Ducati Monster Forum

8 months and 2,500 miles ago I purchased my first motorcycle, a 05 620. I have been riding regularly and I am getting more confident and capable on my bike. I have been riding with two superbike school instructors lately and one recently said."I am one of the most conservative people around, but you have outgrown your bike. It's time to upgrade." I am not entirely sure I agree as I still have a good bit to learn in the corners and smoothing out my shifting. That being said I have been thinking about what to upgrade to when the time comes. I'm not much of a fan of the new monster, even though I thought I liked it at first. I rode a hypermotard the other weekend and I loved it, but it's ugly. I know, I know you can't see the bike while you are riding it but I really want to lust after the bike I ride and it does not do it for me. I really like the Sport Classic 1000 S, particularly in red. I am aware that it is uncomfortable, but it is amazing to look at. I would suffer with a sore back and sore wrists just to be able to call it mine and I'm not getting any younger. Any suggestions or comments on suggestions on what my next bike should be and at what point should I consider an upgrade.

Guess you have to ask yourself, what is it about your 620 you dislike?

Be honest, if it's nothing, then ride it another year.

Jumping to a larger bike for more power might be too soon, but only you can answer that...

Maybe he was calling you fat when he said you outgrew your bike  ;D [cheeky]


That aside, 2,500 miles? I seriously doubt you are ready to upgrade. Even if you can ride the bike to its full capability, you have not yet spent enough time on the street to be prepared for all of the dumbmake the beast with two backsery that has yet to come your way. I would say you're still learning, and continuing to learn more, while on a faster bike, will not necessarily be conducive.


That also aside, it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow. I'd stick with the 620 and keep your license  ;)

Strong words coming from someone selling a S4R.

It means I'm standing behind my statement of saying it's more fun to ride a slow bike fast. I'm going to be on a 63 horsepower Honda once the duc is gone.

It's very simple: If you don't think you need a new bike, then you don't.

I think a lot of people believe that as you get more experienced, you need a bigger bike. What for? Do you need a bike that leans more in corners? Get rearset pegs and/or high pipes. Do you want a bike that accelerates quicker? Put a 14t sprocket on the front. Do you feel like it's a little soft in the corners? Get the suspension reworked. If you want a higher top speed (130ish isn't enough?) then, yes you need a bigger motor.

It's not about the size of the bike, it's the size of the grin that counts.

I'd be curious to know what about your bike this guy thinks you've outgrown. 

I'm scraping the pedals and kick stand frequently when I ride (90% of my riding is in the twisties) and I have a tough time keeping up with them in the straights. He also thinks the suspension is too soft for the riding we do, but what the heck do I know.

Depends on what you're looking at for a bigger bike. Most ducs you would find would be too soft out of the box.


As far as scraping-are you hanging off the bike?

just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.  our experiences are almost identical.  i bought my first bike ~ 6 months ago - an '03 M620 - and haven't put as many miles on it as you, but have ridden to work in city traffic virtually every day.  i love my bike, but my issue is mainly one of acceleration ... i'd like to be able to out-run almost any car on the road (not for race purposes, just to accelerate away from traffic), and i'm sick of being dusted by triumph's off the line (bad for the ducati image).  ;D

anyway, i was going to write a posting similar to yours but i figured i'd get a lot of similar responses a la "keep riding it for a while, you're not ready yet".  there's some merit to those i suppose.  i found erik822's response to be quite useful ... i'm gonna look into the sprocket upgrade.

anyway, like i said, just wanted to let you know you're not the only one in this situation!

i'm the same as you been wanting to upgrade the 620 for months but can't bc its such an "easy" bike to deal with, the maint is relatively easy, its a start up and go bike, no real worries with warmup or such, its great for commuting with saddlebags, great for everyday riding, good all aroud bike that is fun but not overly scary.

i would stay with it for a while longer, dont' worry the 90hp and above bikes will be there in a few months and years ahead they arent' going anywhere.

I'm not hanging off the bike as much as I should, and that's something I need to work more on.

Go to a track school. You'll realize you're more than fine on the street with what you have. Maybe get some pipes and a 14t sprocket on it.

Thanks, I appreciate the post.

I am also skeptical of lifting the pipes, putting new resets and rebuilding/replacing the suspension because at the end of the day it's a 620 and I'll never get the money out of it. It makes more sense financially to buy a better bike than dump money into a bike that will continue to have the same value regardless of the number of modifications.

I'l probably just stick with the 620 for a while until I feel it is significantly limiting my riding style.

Not a bad suggestion.

I'm proud of you Dave ...you didn't try to sell him a used S4R.     Dolph      ;D

Your 620 has pedals?  ???    ;)

I seriously doubt you're outriding your 620 after 2,500 miles. I've done a couple trackdays with a local guy who had a 620...he was very fast (Leo Lam for the old timers). He would drag knees at every corner, and scrape hard parts...to the point his mufflers were wearing through. He would also pass a lot bigger bikes on the track.

You say the acceleration isn't there, but are you pegging the throttle all the time? You could also try a 1/4 turn throttle, which will make it easier to peg...thus making the bike feel faster. Just an idea.

