Ducati Monster Forum

So I'm a long time lurker. After years of oogling and dreaming of a Ducati from my 50cc & 250cc bikes while working through school, the end is in sight, and my wonderful wife has finally put her foot down and declared that it time and she will settle for nothing less than a monster as a second vehicle for commuting (riiight...commuting).

And then ducati went and CHANGED everything with the 696.  Don't get me wrong, the 696 is a darn attractive bike. But in my eyes nothing can hold a handle to the s2r/s4r and the old 620.

After test riding the 696 it's all I ever hoped for from a riding perspective, but...it falls short of it's predicessors in my eyes. But (and this is just going by the dealer) the 696 sure sounds like it trumps the old 620's and s2r's (which would be my first choice) in every way. At least according to the dealer it runs better, rides better, and is cheaper to work on.

Older bikes are obviously much cheaper too.

No real opportunity to test ride older bikes (the SLC dealer doesn't allow that), so I'm hoping to get some oppinions of the old vs the new: the 620 vs the s2r vs the 696.  Is the 696 really so much more advanced that it is worth giving up on the look I love?

If it is all the dealer would claim: more reliable, cheaper to maintain, more fuel efficient, better handling, etc. well, It is still a beautiful bike (and the color options are pretty cool). But if it is just an incremental improvement...well those older s2r's with the offset stripes sure sing to me.

Thoughts?

/* update */
Well I really appreciate all the feedback. More than anything I think it has given me the confidence to go with what I know I really want.

 [popcorn]

An '07-'08 s2r or 695 has the same maintanance schedule and can be had for less.  From what I've seen posted here the actual service costs are the same.  You know you want the older style.  Just get one.  ;D

Just my opnion, had a 620 and the suspension was complete crap.  Spent a lot of money getting a real suspension set up on the bike and it was still just OK as far as aggressive canyon/track riding goes.  The 695/6 come with similarly pitiful components from what I can gather.  

Now if this is just a Starbucks tire kicker any of them will do.  They look great and make all the right noises.  If you intend to ride the bike with some purpose, find a used 900/1000 with fully adjustable suspension.

It's a great time to buy a used bike from a private party.  You are the boss on this deal!!

just some very biased thoughts from a very happy s2r1k owner: 696 being more reliable - i would be surprised, it is a brand new model, so i think you would have more problems with it than with a longer history one. cheaper to maintain - i am not convinced about this, see the later model schedules (from 08). more fuel efficient - 696cc vs 1000cc, sure... but you have 80hp vs 90hp as well. better handling - no experience with a 696, but the s2r is smooth like butter.

and the s2r is a real italian beauty, the 696 looks like it wants to be japanese with those bug eyes and subframe...  :) 

 

I'd go old Monster for two reasons.  They look better and there are tons of aftermarket parts already available for modding!   [thumbsup]

I ran into a dude the other day, and he was telling me all the new style monsters are no longer hand built like the old one's. I got an '07 and am going to hang onto it for as long as I can.
My 0.02c

Plus the new ones is FUGLY.

The 696 is a good bike. IIRC power is delivered at higher rpm's, which is not what Ducati is about.
If you are going by the dealer priorities, bla bla, you really shouldn't buy a Ducati at all - there are bikes out there that beat our bikes at almost everything. Thing is, they ARE not Ducati, they scream instead of ROAR and they usually look uninteresting.

+1 on getting a S2R 1000. It will keep you smiling for years. (Get one with the exhaust mod included, if it runs smoothly)

Another thing to consider, and what struck me first when I hopped on 696 - that tank.  It struck me right in the gubbins... A number of folks with the new monsters have encountered the same 'comfort' issue and end up buying taller seats just to sit on it w/o getting a shot every time you stop..

I don't buy the line about maintenance.  AFAIK, the valve check intervals haven't changed in a couple years.  Yes, if you go back further the interval goes down to 6k miles between checks.  But, if you get an older bike, your out of pocket savings will probably be greater than the cost differential for the 1 or 2 more valve checks you'll have to do in the next few years. 

The comment about the suspension's a good one.  ALL the base level Monsters 620/695/696 etc are pretty spare when it comes to the factory suspension.  An older model, that's up the food chain a bit will see some improved suspension components.

