Ducati Monster Forum

I'm getting my first Ducati shortly, and I'm curious why everyone else chose this brand. 

Personally, I do not know anyone else who rides a Ducati, and I was even discouraged from buying one because friends thought they were high maintenance.  However, I remember seeing one about ten years ago, and somehow I just knew that I had to own one someday.  This was MY brand of motorcycle.  That, and lately everything else that comes from Italy has been the best quality I could imagine. 

So why did you choose Ducati over all of the other brands out there?  The engine?  Their racing history?  The bike design?  Friends?

I had been out of motorcycling for years when a co worker had a Monster for sale.

I saw it, and it reminded me of a Norton Commando on roids.

I knew I had to have it.

wanted one since I was 15.  Mom tried to underwrite me for one, and my Dad shot that down.  may have saved my life that once.  I wasn't the safest teen.... 

Owned two Suzukis, but the draw of the Monster never left...  Then the S2R came out and I knew what I had to have.... 

Is it as easy to own as a Suzuki? No...  Is it moving in ways no Suzuki I've ridden ever was?  Yarb.

The torque.  I had been riding Jap I-4's for a few years and after my first ride on a Duc ('87 Paso 750), I knew I found something I liked....A LOT!

I knew I had to have a Ducati...then I just had to figure out which one.  I loved the Monster from first sight, so....I bought one!

high reving but thundering v-twin in a good-handling sportbike (versus cruising) frame where you can still see the motor.   Narrow list.   

I was looking for something less civilized than my FJR for around town, back and forth to work, short weekend rides etc.

Then my kid brought home a Monster.  Had to have one too.  And you can see the engine!

In the late eighties, I had taken my kids on a weekend camping trip to Willow Springs to watch WERA racing. While camped out on the hill near turn 4, every so often you would hear a bike fly past that sounded different from the others. It was a deep evil sound. A trip into the pits later that day revealed the source of that sound. Prior to that day, I had never heard the name Ducati.

I was hooked.

When the monster was first introduced.... I had to have one. It's naked.... it's loud... and every picture I saw of one, it's front wheel was in the air.

It took quite a few years to purchase the dream...... but as in most things, it was well worth the wait.

I lucked into one. The price was way too good to pass up.

Worked at a car wash all through high school.  Saw a dark do a 20 foot burnout to dry his tires and I was hooked on the monster.

Got money from a pre-commissioning loan, and here I am.

The soul....












 [laugh] No ones said that and I'm surprised. (real reason cause the looks and performance were there. ohh and the fact you can really mod the heck out of them)

I saw my first one in 93' when I was 18 and just out of high school. The guy pulled into a gas station as I was pulling out it was red with a chopped tail ,exhaust tucked under the seat and sounded awsome. I never saw the name on the bike but I never forgot it. So fast forward 12 years and finally having disposable income and missing my old Honda Shadow I searched the internet till I found what the mystery bike was. A quick trip to MCC in Villa Park and  I now own my S4 and have to say it is the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle.  [thumbsup]

I thought about that, but I didn't really know it had soul until after owning it for a while.  The torque was what 'won me over' and made my decision.  Oh, that and the looks!

as i was learning to ride a 125 aprilia (mandatory 2years on 125cc in switzerland) they came out with the monster, and i remember me druling all over them everythimg i seen one, iknew i had to have one sooner or later,and now later is here [thumbsup]

first bike was an old Ducati single and i had a soft spot for it when years later i was riding hondas.  i found a 93 supersport in 98 and fell back in love with them. 

Currently, I have

2005 S2R
1995 900SP
1996 600SS
1981 Darmah SS
1977 500GTL

The last two are antiques and I also have a few Cagiva bikes with Ducati engines.  Part of it is the ride just feels right -- very flickable, low centre of gravity and lots of torque.  The 600ss has the most thrills for under 60hp, as it is ultra lightweight.  the 900ss has been tuned and tweaked so it can wheelie when shifting to 2nd... 

cause I love starbucks coffee and I need an excuse to wear the fine looking dainese leathers and futuristic puma boots

i thought you liked fine italian velour pants

Ten or so years ago a full exhaust 916/996 drove by - something happened in my pants.....

Never thought about it again - "too expensive".

At a dealer looking for an Aprilia Versus or something uninteresting like that, walked by a red S2R, stopped and stared, tested one with Termis and never doubted my instincts.

At first it was the sound and tank design, then it was the performance, then the modability, now it's about improving skills and bonding with my bike.

My local club and the DML/DMF has doubled the value of my ownership [thumbsup] Ducatisti  [moto]

Cause I was entering a freeway sometime around '95, and one blew past me with high pipes and a loud exhaust, (if i saw it again I could tell you what exhaust) and I knew I had to have one.  It took a little longer than I thought it would, but I got mine in 07.  Still need to get high pipes on it.

I had like 4 friends who bought 750's in 1972.  The GT's were cool, but when Tom drove up on the yellow 750 sport and than later friend Bill with his Green Frame 750 Desmo SS (still has it) and I hear what sounded like the voice of God coming out of those Conti megaphones, and that layed down front cylinder looked like nothing else - engine a stress member of the frame, shit ....... I was done for.  Been a Ducati freak ever since.  

I love all motorcycles; really anything that's got grease and wheel on it, but Ducati is the top of the heap for me.  Ducati strikes a chord in me nothing else does. [bow_down] [bow_down] [bow_down]  Sort of a soulful, spiritual thing too.

LA

front or back???  not that i need details, i think ppl are split into two camps when it comes to the right sounding exhaust:  wood vs skid marks.

I heard it coming down the street - I was prepared, so no skidmarks. I could follow the noise for a long while, but I think it was
the driveby vibration that did it for me. Never happened with a Harley though.

I suppose I'm responsible for a few skidmarks when I catch up and blow by unexpecting cagers [cheeky]
Full throttle, 7,000 rpm in a dark tunnel  [evil]

Ducati for me because of one bike, the 916.  I was entering high school just as it came out, and was also just getting hooked on street bikes.  My early experiences were all Harley.  Then I rode a sportbike (Ninja 600R) for the first time and was hooked.  Here was a bike that worked so much better on southern Missouri roads that I could not believe it.

I started reading Cycle World (High School library had a subscription that they kept just for me ;D).  When the 916 broke it was on the cover.  I knew I had to have a Ducati Superbike.  Test after test, it was the benchmark.  Whatever Japan Inc. threw at it was slower, even with a lot more power.  Of course, I still haven't had one.  For me the Monster is one step in the right direction.  My only intent was to get going on it again, and then after a few years trade up to a Superbike.  In fact, the Monster is always for sale if anyone is interested...

I had always known about Ducati, always loved the sound.

But then the first Monster was shown to the World in 93(?), and from that day forward I knew one would be mine, I looked and listened to them at every opportunity that I could, I read TOB/Magazines/books and other trying to learn the quirks and way things had to be done, and then finally in mid 07 I could afford one!  ;D
I had been staring at them on the web and I was already to go and purchase a 695, I was not interested in the S4 models, don't like all the Radiators and stuff, Air cooled for me.

But then I spotted the S2R, always seen them on Ducati's website, but they never did anything for me, but now having seen one in the metal, I said to the wife 695 be damned and deposit was paid on the S2R 800 the next day.

In the time I waited (August deposit paid, December biked arrived) Ducati had upgraded the bike slightly, so no zip ties around the frame, wiring cleaned up and some other bits and pieces.

It's been in for some warranty claims, it's waiting for new engine cases at the moment (The paint has blistered) and we had no end of Drama's getting the Termi/ECU/Air Filter kit to work correctly.

