Ducati Monster Forum

My wife has just finished up her motorcycle coures so we can finally ride together now....We are looking at buying her a monster 620, hard to come by in my neck of the woods. We have found a 750 though, its a 2002, great looking, great shape, and a great price. Would this be too much bike for a small female just learning to ride?

the 620 and 750 are pretty similar, so I'd imagine it'll be ok for her.

although the 620 has a slightly lower seat than all the other monsters, but that can easily be modded on any of the bikes  :)

My wife will chime in but she will most likely be forever annoyed that people talked her out of starting on a 250-much easier to ride, lighter (which is oh so important when you're smaller and have weaker legs) etc etc.

I think ducs are bad first bikes.

Yes, that's me.  Here's my review on a friend's Ninja 250 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=2613.0).  It's a great first bike.

For us smaller folks, the starting / stopping / parking becomes a bigger issue than actually riding.  Something taller and heavier is much harder to deal with, and chances are very high for someone small that it will get dropped, multiple times, at 0 mph.  That is really intimidating and a big blow to your confidence.  It doesn't help if it is a more expensive bike to repair.

Got my wife a used S2R 800 for her first bike.  She LOVES it, especially the bright red color and white stripe (she's Danish, looked like her country's flag.)

But she dropped the thing, like, 5 times in the first few months going up and down our driveway.  [roll]  I'm sure she would say it's a great first bike...but I'm not so sure.  Doubt she would have dropped the Ninja so much.

I had a 250 Piaggio MP3 before my duc.  My buddy got his duc as first bike, but he has dropped it several times at 0mph.  Another friend got a Ninja 250 then a CBR600, but he and I haven't had too many 0mph drops (he's had a few at higher mph's).  The 250 was a great starter power and give the rider absolute control.

Got my wife an older, pre-dropped, and pre-dented Suzy GS450 for her first bike.  I remember when she dropped it in parking lots or in our driveway it was no big deal.  The next year when she got her new bike it was a very emotional moment when she dropped her bike.  I vote for the 250 or another light and easy to handle bike for her first.

Having owned a new 695 for my first bike; I would recommend a 250 as well.

I loved my monster, but seeing her on her side multiple times in the first few months was difficult.   :'(

We all know, "It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than a fast bike slow."   [moto]

This.  My first drop was extra-super-double traumatic... had I gone with a pre-dropped bike I wouldn't have cared one bit.

After the safety class, my wife's first bike was/is a Ninja 250. She is now looking at a Monster but says starting with the 250 was the best thing for her. It's light, easy to ride, and gave her the confidence she needs to be out on the road. She rode my M696 and after the ride said "yup, I'm REAL glad I started with my 250." so, take that fwiw.

So true!

Another option to modifying the bike is getting thicker soles put on your riding boots.  I think most cobblers can accomplish this.  If I end up getting a taller bike, I am going to try this route.

G's 620 has been down at 0 to 1/2 mph several times.  

they were all more upsetting and frustrating to her than lowsiding it at the track.

If she's got long legs, a sazook 400 ain't too shabby. Cheap to fix if it gets dropped.  

Most people drop their first bike. Forgotten kickstand on dismount, putting left foot out and leaning right, etc etc etc. Ducs show damage more, and cost more to repair, than the plastic covered inexpensive counterparts.

If you are deadset on Monsters, look for 600, 620 and 695's.

GS500

or EX500

 [bacon]

The GF started last year with a 1972 Honda CB175.  Low, slow and fairly light.  She doesn't ride it as much as she could because it is not push button reliable.  It is a little cantankerous.

At the IMS show she fell in love with the Yammie TW200.  Except for the big, square 80's headlight, I like the look of it too.
(http://www.yamaha-motor.com/assets/content/images/600/10MS_TW200_wht_S3_52e9cd8c.jpg)

Dirt bike posture, but lowest ride height of any of the bikes in this class.  Lighter than the CB, too.  They are popular as MSF bikes.

It's got a following with several forums and a good aftermarket parts market.

Haven't ridden one though, but ADVrider had a review http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40322 (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40322)

The '02 750 is just about the exact same power and characteristics as the 620's are.  If she's short, there is a low-seat available and some members will trade you straight across high-seat for low-seat.

