???
I own a 05 Suzuki Katana 750, and have ridden from Vegas to Coast Mesa with no problem other than WIND RESISTANCE (FULL FAIRINGS!). I have test driven both the 09 Monster 696 & 1100. I really enjoyed the feel of the 696, but I am very concerned about the HUGE HEAT SINK BETWEEN MY LEGS (not bragging) ;D . Seeking recommendation from the DMF. Is this the right switch? What kind of bike is the MONSTER (Road or Street only)? Good for long rides (300+ miles)? How do I manage the heat sink when it is 100+ degrees out? Thank you!
Vegas Wannabe DUC! [moto]
It's a sweet bike, and i love it.
You'll hardly even feel the heat at those temperatures, because it's not being blown onto your legs, you may feel a little more when you're stopped.
That said, i'm in the process of installing an oil cooler to help it run a little cooler. I haven't overheated yet, but i'd rather run a little cooler than i do now.
I've only taken it on a trip up the coast @ 230mi. It was my first roadtrip on a bike, after only riding it 40mi. at the most at a time. It was a pretty tough trip up (cold, night, highway, not used to riding long periods). But it was a much nicer ride back (daytime, warmer, knew what i was in for sitting on a bike a long time.) [bacon]
I tend to ride pretty fast on the freeway [evil], at slower speeds I tend to be heavy on my arms (i know this is bad, i should be loose noodle with them), so when other people talk about fighting the wind, i just think holds me up pretty good. [moto]
Then again, i'm 6'3'' and weigh 220lbs. YMMV
You will experience:
- awesome noise while riding at speed
- kudos while stationary at lights etc
- increasing heat between legs while stationary at lights etc
- a bike with 11tybillion-times more character than the Jap equivalent
Your call.
no way to compare a kanatuna with a monster...
i have done 400+ on my monster, and others have done more. not the most comfortable for that kind of ride, but ok.
try a search on the topic, as it has been discussed in great detail here ever since the 696 (and now 1100) hit the market.
I just picked up an 1100 this year after coming from a YZF-R6 a few years back. There is no comparison, this is a much more interesting ride.
Yes, you get heat stuck in traffic, but who wants to be stuck in traffic anyway?
The riding posture is much more gentle on your body than other bikes, but it isn't a laid back cruiser either. You'll have to buy it knowing what it feels like and understanding this.
That said, this is probably the most interesting bike I've ever had. Much more customizable too.
I say no. go for an older model the new ones look very walt disney
I have a 696 and wishing I waited for the 1100.... might end up taking a decent loss to trade in for an 1100.
in otherwords, I would recommend the little extra for the 1100 or get one of the used bikes off this forum.
i rode in 100 deg weather in the southwest, and a lot of guys are in the arizona cali area. it's not a prob. if you are in a traffic jam maybe a bit hot, but no more than a watercooled bike with heat coming off the cyl heads. that being said, since you had a 750 4 cyl, your best choice would be to go up to the 1100. the 696 might be as torquey but the hp will leave you short.
I personally do not like the looks of it and it still has not grown on me yet. Hope you don't outgrow it quick. That is my only regret on my 04 620. Good luck.
If you really like the look and can find the money for the 1100, I would go for the bigger one.
How long do you plan to keep her ? if only a year or two the 696 will do..but THEN you want the big one :)
Quote from: ab on May 09, 2009, 04:20:42 AM
I personally do not like the looks of it and it still has not grown on me yet. Hope you don't outgrow it quick. That is my only regret on my 04 620. Good luck.
Dude, you have never been on the track and you have five speeding tickets in a year...what part of the 620 have you outgrown? [roll]
Quote from: Statler on May 09, 2009, 11:11:58 AM
Dude, you have never been on the track and you have five speeding tickets in a year...what part of the 620 have you outgrown? [roll]
[laugh]
If I'm not mistaken the Katana is air cooled too, Therefore the biggest difference you should notice heat wise would be from the lack of fairings. I haven't spent a lot of time on faired bikes but it's my understanding the with fewer places to vent the heat they tend to bake your legs more than a naked. Of course if I'm wrong about it being aircooled none of this matters anyway.
As for what bike to get, go with the 1100, the SSS looks way better on the bike than the DSS on the 696.
have to agree on the SSS on the 1100 vs the DSS on the 696. but if i ever find a shop to do it, i'm gonna mod the DSS to look awesome.
the "heat sink" has never been a problem for me. you won't "outgrow" a 696 either, that's just silly, but you might want the additional power of the 1100 and the excitement of a dry clutch.
I have an aftermarket saddle on my 900, and its made the longer rides more enjoyable. speaking of long rides, I'm about to do Dallas to Vegas and back on my Monster - approximately 2800mi worth of ride is planned.
Quote from: Raux on May 09, 2009, 01:31:30 PM
have to agree on the SSS on the 1100 vs the DSS on the 696. but if i ever find a shop to do it, i'm gonna mod the DSS to look awesome.
motocreations is working on a tubular swing arm for the the 696
My cousin has a 600 Katana, yes they are air-cooled. Power on the 696 & 750 are probably not that far off. Considering that my 696 is almost 100lbs lighter than my cousin's 600, I imagine that the 750 is probably close to that same difference. Add that the 696 is a twin & the 750 is a four, you may be surprised by how much harder a 696 can pull. I'd suggest finding a dealer & getting a test ride. You may just find the 696 surprising.
