Ducati Monster Forum

I went up to Hattar this afternoon, having ducked out of work a bit early, and took the Streetfighter for a little spin down Lucas Valley Rd.

First off, this is a very, very, very good motorcycle. I don't think I've ever felt so comfortable on a bike that wasn't mine, and that I'd owned for a long time. It just feels right - all the controls are where you'd want them to be. The seat is, dare I say it?, the most comfortable stock Ducati seat I've ever tried. The pegs feel right, with the exception of having to angle your right heel out to clear the big honkin' exhaust. Pretty much like the S4Rs I tried, only this one didn't melt my boot. Nice.

The other thing you notice is that it feels extremely nimble. As nimble as the Hypermotard I think, even at pretty slow speeds.

Once you're onto the freeway, the only thing you have to watch for is nearly smacking into the backs of all those cars. You see a little open road, give it just a skosh of gas, and all of a sudden you're staring at a license plate, and remembering to *gently* squeeze those Brembos. Actually I think the brakes are more progressive than the S4Rs or Hyper. (Or maybe the Hattar guys just put some air in the line so they didn't have another test rider mishap.)

The power on this thing is incredible. At double the HP of my old monster, I expected it to be quick, but honestly I don't think I ever got above half throttle or over 9K during the test ride. I'm not ready to put my trust in traction control on a bike I don't own.

In the swoopy and twisty bits of Lucas Valley the bike was really easy to turn and held a line beautifully. The gearing seemed good and I probably could have done the whole ride in 2nd gear it has so much torque and range.  Hattar had put on the Termis so it sounded lovely.

I turned around in Nicaso and had a less-encumbered ride back, and did a couple of little blasts along the straight part of Lucas Valley. Oh yes, you can do stupid things with amazing speed on this little beastie.

Do I love it? Yep.  Am I gonna get one? Prolly.   Anyone want to buy a nice clean R6?  ;D

Do it...

Congrats on getting it! You know you will ;D

How easy does the front wheel get light coming off a corner?

Or does the forward seating and long swingarm kinda keep it planted?

Not that I tried to wheelie, but the shop had the traction control set at 7, which pretty effectively keeps the front wheel down. If you set the DTC off, or at the "Stoner" setting, it'd come up in pretty much any gear you'd like. It's a very small bike and feels very short and light.  In fact the lightness and nimbleness and suspension like buttah, are really what appeals to me about the bike.

Nice  [thumbsup] tee hee. There's love there.


I got try it out once before they sell their demo.

Hattar let you take it out for quite a stretch geez.
Who'd you have to do?

I hate you.  I just do.

MM's a member of the Platinum Shopper Program. ;D

I wish the 848 motor was lighter, so they'd build one with it.

I would fear irresponsibility with the big motor.

Ditto.

The question is: will Micheal use his newfound power for good... or for AWESOME ?  [evil]

Why does it have to be lighter for them to build it?

I may not have been thinking clearly.  [laugh]

If the 848 motor was significantly lighter than the 1098, it would be a reason to build essentially the same bike with less HP.
Though that hasn't stopped them building 748/749 SBKs.

I say we keep asking for it here, and hope they listen  ;D

I am glad you didn't ask who wanted to by a 2000 M900, Michael. You need to own at least one good looking motorcycle  ;)

Ha! True.  The monster is a quandry. On the one hand, it would be nice to have the garage space back, and I suspect with a Streetfighter in there the monster wouldn't get ridden much. On the other hand, who would buy a Ducati with 57K on the clock, even if it is one sweet-handling bike? Plus it would be like selling a beloved member of the family.

it would be like selling a beloved member of the family.

...and?...

Yeah!

So do like we did with grandma, and tell her "We're just taking you out to dinner..."

Just go get it MM.. [moto]

Anyone else notice that your cant take the back wheel off on those without stripping down the exhaust?

Same situation for the S[2,4]R Monsters. Really almost any Ducati with a shotgun exhause poses that problem.

I'm workin' on it.  ;)




It can't be any worse than getting the rear wheel off my Vespa: remove exhaust; remove lower shock mount; remove cotter pin and axle nut; remove part of swing arm; remove 5 bolts that hold wheel on.

I quessing the burnouts keep you well versed on how to change the Vespa back tire  [thumbsup]

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

To clarify, S*R's stock exhausts are fine. You can still clear the wheel (just barely). If you have aftermarket arrows, then its a whole different story.

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/442771550_46b4d6d671.jpg?v=0)
Check...


Although I did have problems with the stockers too.

update please ;)

yep. I got it. Pics to follow. Right now am in Pt. Reyes getting ready to ride to Tomales. Productivity has suffered today.
 ;D
 

MM just sent this.  <jealous>  He's off in the hinterlands of Marin breaking it in, that dick.   ;D

I want have the sexing with his new ride.  Lots of da sexing.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3658756454_7b5bfb8ace_o.jpg)

mother-lover....  >:( 

I'm calling the cops and going to report someone riding a black bike excessively fast with a crazed look of ecstasy on his face. 

God that's ugly.

It's too ugly for any friend of mine to have.

He must give it to me so he doesn't suffer from the ugliness.

Oh wow! I want to grow up to be just like you  [moto]

Oh, it's got the stealth anti-radar coating, didn't you know? They don't have a chance.

Actually, I was instructed to take it easy for the first 100 miles and then start giving it a bit of a goose. Fortunately 100 miles happened just before Nicasio reservoir. Holy Mother Of God. A person could get in a buttload of trouble on this bike. You know on the old 900 where thing just kind of tops out at about 7500 rpm. Well, it's like there's a whole other motor in there that takes over around that point. I'm used to the Yamaha screaming like a demented banshee, but it is startling to have the Ducati just rev and rev and rev. Wow.

And it handles like a dream. I have no idea if the traction control kicked in, but you can pretty much dive into any corner and BWWWWAAAAAAAA out with nary a hiccup. This could be a lot of fun. Scratch that, it is a lot of fun.  I just hope I can hang on to my license...

You better bring that demon to Zeitgeist instead of that nancy boy scooter 'o yours.

Ditch those reflectors, noob.   [cheeky]

Congrats, MM!

WHY DONT YOU BRING IT TO THE NORTH BAY RIDE THIS SUNDAY JUNE 28 , 2009 . I WOULD LOVE TO CHECK IT OUT AND TAIL  ;D YOU AND FIND OUT HOW MANY POINT OF A SECOND I WILL LAST TRAILING YOU  [moto] . THAT'S A BAD-ASS BIKE  [bow_down] . DUCATI SHOULD HAVE USED THE NAME - FURY - INSTEAD OF HONDA USING THE WORD .  [bang]

YYYYEEEEAAAAHHHHH BBBOOOYYYEEEEE  ;D !!!   [leo]

DONT DITCH THE REFLECTORS  [thumbsup] . YOU'LL MAKE YOURSELF MORE PRONE TO GET PULLED OVER WITH A BAD-ASS BIKE LIKE THAT  [moto] .   

PASS "GO" AND COLLECT $200  ;D !   [leo]

The traction control almost makes me think I could handle this bike.

But until Ducati invents some sort of "evil impulses control", I probably can't.

Yeah, the "Evil Impulses" and "Do Stupid Things" controls would be helpful with this one.

I gotta hook the thumb drive thingie up to my PC and see if it ever kicks in. I've been told it is very subtle, not like hitting the rev limiter mid-corner. A little light on the dash goes on too, but who the hell is looking at the dash?

Congratulations Mike...you deserve it.

Wire it to a shock collar.  Then stuff the collar down your panties.  You'll notice when the TC comes on.

You have pipes on it yet?  You might be able to hear the TC kick in based on the exhaust.

Pipes are next.  Along with a new rear stand for the SSS.

gee ... that's a might purdy horn on that there motosycle ya got there.

congrats, you bastid!  [thumbsup]

Congrats MM! [beer]

Ya know MM...being gay is OK these days.  You didn't have to get a big, bad bike to try and convince us that you're straight.  Now just hand that thing over here.  That's it.  It'll be OK.  Let 'Belle ride it for you. 

It's been a while, but didn't you come a few times on a scooter? ;)

Yeah, I rode the Vespa a couple of times. Just to be a dick.

The SF will have to wait till next month for Z nite. Not going to be able to make it tomorrow.  Sniff.

Then it doesn't count. You don't officially have the bike until you ride it away after drinking...

We'll be waiting with baited breath for the first sighting! [moto]

ehe, hey beavis ... he said "come a few times on a scooter". eh he he he.

(http://cristal.inria.fr/~harley/ecdl3/pics/butthead.gif)

I think he got some key board problem..hahaha [thumbsup]

New bike + 155HP + Alcohol.  What could go wrong?

ENZO696DUCMON'S FLAGRANT USE OF CAPSLOCK, and my circumstance of having a new bike made me think of this poem. So here you go, a little culcha for the AM.

she being Brand... (XIX) by E. E. Cummings


she being Brand

-new;and you
know consequently a
little stiff i was
careful of her and(having

thoroughly oiled the universal
joint tested my gas felt of
her radiator made sure her springs were O.

K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her

up,slipped the
clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she
kicked what
the hell)next
minute i was back in neutral tried and

again slo-wly;bare,ly nudg. ing(my

lev-er Right-
oh and her gears being in
A 1 shape passed
from low through
second-in-to-high like
greasedlightning)just as we turned the corner of Divinity

avenue i touched the accelerator and give

her the juice,good

(it

was the first ride and believe i we was
happy to see how nice she acted right up to
the last minute coming back down by the Public
Gardens i slammed on

the
internalexpanding
&
externalcontracting
brakes Bothatonce and

brought allofher tremB
-ling
to a:dead.

stand-
;Still)

Nothing...if you leave it in my garage and take the bus home [evil]

Congrats MM! Have fun replacing that rear tire every 1000 miles or so.   [thumbsup]   [laugh]
High Horsepower Nakeds for the win.   [moto]

Congrats MM - can't wait to see/hear these beasts with the ol' pipes mod.

Thanks. I think Termis are going to be hard to find. The bike is so freakin' quiet, it's just....  wrong.

Hard to find as in they don't make 'em or as in they make 'em but nobody carries 'em or has 'em in stock yet?

The latter. The Hattar demo bike had 'em and they sounded glorious.

Speaking of Termignoni (and Arrows and the like) and e. e. cummings:


Termignoni are the only way to maintain a clear and intimate emotional understanding of your bike.
It's only casual and supervised dating until that addition.

GLORIOUS!! and I am yelling  ;D

SO, ARE YOU GOING TO THE NORTHBAY RIDE THIS SUNDAY JUNE 28 ?  [leo] NOW I AM YELLING , TOO [cheeky] !!!  Sorry but my cap-lock key is broken and stuck  [laugh] ;D [thumbsup] . Long live the king - MICHAEL JACKSON - R.I.P. ! THIS IS FOR THE HOMIE  [drink] !!

Congrats on the new bike!  Looks awesome. 

 [laugh]  I just thought you had a particular sense of aesthetic.

simmer down boys...

Hey you . . . you promised us more pictures.  Where dey at?  ;D

Someone hasn't take their Prozac today.   [laugh]

More pictures once I clean the drool stains off. I promise.

I didn't know you were a BARFer. Some tape might help you keep your slack jaw shut.

As long as it's just drool stains and not reminences from Spidey molesting it.  ;)

Congrats Michael!
Very nice bike!!! [bow_down]

Still cellphone pix, but here are a couple more...

(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v649/66/36/730139679/n730139679_2945435_2781359.jpg)

(http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v649/66/36/730139679/n730139679_2945436_2904019.jpg)

Nice bike MM  ;D   [thumbsup]

I can't wait to see it in person. no no - I can't wait to see you get a wheel in the air. Man that thing looks like it has a go vertical button.




Jesu-christmas I guess.  wtf [laugh] I hope you give the poor guy the 20 bucks now.

Absolutely. If he brings me his broken keyboard, I'll pony up twenty bucks for Capslock McScreamy.

You know an exhaust system like Itsasickness has would look badass on that bike.
Oh and congrats on the new ride! Whats ya gona do with the monster?

Funny you should mention it - I went for a quick loop this morning, and on the stretch by the Mtn. Home Inn where you can pass a bunch of cars, I decided to get around two that were in front of me. Forgetting for a moment that I was on a bike with double the horsepower of my old one, I whacked the throttle a bit (2nd gear) and sure enough, the front came up (and I was still leaned a bit no less) and a couple of red lights lit on the dash and the front came back down gently, and I still had plenty of oomph to get by those cars. "Aha" I thought, "that's the traction control doing its thing. Pretty cool."  So I think you could set the height of the wheelie by setting the DTC at whatever number you liked.

I also noticed it briefly lighting up when accelerating over Bots Dots. It is pretty sensitive, but never upset the bike. Nice.



Thanks, I'm keeping the monster for now, mostly because I don't quite know what to do with it. It has a lot of miles, but still runs great and handles well too. I'll probably sell it at some point though.  As for exhaust, I have to have the Termi, that's just the way it is. It looks really great I think, much nicer than the stock cans (which aren't really bad looking).

 [thumbsup]  Congratulations Michael, that thing is so sweet..!!   

Congrat !  [clap] [clap] very nice bike & good choice.
So when will we plan to ride Marin loop again ?

Thanks guys!

After a pretty full weekend with the bike, I'm still loving it. It handles the Marin goat trails so easily you'd think it was a much smaller bike. Until you get to a straight section and crack the throttle. Hoo-boy. Good thing the brakes are as capable as the rest of the bike.

It's interesting to me how quickly you get used to gobs of horsepower. I had a meeting in the city today and was riding the Vespa up the Waldo Grade, throttle pinned, doing 65, laughing to myself at how I kept twisting the thing expecting there to be more. But no, I was on the bike with 22hp, not the one with 155.  ;D

Yea for a stock exhaust it's actually really nice. I really dig the finish they put on them, well at least the black ones.
I say keep the Monster, it would be great for the times you are going to the city and need to leave your bike parked outside for an extended period.

Yeah, I'm keeping the monster for now - it's still a great bike.  Good point about city parking. The SF does draw a crowd whenever you stop and park or gas up.  ;)

Tell us how hard it is to be beautiful.   [cheeky]

Let's just say, if you were an attention-whore - and I'm not - this would be your bike. At least right now, until the next new new thing comes along.

Wow may sell the monster..!!   :(   Ingrato..!!   :-[  how could you, look at this beauty !!

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/15777970_70d6452ebf_o.jpg)

 [evil]

OK Juan, now you made me feel bad for even thinking about selling it.

It kind of feels like the bike is looking at me like this...
(http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs139.snc1/5931_117429604679_730139679_2985523_6421751_n.jpg)

You could give it to Enzo.  He's got a crush on your bike.   [cheeky]  That way it'd still be in the family and it could play with Raffie's bike and mine.   [laugh]

Years of faithful service kicked to the curb?


For shame.