Ducati Monster Forum

Hello, I'm in the process of deciding which model and from whom I'm going to purchase my monster from.  My question is, How can I be sure that I'm not buying a lemon?  I have some thoughts on this, please tell me what you think.  First, for the most part, I would think that Ducati owners tend to take better care of their bikes than the average company.  Second, If a person is going to put a bike up for sale on this forum for example, I would think they would tend to be honest about the condition.  Lastly, its perfectly acceptable to ask the seller to have the bike checked as my cost by a mechanic of my choice, right?  I just want to get as best an idea of what to expect and how skeptical to be when I see what looks like a good bike for sale.  Any answers and or additional advice you might want to give me would be greatly appreciated.  Also, please take into account that I'm 6'4 and for the most part am looking for a larger monster.  Is a 800 s2r really that much bigger than a 696?  I don't care about the overall size as it compares to other bikes, I just want to be comfortable on the bike.  Thanks again.

I bought my Monster from a forum member in another state. He and I worked out a written contract and both signed and exchanged copies via certified mail and conducted all of our transaction under very strict and defendable actions. All that being said I was nervous as I only had pics and his word to go on, but it turned out great.

In the end, I didn't have any trouble and the seller was really great to work with. Just cover all of your bases just in case something goes wrong, but for the most part, people on the forum are good, honest people who love thier bikes and wouldn't sell a lemon to anyone.

Good luck!  [thumbsup]

Another thing that I would add but isn't neccesarily bullet proof is to see if a person has a significant post count by their name.  You can also search their posts by username to see what else they have been up to...Do they have a bunch of parts for sale here?  Have they been banned on other boards for the possible sale of a stolen bike?  Have they been accused of taking money and not shipping the item(s)?

as always...YMMV

Good luck and keep us posted!

All Ducati Monsters are around the same physical size. Bikes don't actually get bigger with engine displacement. Of the S*R series, the frames, wheels, and swingarms are the same. It's basically just the engine and suspension that differ, along with a few other items that have nothing to do with the size of the bike. At 6'4" you are pushing the limits of comfort on a Monster. That can be fixed with ride height and suspension setup adjustments, and perhaps adjustable rearsets. I may have read the 696 as having improved ergos for people with short torsos/arms. Not a huge difference I wouldn't think however. Another factor is your weight. I'm 5'7"/165 and my S2R fits me nicely. A taller/larger rider may not see it that way. However there are many riders on this forum that are as big as you and love their bikes.
Duc riders are usually more obsessive about their bikes than most, so it stands to reason they are more mindful about maintenance. I know I really care about mine and maintain it as such, and if I were to sell it, it would certainly be a nice bike for someone. The amount of money I have expended on its welfare is pretty steep so I don't like to think about it. I also ride the heck out of it, which is better than not riding it or riding conservatively as long as the maintenance is done properly and on time. My bike seems to run happier if ridden a bit harder. There is a difference between hard riding and abuse however so be mindful. I'd think if you want a PPI from a qualified mechanic you would have to pay for it, but should otherwise be entitled to it. If you go about shopping for a used bike with skepticism, you will drive yourself nuts. Best would be to use your own judgement and not expect that there is someone out there trying to take advantage of you. Either that or buy a new bike, and even those have their share of problems but are usually covered under warranty.

Buy my 620.

It's perfectly reasonable to be suspicious. After a certain point, though, all you can do is hope for the best. There should be nothing wrong with having a bike checked out by your mechanic as long as you foot the bill. You can also get the service history from where the bike in question is serviced. I just bought a used 696 that had all its service from a dealer in Maine and the seller offered to have me speak with their service guys about it.

I've been lucky. I've bought 3 Monsters, each in a different state and none where I lived. The farthest was a 10-hour drive away. Each bike was completely as described. I've probably just been lucky.

Seriously, though, buy my 620.

im 6'2" and i looked like a gorilla f*cking a football on my 696 you did not post your weight,
unless you are qtip skinny you will be spending money upgrading the front of the 696 im 216lbs and front end suspension was maxed out.
 

We have a super clean S2R800 - 2007.  Just under 11K miles, full 15K service performed, still under factory warranty until 3/2010.
Bike was bought here and traded for an S2R1000.  He had us swap paint so he could have a dark S2R1000 so the paint on the 800 is all new black with white stripe!    Priced fair at $6999

(http://www.ducatiseattle.com/pre-owned/bikes/07-08-09/s2r_hi.jpg)
http://www.ducatiseattle.com/pre-owned/preowned.htm (http://www.ducatiseattle.com/pre-owned/preowned.htm)

There are members here with thousands of posts who I would never trust in a transaction nor would I trust their bike maintenance, and there are members here with fewer than 100 posts who I would not hesitate to buy a bike from. (cough Dave R cough).

Post count itself means nothing.  Go read through several hundred posts if it's a member here and decide for yourself.


Oh...and should be totally fine to pay for a mechanic to check it out pre-sale.   An owner might want to know who is fondling the bike, so an agreed upon mechanic is good.

OK, I have made the decision that I'm going to choose from two models.  They are equal in my minds eye.  The first is to buy a new 696 and love the new unused clean white goddess of a bike.  The second is to get a 2006 or 2007 S2R 800 or 1000.  There is something to be said for the S2R models appeal.  I just cant make up my mind.  In the mean time I would like to know what types of modifications I can do to accommodate my height (6'4) (170 lbs).  Again, I'm thankful for any suggestions regarding this topic.  I would love to make the bike more comfortable to a person of my height.  Have a great day/night.

