Is the monster a sportbike?

[silentbob]

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! 

The engines are from previous generation sport bikes.  That doesn't make them no longer sport bikes.  Is a 998 no longer a sportbike?

The bikes your fathers used to ride were considered sport bikes back in the day.  The British twins, the Honda CB750, the Ducati 750SS.  All sport bikes.

[roy-nexus-6]

The engines are from previous generation sport bikes.  That doesn't make them no longer sport bikes.  Is a 998 no longer a sportbike?

The bikes your fathers used to ride were considered sport bikes back in the day.  The British twins, the Honda CB750, the Ducati 750SS.  All sport bikes.

Ah, I'll elaborate a bit more -

The 916 = sport bike
The S4 = de-tuned 916 engine; naked. More upright riding position.

It shares the same engine.. but the philosophy behind the design of the bikes was different.

lol - mind you, this is my two cents only. And I'm sure if you ask 50 different people, I'm sure you'll get 50 different responses.

[silentbob]

lol - mind you, this is my two cents only. And I'm sure if you ask 50 different people, I'm sure you'll get 50 different responses.

I asked John McLaughlin and he said you're WRONG!

[hypurone]

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 hate to break it to ya but that is the life of a motorcyclist. ya just have to deal with it. Why the hate on the Z1000? It is a great bike, I rode one for 4 years. Spanked everyone on it too! With a little work on the suspension. It had cutting edge lines when it came out (for those who would actually take a min and SEE them). It is "like" your monster in that it is a naked bike. Though, I will side with you that it is NOT the SAME as the Monster. Still no reason to put the hate hat on... just as you "just like to ride" so do others and you as an ambassador of "riding" in general should be beyond the "hate" aspects of other bikes.

<rant off>

[roy-nexus-6]

I asked John McLaughlin and he said you're WRONG!

I stand corrected - I'll immediately contact an admin, & see about changing my vote. 

[sbrguy]

i think the monster is what the dmv handbook calls a "standard" bike.

bc it doesn't fit what the other options are, its not a cruiser like a honda shadow/harley davidson or chopper style bike, its not a sportbike like a ninja zx6, cbr 600rr, r6, its not a trike or sidecar bike bc it only has 2 wheels, its not a dirtbike or dual sport bike because it honestly isn't made to go offroad.

so i would say that leaves "standard" bike, which is what my insurance company calls it, so yes in a way its in teh same category as say a 70s honda cb bike...

[spolic]

my friends wife asked

Well there's your problem.

[ducducgooseme]

well I guess people like BP and I who have both 1098s and Monsters best go put our names in for the next Torque...   Does this mean we need to ride with our helmets strapped to the ass of our bikes too?   

[CIE]

My bike sure keeps up with other sport bikes in the twisty stuff for a bike that's "not a sport bike".

Why would you hate to have your bike called a sportbike anyway?  If you want an un-mistakeably lame bike that will never be confused with a sportbike, then why not ride a Sportster.   

[Statler]

Can't categorize all monsters the same.  There is as much difference between the full range of monsters as the full line of Kawasaki Ninjas.   A similar look and the same name does not make the bike the same.    So we have full-on sportbikes all the way to your second-grade girl bike but they don't all fit under the same umbrella.

[monsterista]

Call it what you like.......as long as the insurance companies consider it 'standard' we should just keep a low profile while we dish out less $$$$$$ for coverage.

Here in Quebec, tags are ALOT cheaper for a 'standard' vs 'sport'.....soooooo, I'm just gonna shuuuuut-up and  [moto].  (Once it finally gets here, of course)

[Triple J]

It's a sport bike, but it isn't a hypersport or superbike.

Sorry to break it to ya The Ron...you own a sport bike.  [moto]  I'd consider the Multistrada a standard (definitely not a dual sport), but not the Monster.

[psycledelic]

Call it what you like.......as long as the insurance companies consider it 'standard' we should just keep a low profile while we dish out less $$$$$$ for coverage.

Here in Quebec, tags are ALOT cheaper for a 'standard' vs 'sport'.....soooooo, I'm just gonna shuuuuut-up and  [moto].  (Once it finally gets here, of course)

Amen!  For a cheaper rate, I would call mine a scooter.

[ODrides]

The term you may be looking to hate could be "crotch-rocket."  If it's sporty and it's a bike, then it's a sport bike -- fairing or not.  My monster is a sport bike.  It is NOT a crotch rocket.

But I voted for naked bike.

[Scottish]

It's a PASTA ROCKET!!!!!!