But get it out onto the highway or Mountain range and start letting the Monster of the leash and quite frankly
I wouldn't have any other bike  [thumbsup]

1. Artful engineering.

2. The sound.

3. The usable power/torque.

Back when I was in College around 1980, we rode a lot of the little Jap 2 strokes, like the RD400, great bikes for there time, but then one of the other kids shows up with a Super Sport. Oh my God that thing was fine, and after riding on the back of it I fell in love with Ducati's. I'll always remember how it cornered like it was on rails, versus the bending flexing and weaving of the crap frames on our bikes.

Fast forward about 3 decades and I find myself wanting to get back into bikes, and there was no substitute for the Ducati, and when I saw the Monsters I knew I had to get one. I almost mought an S4R, but luckily I listened to my gut and went with the S2R. My wallet and insurance has thanked my ever since  [moto]

In high school I saw an 851.  Wanted a Ducati ever since.  Never really even thought about riding anything else.  20 years later I finally got one.  I ended up with a Monster because the superbikes are way too much bike for me right now.  I'm hoping to make my way up to the 848 or whatever the replacement for it may be in the next few years.

Didn't want a plastic bike.

I am waiting for my first Ducati to be shipped to the dealer this week.

No one who I know real well has a Ducati.  

I owned a Harley Davidson Sportster and a Kawasaki ZX6R, both which were decent bikes in their own way.

The reason I chose to get a Ducati and go with Monster 696 is because of several reasons and the high cost of maintenence was definately not one of them.   hahaha
I would prefer to get to get a Japanese bike as I think they are better bikes for the money, but here is why I went with the Italian bike at higher cost and maintenence.

1. Ducati dealers are basically the only motorcycle dealer I know of who actually have demo bikes and demo days for customers to test ride before they buy it.  being able to get on a Monster 696 and ride it around made me more attracted to it than one from a Japanese bike dealer where I can't test ride the bike to see if I would really like it or not. This relationship that Ducati dealers has with people looking to buy their first bike or another bike is a plus for me.

2. Already having owned a cruiser and a supersport bike, I wanted something more standard, yet still sporty this time and that lead to the more upright seating posture on the Monster streetfighter style bike.

3. I liked the looks and design of the Monster over other standard bikes.  Closest thing would be the new Suzuki Gladius coming out this year, but the features and performance on the Gladius doesn't come near the Ducati Monster.

4.  Did you ever see anyone look at a Ducati on the street and say it was a POS???......   Neither have I.

We all bought for the same reason. "It's who we are".

Back in 97 a friend of mine had a 750 Monster.  You know only year silver budder.  Well he kept telling me to take it for a spin and I would just envision dollar signs flying through the air.  Well one day I broke down and rode the damn thing and have been hooked ever since.  It is everything.  The good.  The bad.  It is the whole experience.  I'm on 4th and there will be more because there is no cure, thankfully, for this disease.

always like the look and sorta liked the sound.

went to look at a used one, and was hoping that it would not be that good so that i wouldnt' spend money on it.  basically it was about 800 more than i wanted to pay but figured check it out see what this "whole ducati" thing is about.

test rode it, and basically the first time i hit the brakes i was sold.  solid feeling brakes and the sound and responsiveness of the bike hooked me.  but mainly it was how powerful the brembo brakes were that got me.  went back and told the guy i would take it.

LUCKILY !!! I was lead to look at DUCATI's from a member of the old board that lives in UT :


I didn't really like the BMW's so I immediately canceled that one out ...
Couldn't find very many Tuono's / used one's for sale, although I still like the Tunono very much ...

And the name DUCATI just struck me ... as I always thought the bikes were WAY MORE $$$ than they actually are

Found my M900 in Aspen, CO drove 18 hrs straight there and back, and have loved my MONSTER ever since :) :) :)

~DaVe

In the Spring of 95 I was at some Cycle Gear event in Sacramento sitting with my friends admiring all our new Yamahas, Suzukis, Hondas and Kawisakis. Suddenly we hear this booming, clanging racket that is just getting louder. We all get up walk around the corner and we see this tiny red bike booming sound waves all over everything....suddenly every bike already there just got less cool.

I still wasn't sold. Then I saw a green 998 on one of the "Matrix" movies. Still wasn't completely convinced...until I saw the concept HyperMotard. I also discovered what that clanging noise was...dry clutch. I was ready to buy a Hypermotard....then I saw an S4RS Monster...loud dry clutch, boomy exhaust and call it "Monster?"  [thumbsup]

Back in HS, buddy's dad bought a new Paso.  Got hooked right there.  Nothing else sounded the same.  Then the Monster came out in '93, I've been hooked since then.  Always knew if I finally bought a road bike, I'd get one.  Almost pulled the trigger on an S2R800 a few years back.

I really do own a few velour fila and sean john suits lol my girl hates when i rock em

oh and I honestly thought ducatis cost $80k and up
until one day on my lunch break I went to ducati in soho to ask how much the red black ducati 695 was and he's like $7999 im like THATS IT?????
hes like you want to pay more?? damn all along I thought these were some high end bikes meanwhile anyone can own one so i bought a 695
it sucked imo

you would have loved it if they charged you the 80 large. ;)

1.) I am Italian
2.) I like the look of Naked Bikes and the Monster
3.) Not as common as other bikes
4.) The Dry Clutch sound
5.) As a vertically challenged person I did not have many options and the Monster has a low seat height.

A few years after moving to SoCal, and seeing all the fun being had on two wheels by my Business partner's husband, I decided I needed a motorcycle.
   I had dabbled with the idea off and on through college, but an Italian mother and the "Catholic Guilt" that was handed out by said mother, dissuaded me from ever getting one.

   I was talking one day with my friend (who has a gazillion bikes) and said that I was thinking about buying my roomate's DR-z400 motard. He told me not to get it, but to buy his friends' bike instead.  I asked what kind of bike and he tells me "Ducati."  I was like HUH?!  For real? my first bike? I don't think I could handle one for my first bike!
   
   Well, I  went over there about a week later after work, and in his garage was a shiny red Monster 750.  I was like, "Dude, you got a Ducati?"  He looks at me and says, "No, YOU got a Ducati..."

   Love at first sight, first time twisting the throttle in the garage, first ride.  I'm Hooked.   [wine]

Now, anyone have a 900SS for sale?   [evil]

 For me it is a few things. I have had many bikes, both offroad and on. Most were Japanese. I will never say anything bad about Japanese products for we all know they are terrific. I followed racing since a kid and know all about Ducati. When I saw the new Monsters I had to have one. What I love about it is, in the refinement area it is very close and better than some modern japanese bikes. In the area of competition I always go for the underdog and Ducati is a giant slayer. My Ducati out handles many Jap bikes and is refined enough yet rough in the right places as in the sound. I like the minimalist approach of the Ducati Monster. just look at the switch gear and throttle of the 696, simple, clean and efficient. No BS

The sound of the motor. I like the sound of the twin, and I am not at coming up on any point in life where I want to go slow, so cruisers were out.

The offerings in the naked section by the Japanese manufacturers were unappealing; bland; almost tragically trendy. The sound of an inline 4 cylinder does nothing for my imagination.

Ducati has a great racing history. Is relatively small. I love the color Red. I like the iconic trellis frame and dry clutch. It fits me as a complete package. I'm unlikely to pull up to a stoplight next to one like mine.

Things I don't like: The starbuckian stereotype, the wait for parts, the cost of certain maintenance procedures at dealerships (so I often go to the non-dealer mechanic. I don't particularly like the direction of the angular stylings of the 696/hypermotard/streetfighter - I like the smooth rounded designs with more character with less Japenese inspired angles. That being said, the motors in them are fantastic, and the looks grow on me.

Well put!  [thumbsup]

I am drawn to machines with huge aftermarket cult followings.

