New here and new to bikes

[SOUTHSTAR]

Hello,

Just got on this board today. I'm new to bikes and am researching chat kind of bike to get first. I'm taking the motorcycle clsafety class next month. I have considered getting a small 250-500 cc "beater" bike to start out but I think I'm going to go for something in the 650cc range so I don't get bored to quickly. I think that will be plenty of power to sustain me as I don intend to race or be the fastest. I just want to have fun. That brings me to the ducati monster. I have also been thinking about a buell xb9 or Suzuki sv650. Or even a Kawasaki er-6. But I really like the syltyle of the ducati the most in stock form.   The main concerns I have are that I keep hearing ducati are expensive to maintain and break alot. I don't know if that unjustified but it's part of what I'd like to find out before I buy. I am a technician by trade so if the maitenance or repairs don't require special tools I'm shure I could do it myself . So it that takes the sting out of owning a ducati I'm in the clear. Any info or advice is apreciated.

Thanks

[iRam]

MSF riding course is a good way to start. most DMFers and experienced riders would say go with a low displacemet bike for a year to develop your skills and then sell it for about the same price that you got it for, and then purchase the ducati that you like.

another way to go about it is...
after taking the msf rider course. evaluate your skills and see if it has improved significantly. if it did and your confident enough to test drive a ducati(assuming the dealership will let a new rider test ride their bike). go test drive one, thats the best way to find out if the bike is right for you or not.

good luck and be safe. 

[somegirl]

Welcome to the DMF and to bikes.

Good for you for starting with the MSF, best way to go.

I wrote this to someone else before but I'll repeat it here:

You will find all kinds of differing advice about the suitability of a Monster as a starter bike.

Personally I would recommend first finding a little beater bike and riding the snot out of it for 6 months, then getting your Duc.  Why?
- You should be able to sell a good starter bike for about the same price that you buy it for
- Less expense and heartbreak when you drop it - Ducs are more expensive to repair (even if you can do the work yourself, the parts are more expensive than for a japanese bike...)
- It'll be very forgiving when you are still learning the mechanics and coordination of riding; it's much easier to get in trouble quickly with a bigger bike
- It'll build your confidence faster than a bigger bike will - it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.
- It'll save you on insurance
- After you've been riding for a little while you'll have a much better idea of what you are looking for in your next bike

Here's a review I wrote up a while ago on the Ninja 250:
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=2613.0

And here's an excellent post I saw on another board about beginning bikes:
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5380523&postcount=8

Anyway, no matter what your decision is, best of luck and keep us updated.

[TitanMonsterS4R]

SOUTHSTAR -

I had the same concerns you did. I rode dirt bikes as a kid many moons ago and when I thought about getting a motorcycle I didn't know where to start.  I took a ton of riding classes and did a TON of RESEARCH before deciding to purchase a bike. After everything I bought a Ducati Monster 695 and have loved every minute of it. I've got friends that ride that have been great teachers to me and helped me learn about my strengths and that of the bike. Some on the forum might think I'm totally crazy for making a purchase like this for my first bike but I haven't regretted moment of it ( a couple of people who have stopped me on the street and find my Duc is my first bike have an amazed look on their face). 

I personally think it all comes down to comfort and confidence.  If after taking classes ( I took a lot of classes and got a friend to serve as a personal tutor for a bit) you feel like a Ducati is what you want go for it. I like to grow into things rather than growing out of things. I feel like my Monster 695 will be a bike that will teach me for some time. It's forgiving with some things and not with others.  It's got nice low end torque but can reach decent speeds. I do a lot of city riding with her and every time I take her out it's exciting. They handle curves really well, aren't too heavy in my opinion and I'm able to control her at low and high speeds. The other big plus to a Monster is there are tons of upgrade options available to you if you do grow out of it (forks, shocks, breaks, etc). These things can totally change the way the bike rides and feels. Laying my bike down is possible but...cross my fingers every time I suit up.

Somegirl does have an excellent point having said all that. 

Good luck as well making your selection.

[SOUTHSTAR]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I will most likely re evaluate after I have take the MSF course. I'll probably have a better idea at have a better idea at that time.

[Slide Panda]

As SG said, it's a hoot to ride a small bike fast.

Though I didn't read the posts above very closely, I don't think the point was made that most beater bikes can be sold for what you paid for it. There's a pretty big market churn of people in a similar position as you, so there's a demand for beaters. It's pretty common fork folks to turn over a bike after a year (or less) for the purchase price. Hell, I know a couple folks who even managed to profit on their beaters.

Regarding the maintenance rumors... I don't buy it. Yes ducs, especially older ones do need valve checks more often than their Japanese equivalents.  But if you have an inline 4 bike long enough, it will need that valve check... and you will rue that day. Just doing the check is 15 hours worth of shop time most times, and if there needs to be adjustments... oh deary deary.

So, yeah having duc will hit your wallet more often... but for less at a go.

I've got a 2000 900 that I picked up with 17k on the clock and now has 31k. The *only* time it's broken down on me was due to the battery.

[UK_DoubleDuke]

Hi,
I am new to here also but the previous posts miss something.
Are you after riding a bike or having a passion?
Last year I test rode a Honda Varadero and a Transalp. Both brand new, comfortable, capable, torque laden engines and quiet. So quiet they had no character.
If you are after a bike with character then a Monster is that bike. When I asked my girlfriend whether she would swap my 10 year old Monster for either of the Honda's, no money difference just swap, she said no. How mad, new for old... but a Monster is something to behold.
This is the point. You can get a scratcher and race around but will it get you to your end?
If just riding is that end, then get a smaller bike, but if the whole package is what you are after then you can start in with an older Monster. I have had no trouble with any of my bikes and if you are also a technician and choose an air cooled two valve engined model then belt changes are not too hard and the up keep of your bike will be cheap, once you have your cam locks.

Nothing looks, sounds or feels like a Ducati, unless it is a Ducati.
Hope this helps.

[SOUTHSTAR]

More great advice. It's refreshing to see that there are a wide range of opinions here and not just a "pre-programmed" reaction from everyone you get in some forums. Thanks again. Lots of food for thought.

[Riaz]

This was my story 2 months ago, so I thought I'd chime in.  I took the MSF course with no prior experience and ended up buying a 2000 M750 from a friend.  I was worried that it would be too much bike, but was smitten by it.  It is definitely more powerful than the 250s used in the course, but by keeping that in mind and being very careful, I haven't had any problems so far.  I did put some work into it when I got it, and was a bit shocked by the bill, but I've asked around and found it wasn't much more than it would have been on a Japanese bike.  I agree with the posters who describe the benefits of a smaller bike to start, but the Duc has worked out well for me.  Good luck!