I am looking at 2 monsters, and am having trouble deciding which one is the best.
I am a new rider, and this will be my first bike. It fits me better than any other bike I have sat on, and my family are ducati people, so this is the bike that I want.
I will be using it for city driving, highway commute, and leisure.
Here are my 2 options:
1. 2001 Ducati Monster 750: 9,000 miles, 2 owners, 1 very small dent in tank. There is no other damage to the bike, no significant modifications. It has been well maintained, and serviced as suggested with documentation. PRICE $3200
2. 2005 Ducati Monster 620: 33,000 miles, 1 owner, no damage whatsoever. This bike has also been serviced as suggested with all documentation. $3600
I am having a hard time deciding which is the best option. My concerns are the carbed engine in the '01 being more costly to maintain and more frustrating to start. I will NOT be doing my own maintenance. My other concern is the high mileage on the '05. I don't know if it is a large hindrance to the purchase.
If you have any opinions, or feedback on either bike, I would greatly appreciate the assistance.
Thanks for your time!
The newbie ;D
that is a ton of mileage on the 05 bike, that is someone that really actually rode that bike.
my suggestion is keep looking you are bound to find similar style bikes as the 05 620 for around the same year, and same price with probably 1/3 the miles on it.
i hear you when you say you don't want the carbed bike bc of the working on it yourself that is a good thing to consider.
i say keep looking i think you will find plenty of ducati monsters for sale that are in your price range, lower mileage if you so desire. but then again the higher mileage bike if all the work is done and it doesnt' need anything ti might be a good deal that you could possibly negotiate a lower price on. but who knows?
Well first off, welcome to the forum. This is a great place with a wealth of knowledge and some great people. Where are you located? You shouldn't have any problems with the higher mileage bike if it has been maintained properly. The same thing holds true to the older bike. Timing belts NEED to be changed every 2 years regardless of mileage. I would tell you to get the 750 so you can have a bike to grow into but there is nothing wrong with a 620. I have a carbed bike and its not a big deal to start if you know how to do it. It can be a bit tricky when its cold but not a problem if your familiar with it. Costs to maintain the bike should be the same. If either bike has belts or tires that are older than two years old then they should be replaced. The prices sound reasonable to me on both bikes.
To answer above, I am in Chandler Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.
Thank you for the welcome.
As an update:
The owner of the 2005 will not negotiate under $3600 on the price.
The owner of the 2001 negotiated to $3000 on the price.
Additional questions:
How often do the carbs need to be cleaned, and what is the cost?
How much does it cost to change the timing belts?
Thank you all again!
You can find a better cheaper monster someplace else. But good choice on wanting one of the best bikes on the planet (IMO) [drink]
there is a guy on this forum that has a 620 w/ 30 plus thousand miles, he might have an opinion. IZ is his username
also welcome to the forum...
if it is your 1st bike...I'd go for the dented bike because at some point you will drop it and it already has been christened which means you won't be as pist if something further happens...just my initial .02
both bikes have very promising and troubling points...like others have said, ask for service records/documented history...if it can't be provided, then maybe just walk away as a starting point of this decision...
as a gut reaction between the 2, my choice would be for the 750 as sometimes the older Carbie bikes are somewhat simpler to deal with in diag and repair from an electrics and running point of view, so the "KISS" principle appeals to me....if you are able and capable of wrenching yourself at all ( not talking serious stuff, but basics here)...it would be a good bike to learn and grow with on multiple levels...no immobilizer for keys to deal with, no serious computer reflashing or anything like power commanders needed when doing any modification later on...it just is more appealing to me personally....and it isn't a high milage bike, so there shouldn't be really too much to worry about IF it has been maintained reasonably.
Quote from: frick1am on January 13, 2009, 08:55:22 PM
To answer above, I am in Chandler Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.
Thank you for the welcome.
As an update:
The owner of the 2005 will not negotiate under $3600 on the price.
The owner of the 2001 negotiated to $3000 on the price.