It might be worth mentioning that i was drawn to ducati sportbikes from my love of the monster, not the other way around

and many other reasons that have already been mentioned, including the sooooound

So in 2005 I finally got my license and then had to decide on a bike, hated the idea of a 5 hour cruise on a sports bike, couldn't reconcile myself on a harley, so I was split between a BMW GS and seeing if I could find something a litte more fun ..... then I stumbled into a new Ducati dealership and the guy was so desperate to sell a bike I got a quick ride on another customers bike (I've never taken my bike to get serviced there since), and on his 749.  Bought the 620 dark, dual front disk for $1000.00 under sticker and had it in the driveway the next week, divorced started two weeks after the bike purchase.  Best decision I ever made!   [laugh]


So that was 05, last year traded it in for the last new S2R 800 in town and got it for the same price I paid for the 620, they even gave me over 50% of the purchase price of the 620 with about 14000km on it.  Have to say I love the S2R for around town, it is even pretty good on the highway for longer rides.  Now the gf says she wants her own monster ....... trying to convience her to drive mine and I can pick up an S4R but I don't think she will buy into that.

Cheers

 [drink]

Sound, look, uniqueness.  I've seen only 1 other Monster like mine in my local area.  I've never seen another SS at all in my local area.  My 1st four bikes were Suzuki's and I've owned another since, but sold it because it lacked any soul and replaced it with my 900SS

JM

because the first time i saw a monster, the feeling i got was nothing like anything ive experienced before... It stirs up an emotion that a sportbike is not capable of, yes that even includes the almighty Desmosedici...

From a distance, pretty much all sportbikes look identical...

I've been pretty much a car/bike nut all my life, and italians are the ultimate. Lamborghini (cause he told Enzo screw off) and Ducati are the tops. Now since a Lambo is a bit beyond my reach, Ducati is the next best, well that and a Maserati, Alfa, etc. you get the point.

Anyway, chose the new monster cause wanted the upright feel with the handling, had looked at STs to a 749, but when i saw the Pearl White Monster... I knew i would be getting another monster (99 City was first one).

BUT now that i have the bike, and sold off my project Fiat 124 spider... i'm thinking about starting a project SS. so i'm looking for a older broken bike i can rebuild part by part. that or a Lambo Jalpa on the cheap  ;D

I like things that are relatively unique.  You can't swing a dead travel gnome around SoCal without hitting a gsxr/cbr/zx/r sportbike.  Originally I was going to get a kawi 650R, but when i learned a used monster was similar price and similar ergos, I knew that was what I wanted.  I always presumed (like a lot of people) that anything labeled "ducati" was out of my price range.  I'm glad I was proved wrong by a concerned duc rider.


Regards
Andy

Love the name, the cult/following, the looks, the sound and last and the most important, I love the way bike rides!!

Was looking at the SV650, gladius, Street Triple and the monster for my next bike. Didn't want Tom's, Dick's or Harry's SV650, The Gladuis looked like puke shaped into a bike and some how cost only $900 less then the 696 and the Insurance was reaming me on Street triple. So monster it was. As much as I do not like alot of Italian things, they did something very very right here!!!!

watching the SBK races as a kid, the images beautiful red Ducati rocketing to the finish lines have stuck with me.  Love the look of the bike and love what the brand represent.  But I had always thought Ducati is way out of my range.  Just something you have when you are 1) very sucessful or 2) a racer. 

When I was out to shop for a bike, I started with your typical japanese bikes.  Some small cruisers, for commuting.  One day, I saw an used Monster at a shop.  It immediately caught my eyes.  Just out of curiocity (for sh!ts and giggle), I asked for the price.  I CAN AFFORD A DUCATI!!!!  I knew then, the Ducati Monster is THE bike for me.

Because it was short and fit me better than my first bike, and it looked sexy. ;D

The guy at my local Starbucks looked cool sipping his latte while standing next to it. I needed to look that cool.

that was me and i am cool so you can try

i thought it was your quest to teabag all the ducatis in teh world?

Not all of them, just the ones from owners that live in Indiana.

5.) As a vertically challenged person I did not have many options and the Monster has a low seat height.


One of the reason I picked Ducati Monster. ..Lol....
But I've owned Honda, Kawazaki and Suzuki sportsbikes, and wanted something a little more exotic.
It seems like theres 10 honkayazuki for every one  ducati on the road in my town. 

Look how you will...

you will never be cool. ;)

My best friend made me.

About 3 years ago, he told me that not only had he taken the MSF class, but he had bought a bike 3 months prior without telling me. I knew there was only 1 bike I wanted... the Monster. I had seen one years ago at... wait for it... Starbucks.

I went to the dealer for a 620 Dark, and only had to see the swingarm and cans of the S2R for about 10 seconds before I realized that it was the bike I was ACTUALLY there to pick up.

At the time I ordered the bike, I hadn't EVER ridden before (neither had my friend before that). So I signed up for the class. Had my endorsement 2 weeks later.

Had another friend ride the bike from the dealer when it arrived, as there was no way I was ready to do a freeway on a new bike when my only experience was on a 125 trainer bike. Kept it in my folk's garage for about a month, going over on weekends to learn riding it in the residential neighborhoods, without ever having to go into traffic. First freeway ride was scary.

I'm still learning... on the first bike I've ever owned/ridden... and I know I'll have this bike to the end. Once in a while I'd like a tourer for long slab runs, but I've found a happy medium making the Monster work for that.

Took a 1098 for a test last summer. That is definitely too much for me. Fun, but I wouldn't buy one. And it made my nuts hurt. Beautiful bike, regardless.

While sitting at work one night about 5 years ago, I was bored and surfing the internet. I got a wild hair up my ass to look at motorcycles. I had been wanting a motorcycle off and on for a lot of my childhood. Never pursued it as my mother was totally opposed and would have disowned me. So, there I am surfing online trying to find something I like. Not really into the Harley stuff, don't really like faired bikes. I was looking for something more along the lines of a "basic" motorcycle. Something that looked how I thought a motorcycle should look. Simple, clean lines. Motor, frame, wheels. That's about all I wanted. Didn't see anything that wasn't trying to look like a spaceship or transformer (remember the old insect transformers?) from most manufactures. Was bouncing between Triumph & BMW. Both were 5 digits though. And, I really didn't want to spend that much. I kept looking. For shits, I looked at the Ducati website. Their superbikes were nice, the STs pretty. I looked at the monster and it just made me happy. It looked how the motorcycle in my mind looked. It was clean, simple, and unique. I can't even remember if I had heard one prior to then. I'd gone to the races at Sears Point and Laguna Seca growing up. Caught a few of the motorcycle races. But, really wasn't paying attention to the machines as much as I was just enjoying the racing. So, I went down to the local shop and got some up close and personal time. Less than a month later, MSF was complete, license in hand, I bought my S2R (I know, not the best bike for a 1st rider). It lasted a little over a year before I was run off a one way road. I was bikeless for a while then. Once I got to Japan, I went back to the basics and picked up a nice little 400 that I've been enjoying the hell out of and never plan on parting with. Not even when the kid on the 250 goes screaming by me.

Why must you be so mean?

