I've got big problems, and I need your help!

[mcgalinmd]

From a gals point of view, and a gal that is a MSF instructor:  get her a monster a few years old and let her tear it up on that.  Then get a bigger bike.  I see sooo many folks get too big a bike for them initially and have terrible success on the street. 

Riding a Duc is drastically different than a vespa.  And she's only been in a parking lot.  I'm all for gals on Duc's and bigger bikes (i'm on an s4r) but I started on a yamaha v-star 650 on the street.  The Duc is my dream bike after 6 other motorcycles which included 3 sport bikes. 

[moto] Gals on DUCati's are awesome!!

[mstevens]

The problem though is you really don't know what kind of bike you want until you ride it for a while.

Agreed. This is one of the best arguments against getting a second Monster. If she doesn't really take to the 620, then we'd still have two fairly different bikes for different purposes instead of two unsatisfactory similar ones. There's lots of room in the barn, so she could get whatever is just right for her even if I have more bikes than butts.

I don't agree that the STs are good for 1000 mile days!

I'll go out on a limb, though, and guess they're better for that than Monsters.

there is a used monster in laconia that belongs to a long time bcm customer

It's not a 600 MET, is it? The guy with the ST on the group ride mentioned that his wife might be selling hers. It sounded intriguing!

99 and newer SS bikes are tall

...and I'm short-legged. My inseam isn't much longer than my wife's.

sport classics are not selling well

I had heard that. I suppose I understand why, too. I can appreciate the look and understand the classic appeal, but for whatever reason they don't appeal to me that much.

my wife promised her mom that she would never get on the back of a motorcycle.

Did she promise not to get on the front? My dad was a lawyer, so I've always been looking for the loopholes since I was born.

... get her a monster a few years old and let her tear it up on that.  Then get a bigger bike.  ...

Riding a Duc is drastically different than a vespa.  And she's only been in a parking lot.

She's been riding the Vespa for nearly 2 years. The parking lot drills were to try some stuff that hasn't come up in day-to-day riding since the BRC. She has not ridden anything without a CVT on the street, though, which is why she's interested in doing the IRC as a refresher.

I just don't really see us getting a bigger bike in the future for either of us. I'm perfectly content with the power and torque of the 620 (what can I say? I'm apparently pokey) and both of us doubt it'll be any different for her. She hadn't until recently thought she'd EVER want to ride even the 620. We're not likely to find a Monster much smaller than that unless we move to Japan. If she drops the 620, then she drops it. If she's not comfortable on it, then I think she'll need something other than a Duc to start out with.

Tracy's a former pilot, former competitive driver, a master scuba diver, self-taught spinner, weaver, etc. She "gets" things rapidly and thoroughly and usually better than I do. If we ever *do* end up getting a bigger bike, it'll more likely be for her than for me!

It's really starting to look as if I need to learn about ST's, since I know nothing right now. Anyone know of a good forum?

[Desmo Demon]

It's really starting to look as if I need to learn about ST's, since I know nothing right now. Anyone know of a good forum?

Either www.ducati.ms or the ST forum on Yahoo!. I can no longer go to the Yahoo group from work, so I haven't been there in quite a while. I think this is the addy...

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/st2_owners

[fasterblkduc]

That's a great problem to have   My opinion is stick with a two-valve Duc...better streetbike, less maintenance and headaches.

Good luck [moto]

[clubhousemotorsports]

I know the m6oo metalic you are talking about. Her bike is very well taken care of. She was just out on it at trackday and looked like she was having fun, might not be for sale any more

The monster I was talking about is a red m620 or 800 that is parked at the mr fireplace in laconia. I think the owner runs the pet shop in the same shopping center.

[Speeddog]

If you're going to be riding 2-up, something bigger than a 620 is a good idea.

My Cagiva Gran Canyon is about 500 lbs, and it's a W-head Duc 900 motor, so it's not a powerhouse.
My girl and I weigh about 300 lbs together, and it's pretty good riding 2-up on the Cagiva.

[slim_grizzy]

I have the same problem with my wife now too.   I let her sit on my 696.     Now she wants it.  I told her if she got the bike then I'd have to get something else, like an MV Agusta Brutale.   SHE SAID OK!   You can't possibly understand how awful that feels.  I have a wife that wants to ride and doesn't mind me getting another awesome bike... BUT I CAN'T AFFORD IT!  Why must I be tortured so!

[mstevens]

If you're going to be riding 2-up, something bigger than a 620 is a good idea.

That was pretty much why I thought an ST might be a good idea for a second bike, but in reality it's not very likely that we'd ride 2-up on anything.

We went to BCM today. She sat on some bikes and I rode a 696 around. It's looking as if she wants a 696 dark, but there's someone (who has the same name as mine!) who's trading in a Sport Touring in the next few weeks so we'll plan to look at that before making a final decision.

[Popeye the Sailor]

That was pretty much why I thought an ST might be a good idea for a second bike, but in reality it's not very likely that we'd ride 2-up on anything.

We went to BCM today. She sat on some bikes and I rode a 696 around. It's looking as if she wants a 696 dark, but there's someone (who has the same name as mine!) who's trading in a Sport Touring in the next few weeks so we'll plan to look at that before making a final decision.

Just be sure to take your time when looking for a bike with the wife. Good deals do come up, you just need to be patient and ready (your bike is an excellent example of this).


Another prime example would be some time back when I was dating a girl who wanted a motorcycle, and wanted me to teach her how to ride it.


It took some doing, but eventually, I was able to dump her and find a girl who already had her own motorcycle and new how to ride it. So....good deals can happen 

[DoubleEagle]

Another reason to be single, or it could be fun.

[Manny]

Have you looked at a 620 Multistrada? Great in the twisties, good two up (even in the twisties), good touring (especially if you get luggage), has a similar standover as the 620 monster, etc.

[mstevens]

Just be sure to take your time when looking for a bike with the wife. Good deals do come up, you just need to be patient and ready (your bike is an excellent example of this).

Good point. On the other hand, the ad for my current bike popped up on the old board a couple of days after I'd joined on the evening of the day I'd made the decision to buy! No patience involved.

We're not in any hurry. We've got 2 cars, the Monster, a Vespa, the tractor, etc., etc. We can get around, and on 2 wheels no less without buying anything else. There's only about 3 months of what most people consider riding weather left in NH. Unfortunately, some bikes will need to be sold to pay for heat, and I don't mind buying then storing a bike for the winter before being able to ride it. (My pre-buy contract for the next 10 months, which covers the year, totals over $1,000 per month for our 2 furnaces! Much wood will be burned this winter.)

[mstevens]

Have you looked at a 620 Multistrada?

I looked at them earlier today. They're just not for me. I can't get my head around the design at all.

[Gramps]

 [moto] I also think you should give your bike to your wife and get a new used bike for yourself. There is a 620 Red with only 20 miles on it right now on E-Bay. How ever if I were you I would move up to an 800 or 1000. Just my 2 cents.  Good luck on what you decide.
                          Gramps   

[mstevens]

There is a 620 Red with only 20 miles on it right now on E-Bay.

Got a link? Nothing shows up on my search.