Ducati Monster Forum

So here's the deal, I love the Monster because it's a small and solid bike, being loud really helps too. I don't like big bikes, for some reason it just seems cool that my bike seems so small. (there is a point to this...)

So here I am a year older and at least 10 pounds heavier, I measure to ~6ft 235lbs and I ride a M620 with stock suspension and some low clip-ons. This week has been my first week back on the bike in 11 months, tonight was my first night going onto the highway during heavy traffic. I honestly went for a ride and didn't really think about traffic being an issue, when I got out there it was a scramble of what seemed to me big mack trucks and frantic people trying to get home from work. Doing 80mph kept me safely aggressive but occasionally I was being passed or forced to change lanes. The sun went down fast, it got colder than I expected, and at high speed with traffic I was feeling nervous not only about the crazy maniacal cagers and 18 wheelers but also about the bike hitting bumps at such high speeds with me being heavier this year. I rode fast all last year and in many heavy traffic situations, granted this was the first night out in 11 months but something was different about tonight, at times something about the situation was making me nervous, almost like I am not trusting the bike at high speeds.

Just thinking out loud here, curious if I am the heaviest guy on a 620 out there, FWIW according to the manual I believe the limit is 350lbs... Regardless of whether I am too heavy for it I think the immediate goal is to avoid the highway during the late rush hour where all the people held up in the office are racing to get home, I even got in a random conversation with a cab driver at a gas station because he was telling me to be careful and that people seemed extra crazy today with their driving  [roll]. Anyways,  [bacon] for that cabbie because I agree with him, something seemed 'off' today and I cannot figure it out, either it's due to my hiatus from riding, the weight I gained, or people out there were more aggressive than I remember.

I don't have a 620 but I have a S4Rs and currently with gear on I'm about 280 lbs. at 6'4".

I also ride a 1098 R which weighs 364 lbs. dry.

No problems yet !

Dolph        :)

I never rode any of the bigger monsters but I am under the impression your bikes both have much stiffer suspension than a stock 620... of course you have added height and weight on the rider though.

I've recently juggled the idea of a suspension upgrade with a big bore kit or an engine swap, if I didn't do so many mods I would just get rid of it and buy a bigger one but my bike has way too much soul to send it off... of course financially speaking it is wisest for me to just ride the hell out of it as is...

I'm 6'5", 240lbs., stock susp. S2R 800 w/ a 130 mile roundtrip commute.  I'd like better suspension, but for 75% of my riding I don't probably need it.  I feel safer on the bike than I do in the car, despite all the big rigs hauling down interstate 80.
I am a bit of a wuss, me no likey the cold.....but what are you gonna do, trade for a bimmer w/ heated saddle and grips and real fairings that don't leave you popsicled by the time you get to work....that'd be too easy.  
Keep riding and you'll get that good vibe feeling back.


Later

I'm 6' - 6'1", 230. Geared up, probably close to 250.

I had an '03 620. It was my first bike. I thought the suspension was fine, but it was my first bike so I didn't really know any better.

Having ridden a few bikes that were properly set up for a guy (close to) my size, I can tell you that my 620 was horribly undersprung. I would highly suggest getting it re-sprung for weight.

That being said, I don't think that all of it is the bike.

You've taken a loooooong break from riding. I don't know about you, but I start to lose my "comfort level" after even a few weeks, ESPECIALLY with regard to high traffic/idiot situations. Hell, if a cabbie, of all people, tells you that people are being extra-nuts, then you have every right to feel a bit paranoid while riding. That's healthy, even when people are acting "normal."
 
I don't think you need to get rid of your bike.

I DO think you should to do several things:

1) Have the suspension re-sprung for your weight and riding style. $200-300 and worth every penny. Losing those 10 lbs afterward won't have nearly as drastic an effect on your handling as gaining 10 lbs on a suspension originally designed for someone who weighs 160 lbs.
2) Work back into it. Take the MSF ERC, go to a track day, something. Go to a closed environment with other moto riders and get comfy.
3) Ride. A lot. Familiarity breeds contempt.

You guys both need to get your suspensions set up for your weight. This is probably the best mod you can do for your bike. It will feel better at all speeds, increase rider confidence, etc etc. You're both about half again too heavy for the bikes you're on. You should feel nervouse-your bike is overloaded.


Christmas is coming-if you have a winter mod, put this on the list.