I have been riding sense i was 5 and even raced motocross as a kid. i have owned to many bikes to list but only two that i wish i had never gotten rid of the 05,620 and the 749 dark, the best bikes I have ever owned  and the soul just get you every time you bring it to life. the ex took the 620 in the divorce and i traded the 749 after neck surgery and I couldn't ride it more than one hour at a time . With that said it's the sound and looks, the air cooling, the way the bikes handle,  and the way it gets in your soul, its hard to explain to someone that doesn't own one why we like the dry clutch and the two cylinder verses the fours that are out there. i use to get a lot of looks when I rode the 749 with the dry clutch ( open ) people think your bike is broken.
 I also have to add that women love them so if you are single or married it will not take long to get her to love it also.
 As far as the cost of ownership goes you get what you pay for, a lot of the parts on jap bike are cheap looking and have to be replaced after a few years. Also the maintenance of the bike can be done at home with a few tool and some books or the internet, there is a lot of info out there for you to do it your self, as a lot of us do.
 I test rode three bikes before I bought my first duck, sv 1000,buel fire bolt 1200, and neither one  of them handled like the duck or sounded like it .

good luck with your search. [thumbsup]
 

 jay

It was the exhaust note that first caught my attention. I thought that a Harley and a Japanese sport bike had pulled up next to me at the same time. I turned my head and there was a Yellow Monster with a dry clutch sitting next to me. I turned my stereo off and rolled down all the windows in my car and stared in awe. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen  :'(.

All I ever wanted after that was a Ducati Monster.

Ducati's are all about the looks, the sound and the feel. The subjective stuff. If we start getting into the objective stuff they don't do as well as some others. For me the subjective stuff is pretty important.

I hadn't ridden in years, uncertain if I'd ever ride again after my brother landed in a wheelchair from a moto accident.  I told myself that if I really wanted to get back into riding, I'd feel a growing pull to get back on a bike.  That pull just wasn't there, and I grew content with my new life as a non-rider.  I didn't care that I wasn't riding.  It just didn't matter.  

Then I saw/heard a Monster dark with Termis.  I was struck by the curve of that wide sexy tank and by the exposed trellis frame.  It looked like art.  Mean, unfriendly matte black urban art.  And the engine and exhaust sound was bliss.  Not loud like the cruisers I was used to.  But deep and angry.  I actually thought it was pissed off.  I'd never seen anything mechanical that felt so visceral, that had such an immediate and such a strong impact on me.  Not a car, not a motorcycle, nada.

A coupla months later, I was back on a bike.  A month after that, I bought my own monster.   [moto]  

I tend to like having things that not everyone has, so I bought my Halrey several years before they became the "in" motorcycle. I'll give you an idea......even with the economy and the drop in price and demand, I can still get what I paid for my HD.......16 years and nearly 90k miles later......and I haven't done anything to the bike by way of mods (it still has the original paint).

When it came to getting a sportbike. I had narrowed it down to a CBR929RR and the Ducati SS750F. I wanted a yellow bike with full fairing and opted the Ducati because they were uncommon and the Honda because I grew up around Hondas and knew of their reliability. I chose the Ducati because I liked the idea of air-cooled and didn't see a point in getting a 130+ HP bike as my first sportbike. I bought the Duc because of its rarity and it's lack of technology (and power).....

Nine years later, I have a few Ducatis and STILL don't have a bike that makes triple digit HP.....but my wife does...and they are both Japanese manufacture.

I also will add this.  Long before I ever got my 1st motorcycle I had a Monster Dark and Dark Supersport that I switched between for desktop backgrounds.  Love them both.  Nearly bought a 750 Sport for $5K new but didn't.  Stupid me.  It was red through and I'm not fanatical about red.

JM

bingo. +1

did you see the girls on the MOTIONSBK bike ?
i make joke                                                                                                                         not

Seriously just about everything everyone else has already posted.

The blonde was staring at me.

for me, it was all about the seat height.

i'm a shrimp, and the 620 monster is the only sport bike i can get a tippy toe down on the ground on  [laugh]

i have since become VeRY attached  ;)

duccarlos you can have the blonde, that arched back made a dirty in my pants..

They were gifts. 

I'd liked the looks of the Monster since '93 and I wanted something a bit more unique and fun to ride than the Sportster I had previously.

Like most guys, I always wanted a motorcycle while I was growing up. Several of my high school friends had them, but I could never convince the parents to let me get one. They're both medical professionals. Dad's comment was something to the effect of "You can get a donorcycle when you're paying for your own health insurance."

There was a guy at my college who rode a red Monster. First time I heard it I fell in lust.

Fast forward 5 years and I joined the military.

Still kinda knew I wanted a bike, but hadn't seriously thought about it for a while. Girl I was dating asked if I knew anyone with a motorcycle I could borrow cause she wanted to ride on the back. Started looking for one of my own. Stumbled across an '03 620 Dark on Craigslist and it reawakened all the longing. A week later it was mine.

I went back and forth on what kind of bike for years before buying my M695. Admittedly, I should have rode all of the types of bikes I was interested in, but with no prior experience, I couldn't ask someone to lend me their pride an joy...."Hey dud, I don't ride yet, but I want to take a spin on your bike - I'll be right back." 

I strongly considered getting an SV650.  The price was right and I couldn't knock the build quality, but the styling didn't do anything for me.  I was also considering a HD Street Rod, but the used versions I saw didn't seem to be holding up well.  I saw corrosion on some very low mile bikes.   I would have loved to get my hands on a Speed Triple, Daytona, or even a  GSXR 600, but felt these would probably be too much for me. 

Ultimately, I kept coming back to the Monster and the Street Triple.  Street Triples were just coming out and it was impossible to find one to even look at so that left me with the one bike that never got checked off my list. 

I liked the idea of a "nekid" bike since I probably would - and did - drop it.  No scratched up fairings there.  Most of all, I loved the sound of Ducati. (If only it had a dry clutch)  I've often found myself rolling down the window in my car to hear a great sounding bike or car and spent a lot of time getting the exhaust note I wanted out of my Mustang.   Beyond the sound, I thought the styling of the Monster was out of this world.  Whereas the styling of a lot of bikes out there left me flat, the Monster moved my soul every time I looked at it.   

Incidentally, I rushed to buy one of the last 695's here.  The full trellis frame and the analogue gauges were a big plus for me.  I can't explain why, but the 696 doesn't have the same va-va-voom factor for me, but the new 1100 is rapidly growing on me.  Must be the single sided swing arm. 

Ah yes yes, Nortons on Hemorrhoids!!!... though I'd always imagined it as hemorrhoids on Nortons :-X

After reading the last six pages of comment I have to say......My reason for choosing a Duc is "ALL OF THE ABOVE!"    [beer]

Originally I wanted to buy a Triumph Streettriple but my girlfriend, who wanted to ride it in the future as well,  didn't like the looks and couldn't get her feet on the ground. Exit the Streettriple and enter the Ducati Monster. The Monster was allready lowered so it would be easy to handle for her and she really liked the looks of the 695 Dark. It was not my first choice but it is not an ugly bike and then again who am I ? Meanwhile I've been riding it for about a year now and I know one thing. If my girlfriend still wants to ride a bike she better gets another one because this one is mine !

I love my ride for most of the reasons mentioned above.

But another reason I love my bike is the people who posted above. It is a bike that brings out the same feelings I have in so many others. Strange that despite how much we disagree on things how much we still all share.

I've owned everything buy a Harley or a Duc.   Everything from an ATK 560 with the Rotax engine, to a Bultaco Astro, a copy of a Champion flattracker.   955 Daytona, 1200 Bandit, CBR1000F, CBR900RR, GS Suzooks of various flavors, a load of dirtbikes, and just lately, I started obsessing on Ducati's.  But I bought one anyway.  I heard all of the horror stories about maintenance, expensive parts and cheesy electrics, which I'm finding out about with my S4, but we're working on it.   I like the big midrange, I don't need a 180 mph bike anymore.  I've got a dirtbike for the real thrills, and this Ducati just for fun. 

