Ducati Monster Forum

After riding on the track I'm hooked. I keep thinking about it and planning to do more and more days. Unfortunately I don't have the space or the money for an additional motorcycle (my g/f and I both have one as well as a car). The last time I went I was dragging both foot pegs as well as my rear brake pedal. I found that I was also hitting my rev limiter trying to exit some turns and couldn't shift to the next gear mid-turn because with my pegs dragging that left no room for my toe to get underneath in order to shift. That got me thinking that I might enjoy a more track oriented motorcycle... you know, something with fairing.

I love my Monster and appreciate Ducati as a "small" company in the motorcycle industry, but I simply can't afford any of their supersports and accompanying insurance (and am a touch scared of them). I started researching Japanese 600's and they just don't appeal to me as much as Ducati and their ergonomics don't fit the bill for my 80 mile daily commute and occasional 500 mile getaway day trips. Next I considered bikes like the ZZR600, FZ6R, and SV650S, but those bikes all have a number of equal or lesser quality parts as well as comparable horsepower to my M695. I actually do love the fact that I have never had cause to worry about the rear wheel getting away from me on my Monster and how a bike like the SV would be similar in that respect. I also like the fact that a ton of people race/track SV650's and learn to really push them and learn excellent techniques in order to keep up (and sometimes pass) people in C, B, and sometimes A group. I'm more in to pushing my limits and a bike's limits than simply being fast on a fast bike.

Now here's what I've decided and what I need some backup (or rejection) on. If people can do that on an SV, I've got nearly identical horsepower (SV650s = 72, M695 = 73), better brakes, comparable suspension, and ergonomics that work for all of my favorite riding styles, why can't I just set up my M695 for a bit more track riding? I've already paid for it and would lose money selling it with my expensive aftermarket pipes/ecu so that makes buying an SV650s more expensive for me. I could save the money I would put on a new (or relatively new but used) bike towards just a couple of key parts to help make the Monster a better track bike, such as rearsets, stiffer fork springs/oil, maybe a rear shock, sliders, and clip-ons. I already have high pipes and don't have to worry about dragging those. Now, repairs could/would cost more if I layed it down but wouldn't that still be cheaper for a while over selling this and purchasing a Japanese bike?

What I'm getting at is, is there anything crazy about this idea? Have I overlooked something major that somebody can fill me in about? Can someone tell me a good reason not to treat this Monster as I could an SV, ZZR, or any other underdog bike for more track use?

Thanks for reading this whole thing.

There isn't anything inherantly wrong with your plan. BUT, do a LOT of research on what parts are available for it, that you would need to fix the issues you write of. Primarily, rear-sets, suspension and ride height adjuster(s). These may or may not be available in a flavor that gets you want you need. You may also find that after you fix those and you start pickin up the pace some more, you'll prob want better brakes and tires. You can see where this is going, can't you?  [laugh]  [popcorn]

748's are plentiful and reasonably priced. The power is more than the 'lil Monster (and the Japanese 600/750 class), but nothing that would be unmanageable for you. The commute won't be as easy-going-comfy, but it's not unbearably torturous either.

And as for it's track manners, well.... it's a 748, what more needs to be said? [laugh]

Maybe wait through the fall/winter, and see what gets pulled out of the garages for sale in the spring. And who knows, maybe the Monster would make a good upgrade for your girlfriend.

Depending on your budget there are plenty of track preped bikes on craigslist in the 2k to 4k range.

The problem with this is a safe place to keep an additional bike. I need one bike for everything for a few more years until I can afford a place with a garage.

I've considered the 748's, but would they really be comfortable for 500 miles a day a few days in a row? I don't want to lose the light touring comforts of a standard.

Oh, and the g/f really doesn't like the fit of the Monster. The arm reach and weight just don't meld with her needs.

Yeah, yeah, you're right on every point, but wouldn't this be the case with just about any other bike that would fit all of my needs? Eventually (in 3 to 4 years) I would like to be in a position where affording and storing a daily ride and a track bike is a possibility, but for the next few years I just need a sturdy bike that won't be quite as unsuitable for the track as a mostly stock Monster. I can already get some great feeling tires for it but I'm sure I'd be able to find a number of things I'd want to upgrade. I guess it's just a question of how long I can find the Monster fun on the track.

I am totally agreeing with you on what you want to do and achieve. I personally like to ride my streetbike on the track in street configuration. It gives greater dividends when you are back on the street. Just needed to point out that research needs to be done in advance to see if it is even a viable path to go down before you click it into gear and run with it. Plus, there are always hidden surprises even for the most planned-out-plan. Ask me how I know...

Essentially this is what I did to my 620 two years ago, after a September track day and an east coast winter.  I wanted a monster I could take to the track and have fun, but still ride it on the street.  This was probably 12k miles ago and I haven't been back to do a track day, but I commute on it every day.  If you are tall, the rearsets will get annoying after a while, but it isn't too bad.    

Cycle cat clipons (no longer available)
S&P rearsets
998 Front end including brakes
5.5 rear wheel (mainly aesthetic)

If you search ebay and do the work yourself (which is really easy) you can probably accomplish this for around $2K.  Other than lack of power*, I dont find the bike lacking in any respect.



*I actually dont need more power and find that I can still ride at very unsafe and illegal speed on the street with a 620    ;D

Great information, Vindingo. Thanks for sharing your experience.

why not a 900SS (pre 1998)???? More confortable tahn the 748 (good for commute) more sportier than an monster (for the track) it's available in Red (good for the ducatimania) Very affordable as the "newer" are more desirable.. SO MORE MORE MONEY FOR GOODIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was gonna suggest that but, he only has room for one bike or something.

Silliness. If he got a motard, he could ride it up the stairs, into the apartment, and park it in the kitchen.

I meant: use the 900SS as one-for-all bike (bike, comute, touring...). With the SS he doesn't nee the monster anymore...

Although blasphemous, that might be a good option for me to look in to.

In the meantime, I'm going to try a few more track days in stock form before making up my mind.

The idea that a Monster is comparable to an SV is facinating to me.  While on the surface, an SV in stock trim might seem close to a 695, I can't believe that a 4-valved liquid cooled engine is slower than a 2-valved air cooled engine of similar displacement.  Also, at some point, fairings and ergos will get you around the track faster and easier, which might trump HP figures.  I don't know enough about this issue to explain it, but there has to be a reason why the 650 AFM class isn't split between SV's, Kawi's and Monsters.  I would agree that SV's have lower quality parts out of the box, but with enough prepped bikes out there, I'd be shocked if any of the SV track bikes would be slower than a 695.  If that's not the case, then how cool would it be to race a Monster in the AFM and shatter conventional wisdom?

As for Remy's situation, I think the SS was made for this application.  Fully faired, more aggressive ergos, better clearance for the track, yet air cooled, 2-valved (cheaper maintenance) and mild mannered enough for the street.