That said, I don't think you have to outride a bike to move up. If you want a bigger bike then get one. I see your concern about spending money on the 620's suspension, when you can get a larger bike with adjustable suspension. 

First, 2,500 on an 05' 620 dude i have 15,300 on my 05 620.  Second your bike is more than capable to do anything other larger bikes can do besides speeds in excess of 120.  A shift in your positioning will prevent you from scraping your foot pegs.  The ONLY reasons for upgrading is because you want another bike or the monster is sputtered its last breath.  Go out an thrash a bit with other bikers you will spend the whole day talking about your bike and realize exactly what you have. So go out and enjoy.






--- don't talk about wanting other bikes in front of the monster she gets temperamental.

also, i have to say.. your 'friends' who are calling you out cause you can't keep up... are jerks. ride at your own pace.

I don't want to mislead anyone by saying that my buddies are calling me out because they are not. They just said it may be time to upgrade. No hard sell, it was just a suggestion.

Go to a track day school (or a few) and learn your bike until your friends can't keep up with you in the corners & then get a new bike (if you want). In the mean time, direct your friends to this (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=117.0) article.

If you're concerned about spending money on your 620 to get it where you need want it, you're going to have the same issues with any monster of that style. The S*R monsters have more clearance as do the new monsters.

I'm getting a smaller bike next, less power, less weight. Power to weight is where it's at.

track school

rearsets

clip-ons

+1

I know a guy with an 03 620 with rearsets and clipons that has no trouble keeping up (since that seems to be your concern).

Its a free country buy what you want. If you like the aesthetics of a Sport Classic 1000 S and can afford it, buy it, buy two. Knock yourself out. All the track school in the world will not make your 620 look like anything but a 620. New pipes, clipons, and all the other parts you can bolt on still makes your bike a 620 with a lot of stuff bolted on.

By the way, you can never have too much power... If  you don't need it, don't twist.


Or maybe I'm completely full of sh!t.

Bingo.  :P

these guys might argue with you.

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=10944.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=10944.0)

Those guys argue with me all the time. But you need to borrow Mo to get a 620 looking as good as those.

 ???

(http://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/moe-szyslak.jpg)

Unless you are too big, weight/height, for the 620 you do not need to upgrade. Nobody ever listens to me but more motor/hp is way overated unless you are on the track. I do about 45K miles a year, most of that on two lane twisty roads. I ride with experienced riders and we move rather quickly through the turns and except for an occasional blast on a straight here or there we spend the bulk of our time doing 60-80mph and having a blast. I prefer my M900 over my S2R1000 for the street and having ridden a 696 I would say that is probably all anyone needs for the street. As one example, last year 6 of us went over to Mid-ohio from VA, all back roads, spent a day doing the roads of SE Ohio. One guy was on a 620, another on an S4R, the guy on the 620 had no problem keeping up yet the guy on the S4R did and that bike had $4K+ of perfromance mods done to it, plenty of HP. Suspension can be upgraded rather easily, I upgraded to race tech on all 3 of my Ducati's which puts me within about 90% of Ohlins for a lot less money. Pegs dragging are a problem on the older mosnters, get some rear sets. If you want more pickup change the gearing, 3 up in the back or 1 down in the front, you may also want to change the torque - that's where it realy counts BTW - not HP - do that with some cans, filter, and PC or another ecu. Anyway hope this helps - Gene

The 620 is fine, as other's have mentioned, re-spring it and buy yourself a track day or track school session.  My 62HP M750, even 2-up wasn't too far behind the Speed Triples, 900SS, Falco and 955i on the last "spirited" ride I was on ~

JM

Well, hell, if we wanta go extremes, the wife was passing liter bikes in the twisties over the summer.....



on a Ninja 250.

If you're undersprung, you are going to drag parts more and be slower in the corners.  I would definitely have your suspension set for your weight.  You WILL have a new bike ... it will feel like it, anyway ... and it will only cost a couple hundred bucks.  Spend a little more to get the damping dialed, and you may just be faster than your friends in the corners.

Between that and riding technique, I think you have many more miles of fun in the 620.  [thumbsup]

I put 38,000 miles on my 05 620 before upgrading, and if she had a working tach and speedo I'd still be riding that bike. I've never had a problem passing people or going fast enough. YMMV though.

What would it cost to re-spring the bike. That sounds like a good option. Also does anyone know what a set of rear sets installed run?

That's something I will look into.

Well said.

Pjs Parts has Rizoma rearsets for 600: http://www.pjsparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=59&osCsid=3eecf5e9d4675d7b07ff55681d9204c5

Occasionally you find them for sale here, or group buys. Ebay too.

Monsterparts  has a couple rearsets as well.

The sponsors board might have some good deals.

Any idea on what they cost to install? Are they easy to bolt on?

rear sets are an easy DIY kinda thing  [thumbsup]

Thats what I like to hear.

http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/FR-10-CF112/Controls/FR-10-CF112.html (http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/FR-10-CF112/Controls/FR-10-CF112.html)


Jeff is da man

Fantastic thread. Thank you to all commentors. I have 9K on my 620 and want to keep up with my riding group as well. It was like an accordion being 5th back in a pack of about 13 on my last outing, holding up the rear. I now know its up to me now and not a limitation of the machine.