That said, I would start with a UJM (universal Japanese Machine) of small displacement first.  If you buy it for $800-$1200, drop it X times, it'll still be saleable for $800-$1200.  Even if you took a couple hundred $ loss on it, it would be nothing compared to the Monster if it went down (steel tanks aren't cheap to repair).

durrr...

first bike, not just first duc.  :-\

this thd makes me look like one of those mid-sized-as-a-starter-guys

make the beast with two backs it! buy her an R1! it's all about personal control, not power!  [cheeky]

BUSA baby yeah!

Thats weird, cause i heard from a lot of new rider (me included) the 696 is a GREAT first bike.

I would argue that new riders do not have the experience to know otherwise.


Or for an analogy, the average new drinker will tell you Milwaukee's Best is a good beer.

i think its all about the person and their own abilities. for myself i started on a used R1 that was modded out and only dropped it once when me and and ex were making out onit. as for my GF now she started with a honda shadow 600 and dropped that a few times with no worries, but perfers the low ride height of that bike to her new 696 that still scares the hell out of her .

I think it is a decent first bike as far as power output, but would be a poor first bike if you happened to drop it.  I don't even want to think about it.

I would think height and build of said woman makes a difference. Shorter than 5'3", and not really a physical type, I would think Ninja 250. A taller woman who is athletic in build or personality would be just fine with a Monster 600, 620, 695, or 750.

My wife's bike progression

88 Kawi EX500-->97 M750-->08 Hypermotard 1100

she's ~ 5'5"
seat height is a more important issue for the first year or two when you are learning
monsters not a bad first bike, so long as you dont mind a potential for a couple drops at low speed

good info-http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.faq.html

i would imagine a 620, 750, or even S2R800 is a great first bike... so long as you dont mind the higher-than-average repair costs for when you slip up and she takes a tumble. Keri started out on an SV-650, and dropped it a good 8 times from what she tells me. Cheap to fix, and pretty slick looking too.
Had the insurance for my monster not been so cheap as to offset the cheaper price + higher insurance of the SV, i probably would have the SV650 instead of the S2R800.

I started out with a Suzuki Bandit 400. It's got less power (especially at low revs) than the Duc so it's a bit easier to handle. For example, if you handle the throttle bad in corners or on wet roads you don't go down as easy. And it isn't as stubborn as the twin at low revs. I rode it for about a year before I got my 695. It really helped improving my drivingskills at a "safe" way.

(http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m37/Maratom/Mijn%20Suzuki%20GSF%20400%20Bandit/Afbeelding075.jpg)

I very much approve of this as a starter bike, especially for 'larger'* ladies that feel too tall on a 250 (ninja, nighthawk, etc).


*Clarification: I meant in height, not in girth. Refer back to others posts about athletic nature and the like. None of you ladies are big in that other way. Promise.

BTW, duci05, please let your wife know she is more than welcome to join our Women's forum (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=25.0), she can find support and advice there about being a small female beginning rider.

Also, a while ago I put together a FAQ for short riders (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1853.0).  One of the links in there is the same one that Jeff posted.

Finally, this is not directed at her, but I really like this BARF post about first bikes:
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5380523&postcount=8 (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5380523&postcount=8)

Agree.  A Monster would be a bad first bike.  At parking lot speeds, they handle like pigs.  A M620 is not a small bike either - it could get a beginner in trouble real quick.  Get her anything 250cc or less that she can straddle with both feet flat on the ground.  Save the Monster for later.

A Bandit 400 could be OK, but the 600 (or current GSX-650F) and up are very top-heavy, and not an ideal starter bike for a short person.

1) Move to Florida from New England
2) Pass MSF Course - never having rode a motorcycle - ever.
3) Buy 696
4) 8,500 miles later  ;D

It worked for me. I'm glad I did not listen to everyone who told me it was a terrible idea.

By the way I am 5'4" and 145 lbs.