And Harley hasn't made anything that I like to ride, except for maybe an XR750 or maybe the XR1200.   

awesome

.... it was her Mediterranean looks that seduced me, love at first site, rugged yet so gracefull curves, .... I remember the first time I mounted her, she felt different, perfect fir between rider and machine (I can believe I'm writing this; but what the heck....lol).  It was her exotic Italian curves on the surface but fiery torque beneath, the rumble of the exhaust note, and I couldn't get over how she handled the ribbon of road so expertly ..... forever seducing, taming ....  every turn .... [bow_down]

.... sounds like a Harley; drives like a jap bike ...  [moto] Ducid03

see, i would think that is a horrible insult

+1

granpa, johnny cash was the coolest man alive, i love that "nashville establishment salute" pic..

he was/is a god and the world is a lot less cool since he passed....IMO.  But hey  we still have our Ducs

An epiphany that caressed the simple pure liberating nature deep within me.
I placed the key into the ignition, and with a slight twist, turned on my soul.... :'(

ummm just a quick way to summarise a duc to the uniniated  ... no insults intended.

The chicks dig it! Plus everyone thinks I'm loaded, "Whoa Ducati!, those are woth like 50 grand right?"

I, too, have to say all of the above. I will admit I am still a bit of a moto neophyte. I had a Sportster (first bike) that sat unridden most of the time becuase I never was able to make the 35 mile commute to work. Something about that bike and my body did not get along and I could barely walk when I got off it.

I had see a monster a long time ago, although I never knew what it was and liked it. I looked around a little and found other bikes that looked ok but felt "off" when I was on them. I finally went to the dealer that had Ducatis (honestly I went to look a the Triumphs) and saw that design I had liked years ago. I was also shocked at the price, expected much higher.

I felt very comfortable sitting on a 699, so I told the sales guy that if I felt as good riding it I wanted one. The sent me out on the demo, which had Termi's on it already. I had another pleasent surprise when the guy fired it up just inside the showroom overhead door. I didn't have to test ride it far to know that it was what I wanted. I ended up with a decent deal on that demo model, much to the disappointment of one of the shop guys who was on the schedule to take it for a date night later that week.

Now if it would just dry out a little and be above freezing when I have to leave for work....

Mike

First time i saw a monster i was in awe. Then i got a job, then, while at lunch on said job, i saw the 696. Been in love over since. I did look into a street triple, but nothing was going to stop the purchase once i had sat on the bike and heard it rumble. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have the most pregnant dogen bike in the group (group meaning, thruxton, iron 883, iron 883, nightster, 1983 nighthawk, and okay... R1, mines still cooler)

love the bike. i'll have the first one forever.

I drove a friends 1995 M900 after riding a DRZ400SM for a couple of years.  The DRZ was my first street bike (if you can call it that).  I loved the m900, it was low, light, and had plenty of power.

I began a search for a s2r800/1000 and settled for a 2003 Monster 1000s with about 4K miles.

I really like the look of the naked bikes, and the Monster easily met all my requirements.

No regrets!

Glenn

That's the reason.  I don't know about the Superbikes, but this seems to be the common thread with the monster.    I was going to buy a Suzuki, but I had seen a Ducati and fallen in love.  So I sold my expensive bike, reasoning that I couldn't ride two bikes anyway, and against better judgment bought a Monster S4R T.

Like every beautiful woman I have known, she has taught me that Love and Hate are almost the same emotion. 

They are high maintenance, and it's ridiculously expensive.  Things will go wrong, dumb things that wouldn't go wrong with the bigger companies bikes.  The dealerships are kind of elitist bastards, half the time they aren't even that good at their job.   BUT you will put up with all of it, because when you look at it, it's like looking at a beautiful woman, and rolling on the throttle can only be describe as a sexual experience.     

What,did you say something? I was looking at my bike  [beer]

Mike

For me? one is because of the racing heritage that ducati has, the sexiness of that ITALIAN style,the sound of the vtwin engine and of course got to have soul!!!

In the mid-70's I thought this was the neatest thing evah!

(http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads8/Cook__Phil_w_OldBlue2a1156828422.jpg)

oh, well at least that bike held on better than what i was thinking was neat:

(http://bittenandbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/farrah-fawcett.jpg)

A me piacce i cosi Italiano. La vita, le donne, i vini, moda di vita, le motociclette.

There is something really special about a bike made by Italian artisans. For me, Italian transportation design is some of the smartest most beautiful in the world.
There is a refined quality in manufacturing that just doesn't exist elsewhere that I've seen. Plus the inventiveness that Ducati has added to the sport is deserving pretty huge respect.
My bike has a bunch of Tech that came right from MOTO GP. That's pretty cool. That equals a very particular ride. One that Yamaha and others have been trying to copy for years. Yamaha's new GP bike's "Crossplane crankshaft" is an attempt at artificially replicating what comes naturally to the Ducati's V2's and V4's. It's the funnest bike I've ever ridden.
Not to dis Yam's. just to be all superior. The R1 is a solid ride for sure. But gaaawd it's a fugly biatch IMHO.
To each his own. Some people like Japanese design better. Ride what you got to ride.

She's having problems now, but 12 years ago those pencil erasers of hers were still looking good

(http://ussmullinnix.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/farrahfawcett_playboy_oct1997.jpg?w=497&h=561)

The first Ducati I can remember was in the arcade section of an Andretti Speed Lab (high-speed go-karting place).  They had it perched on top of a group of racing arcade games....yours for only 1,000,000 tickets...or something crazy.  Back then all I knew is that they were insanely expensive, and therefore extremely awesome.

My first Monster sighting was a Dark model before I ever got into motorcycles.  I remember saying, "I'm gonna have one of those one day..."  5 or 6 years later, I did!

It's not the fastest or the lightest bike.  My M900 will get smoked by nearly every repli-racer built in the last 20 years in a race, and I really don't care.
I bought my Monster because it has a look to it that is both sleek for a naked bike, and chiseled at the same time...if that makes any sense.  It doesn't have any of the latest/greatest gadgetry on it (i.e. steering damper, ABS, drive by wire), but it seems to have everything I want or need in a bike.  It isn't intimidating to work on and I can learn a lot of the little quirks it has because I can actually work on it without a scan tool.  It has an exhaust sound like nothing else I've ever heard another brand of engine make, and it just flat out tells everyone "Don't f*** with me".  I like the mechanical noise the Desmo engine makes, and I absolutly love the sound of the dry clutch with an open cover.

After lots of research, in 2004 I got my 620M because it really fit me like a glove.

(Statler - what you got to say to this one)

Well let's see,
I was in Fort Lauderdale in at a friends house, he was telling me albut his racing days with Ducati and Honda...
We walked to the garage, and there it was 999R with more mods than n the accesoriies catalog...
He started it and I was hooked, the sound, the frame, the engine, the looks, did I mention the sound?
A Ducati is many things, so the sum of it all, is yur Ducati

In 1964 my buddy and I wanted to see the  Hondas at a store 2hours away in Memphis.   My father drove us. 
Honda was new to the USA.  This was long before they made cars.
My father looked the Hondas over and declared that Honda would never make it.  ;D
He bought a Ducati for me.  It had a toaster tank and 200cc.
About 6 weeks later he said he could not get insurance and took  it away.  (Mom must have been involved.)  I rode and lusted after other bikes but never bought one. 
Dad died in February.

My SO mentioned Ducaii the night before I was going to take a second look at a Harley.  I turned west toward the Ducati store the next morning, not east toward the Harley without hesitating.

Last week I bought a  696 to celebrate my looming 62nd birthday.  Was looking at a Harley and others.
Got very excited when I saw the Ducati I bought.  It fit, I am not overly tall. 

Welcome to DMF and back to the club [thumbsup]

wow, and they say life doesn't come full circle.
congratulations and welcome.

