Ducati Monster Forum

2008, 11,000kms, 5mths rego, great nick, stock exhaust.

Whay do you think would be a fair price?

I am thinking $15k at the low end but is that to low?

 People think I go to low....but the fact is I get my bike at the right price

if it's a 2008 it's a S4Rt with the 998 testastretta engine (opposed to the 996 S4R).

I think you're on the money because of the k's ands you'd be handing over a lot more than a dealership (I imagine around $11k from dealer)

a question:

has 10k service been done?

I figure $14.5 to $15 is fair as you can have the S4Rs for $17 to $18k with that mileage. and Ohlins should only bump up the cost by 2 to 3k (whether that is worth it I will not debate in this monologue)

It's a 12,000km service according to Ducati ??? 

I won't have that done, nor will i replace the tyres.

Doing things like that don't improve sale price in my experience. That gives me $1k i can automatically knock off the price without losing anything. When i sold my MV the tyres were royally rooted among the chain+sprocket and service was due. About $2.5k all up but i only had to use $500 from that buffer to sell the bike.  [moto]

I will plan around $14k, if i get more then that will be a bonus.

So why are you selling SG?
Has it not dome for you what you wanted, should you have gone for an S instead?

Or is it not your bike that is selling?

I'm not right now but am considering putting it up for sale in November-December.

If i had gone for the tri colour i was eyeing off, i would be losing even more.

It is one hell of a beautiful bike. Stunning. The chassis just sucks ass IMO. Sure, it can be ridden quickly but the effort required is enormous compared to other bikes.

SG I'm not quite sure what you are expecting to get out of the bike.
Sure it's not an all out SBK or anything like the MV, but I don't think they have to be riden that hard to get reward from them.
Every article I've read from the world's top road testers generally praise the trellis for it simplicity and beauty.
You have one of the best engines in that frame, maybe you just got a lemon.
something that was built just before summer holidays.

What is it that you are unhappy with? Weight/Dynamics/Ergo's
I must say you seem to have been at odds with the bike since you got it.

I too am interested in your "unhappiness" with the Monster???

Also what bikes have you owned in the past and what are you looking at for the future......  [roll]

For the record I agree with Matty. I have no issues either on the track or the road riding hard or soft.

It's why I love my Monster. Its a bike for all seasons....  [moto]

how is ride height and suspension?

interested in what is next for you! (but sad you are leaving the fold)  ???

Finally a use for the sad and confused icon!!!

i hate my monster too , went for a ride with yellow meanie today first ride for this season and dave was pushing me and the back end of the monster kept trying pass the front  [bang]

I'm not a sht hot rider, i doubt i could even tell the difference between a set of tyres, so it's not anything relating to equipment levels or setup. The suspension is fine, i really like the setup and think the stock suspension does a fantastic job.

Just for reference my previous ride was an MV Agusta F4 and a Honda VTR1000. My wife has a new Aprilia RS125 which i ride on the odd occasion when i am feeling playful.

The problem with the S4R (and it has been from day one) is turning. Any turn no matter what speed and what angle is a massive effort. The bike always wants to stand up straight and never turn. I am completely baffled why this is the case  ???   Now the F4 was as stiff as all hell but even that was better behaved at slow speed. How is this possible?

Both suspension issues and front wheel have been rectified. It is a LOT better than day 1 but still quite shit.

Every Monster owner loves their bike.....except me. I am not that fussy but out of the 20+ bikes i have ridden, my Monster is the worst in the rideability stakes by a mile.

What could it be? Wheel weights? Rear wheel not on correctly? bent frame? bent forks? Suggestions?

Tomorrow i will ride over to Frasers and take a Monster for a burn for comparison. I dunno, the test ride was fantastic. The bike i was given is shit.

im no expert but ive ridden a few different bikes and i find the monsters do handle quite well for a naked bike better than other nakeds that i test road so too hear you are not happy but if your not happy its no good sticking with it  [thumbsup]

I'm going to be out and about on bike tomorrow, if you are heading to Fraser's let me know.
Not saying I am an authority but I have riden a few Monsters and owned 2 now as you know.
If I can help let me know.