Additional questions:
How often do the carbs need to be cleaned, and what is the cost?
How much does it cost to change the timing belts?
Thank you all again!
The only time you would ever need to clean the carbs is if the bike sat long enough for the fuel to go bad and you didn't add a fuel stabilizer to the tank. This takes several months and should will not be an issue on a bike that gets ridden. Fuel can go bad in a bike, car, fuel injected, or carbed. An injected bike would be more of an issue if fuel went bad because you may have to replace injectors. As far as belts go I would think a dealer would charge somewhere around 300 - 400 bucks to replace them but I do all my own work so don't quote me on that. I think $3000 bucks for a 750 is a good deal and would jump on it. You wont regret it.
You may want to check the local Arizona board on this forum here http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=34.0 good luck and keep us updated.
Jon
Carburetors don't ever have to be cleaned in a motorcycle that has been properly taken care of. Don't think of carburetors as a drawback.
Buy the 750, ride it for a few years, get totally hooked on Ducatis, then start buying other Ducati models. That's how it worked for me. 8)
IMO, the 750 is the better of the two bikes. I've got a '99 750 and it's got 31,000 miles. I've cleaned the carbs exactly zero times. Just ride it regularly and they won't need cleaning. Starting isn't difficult until temps drop below freezing. As long as your battery has a good charge it'll start. As others have said, you can find a 620 for probably around the same price with fewer miles on it. My 750 also had a tank dent when I bought it. I tossed a couple bullet-hole stickers on it and now it's a "feature."
JM
Quote from: Tim on January 14, 2009, 06:08:06 AM
Oh yeah, welcome to the DML; you've come to the right place! [thumbsup]
Tim
Blasphemy! :-X
I think he means welcome to the DMF [beer]
Go with the carbie......my friend has an '01 m750. I have a blast on that bike every time I get on it! Light, nimble, and if anything does go "wrong" it is a very simple design/easy to work on. I think you will develop a closer bond with the 750. A carbed bike forces you to pay attention to it a little more, and rewards you for the tweaks you give it. Almost as if it was alive, and because of that a passion for these machines is created that you will never be able to shake 8)
Now go chew on some [bacon] and let us know what you decide.
I had a 99 carbed 750, had no problems with it, didn't clean the carbs myself, I'm thinking that when you take it in for service they can do it for you. I loved that bike, great starter bike, don't worry about the tank dent I had one on mine too and didn't even notice it after awhile, it's just part of the bike. For $3K you could ride the crap out of it then when you're ready to get a SR series you could at least break even if not make money off selling it. Good luck.
Quote from: labbedds on January 14, 2009, 09:09:06 AM
I had a 99 carbed 750, had no problems with it, didn't clean the carbs myself, I'm thinking that when you take it in for service they can do it for you.
You guys keep making the assumption that it is necessary to clean carburetors once in a while.
This is not true.
As long as you don't let it sit long enough for the gas to evaporate and gum things up, there is nothing in a carburetor that needs to be cleaned.
I used to have both an older carbed 750 and a newer injected 620 in the garage....
now there's only the 750.
tells ya how i would vote 8)
Invest in some good quality gear. [thumbsup]
Quote from: JEFF_H on January 14, 2009, 09:52:06 AM
I used to have both an older carbed 750 and a newer injected 620 in the garage....
now there's only the 750.
tells ya how i would vote 8)
Not really.
Either the 750 is the bike in the garage because you only kept one of the two.
Or the 750 is in the garage because you're always riding the 620. :P
or he sold the 620 cause he could get more money for it.
or the 620 is in the shop cause of FI problems
or the 750 is in the garage cause it won't start.
Quote from: Raux on January 14, 2009, 11:57:02 AM
or he sold the 620 cause he could get more money for it.
or the 620 is in the shop cause of FI problems
or the 750 is in the garage cause it won't start.