One thing in the 696 favor is those Radial calipers up front. Previously, those only appeared on the Big Monsters.  They are a welcome change over from the 2 piston 300mm rotor set up seen on the 620, 695 and S2R800

Another is the body set up - though it makes working on the bike harder - it's a lot less susceptible to damage from a tip over and if it is damaged it's modular nature makes it a lot less of a hassle to put right again

You buy motorcycles because it "moves" you -- and I'm not talking about dragging your carcass from point A to point B.  A big part of that is the aesthetics of the bike.  If you like the way the old style looks (which I do -- proud '96 M900 owner here) go get it.  The money you save will buy you a lot of maintenance.

Also, you didn't really expect the dealer to sell you a used bike (he prob doesn't have) did'ja?

Old.

Next question.  ;D

Between a 696 and an S2R1K... uh...

The 1000DS engine (and 1100DS) are amazing powerplants. Get you an S2R and start spending money on gas, tires and mods.

The 696 is a far cry from the 620.

Better brakes, better suspension, and you can swap out the color easily. Needless to say the 696 powerplant was very adept at keeping me entertained.

if fake air scoops and a Aprillia headlight turn your crank get the new fake Monster

i say get a real  Monster ...S2R or S4R

or save yourself a few grand by buying a suzuki gladius. ;D

OLD

I like my trellis to go all the way to the tail light. Old.

My whole issue with the 696/110 bikes is the fact that the styling such as the the headlight looks like 3or 4 other bikes out right now. There are other elements but i wont go into it. Point being i think the 696 will look very dated in the future. Like riding an 80s bike with a square headlight. Unlike say a 95 model monster that has a more timeless look that youll be proud of for years. I have an 06 s2r 800 so my bias is obvious,but seriously you know what you want go get it

fixed.
and get an old monster, either the s2r or an earlier DSS [moto]

The one that "speaks" to you is the right one for you.  I saw a Monster 620/750/900 while searching for my first bike and I knew immediately that was the one for me. 

You really can't go wrong with either, though.  :)

The air scoops are not fake.

Another vote for an older Monster, but I'll take it one step further and say look for a low mileage carbureted Monster.

I'd go for the older models because of the steel v plastic tank issue. I also don't like the aesthetics of the partial trellis of the newer Ducs (even if MV and Bimota frames are similar to the new monsters, I don't care).

If I were shopping, I'd look for an old city edition. That blue paint is just pretty.

I recently sold my 696 and am in the process of acquiring a highly modded s2r1000. It's a great motor and looks better, but the main reason I'm switching is the superior suspension. If you look at the blue book, the retail on an '09 696 (used) and an '07 S2R 1000 are the same. For the same money, the S2R is clearly a superior bike.

^^ But I mostly ride the 996 anyway  ;D

+1

I'd either get a steel tank version, or go with the 696/1100 which I believe has an HDPE tank, and thus won't expand.

No way I would ever buy a used Monster with a plastic tank (in the US).

I have nothing against the new Monster, I do however like my oldie better ! 2005 1000 DS.
I would say to you when it comes to buying a bike other people opinions are useful but you must go with what YOU want.

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/3018534432_6a8b8f568c.jpg)

696 is a much better bike than the 620 or 695.  That's said, as a matter of personal taste, I'd take a 620 or 695 or s2r800 over the 696.  They're cheaper, they give me wood in a way the 696 doesn't, and because they've already depreciated, will retain value better for when you sell 'em for the next latest greatest moto. 

You're buying a motorcycle, and a naked Ducati no less.  It's not *really* a rational choice.  Whichever one makes you nuts tingle the most, get that one.  If you want the best performing, most bestest, baddest thing out there, don't look at an air-cooled Duc.

G'luck.

+5 OLD

My M620D gives  me everything I need on a bike... It's a hoot to ride, plus, IT'S TIMELESS...

Ask yourself, which bike makes my gut move? Which bike makes me drool and think, what if I install this cf part or paint this other part?

Once you answer these questions, you'll know which bike you want.

My 0.02
 [beer]

Ad another biased vote for the old design !