I feel better seeing some of the responses here, it did feel very foreign being out there in such aggressive traffic, definitely not a relaxing ride  [thumbsup]

I think I will get the suspension dialed in for my weight this winter but with it I might spring for a big bore kit (while I am at it), or if I can find a cheap motor maybe a swap... Either way, I still love the bike, just need to get comfortable again out there after such a long break. The big lesson for tonight is to dress in layers, I had my gear on but no cold weather linings inserted.

 [moto]

Ever seen Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas?

Get cold enough and riding the bike is like trying to check into the hotel with the fish lady. Bad things, man, bad things.

But yeah, get your suspension set up. As for the big bore kit, this board has the brains to pick to get it right. Stu, SpeedDog, ducvet... take your pick.

+1   Just got my front forks back from getting worked on by speeddog. He's good, honest, and has lots of good advice.  I recommend him every chance I get.  Duck-Stew as well.   [thumbsup]

good luck, be safe, and may the  [bacon] be with you.   ;)

actually Ducvet does all my work, he's always had great advice and his work is top notch, in the end it's really up to him  [thumbsup]

these boards really are great...  [beer]

Ducvet will make your suspension work as best as your budget will allow, and you will be faster and more confident on the bike due to riding a more competent bike.  Spend the money on suspension first engine second.   

I'm 6 ft and 180-185ish and I think my 620 Monster is way undersprung, I can only imagine it's much worse for you. Definitely do the suspension mod.

As fo the Big Bore kit, from everything I've ever seen it's cheaper to sell your 620 and buy an S2R800, M900, etc than it would be to put a big bore kit on the 620. I thought about it a year or so ago, but decided it just wasn't worth it.

Yeah, I know it would probably make more financial sense, but the BB kit will allow me to avoid transferring all my mods to a new bike, not even sure if they would all fit... If I can get like 10 more HP and a stiffer ride this will be a good step up, I'd love a dry clutch but oh well... Not to mention that right now I can afford a BB kit, if I go bike shopping for a whole new ride lord knows what type of crazyness I will find a way to justify buying, right now I own this bike, shopping will most likely lead me to taking a credit line for something crazy...  [moto]

If you go around corners then yes, you definitely want to have some work done.  I weigh about the same as you and having a well-set-up suspension makes a huge difference even at a safe street pace.  It's not about going faster, it's about being safer and more relaxed at whatever speed you go.


I'll also vouch for Eric's work.  He rebuilt my OEM non-adjustable forks (new springs, custom shims to set the preload) and it made a huge difference in how much more stable the bike feels.  This winter I'm swapping for a set of fully-adjustable showa's that he rebuilt.

It's from not being on the bike in such a long period of time. At your size, 10 pounds is like not taking a dump in a few days.  [laugh] [laugh]

It's not a 620, and not even a Monster, but I ride my 1987 Paso 750 every now and again (and commute on the interstate in rush hour traffic with it on occasion - like two days ago). I don't have any issues when on the little Paso, and with full gear, I'm probably around 275 pounds or more (I'm 6'1" and right at 250 lbs).

I rode a 620 for a few yeard at 230lbs + gear. The only issue I had was that I would go through clutch plates every season.

Now I'm confused but it's late. [coffee]
If your bike has passenger pegs check the GVWR rating of your bike (sticker or manual).
Deduct you and your bike weight with gear on from that number and you know how much your passenger, bags, and her gear can weigh before worring about suspension since just about all bikes are built for 2 up.

Just because a bike can handle a certain amount of weight doesn't mean that its suspension is ideal for that weight.

Precisely, The suspension is NOT set up for that weight. To think that it is because the GVWR is set high, or it has passenger pegs is incorrect.

The bikes are undersprung for the factory, being set for a single rider weighing around 160 lbs. "Being able to carry more than 160" is not the same has being correct. Correct suspension means sprung for your weight and the sag set.*


Truer words were never spoken. You'll be 'faster' everywhere without any changes to the engine, and you'll hardly notice that you've gained speed through corners, because confidence will be higher.

There's been another post about a rider going two up and wondering why the suspension was bottoming out around turns. Well this is obvious, the preload can be maxed out, and it still not be putting the bike within the appropriate working range for the suspension damping circuit. Its all about spring rates. RaceTech and many others have calculators for this kind of stuff online, make sure to use it accounting for your gear (weigh yourself with gear on, its heavier than you think.) Changing springs is not all that expensive and followed with adjusting preload to set sag correctly, will make a world of difference in the handling of the bike.

* In regards to your weight. Damping characteristics are resolved with shim stacks, valving, and oil combinations.