1st bike '80 kawa kz1000, 2nd '73 sporty 1000, 3rd bmw '94 R1100GS, , 4th '04 BMW R1100S, 5th '04 BMW R1150R...

over the years, the few ducati's i've seen were the superbikes. i was never the sport bike type in my early years but i thought they looked beautiful and sounded cool. plus i thought they were out of my price range  :-\

the bmw GS i bought new after i test rode it back in '94. a big change over the "hardley" and kawa and back then i was attracted to the enduro type of riding. then 3 years ago i was offered a good deal on the bmw R1100S which is their sport model. that bike changed my whole view on motorcycles and got me into sport riding. then 2 years ago my brother gave me an offer i couldn't refuse on his bmw Rockster (R1150R) which was bmw's "attempt" at the naked niche. i ended up crashing it about a year ago and the bike was salvaged by the insurance co.

so with 5 fractured ribs and a sprained ankle healing for a month in bed i thought about what i could use that check for i got from the insurance company. a quick search on the internet and i saw a monster. 3 mos later i was working in LA and i found there was a ducati dealer nearby and went down and looked at the available bikes in my price range. i test rode the S4 Foggy. this was my first time back on a bike since my accident and as soon as i got on the throttle i knew i was going to buy a ducati. i put a down payment on the spot. a week later i came in and test rode her again and when i got back i wrote a check for the foggy. i fell in love...again!

italian styling and the sound is pure heaven  ;D

Bought a 696 because I fell in love with ducati monsters after seeing this video a couple of years ago:

Ducati Monster (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zgtbMxUBUs#lq-hq-vhq)

Well I chose a Ducati, but I haven't received it yet. I've even paid for it! So I guess I am only barely qualified to comment in this thread.
I've loved the SOUND since I first heard one about 15 years ago. I've had HD's and Japanese bikes. I liked all of them, but none of them enthralled me. Last Sunday, I finally went to a dealer and drove a 696 & an 1100. SOUND and TORQUE!  Bought the 1100 on the spot. I am now waiting on it to arrive. (Live in Hawaii and it has to ship inter-island)
There is just something intrinsically special, and for me indescribable, about these bikes.

Because the name carries considerable cachet down here, because the price seemed right when I bought it (cost a LOT more to get it road legal  :'( ), and because it sounded incredible - so far beyond all the 250cc bikes I'd been looking at it wasn't even funny.

IMO that video is kind of lame  :-\

Here's a better video. You don't even have to look. Just listen.
That's a good reason  [thumbsup]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzFtovON54

the signoff quote is priceless


BASTARDS!!!

I bought my 1st Ducati because it spoke to me.

I was sitting in the showroom waiting while my BMW K1200S was getting it's 1st Service when I started looking at the Ducatis.

A White Pearl S4Rs all of a sudden caught my eye.

It said " You Want Me ."

" You"ll Love Me."

" I Want You ! "

It was Love at 1st sight.

Sexy, Sleek, Fast looking.

So I bought it.

Been a Love affair ever since.

But now the 1098 R is the Apple of my Eye.                       Dolph

(http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp315/DBLEGL/1098RSpring004.jpg)

To be honest, I've been in love with Ducatis ever since I first saw one in the movie Fled.

(http://imcdb.org/images/051/386.jpg)

The Tamburini style 916 sparked a love in my heart that never died..........over the years I have owned 2 Monsters and a 748.  I sold everyone of them do to owning them at bad financial/moving times for me.  I plan on buying another Monster this week though.  I will say this, my '01 M900Sie was the best handling bike I've ever owned IMO.  Once I put the Ohlins on the rear I couldn't believe how well it rolled into turns..........I pushed that bike harder then any bike I've owned.........it's a shame I had to sell it to pay bills and move back to TN :'(

I picked the Ducati monster because it fit well. It was my first bike.

A friend let me take his 749s for a ride. That was all it took. |
Was goin to start with a s2r.
Went to the Hatters and they had a s4r with 750 mi. on it.
Some guy bought it and his wife made him take it back.
I got it for the same price as a new s2r.
I'm glad I got the s4r. [moto]

I went to go look at a GS500E that I saw on Craigslist. You know, a nice sensible beginner bike for my first. Turns out it was a dealer that had a couple of other used bikes...

When I got there I started inspecting the Suzuki and thought "well this isn't very impressive but I've gotta start somewhere". Then I heard it start up, I almost became I'll. I remember thinking "There is no way I'm riding that electric razor sounding piece of shit". Then I caught a glance at the red M750 looming in the corner... It was only $1000 more.. Was this some sort of cruel trick? Then I heard it start up...

Well, here I am. That was a month ago.

So I could hang out at the coffee shop with a bunch of overeducated misenthropes.

IN 1985 i new everything There was to know about motorcycles (i thought) there were three kinds, slow Harleys, leaky british, and jap bikes. I rode a Yamaha & had owned several Hondas. I was happy, ignorant but happy. fast forward 10 months, standing on 32nd Street naval base in San Diego a 650 Paso went by me. He turned about a block ahead of me, i sprinted down and haven't been the same since.

Plus my wife thinks they are sexxy so that helps.

I just couldn't seem to help myself.

LA

best answer yet  [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

I'll see ya there, buddy!

 [laugh]

for me it was either a 696 or street triple. Really it came down to sound (termis [evil]) heritage (i know they both have it, but italy... you know) and looks. I do love the looks of the Striple, but i love my 696 even more. i was a little bummed when the street triple R came out, but oh well. I am also jealous of the metal body of the striple. I think every bike has something i want. THe 696 had a larger combination of these things, thats why i got it.

I've been a Ducatisti since my first ride on a buddy's 900 supersport back in the early 90's, and it's been a passionate affair ever since. They are the definition of the total being more then the sum of the parts. No they're not perfect, but that's part of the allure. They're Italian, and sexy as hell, they sound great and handle like a surgeon's scalpel.

You learn to love the rattle of the dry clutch and endure the riding position. The price to performance ratio doesn't mean a thing when you open the garage door and can't walk by that retina searing red animal without throwing a leg over her. You know that service is expensive and parts can be hard to come by, but it pales in comparison to the feeling of piloting one through a few miles of twisting roads where you can reach riding nirvana for an few hours.

Ducati has dominated world super bike racing since day one and pregnant dog slapped the Japanese in MotoGP. The riders who have worn red leathers reads like a who's who of some of the greatest racers, Hailwood, Smart, Lawson, Polen, Fogerty, Bayliss, Stoner. They have proven time and again that racing technology does trickle down to make better street bikes and that winning on Sunday sells on Monday.

That's why I ride a Ducati...

jimi

I lived in Florence Italy about three years ago. On a trip to Sienna, my roommate and I ate at some small cafe with the best tortellini I ever ate. There was some kind of Sienna racing 999 inside the cafe. All I can remember is not being able to take my eyes off the bike as it was the most beautiful machine I'd ever seen. Now three years later, looking back on the best time of my life thus far, I bought a monster and feel like I own a part of Italy. Now I only wish I could take my bike back to Italy and romp around. Those roads in tuscany and around Florence would be fuuuuuuuuuuun! 

No. 1 reason I went with Ducati.  I'm also Italian, with a name like Dante that should be obvious.  Whenever I get into something I do a lot of research on the topic, whether it's wine, cigars, mountain bikes, etc.  The philosophy at Ducati was a lot more interesting than at the four other Japanese companies.  You see this also in the Twist the Throttle series, but I hate the massive assembly line where 50 people have a hand in making the bike, and it's done in record time.  At Ducati there was clearly pride taken in their work, and the bikes weren't immediately boxed up and sent out the door to be crashed by a squid doing a 12oclock.  Ducati looked like they were making pieces of art, the others looked like slaughterhouses to me.

And of course the sound and performance of the L-Twin is hard to beat, IMO.  Very happy I made Ducati my first bike.