I test drove the new ones now and I have to say it made it more difficult.
The position is much better than on my 695, feels more active and front oriented.
Also the sound of the stock bike is somehow more interesting.

But I really dont like most of the modern elements..
The mouse theater LCD thing...you cant read anything while driving...the analog one can be observed by peripheral view even when ducked behind it on the track.
The lamp looks silly , also I feel the old ones give more broader lights.
The alu part after the bloated new trellis is just bulky, same as the passenger foot pegs.
Of course the trumpets, the tail and the plastic engine covers.

I love to clean mine...spend three hours with techno cleaner and brush to make her shine.
I dont know if I would do that for the new one too.
But beauty is a personal affair, and technically its probably an evolution.
Even with the wiring harness trouble and some other baby problems the new ones will come up with.

What would I do if I had to buy one today with the same 8000 Euro budget...?
I would go for a used S4r :)

What part are you saying is fake? The air intakes are directly under the screens in the tank skins.


If we're getting all purist, the original Monster and the largest number on the road are DSS air-cooled bikes. Those new-fangled SSS bikes are a significant change from the original. Nobody unfamiliar with Ducatis would see them as the same thing at all.

I speak here as someone with a 620 and a 696 currently sitting out in my barn. Until I was recently given a deposit on the 620, I was riding it in alternation with the 696 every other day or two.

They're different in lots of ways, some big and some small. Each has advantages over the other. Although fundamentally more similar than different, they do feel noticeably different to ride. Every time I rode the 620 I found myself wondering why I was selling it. Every time I rode the 696 I felt happy with my decision to switch.

Significant functional differences include the headlight, instruments, brakes, riding position and seat, and tank. There are obvious styling differences and the divisive frame changes, but aesthetic concerns are individual preferences and debating them is useless.

The 696's brakes are better, period. They'd be even better with a radial master, which is lacking.

I personally prefer the LCD instruments. They're easier for me to see and the tach predominates. It's extremely easy to see at a glance peripherally. Redline is indicated by a row of red LED's that light up and flash. I don't hear anybody arguing that the 1098 or 'sedici would function better with analog instruments. The new panel has several very useful functions such as distance ridden since entering fuel reserve and some silly ones such as air temperature.

The 696's headlight looks silly. It works beautifully. If anyone else has spent significant time riding both an old Monster and a new one after dark and still wants to opine that the old headlight works better I'll listen to their arguments. Otherwise, anyone who believes the old light works better is just making stuff up out of thin air.

The difference in riding position was the primary reason I got the 696. I prefer it. Others may not. Before posting this I went out a couple of minutes ago and sat on both bikes. To me, neither is at all different in terms of the interface between tank, seat, and the rider's anatomy. The stock 696 seat is significantly more comfortable to me than the stock 620 seat. Neither is as comfortable as the old-style DP touring seat.

My 620 has a metal tank that's useful for magnetic tank bags, has never given me any functional problems, and is an icon of motorcycle design. My 696 has an internal plastic tank with external panels that are very similar in appearance with the exception of the air intakes. Several people at work have noticed my yellow 696 and asked if I repainted the red 620. To non-Monsteristi, the tanks look essentially the same. My wife recently crashed her 696. The controls popped the screen out of the air intake - no tank ding! I'll be able to replace the skin that was scratched either with a cheap eBay part, the white plastics I took off my bike, or a whole new color set for the bike in any of a dozen colors with far less time and money than repairing an older bike. The air intakes significantly change the sound of the bike. Compared with stock exhausts, the 696 has a deeper more rumbly sound (at least to the rider) because of the location of the air intakes. Of course, with the CF Termi's on my bike, that's pretty much moot.

I agree with many of the points people have made about differences between the bikes. Other comments, though, are made by people who clearly have not spent any significant time riding the new Monsters. It's only natural that people with old Monsters prefer them and dislike the new. I did, too, until I rode them several times over quite a few months. We'll be having similar arguments 15 years from now about how the new Monster 712 isn't really a Monster at all like the old 696's.

