ducati monsters good commute bike?

[boxer11]

Hi everybody.  I am looking to purchase a bike (would love to own a monster) within the  next week.  This will be my first bike.  My question is are monsters good commute bikes?  I've heard stories that ducatis aren't great for commuting.  This the only reason why I'm considering a japanese bike.  Please advise. 

Thanks

[tristantumble]

i have a 695, and its great in the city. The one thing that you may want to do to make it even better for the city is switch the standard 15T sprocket to a 14T. It is a cheap mod (just did it myself) and it makes a big different- as many people on the board will attest to.

[jsluvb]

I ride mine everyday to work.....

[jdubbs32584]

Hi everybody.  I am looking to purchase a bike (would love to own a monster) within the  next week.  This will be my first bike.  My question is are monsters good commute bikes?  I've heard stories that ducatis aren't great for commuting.  This the only reason why I'm considering a japanese bike.  Please advise. 

Thanks

Try this thread: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=5041.0

Theres lots of suggestions and stories of people using their monsters as commuters.

[Xiphias]

Yes, I upgraded to 14t sprocket...made riding traffic a bit better.

Rob

[metallimonster]

I also ride mine to work everyday it is nice out and I have no problems what so ever.  
The 14t front sprocket is a MUST if you are going to drive in traffic often.  It makes a world a difference and is so much easier to ride in stop and go traffic.

If this is going to be your first bike I would suggest a 620.  They are easy to find and find cheap.  Mine does everything I want it to do and I never feel like it is not fast enough.  However, the 620 has no oil cooler so it will get hot in traffic.  Oil coolers are easy to find and easy to install and will make the bike run much cooler and better in traffic.  Just my opinion.

[Jetbrett]

I've ridden mine to work just about every day since getting it.  My commute is about 45 mile round trip with some country roads with some nice turns, hills, interstate, and city (Seattle) streets with lots of stop and go traffic and some pretty steep hills.  I love it so much that I actually look forward to going to work for a change.   [moto] 

[CougarSlayer]

18,000 miles commuting on me munster and loving every minute of it.  Could not be more happy 992 engine at 41 mpg and like I said loving every minute of it.  

-panthro

[hyphen]

I commute on my monster almost every day.  I don't see why it wouldn't be a good commuter.

[rsoffar]

my monster is my only form of transportation. works great for me
oh and the 14t does make traffic a lot better... well i went up 3 in the rear instead of down on in front. same results though.

[sbrguy]

monsters are great commuter/urban cycles bc of the position and all around good use of them and powerband.

that being said they do require more frequent maintentance intervals than a japanese bike, so its every 6200-7500 miles for a ducati service compared to say a few more thousand for a japanese bike. so if you are truly commmuting 12000-18000 miles a year, then yes the maintenance cost of valve adjustments of a duc will add up sooner than a japanese bike bc the intervals are shorter, the things like tires/chains/oil changes/brakes will go at the same rate no matter the manufacturer. 

but if you can deal with that, then you are good.

[ArguZ]

At the end of the day you would be riding a jap...day a day..
make the beast with two backs that...
Get a 6xx and be proud and happy every morning you start her, park her, fuel her and get comments from colleges

[Jetbrett]

that being said they do require more frequent maintentance intervals than a japanese bike, so its every 6200-7500 miles for a ducati service compared to say a few more thousand for a japanese bike. so if you are truly commmuting 12000-18000 miles a year, then yes the maintenance cost of valve adjustments of a duc will add up sooner than a japanese bike bc the intervals are shorter, the things like tires/chains/oil changes/brakes will go at the same rate no matter the manufacturer. 

but if you can deal with that, then you are good.

My wife rides a Suzuki Boluevard (she's a bagger  ) and her bike requires much more frequent maintenance than my 695.  I can't speak to all Japanese bikes, but for at least one of the metric cruisers, the maintenance things is a myth....for the newer (07 and up) Ducati's

[mbalmer]

I ride my M750 to work on most days (I don't even know what size sprocket it has). It makes going to work and riding home enjoyable. Make sure you wear all the gear though. I only work six miles away and always wear complete gear. Besides it's too easy to go "the long way" to/from work. Too much fun to save on gas.

[Bick]

Several years ago there was a "City" version of the 750 which had slightly higher bars and hard cases.  Easy to do the same to a 620 or 695.

I commute on a quite a bit on my S2R.  If I need to take a bunch of stuff with me, then it's the GS.

I think the ideal commuter that still has the fun factor is the Multistrudle.