Motorcycles themselves are very sexy and exciting. The sound and feel of riding is both arousing and exhilarating. I ride a motorcycle to indulge my desires; riding a Ducati satisfies me; every time.  ;)

Why.....? Why....? Why....?
                      Sounds, freedom, looks, excitment, ...and all of the above...

When I was 15 or 16, my brother was watching a movie called The Skulls 2.  I had just started liking motorcycles and had been looking at the Japanese sport bikes for a while.  I had never heard of a Ducati before and there was one in the movie.  My brother told me that Ducati is like the Lamborghini of motorcycles.  I really liked the Suzuki GS500E at the time and for S & G's I decided to look at Ducati's website.  The sport bikes looked very cool and very expensive.  Then I looked at the Monster and fell in love. 

I did a web search to see how much they cost and was blown away that it wasn't a million dollars like I thought.  My first Monster was a 1999 M750 in silver.  I've never felt joy more profoundly than when I'm riding or even just looking at my bike.  I got ran off of the road and that ended my monster.  I just brought my new 696 home last weekend and am happy like I haven't been in years.

Its everything about the bike; the looks, the sound, the handling, the torque, the heritage, the community of Monster riders, etc...  I'll probably own more motorcycles throughout my life, but if I have anything to do with it they'll all be Ducati motorcycles.  [moto]

I know it was only about 10 years ago, but I just remember Ducati being the name of legends and of "Cool."  A friend of mine had a 2001 M750 Metallic that he picked up at an insurance auction.  He fixed it back up and made it look good and after he was done having fun with it, He sold it to me.  In the weeks that followed I became obsessed (it hasnt subsided yet) I researched, checked dealers, became an internet and forum junkie.  After learning the legends, the history, and the "Soul" of Ducati, I was hooked.  The clutch rattle, The exhaust note, the Desmo valves, and the Twin (and now 4) cylinders.  It all called out to me and made me a loyal follower.  I'm on #3 now, I've had the Monster, a 05 749D and now an 06 749S (and I miss my monster nearly everyday, Bastards killed it in a parking lot).  I'm praying there will be more in the future.   My wife just chimed in when I noted that I was typing a post about "Why I chose a Ducati."  She said "Thats easy.. You're a glutton for punishment"  I Guess thats part of the reason too.   [thumbsup]

i dont remember when i first heard of ducati but in the biginning it was just a brand name same as triumph or aprilla. then one day i traded my 300zx for a 99 R1 and fell in love with supersports. as that love grew so did my knowlage of what bikes were out there. as i did more research one name kept popping up "DUCATI" the quality and balance of these bikes were second to none but i was never really into the look of the early bikes.  then about six months ago i walked into the dealership with the intention of buying another R1 and when i saw the bugged eyed look of the new headlights i wanted to jap slap the salesmen like he was responcable for the horrid look of what i thought was a magnificent machine. then as i scanned the room with looking for the new CBRs i saw it, the most beautiful bike i had ever seen. it was like a ray of light was shinning on it from heaven and i swear i could hear angles singing. it was the pearl white 1198! i went home and did some research on the ducati SBKs and started planning my stratogy for convincing my GF to let me have a 20k dollar bike. and as i was looking at the ducati website my gf says the 2nd hottest thing a woman has ever said to me... "that is sexy, i want one!" so i tell her she should get the 848 and ill get the 1198, and she said "ok" so we go down to the dealer ship and my heart droppes to the floor. they sold the last 09 1198 and all that is left is one 848. so i tell the gf to sit on the bike and get a feel for it. she does, and realized the 848 is just way too tall for her, she cant even come close to tippy toeing. then she takes a gander at the the monster 696 and for her it was love. since i didnt want to wait 4 months for the next 1198 to come in i decided that i would be "ok" with the 848 and i knew that i would never be able to push the 848 to its limits, let alone an 1198. so for what i wanted both bikes would work. and with the 848 being a few gs cheaper that was cool too. so here we are with a monster and a 848 sitting in the  garage and we couldnt be happier. and its pretty nice pulling up next to a ferrari and having the driver look at me and say "nice bike"... that never happend on my old R1.


sorry i didnt really think i was going to type that much.

Ahhhh, I've told this story many times.....
It was 1992 or 93 and I was just a pre-pubescent teen who was obsessed with all types of cars. One day, I was looking though my normal car magazines and I happened across a full page add for the Ducati Monster Dark. I don't really remember what model it was, I just remember thinking to myself "I WILL have one of these!!". Years passed and the closest I got to having a Monster was riding a CBR F2. Again, years passed and the wanting got harder to subdue. Just before my 30th birthday I became the proud owner of my first, and absolutely not last, Ducati Monster 750. As cheesy as it sounds, I'm sure most on this board will agree, days don't seem as bright if you're not on the Duck!

That's why I chose MY Ducati

oh and the sevice @ 7500 miles VS the standard 4000 miles was a very nice inncentive, and they also threw in the first 2 services for free. so i dont have to pay any maintances cost till 15k miles

i don't remember why i chose my ducati.   [coffee]

I've always wanted a bike, and whenever a Ducati passed me on the freeway I'd roll the windows down and keep pace as long as they'd let me, just listening to that wood-inducing rumble and noise.

When it came time recently to consider actually buying a bike, I didn't really know what I wanted.  I wanted simple, a real bike, not a plastic-covered race replica, not a cruiser (ye gods no!) and not a naked...  I wanted a man's bike, like Steve McQueen rode in Great Escape, but ...  modern.

And then I saw a 1993 Monster 900 at a local dealer.  Oh.  My.  "Sweetheart, we're going for a little drive."  When the dealer brought it out and fired it up, my wife and I looked at each other and smiled, big shit-eating grins.  I rode it, and I wanted it. 

That was October last year.  It's my first bike, and I think I've chosen very well indeed.  I have that confirmed by everyone who asks me what do you ride?  I tell them, and they're always envious.

Hell yeah.

I didnt.  It chose me.  I keep trying to find other bikes I'd like to own....  Guzzi almost got me a coupla times recently.... Love the Griso.....  But when Ducati dumped that boring round headlight.... there was no question, a new monster had to be mine  8).

I got tired of the Ninja and the GSXR I had getting lost in a sea of identical bike every time rode with a group. I threw up a CL add asking to swap for a V-twin bike, Buell or Duc. A guy with a Duc answered the add.

I was reading a motorcycle mag. when i saw a picture of the monster. wasnt till 97 when i saw one in a parking lot. i knew i had to have one.

I had a cruiser when I was in college, which I sold for rent money when I graduated.  I regretted it immediately and everyday thereafter, but it was a long time until I had the wherewithall to get another bike.

Once I finally had the funds, I started looking at bikes that were naked/standard seating positions... I knew I didn't want another cruiser, but the typical I-4 torture rack didn't appeal to me.  I'd checked out a couple Buells (that didn't quite trip my trigger, dunno why...) and was ready to put down a payment on a nice low-mileage SV1000 with stainless D&Ds (a bike I'd still consider buying...) when my current M900 showed up on CraigsList.  The price was right, it was fully functional, ran as advertised, and looked and sounded more appealing than that SV that I was leaning towards.

Then I dropped it on the test ride, so I had to buy it or the guy was gonna make the beast with two backs me up.

I saw one while in the UK, heard first of course, and fell in love with the sound.  did some looking around and riding and proceeded to drink the kool-aid.

Hmmm....I'll try to keep this kinda short...

I like having things that usually aren't cookie-cutter or the "in" thing. I bought my Harley back in '93 just before the craze where everyone had to have one. I bought it because I had wanted one as a kid, and back then, I was living in a flat area of South Carolina with straight roads. Back then, I would have told you that there was no reason for sport-bikes to be sold to the general public and there was no need for that kind of performance.....