The most salient issue, when all is said and done, is which Monster one prefers. They're all good. None is very practical. Making a choice based on practical considerations when it comes to Monsters is a fairly bogus concept. Choose the one that calls out to you. The problem comes when more than one speaks to you - then you're really screwed unless you've got a big budget and garage.

I have a 07 S2R1K and have had Z E R O issues with it.
I have no plans on ever selling it, just buying other bikes to keep it and my 55 Bel-Air company in the garage  [thumbsup]

There is enough difference between the old and the new Monsters that I am kind of wishing/hoping this forum would somehow separate the two.  I get kind of tired clicking on a thread thinking that it might be something that I am interested in...  but its not. 

This thread in particular is about both, but I agree to a degree - people could mark their threads more often?

Nothing silly about air temperature, I wish I had it on my bike, it would be useful to know if I'm at risk of encountering ice on the road.  My bike (695) has distance ridden on reserve.


I'd find it hard to believe that a headlight could be much worse than my stock one.

Well I did a 360 degree on this one.

After selling my 92 900ss and not having a fun type motorcycle for about three years ( just had my GS) I had pretty much made my mind up on getting a S2rk after a demo ride at the dealer.  Had a near miss buying chance from craigslist and a long look at a coworkers s2r800.  

Then I heard rumblings about the new Monsters coming out and thought I would wait alittle longer.  The first pics I saw I thought OMG !  they are hideous and back I went to the classified sections.  

I think it was about this time that I found this forum and started reading and lurking.

Then early this summer I was at the dealership in Loveland, they have both Ducati and Bmw and saw a red Monster 1100s.  I thought OMG that thing is cool !!!  [thumbsup] Alright I thought, come next spring that will be my new ride. !!

Well for some reason I did keep looking at the DMF classifieds and several months ago started casually following a thread for a 01 M900SIE.  A model that I had not considered at all, plus it was the wrong color.   :(.................you can probably guess what I ended up with ! [laugh]

All I can say  is that I am very happy with the bike so far !  BIG grin every time I take it for a spin. Although in a couple of years I can see myself on a well cared for 1100s !

New vs old does not matter ! Life is short ! cheesy I know but get what you want if you can. [beer]    

If the new M696/M1100 gives you wood. Go for it.

As for me. I don't know what it is about he new M696/M1100 Monsters. It invokes the same feelings as when i see a Kamahoyadasaki. Nothing.

I would buy an old school Monster for sure. Anytime anywhere.  [thumbsup]

I've bought six motorcycles in my life so far. All six were Ducs. I currently have four and I am always on the hunt for my next Ducati. I have never thought twice about buying a different brand. No other motorcycle speaks to me like a naked air cooled Ducati. I don't know what it is. But man they sure are sexy!  [thumbsup]

Having said that. If my only option from Ducati was the new M696/M1100 series Monsters. I would seriously start looking at other bands. I would even consider a Kamahoyadasaki over the M696/M1100. Cause at that point, it will be all about the technical specs and price.

Ah. I just figured that I could tell if I were hot or cold without the instruments. As far as icing, once it gets to the point that there's a significant risk of ice on the road I put my bikes in the barn for the winter. I'm a wuss.


Cool. That's a feature I really miss on the 620.

Where I am the temperature can easily vary by up to 30 degrees within a 20-mile ride.

Certainly makes sense that air temperature would be pretty useful for you.

As some else said the 696 is a much better mechanical bike than a 620/800.  My 620 was modded pretty well and didn't have the fun factor that the 696 did when it was stock. 

As for looks there's a ton of unnecessary hate for the 696.  I like them both but I wish the 696 was a trellis frame the whole way back.  Still, I love my bike.  I plan on having it for a long time.

I'll keep my M620D and just get her some new friends when I can...Just hope she don't get jealous...

wow, very good and helpful post!

as for old vs. new. when i was looking for a new bike the monster wasn't even on the radar. i have always disliked the way they looked. they looked sooo old to me compared to other bikes. anyway, i was looking at a triumph speed triple or a buell lighting. THEN ducati came out with the new 696 and i absolutely loved the look and bought one the second one arrived at the dealer. so if ducati didn't redesign the monster, i wouldn't even own a ducati. thats my personal preference...