Ducati Monster Forum

I decided to take a little "detour" today to Hattar, just to check out the new bike, and there it was just hanging out in a corner of the shop.

So I hopped on it and I have to say, despite the reviews, it seems to be a pretty comfortable riding position, and definitely more testicle-friendly than the 1100 Monster. But the reviews are right that it does seem very small/short, almost like the Hypermotard in that you're looking over the front tire.  And I've got stubby legs, but I wasn't tippy-toeing the bike at all.

Also, in person it looks better than the pics in the magazines. I'm still not sure about the little red belly pan (it seems like you wouldn't want to draw attention to all that plumbing and radiator mass) but I could live with it. Or get an all-black bike and it would look super-badass.

Now nobody really *needs* the kind of horsepower this thing makes, so the big head is saying "grow the make the beast with two backs up" but you pretty well know what the little guy is sayin'.

I'm gonna play hooky some time during the week and give it a flogging out Lucas Valley.  [evil]

Anyone want a barely ridden '05 R6?  ;D

You know how silly it is to listen to the big head when it comes to motorcycles, right?  You've done more than enough miles on your monster to justify a new bike.   [thumbsup]

Get a black one.  I firmly believe that Ducs should be red, but for the streetfighter, the black is pimpin'.  S-model with full Ohlins and traction control. 

(http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=306273&d=1242935956)

And the Termis, of course. I mean, what's the point if you can't set off a car alarm or two?

 [evil]

You really should get one, MM.   You've been jonesin' for a new bike for ages.  It's not a splurge if you've put more than 50k on your last Ducati and it's nearly a decade old. 

wait ... monster's aren't testicle-friendly?  :o

You are the devil.  [cheeky]


Well the new ones are prone to smashing the potatoes on a bumpy road.

You testicles command you to get a streetfighter...in the name of Gonad I compel thee!

Was anyone else disappointed when they discovered this wasn't a Jean-Claude Van Damme appreciation thread?  Instead we're talking about MM's testicles.    [coffee]

I got a photo of me on one here... http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23791.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=23791.0)

you on a Jean-Claude Van Damme?

Not wait, I'll go to the thread.  [cheeky]

The streetfighter is really growing on me.

Only if I could figure out what to do with that fugly front light and I can see one in my garage  [thumbsup]

+1
But I could learn to live with.  ;)
I may just be too in love with my own machine and hung on my own expectations. It's growing on me. The bike in general is V nice  [thumbsup]

Yeah, the look is better in person, but it isn't like a 1098 or MV F4, where you go all mental the first time you see it. But like the monster, it seems like a bike you could have a lot of fun on, doing a variety of riding. (I couldn't make myself say it's 'practical', because truthfully, nobody *needs* 150 HP. In fact if it was 15# lighter with an 848 engine that would be even better in my book.)

The Ducati MOB moped isn't doing it for ya?

It's not a moped, it's a scooter fer crissakes.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/3532008223_51a18330e2.jpg?v=0)

22 BHP of pure, stupid fun.  ;D

You just posted that to get all the leghumpers in here, didntchya?  You sexy thang, you.   [laugh]

I'm kinda hoping Ducati will actually build it.

+11   There's a lot of room for that sort of thing IMHO. There is this ridiculous race to °° (infinite) horsepower when the speed limit is still 55 and you're never going to do +300MPH on Skaggs with air filled tires.* wtf? I get the race heritage, but there's even a 250 class in motoGP. younowatI'msayin' ?   [coffee]






*'The Bugatti at +250MPH, will burn up a set of tires in 15 minutes, which is ok because it goes through a tank of gas in 12 minutes.'
Sure I'll take the jet fighter sure. Why not. But the normal day when you don't want to go on a 12 minute $1500. ride, 60MPH is not bad in the twisties.

Top Gear Season 9 Episode 2 Bugatti Veyron (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4660115890703519062)

There may be "room for it" in your head, but it doesn't make financial sense.  Ducati is trying to move away from a production line that spreads them too thin across too many models.  An 848 streetfighter would cannabilize Monster 1100 and 1098 streetfighter sales.  It won't cost much less to produce than a 1098 streetrighter but will have to priced for thousands less.  And it won't weigh much less.  Compare the 848 to the 1098.  The weigh difference is pretty small. 

That's why I wrote "IMHO."
 
However, last I checked the 848 was outselling the 1098. In fact when I was at DNA yesterday I got this:

"The analysis of sales by family highlights the very strong performance of the Superbike family, which
jumped by 32% with respect to the comparative period in the prior year to the success of the new 848.

Sales of Monster family increased by 7% with respect to the prior year, mainly due to introduction of the
new Monster 696 to the market."

Which seems to contradict what you are saying. Did I understand that wrong? Or are you saying it's not the size it's the number of bikes within a category?

I agree with you that the weight savings isn't really much as the 1098 Streetfighter is in fact is about the same weight as the 848 and the 1198S SBK's.  The weight savings from the 1098 SBK came from the D16's tech vacuum casting and larger Dia. thinner frame tubes the 848 and 1198 have.

@ DNA:
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/3574770588_c1a04a4ef8.jpg?v=0)

It's whether the bikes overlap with one another.  There are two SBKS, a big literbike and a middle weight. 

There are three [or four] nakeds -- an intro naked (in fact, the intro Duc), the big boy of the air-cooled monster line and the giant, rip roaring Streetfighter.  [I'm not sure how the Hyper fits in with the monster line-up, but it sells well, as does the monster 1100, so who knows?]  You're talking about adding a fifth bike into this category, one that falls somewhere around the Hyper and the Monster 1100 in terms of the riders to whom it'd appeal.   It doesn't make any sense, though it would be a cool-as-shit bike.

For other naked bikes, you have to look at the retro bikes, which reach a separate market from the monsters.  Then there's the Multi.  Totally different market.

All I'm wondering is why we aren't drinking a beer already... [roll]

I'm leavin' in like 10 mins.  Where the f are you, MM?

At the stupid G-D computer.  Leavin' now...

Rrrraaawww Shes right! The front of the bike does look better than the rear.  [laugh]

(http://i43.tinypic.com/5oxh1y.jpg)

Went to Hattar to look at the one they had.. Not there.. Where was it? I guess someone wrecked it on a test ride!  [bang]

Doh! Bill said they were contractually obligated to have a demo bike. Yeah, some knob probably whacked open the throttle to see if it'd wheelie.

Seriously?  Wow.  I've done some dumb things, but wadding a demo bike hopefully won't be one of 'em. [laugh]

This is all third hand, but as the story goes the rider had a Bemmer and was used to his cushy German ABS system.. He proceeded to grab a handful of Brembo monobloc and hilarity ensued..

This is always the first thing I warn people about if I let them ride my S4Rs. That's a lot more front brake than most have ever experienced.. 

They just need to tape down 3 out of the 4 right hand fingers before they let a Beemer rider out on one  ;D

I don't know why, but that just cracks me up.  [clap] [laugh]

Man, that's why all demo rides should be on video.   [laugh]

 [laugh]
I can just imagine the confidence that would instill in a test rider.   "OK then, now for the duct-tape..."


They always sell the damned things to low-ballers. I went to 4 dealers to find an 848 to test ride. None had a test bike.
If you want to ride one, you'd better step up to the plate soon I guess.

Sweet looking bike Michael, don’t think about it too long..!!  [thumbsup]

I had the opposite problem on my rental BMW, barely stopped in time at the first intersection following the autobahn. [roll]

I saw a brand new shiny red one on the road today and he even let me ride next to him for a little while till he got bored and decided to punch it  [thumbsup]