Quote from: Spicoli on May 08, 2009, 10:15:00 PM
I have a 696 and wishing I waited for the 1100.... might end up taking a decent loss to trade in for an 1100.
in otherwords, I would recommend the little extra for the 1100 or get one of the used bikes off this forum.
I'd say sell your 696 to the OP for a nice discount. VEGAS can get addicted to Duc ownership w/ less investment and you get your 1100. We'll all be happy. :)
Quote from: zedsaid on May 11, 2009, 01:08:05 PM
motocreations is working on a tubular swing arm for the the 696
WHAT! where did you hear that?
Quote from: Raux on May 11, 2009, 10:22:14 PM
WHAT! where did you hear that?
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=22981.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=22981.0)
Quote from: Statler on May 09, 2009, 11:11:58 AM
Dude, you have never been on the track and you have five speeding tickets in a year...what part of the 620 have you outgrown? [roll]
so track is the deciding factor ? very funny
Quote from: ab on May 12, 2009, 03:38:13 PM
so track is the deciding factor ? very funny
I think he's referring to your lack of restraint with what you're already riding. You're clearly not underpowered, you've got the tickets to prove it.
And as to his comment about you needing to hit the track is that really the track is where you'll use all that extra power. Can you imagine how many tickets you'd have if you weren't on a bike you'd "outgrown"?
Quote from: zedsaid on May 12, 2009, 03:53:26 PM
I think he's referring to your lack of restraint with what you're already riding. You're clearly not underpowered, you've got the tickets to prove it.
And as to his comment about you needing to hit the track is that really the track is where you'll use all that extra power. Can you imagine how many tickets you'd have if you weren't on a bike you'd "outgrown"?
Anyone can get in trouble with [leo] on any bike even a vespa. That does not necessarly mean that bike is too much for all. It just means you got caught. >:(
Despite being a good suggestion, track is still damn expensive to have on frequent basis or even one time for some of us (except ofcourse for the lucky loaded folks here)
Quote from: ab on May 12, 2009, 05:53:49 PM
Anyone can get in trouble with [leo] on any bike even a vespa. That does not necessarly mean that bike is too much for all. It just means you got caught. >:(
Despite being a good suggestion, track is still damn expensive to have on frequent basis or even one time for some of us (except ofcourse for the lucky loaded folks here)
I've gotten in trouble.
Once.
After that, I learned.
As far as "lucky loaded folks"......
it's not luck.
Quote from: ab on May 12, 2009, 03:38:13 PM
so track is the deciding factor ? very funny
not at all...but outgrowing power is sort of obviously out so I was wondering where you outgrew the handling. Or was it the pose factor you outgrew? Serious question as when you post up on a thread where a new guy is asking and you mention the smaller bike is likely to be outgrown soon we're going to ask details.
(and I have no problem if it's just the desire for a bigger badder bike.....but you mentioned it so I'm asking).
Quote from: ab on May 12, 2009, 05:53:49 PM
Anyone can get in trouble with [leo] on any bike even a vespa. That does not necessarly mean that bike is too much for all. It just means you got caught. >:(
Despite being a good suggestion, track is still damn expensive to have on frequent basis or even one time for some of us (except ofcourse for the lucky loaded folks here)
As has been pointed out in the other thread, not as expensive as all those tickets.
Quote from: MrIncredible on May 12, 2009, 06:44:20 PM
....
As far as "lucky loaded folks"......
it's not luck.
correction fortunate/blessed etc enough ;)
Quote from: zedsaid on May 12, 2009, 07:16:51 PM
As has been pointed out in the other thread, not as expensive as all those tickets.
Yes but I can't equate recent tickets with all the years I rode without any ticket and all the fun and getting away with it ( I guess I finally paid for it but such is life I suppose )
Quote from: Statler on May 12, 2009, 07:02:51 PM
not at all...but outgrowing power is sort of obviously out so I was wondering where you outgrew the handling. Or was it the pose factor you outgrew? Serious question as when you post up on a thread where a new guy is asking and you mention the smaller bike is likely to be outgrown soon we're going to ask details.
(and I have no problem if it's just the desire for a bigger badder bike.....but you mentioned it so I'm asking).
After all this years, part of my reason is that during rides with friends and groups, tired of being smoked in the straight-ways (not that i will to do that anymore :-[ ). That's the main reason amongst many others. Country rides and for curvers and corners, this is still lovely [thumbsup]
I know one thing, I will never sell this bike. I am too attached to her [thumbsup] and spent lots of dough maintaining her. In hind sight, I would have liked if I had picked a bigger size. At this time though, a 2nd bike would be a dream to have. Not that I am ungrateful for what I have.
Quote from: ab on May 12, 2009, 08:19:03 PM
correction fortunate/blessed etc enough ;)
While some people are certainly cursed with bad luck, others may just have worked hard, planned ahead, and defined their priorities.
Quote from: somegirl on May 13, 2009, 10:26:32 AM
While some people are certainly cursed with bad luck, others may just have worked hard, planned ahead, and defined their priorities.
i think i am stuck in some sort of infinite loop..... [bang]
1100 you will loose about 2 grand or more when you decide to trade the 696 for the 1100 i did but dont regret it one bit both were worth what i ended up spending, but what do i know
Quote from: MrIncredible on May 12, 2009, 06:44:20 PM
As far as "lucky loaded folks"......
it's not luck.
So you planned on getting loaded? ;D
I'll have what Mr. Incredible is having.