Matty PM me your mobile and if you have time around lunch maybe we can catch up.

I think i am going to take a punt and buy a new front tyre tomorrow. Perhaps there is a chance i got gumby tyres from the factory?

I like your idea about trying a demo bike and seeing if there is a difference.

life is too short to ride a bike you're not in love with! if it ain't right, do it!

I found that riding a Yamaha Virago 250 made me really appreciate the turning of the monster! You could try that!  :)

would have loved too see that, your legs would be better over the  bars  [laugh]

**Update**

Wife went and put a new set of tyres on in the hope that fixed my issues.

She just called to say it rides brilliantly and feels like my old Firestorm.

From the initial suspension woes and the wheel being on incorrectly, i would assume it's caused the tyre to wear in a weird way. When i had everything adjusted, i am left with a tyre with uneven wear making it still feel horrible. That makes sense to me.

Oh thank fking God this whole saga is now over!!!!!!

I'm out of Sydney for the weekend but will take it for a burn as soon as i get home. If it rides like it's supposed to, i will name my bike (i withheld a name as i wasn't going to keep her).

 [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto] [moto]

the 'ducati briantrust' comes through again!  [thumbsup]

your wife is COOL.  [thumbsup]

before tearing up a wad of cash, as well as sledging a fantastic bike, set it up! from new it's a very fast bike with a lot of power that appeals to a broad selection of riders, that equals a conservative, safe set up from the factory. start by dropping the forks 5mm and winding the compression adjusters (the ones on the bottom) clockwise two clicks. wind the rebound adjusters (the top ones ) anticlockwise one click. this is all from standard. ride it. it will turn much better, run reasonably high tyre pressures, try 34psi front and 36 to 38 psi rear. from there you can add a little preload to the rear, but not until you are comfortable with the changes you have made to the front.
   The MV F4 in my opinion is a revvy, overpriced piece of jewellry, and to go fast on one of them you have to be a very, very good rider, if you can't tell one set of tyres from another a doubt you would get anywhere near the chassis limits of any of your bikes. my guess would be the wide bars and no fairing gives unwanted input, that too can be dealt with.
   There's nothing wrong with the chassis of the late monsters, it's a derivative of the ST series and is more capable than most who ride it, including me, just because you think it's shit doesn't make it so, in fact, i'd go as far as to say ducati haven't made a bad handling bike since that parralel twin abortion in the late 70's.

paul.

WTF???

Ita

This is the latest in the ongoing saga which is SG's handling issues ... to fill in some of the blanks:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=28226.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=28226.0)

Thanks Betty....

NFI..  What a pack of retards..

Ita

Yeah it's been pretty bad. The moment i got the bike it didn't feel good and i have pissed and moaned on here for the past 6 months about it LOL. Frasers rode the bike and said it was great..... <insert bent over bum with fist going in icon>

I was able to take it for a quick 100km ride when i got home on Sunday. I am so used to it constantly fighting me when i hopped on the first 50m felt like i was riding on ice. I realise how messed up the bike was from Frasers.

Back on it this morning, i am all good. Pumped it around a few bends and it holds a beautiful line without me making any effort whatsoever. No wonder i was always so ratshit after the Putty rides, all that fighting was exhausting!!

The fork dropping was something i was looking into (as i have adjust the suspension and ride height already) but i will leave it for the time being. If i feel the need to change it, i will.

Now the bike is actually fixed, i won't sell it anytime soon. I'm looking forward to riding down for the MotoGP next month.

good work.
if you have raised the rear 8mm i'd be wary of lowering the front 5mm, it will make it a little nervous, the wide bars and no fairing will encourage unwanted input from the wind and may make it flighty and weave a bit, especially with a worn front tyre. if you do want the faster steering a damper is an excellent investment, some say it masks handling deficiencies and to an extent they can but from my experience it completely gets rid of unwanted input from wind and makes the bike track like it's on rails in fast corners (160kph +)

paul.