'09 696 = '06-'07 S2r = '06-'07 s2r 1000?

Is this a first bike?

We have one that may suit you better with ride height adjusted up in the rear, Sargent seat and slightly raised bars..  down side is that it has a story
(http://www.ducatiseattle.com/pre-owned/bikes/07-09-09/s2r_hi.jpg)

It is a crash repair with a clean title that we have on consignment.  It has lots of decent upgrades, great top quality paint in a unique orange color, Leo 2-1, Seargent seat good tires, CRG mirrors...   We insisted on fresh timing belts before we would sell.  There is no damage left behind, all items fixed, runs fantastic!
They used Nissan pumps for brake and clutch.  Other than that it is nice, gets lots of looks but is valued $500 higher than our very clean blk/white bone stock one.. 
The 800's are great motors!

If this is his first bike, he needs to be cautious of getting one will exceed his learning curve. In that instance, I'd really steer clear of an S2R 1000. 800 wouldn't be too bad if you're a cautious, but for a new rider that's risky.

The comments about the post count are little things that can certainly play a part in the persons credibility - similar to an ebay seller history profile. If the seller only has 1 or 2 posts, I'd just be cautious. I agree too that there are some with thousands of posts that could leave you with the same concern.

Moderators: Is there a way that a DMF feedback feature can be created for buyers/sellers?

Good luck what ever you do!  [thumbsup]

I've got an S2R 800 and I'm 6'5" and I love my bike.  I commute 130 miles a day on it and have no issues (although I really need to tidy up the forks, sloppy front end handling).  I am considering parting w/ it since my commute has increased so much (used to be 24 miles a day).  The filling up before and after work thing is getting old.  I need a longer range machine.  In regards to purchasing a used bike, you had better have a reputable shop ck. it prior to buying.  I had Nichols (a local Ducati repair shop) do a prepurchase inspection and it reassured me that everything (w/out tearing down the engine) was in good order.  No seller should have a problem w/ an inspection if they're an honest seller.

Later

Good idea i have seen other forums where they have a bst section and only those who have enter a transaction can leave feedback.

On topic I bought my S2R1k from a board member on the DML. Took my time researched the user before I posted exchanged some pm's, email's and phone calls. Got lots of pictures, videos, etc after talking with the owner I felt she was honest about the bike and its condition. Even asked me if I was sure I wanted it. Seemed like she was carefull who she would sell it to. So that sealed the deal for me. For you I would check the bike out in person if you can. Trust your self and how the person acts. If it seems off probably wouldn't go for it or you could go for a reputable dealer.

You would buy a bike from me, right?  :-[

Is our buying and selling board that robust? I can't imagine we have that many things being swapped....

First: You should *always* get a bike inspected before purchase, in my opinion. If you aren't extremely familiar/skilled with the model you're buying, a professional should check it out and report his/her findings. Even stand up people have bikes with issues that they don't know about. Pre-purchase inspection is always suggested.

Second: I'll echo what others have said here. I'm hard pressed to come up with a better place to buy a bike besides Dave R from Ducati Seattle. Great techs there and Seattle is a no-salt city so if it's ridden year round you're less likely to find corrosion from winters.

Good luck with your search!

I don't know, but if there's any plan/hope of it growing into something more, it wouldn't hurt to offer a feedback resource.

If you know how to code in PHP, you should be able to build a mechanism. But I question risk vs reward. In general I would start a thread like many do asking if anyone has had any transaction with the person.

Thank you guys so very much for all the advice.  I still haven't made my decision although I'm really leaning toward the S2R 800.  As much as I love the look of the new 696, the S2r800 just seems to be a better fit.  Do you guys really think the extra 6 hp from the new 696 and lighter frame would make a lot of difference?  the S2R is made for more performance.  I would really like to know what you think.  Again, thanks and can't wait to hear more.

I was in your position at the end of last year. I decided on getting a S2R1K and am glad that I did. If this is not your first bike, find a clean S2R1K. If it is, I would stick to the 800 or 696. Consider this though. All things being equal, you would probably spend less on a used S2R than a new 696. The used bike will already have taken the depreciation hit for you, so if you decide to go to a different bike in a year or so, you won't be out so much scratch.

I would go used either way (used 696's are popping up now all over the place) and get what you like. Good luck!

I'm a broken record like this but I'd like to go on record as saying I don't think a Ducati is a good first bike. Those bikes you're looking at not powerful per the bike world, but they are faster than about any car on the road, and they're terribly expensive if dropped.


Have you taken the MSF yet? Have you budgeted for proper riding gear? You're a student, iirc-do you have health insurance?

Dude, let the guy live. If he wants to buy a 1098R as his first bike and ride around with no helmet on the track that's his choice.

By the same token, if I want to be concerned for his safety and explain why, shouldn't that just be my choice?


Let me live.  :P

Nah, you deserve to be babied.

Ezzackly.

Less-altruistic considerations include the effect on insurance premiums (both health and motorcycle) for the rest of us.

Ride your own bikes.   I sold a Honda BlackBird to a 5 foot nothing, 130 lb guy that had never ridden a bike before.  His buddy rode it home for him.   He's an engineering student at Cal Poly, so he's smart enough to decide on his own.  It isn't up to me or you to tell anyone what to buy. 

 [roll]

Sure it is-he came on the board asking for advice. Proper gear and rider training is part of owning a motorcycle and not wadding it/yourself. Seriously-there something wrong with giving a new rider proper advice, like you know, doing it safe?