Or maybe the 750 needs a carb cleaning [cheeky]
He sold the 620 cause Karen would have stabbed him in the face with a soldering iron if he had touched her bike. [laugh]
We all know 620s are for losers :P
[popcorn]
Quote from: Court-Jester on January 14, 2009, 12:15:07 PM
He sold the 620 cause Karen would have stabbed him in the face with a soldering iron if he had touched her bike. [laugh]
We all know 620s are for losers :P
Yeah, probably.
What are you riding right now? :-*
BTW, I had an 05 620
It was bullet proof during my 3 years ownership, and a blast to ride. You get the 6 speed, wet slipper clutch, and if you're lucky a metal tank and gold calipers on the front (look for these)
As for not working on it....... thats what you say...... for now. [evil]
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 14, 2009, 12:19:30 PM
Yeah, probably.
What are you riding right now? :-*
Must.. not... make... obscene... comment....
Nothing........ quite yet. [evil]
(asshole) [cheeky]
This turned out to be not only informative... but quite entertaining!!
Thanks to all for replying, it makes the decision a lot easier, and makes me a lot more comfortable.
Barring unforseen unpleasantries, I plan on picking it up on Friday and promptly having it checked out at the dealership to make sure nothing urgent or costly is needed.
I will keep you posted about how it goes!
Thanks again!
I look forward to years more of riding AND posts!!
[moto]
Quote from: Court-Jester on January 14, 2009, 12:22:11 PM
BTW, I had an 05 620
It was bullet proof during my 3 years ownership, and a blast to ride. You get the 6 speed, wet slipper clutch, and if you're lucky a metal tank and gold calipers on the front (look for these)
As for not working on it....... thats what you say...... for now. [evil]
Ditto - except mine was an '03
i just recently sold mine to get a 900. I would still be enjoying the 620 if the 900 deal hadn't swung my way.
Either way - the only problem i ever had on it was the clutch springs softening (easy peasy).
Buy gear!
Buy gear!
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 14, 2009, 12:29:32 PM
Buy gear!
Despite the other crap this goober spews, this.
Buy gear, wear gear, and don't crash.
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 14, 2009, 12:29:32 PM
Buy gear!
That's what I shall happily be doing with the additional $600 I saved with this bike.
Any specific suggestions?
Currently I have a HJC helmet and some gloves, but nothing I am attached to. I wear Doc Martens so far...
I am eyeing a suomy helmet, and still need a good jacket.
Quote from: frick1am on January 14, 2009, 12:33:10 PM
That's what I shall happily be doing with the additional $600 I saved with this bike.
Any specific suggestions?
Currently I have a HJC helmet and some gloves, but nothing I am attached to. I wear Doc Martens so far...
I am eyeing a suomy helmet, and still need a good jacket.
www.newenough.com (http://www.newenough.com)
Quote from: frick1am on January 14, 2009, 12:33:10 PM
That's what I shall happily be doing with the additional $600 I saved with this bike.
Any specific suggestions?
Currently I have a HJC helmet and some gloves, but nothing I am attached to. I wear Doc Martens so far...
I am eyeing a suomy helmet, and still need a good jacket.
Check out the gear forum, lots of good stuff there. Kick the Docs, get some real boots (for riding)
An HJC saved my life, but they are nosier than hell.
If you have a good helmet I would wait on getting another one. Spend theextra coin on jacket/pants/boots and make sure the gloves are good quality.
I will shamelessly put a plug in here for Cyclegear. I would think they have a store local to you. They have always helped me out and are always easy to deal with.
+1 on good gear...... it has taken me two years to piece together a full set of gear, but it is entirely worth it! You will be amazed at how much more confident and in control you feel on the bike with correct, moto specific gear. After a while it becomes as much a part of riding as the bike itself. You feel naked on the bike without it.
As a wise DMF member once told me, "$1,000 worth of gear will save you $10,000+ in medical expenses". The cheapest insurance you can buy. I walked away(rode 300mi back home) from a 40mph low side where the bike ended up on top of me without so much as a bruise. [moto]
Glad you chose the 750.... you are getting a hell of a deal on it. Post pics and a full report ASAP 8)