In '96 I relocated to the Upstate of South Carolina and started riding in the mountains and having a LOT of fun, but I was constantly dragging hard parts and figured I'd kill myself. A buddy of mine told me about Ducati motorcycles after he bought a Yamaha FZR-600 (a replacement for his sold Harley and at the opposite end of the bike spectrum as to not compare it to the Harley he had to sell due to a divorse). I figured I'd kill myself if I continued riding the Harley in the mountains, and his FZR looked like a lot of fun in the mountains....

For some odd reason, I wanted a yellow bike and full-fairing, and I narrowed my choices down to a Ducati SS750F because it was not something you see every day and a 2000 CBR929RR in yellow and black. Since I was coming from a V-twin that was air cooled, and I liked the simplicity of NOT having a liquid-cooled bike, I was leaning toward the Ducati (and for the scarcity factor). Then, I finally decided that 65 HP was more practical for my first sportbike than 130+ HP. I found a left-over 1999 SS750F in yellow at a pretty good deal, and I've been pretty hooked on Ducs ever since......but I am itching for a liter Jap bike.

My brother lived in Italy for a few years and told us he was buying a Monster as a college graduation present for himself.

We went to visit Italy in 2006 (and went to the olympics) and we toured the Ducati Factory while we were there-and I knew I had to have one.  A few months after touring the factory, I bought my 620. My brother never ended up buying a Monster, but I let him ride mine.

I was hooked on th looks of the old cafe racers as a kid. Then I saw the 916 years later and was floored by that beautiful machine !


... several years later I was looking to buy a motorcycle and heard a Monster blast by me while at work....

Then I saw DucStew thundering down the road in my 'hood.... he came to a stop right by my car   [bow_down] .... I was hooked !!! ( Cafe bike)


So its Stu's fault  ;D

Thanks Stu [beer]. I couldn't be happier [thumbsup]

Because chicks dig ducks. [laugh] [laugh]  Almost as good as puppies. 

My wife has told me that back when we were courting she found me to be more interesting when I got my bike.  So, maybe there is just a bit of truth to the notion of Ducatis as a mate attractant. 

i have to agree, my R1 never got the attention that my 848 gets from the ladies. and i love how most woman associate things... Ducati = Italian, Italian = wealth, wealth = power

giggidddy gigggidddyyy

my first duc was the only bike that I felt part of when riding, the rest is history.

I had an '02 Triumph America that I'd been riding for about 4 years.  It was my first bike (I hadn't ridden since high school and never owned one - ex wouldn't allow it) and I really liked it but decided I wanted something with a bit more pep. 
The Triumph dealer that I frequented here in Denver, Erico Motorsports, sells Ducatis as well and I would always be drawn to them when I went in for anything regarding my Triumph.  Being of Italian decent might have something to do with it but I think mainly it's because they are just so cool looking.
So I just casually started looking at Ducatis for sale, having never ridden one (I decided not to test ride anything I couldn't afford - which eliminated all new Ducs).  My '02 S4 came up shortly thereafter, on eBay of all things, at a small vehicle seller close to my house.  I went over to check it out and fell in love at first sight.  THEN I rode it and it was all over - The power, balance, handling were all just incredible by comparison.  Bye Bye Triumph, HELLO DUCATI!!

(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af10/Mark0Matic/Forums/9.jpg)
(FYI above pic is from day I bought it, has had some upgrades/mods but don't have any new pics)

Well I got my first street bike back in october (96 Katana 600). When I was still getting used to the bike I was invited on a ride with Stu. On this ride I saw (or should I say heard for those of you who have been lucky enough to hear one of his bikes) Stus BEAUTIFUL green custom monster, at that point I was hooked. about 2 weeks ago Stu approached me with a bike he was selling and my dream came true :).

Its the only bike ive ridden that gives me wood

Back in the mid-70's this was as absolutely cool as it got. Hooked from the first write up

(http://images41.fotki.com/v305/fileI1Ux/7f4f7/9/90501/341997/Cook__Phil_w_OldBlue_small.jpg)

my test ride went something like this: took the monster out to some twisty roads about 10 mins from dealer.. first corner, off the gas, fall into turn, "hmm this thing leans over very easily, nice!" gently back on gas and come out of corner. 2nd corner same thing, but get on the throttle out of the corner. Thats what did it for me. I bought a monster not even 30 mins after the test ride.  To this very day, every Ducati I tried has that vtwin torque that accelerates you out of corners in such a satisfying way..

No viable alternative .

I saw my first Duc back in the early 70's when a friend bought a 450 single (yellow, pretty bike). He eventually totaled it, but I knew Ducati existed. I eventually owned some Hondas and a Yamaha over the next 20 years. I saw a photo of a '93 Monster when they came out and lusted for one ever since. I was still riding my '83 Nighthawk when a friend decided to sell his '97 M900 (he was buying a 916 and didn't want 4 bikes). I picked up the bike in Ithaca, NY in September of '02 and rode it 250 miles back to Long Island. I was hooked immediately.

I still have that '97 and also an '01 M900.

Who put the gun to your head????
Give him/her a medal...

Love at 1st sight ..... & still loving it .....

doesn't even try riding the monster before buying it ....

There are many reasons that got me to the dealer. They look great, they get respect from just about all riders and non riders and yes chicks dig them. What made me buy one was on that first test drive thinking to myself "this is it, this is my make the beast with two backsing bike!" You know you have to have it if you can't stop smiling when your riding. [moto]
John

What's not to choose?

You don't choose the bike, it chooses you!

Many are called, but few are chosen.

V-Twin, light weight, Monsters look classic, but without the hassles of an older bike. 

cause the R1 never got the attention that the 848 gets

Because life is short.

Thee Billy Zoom?

(http://www.harikari.com/images/2008/02/billy-zoom.jpg)

That is THE legendary Billy Zoom...I am but a humble fan.   My guitar playing is perhaps 10% of his, and my coolness factor perhaps 2% on a good day.  [bow_down]  Glad I'm not the only one who remembers one of the greatest LA bands!

ya get 65 bonus cool points for being named Joel ;)

(http://www.tmcm.com/comics/037_shortlife.gif)

because chicks really LOVE them ;D

because there's nothing > v2 + full termis + dry clutch + open airbox
.. basically i like the noise they make ;) ... among other things..

because all of my friends got HD Nightsters (and a thruxton)

In 2002 I decided I finally wanted to buy my first street bike. I rode a wealthy neighbourhood kid's dirt bikes as a kid and rode my roommate's Honda cb450 in my early 20's but had never owned my own bike and6 at 33 I decided it was time. I spent many hours in chapters reading motorcycle magazines and learning about the different classes of motorcycles and what might suit me. I knew I would buy used and basically had it down to either a standard or older sport touring type bike. I was thinking along the lines of used concours or perhaps even and old fj1100. The problem was, I kept looking at a picture of a 2001 m900 cromo with  6000km's on it at a local dealership. I didn't know anything about Ducatis.......all I knew was that it was the sharpest bike I had ever seen, but I kept telling myself it was too much bike for me and probably not a good bike for touring.
 I finally went to the dealership to see a used connie they had and while there saw the cromo in the flesh. When the salesmen suggested I sit on it, it was a done deal. For my 5'9 height it was the perfect fit. I bought it and picked it up 3 days later and rode it the hour ride home.....all the way wondering if I had made the right decision as it still felt like a lot of bike. After a week of riding every day I felt like it was a part of me when I rode it.
   8 years and 100,000 km's later and I love the bike more than the day I bought it. At one point I bought a used triumph sprint to relieve the monster of  it's touring duties, but every time I was on the Triumph I was wishing the monster was underneath me. I held onto the sprint for one season and then sold it for what I paid for it and happily went back to riding the monster full time.

Always wanted one.  No one else had one.