very nice bike and your first new and expensive bike, it is still best if ridden...hard.

a 620 might be a good alternative...and enough people here have them that if it gets something small wounded it's likely someone would just mail you a footpeg or lever.

[Howie]

I sort of agree with Statler.  I will finance a toy if the terms are good, but I will not finance it if I couldn't pay the loan off at any time or afford the collision and comprehensive insurance to protect my investment. 

[herm]

+2 for statlers statement on financing.
buy the bike you can afford,......especially if you are having sticker shock

[Raux]

agreed on that too. buy what you can afford. sorry didnt mean to say overextend yourself on financing. my first bike i financed. 8 months later insurance paid it off and i made 500...

[Airborne]

I read once on the board here someone talking about bikes being an emotional purchase, I sure everyone here would agree. If I listened to my common sense then I probably wouldn't have ended up with a Ducati but at the same time I probably wouldn't be getting a boner everytime I hit the start button.

Go with what sets you off, after all its a toy. As far as the expense/maintenance/dropping it, thats just the way the game is.

I hope I'm not being toooooo immature 

[Statler]

very good point.

[Veda]

Good points about not financing toys and only buying what you can afford.  I do need to think about my budget before I make my decision.  Putting affordability aside though does the 696 have something that makes it worth the $2k+ more than the ninja 650?

[Statler]

Putting affordability aside though does the 696 have something that makes it worth the $2k+ more than the ninja 650?

Ducati monster forum.   top of the page.


so automatic answer is yes, but only if you like the same things we do.

And of course there's the issue that half of this forum don't like the new monsters, so a 695 or a 620 would do it for us better...but that's a fine point when compared to the differences between ducs and kwacs.

do you like it 2K more?   do you like the sound 2k more?   would you like owning it 2k more?

[ducpainter]

Good points about not financing toys and only buying what you can afford.  I do need to think about my budget before I make my decision.  Putting affordability aside though does the 696 have something that makes it worth the $2k+ more than the ninja 650?

It's a Ducati...

you need to ride one.

The Ninja is a great bike...

but a Duc is...

worth every penny.

[Statler]

it is a bit of an addiction.

[DesmoDiva]

and generally more expensive than street drugs.......










Hi my name is Lindsay, and own two Ducati's.............

the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem