Ducati Monster Forum

+1 they got the monster right back in 1995. thats the magical year of all monsters.... especially with a 944 kit in it  [evil]

  :'(

We all switched bikes today during a jaunt up n' down PCH.  I gotta tell ya, as bad ass as the Streetfighter is to ride (and its REALLY bad ass), sixteen years ago they got the monster right.  Really right.

I agree 95 was THE year! [thumbsup]

That may have been the year for something, but THE bike was the 98 M900 Special.  [thumbsup] And it was special. Where have all the cast iron floating disks gone...? ???

Spidey - how are you finding the riding position on the Streetfighter?

Spidey - how are you finding the riding position on the Streetfighter?

I like the streetfighter a lot.   [bow_down]

We rode an S model. It has a shit-ton of power. A shit-ton. I was being rookie-ish with the throttle and an overjudicious application sent my surging forward like I'd just had a seizure. F'n awesome. In fact, ealier, I'd had a moment when I thought , "What's all this hype about the power of the SF?", I looked down and realized I was going through the twisties at around 4k. Get it a little north of 6k and it just keeps pulling and pulling like a freight train. The throttle needs little check marks on it so you know how much you've turned it-- "commuting, twisties, , woot!, shit-eating grin, stupid, retarded fun, and then dead." It has all the fun of a giant torquey twin down low and in the mid-range (which is great for street riding), but can really stretch it's legs up top in the RPMs. In fact, it's too much power to use on the street. But that's what makes it fun.   [evil]

Mostrobelle and I had the same reaction to the feel of the engine, which is what she is describing as tinniness. It's no big deal--to me it just felt like any stock engine w/o an exhaust. Put some Termis on that puppy and it'll unleash the beast (our friend has some on order -- we'll have to schedule another test ride. ). I think the difference between stock and non-stock is more noticeable on the Duc, particularly if you're used to the feel from a 2V, aircooled Duc (with pipes) rumbling your fun bits through the seat. I bet if it had pipes, mostrobelle would come out differently on her 848 v. SF evaluation.

The SF feels really light when you're on it--almost tard-like--which is weird considering it's bulky-looking and aggressive appearance. Really light.

The traction control is pretty cool (like I said, it was an S model). I wasn't railing hard enough for it to kick in--cuz who rides like that with your friend's 20K bike?--but it wouldn't let me wheelie like I wanted. I think it was on a pretty conservative setting.

The ergos are pretty nice. The bike feels really short with an upright seating position. You feel pretty tall riding it, but you get used to it. My usual ride is more of a cafe-racer seating position, so it took a few miles to get adjusted before I wicked it up a bit. I found it had just the right amount of lean to the bars for aggressive riding without feeling like I was on a tard. The narrow tank made for a comfortable seating position and an easy lock-off when hanging off. I've heard people talk about their right foot interfering with the exhaust, but I didn't notice a problem. Like DH said, it would be easy to spend a lot of miles on the bike. As for the height and parking the bike, it was fine. I can't flatfoot my monster either. <shrug>

The Brembo monoblocs are absolutely divine. The monster s4rs brakes were a little too immediate, but Ducati got them well-sorted out on the Streetfighter. A ton of braking power with incredible feedback. It was like the brakes actully talk to you -- "let off the lever a fraction, you idiot! You're about to lock the front!!!" Amazing linear feel without too much initial grab. They didn't feel like too much for the street (which is an occasional complaint with the 1098 brakes).

As you'd expect with a light bike with wide bars and Ohlins all-round, turn in was quick and it felt really planted in turns. It was easy to adjust your line mid-turn, tighten it up, or otherwise flick it in quickly. In fact, for a bike that flickable, it felt unusually planted in turns. Normally there's more of a trade-off between the two. Man, I could/would do some really stupid shit with that bike. 

As for me, I'd get the SF over the monster 1100, methinks. I just don't like the styling of the new monsters enough, and the SF is just such a beast and so f'n fun to ride. I don't like the SF nearly as much in red, but black with Termis looks evil. Good luck with your Duc shopping.

P.S. if you're interested, I spent a week with an M1100 in the fall. Here's the write-up-- http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/fo...d.php?t=272807. (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/fo...d.php?t=272807.)  Edit:  DMF link here:  http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=13509.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=13509.0)

P.P.S. I also got to spend some time with mostrobelle's 1994 monster, which I hadn't done in a while. For a fifteen year old bike, it's well sorted. It got dusted by the SF on the straights, but could hold it's own just fine in the twisties. The last time I rode it, I remember it being really softly sprung (cuz 'belle weight about 54 lbs), but it wasn't that bad at all this time. Dunno why. The 944 kit makes a big difference too. Mawr powah, mawr bettah!!!!

Oh great. NOW I hear about wheelies and doing stupid shit.  Good thing I had the traction control on 7 (out of 8, with 8 being the "rain" setting).

But glad you liked it bro.

You don't look slow (leading on your SF)

Tam Junction to Tomales in 4:32 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FiB6yFSolg#lq-lq2-hq-vhq)

Tam Junction to Tomales in 4:32

Oh great. NOW I hear about wheelies and doing stupid shit............