I am sure there are lots of people who didn't drop their first bike.  For all those other people that did drop their first bike (myself included), it would be an expensive proposal to fix a 696.  Just as a point of reference, I priced those parts for the 696 that I damaged on my '07 Bandit 650S as a result of a simple tip-over.  There is a huge difference, not to mention the extra time you will spend waiting for parts.

I totally understand where people are coming from when they say this. I just don't think it's a "terrible" first bike.  At least the 696 that is.

Financial reasons aside, I would agree with you.

Wow, lots of good response, thanks a ton. I grew up riding dirt bikes and motorcycles all through out my early years and teens. I have a hard time wrapping my mind around a motorcyle being difficult to ride and learn for someone, so your responses are really helpful.  We are going to look at some Buell Blasts and Ninja's tomorrow. Both seem like a better alternative...We'll see though!

start on the small cheap side and see if she even likes it.  then go up from there.  you wont (she wont) notice that big of a diff between 620, 750, etc. 

Sometimes you just need to take her and show her a couple and let her sit on them. I had a pre-determined mindset of what I thought the wife would like... Granted I wasn't entirely off, but after having sat on a few, Monsters, cruisers, and ninja's she was noticeably more comfortable on the Ninja than anything else. If your wife happens to be into technical stats here are a few.

Ducati 696
Weight          355 lbs (Dry Weight)
Seat Height    30.3 in
13 Assorted Colors (More than a bag of Skittles)

Ninja 250R
Weight          374.9 lbs (Curb Weight)
Seat Height   30.5
4 Different Colors

Personally I would say the 250R just for the fact that it has lower torque than a Duc.

-- Side note, my wife is 5'2" 120 soaking wet and she can stand both bikes up and plant feet comfortably.

Overall height of the lady in questions is not the only measurement of note-inseam is what matters.

That is for the newer model (2008-on).

The previous model has a seat height of 29.3 inches and dry weight of 304 pounds.

And some bikes will seem taller than others, despite the fact that the posted seat height will be the same.  There is also the 'feel' of the bike when you sit on it and take it off the side stand, which may or may not correspond to the weight of the bike.  Both of these factors will contribute to confidence, or lack thereof in the short new rider.

That confidence is probably one of the more important things in regards to her enjoying motorcycling. I would try and find a moto show and let her sit on everything, and just buy her what feels good to her.


MSF would also be useful.

I plan to do this myself on the weekend.  It's never too early to start thinking about the next bike.   [evil]

OK, I'll throw in my .02 cents (although most people say it only worth about .0001 cent).

When asked the question about the first bike I usually suggest getting a trail bike.  Not a MXer,  but a user friendly small 4-stroke.  Find somewhere you can do some trail riding.  It doesn't have to be a large area like the national forest trail system.  Just an open pasture or something.  This will allow the new rider to get acquainted with controlling the motorcycle in different situations (such as a front wheel slide while braking hard or the back end stepping out slightly under acceleration) without having to worry about traffic.  Riding for the first few months to a year are scary enough for some but throw in the idiots out there on the road and it's enough to turn some people off from riding.  Learn to control the motorcycle first then add in having to deal with the cagers trying to run you down.  If an open area will be impossible, then consider a small dual purpose such as the Suzuki DR250S and find some back roads with little traffic.  You might even consider getting a DP or trail bike yourself to ride along with her, just don't be the well intending partner that pushes her too much.

I still like to get out and hang out the rear end of my DRs on some back country gravel roads.  It helps hone my skills quite a lot.

What dennisd said^^^^^.  If dropping the bike is such a potential, then maybe she shouldn't be on the road just yet, even if she passed the MSF.   A dirt bike would be a great way to get a better feel for motorcycles in a safer environment away from cars, trucks, etc.  And if you drop it, no worries.  There is so much to worry about when motorcycling once you are on the highway and in traffic, that if you don't have the basics down, like how to not drop the bike, then things could get ugly and terrifying really quick.   [thumbsup]

++1 I am really hoping the GF goes for the TW200 so I can get back to my dirt roots!

My wife has a GS 500. I found it for $300. The guy told me that it did not run. I took a look at it when I got it home. 5 mins later it ran like a top. The fuel and Vac lines were crossed.