Ducati Monster Forum

Just came back from it.

Ducati's right in the middle of the expo, including a M1100 behind some guard rails.

Surprising they didn't even have a D16RR there. Must all be accounted for.  :'(

Would've liked to see a Streetfighter there, but what are the chances of anything new being unveiled in Melbourne? eeexactly.

Cant see why the would have the Desmo they have stoped production,But the M1100 would be good to see  [thumbsup]

Seems  more fun going to your local dealer to see all the new machines these days ,you could make a coffee run out of it  [moto] [coffee]

JC,

what's your opinion of the 1100 - since you've seen one in the flesh - tell us all!

Howdy all.

Yes been to Expo as well, bumped into Wraith and Co.
1100 looks good, but a bit a change, not too sure about the tank vents,
And the pillion peg supports look really really long.
However the Tricolour looked the bees knees.

I didn't see a sport classic there??? Maybe blinded by the bling on two legs walking around.....
Had a laugh at all the old fart wannbees in the hardly stand, and all the kids at the KTM stand.

Also did see this   http://www.launchhelmetcams.com/fully-integrated
Very nice.....dear Santa

Cheers .
Alf.H

the expo wasn't too bad at all, bimota's were the duck guts, STEEEEEP prices. On the down side I put my camera down and walked off without it  [bang] came back and it was gone! Oh well I'll have to find another camera to purchase

Went and had a look myself this morning and did enjoy the Duc stand.

I have my own thoughts on the M1100 but I won't steal JC's thunder.

It's great to be able to wander around and check out all the good stuff in one place.  If only it was possible to ride them all ....  ;D

Spider, since you asked so nicely :-*, my take on M1100 below.
After hearing about the taking of your bike, maybe there's a chance your next one could be a 1100? or even a Streetfighter?   ;)

But first, the rundown of the expo for me. Was smaller than last year.

Gotta say my highlight was not at the Duke stand (no white-coloured bikes on display); but no real highlights anywhere else at the expo.

Bimoto had the best bikes, Yamaha prolly had the best exhibit, only since they were really pushing the V-max and all its fancy tech, what with bike/engine cut-outs and such. MV's stand was surprisingly already on display in the same area as Harley/Buell.

Bikes of interest to me-- Husqvarna, BMW F800GS, Triumph Street Triple R, KTM SuperDuke 990R (wtf with the hard-moulded seat???), Rossi's Yamaha (just 2-thick pieces of neoprene for a seat!)

Couple of interesting new products in the smaller stalls, like Rescue Tape, and also my faves like Kriega and Andy Strapz.
But no Draggin, and no helmet stands.. Would have been nice to see Arai or Shoei or others pushing their products.

One other thing I did like though were the funky controls Aprilia had on their bikes.
Rather than having separate Flash and Low/High beam switches, they combined both to the same switch. Located same spot as the flash button-- pull in to flash, flick out to High-beam. Also the Menu navigation switch (needed on newer Dukes)-- same left/right/press-in usage as conventional Indicator switch. Nice. [Call me a sucker for good usability]. Here's hoping Ducati pick up on use of these buttons.
Was attracted to the Aprilia stand cos I heard about their Mana 850-- Semi-automatic gearbox, CVT engine, Tank under and behind you and Helmet bay where the tank should be.

M1100
As far as the M1100 is concerned, I'm more interested in the use of the 1100 engine rather than the bike itself. I don't like the 696 design and likewise with this. SSS helps, but not enough.

I was having a close look at the differences between the 696 and 1100, and besides the obvious, there's not much to it. Noticed the standard 1100 had Sachs shocks, so can only assume the 1100S will have Ohlins-- AND yes. Ducati.com states this.

I'd be really eager to try the (1100 engine) out, I love the 1078cc on my HM, and I've read there's some impressive improvements on fuel consumption on this puppy. (Read on another thread some dude getting ~280km on 1 tank even on run-in!) Tried the 696 months back and came back unimpressed, but I think it only comes down to already having tasted dry clutch goodness and 992/1078 powah.

The riding stance of these new monsters is more sports-bike like, which I don't prefer, so it makes me more pleased with my choice of HM over these ones.

nice! well done JC and that WAS me asking nicely.

I agree - I like the sound of the 1100 engine, reckon the 1100s would be a good thing....but then again am very happy with a DSS (although the wheels on my machine are boat anchors and really needed to go, but the rider needed training before that happened anyway)

now Meister....your turn....and anyone else...

I was going to go...but knew I'd just end up stalking the parking lot looking for mine! or breaking down and blubbering on top of some poor little 5 foot 6 guy in a ducati shirt  :'(

you blubber all you like, i dont know how your takeing it , id still be driving around looking  :'(

I guess all of this comes down to personal taste which is why there are so many different bikes on the market. 

My taste, which is why I was drawn to the Monster in the first place, is along the lines of different, uncomplicated, and something with character.

So, to the M1100:  It is all of these in my opinion.  From memory the rear subframe is different but is OK, just looks a bit more modern.  The headlight I didn't like in the pics but it does it for me in real life.  The shape is still distinctly Monster and the 1100 donk being air/oil cooled means it doesn't have a great big radiator stuck in the front.  Perhaps the tiny little excuse for a fairing may be an issue for some, me included.  I've always been a "Ducatis must be red" man but the silver paint with the red frame looks really slick.

I had a good look at all the nakeds on offer at the Expo and wasn't overly impressed.  The Monster and the MV Brutale were the pick for me.  The rest just seemed formulaic (if thats a word) or made without taking any risks.  I guess that's why I like Ducati.  They don't get it right every time but at least they're willing to take a punt.