Ducati Monster Forum

Hey guys,  I got to see/sit on a new 696 at Pro Italia.  My impressions . . . .

First, the bike looks much better in person than in pictures.  I didn't think I'd like the hybrid frame, but it looks pretty good in person.  The trellis part is made of visibly thicker tubing and the new swing arm and tail look great.

My first impression when sitting on it was that you're placed much closer to the handlebars.  It feels very HM in that respect, almost like you're riding the front tire.  The clutch effort is DRASTICALLY reduced (which is a good thing).  They're not quite as butter smooth as Teddy's set up, but they are close.  The mirrors are placed well and they look good too.  I don't think I'd replace them if I got one.

There's a new dash which looks great and the micro-bikini fairing is a nice touch too.  The seat cowl looks really great, but I think those are after market pieces.

So, overall, two thumbs up.  The one thing that they got absolutely wrong, though, is the exhaust.  The stock set up looks like an afterthought . . . . like they designed the whole bike and when they were done they realized they forgot the exhaust and just stuck them somewhere.  Plus, look at the routing.  It snakes right by the rider's right shin and even with the OEM heat shield I can imagine that will cook a leg or two.  Also, if you look at the passenger's footpegs, the cans are right there!  I saw one bike with the aftermarket Termi's on it and it's no better.  Why can't they get the exhaust right?  Haven't they seen the S3?

I have never felt the clutch pull on your 695, but I cannot imagine anything being lighter than the clutch on my 800.  Don't think I would want one any lighter than that, not even in our silly traffic.

it's not extraordinarily heavy, but I wouldn't describe it as light.  Plus, it has a very limited friction zone right at the end of the travel, so it's not the best clutch I've every had or felt.

Probably the same as my S2R then.  And the 696 is lighter? 

heh. the header routing (off the horz cyl) was one of the few things I *liked* about the 696... to each his own...

and who gives a rat's ass about pillion pegs? ;D

oh yeah, it's the lightest OEM clutch I've ever felt.  I actually had to take a look at it to see how it was actuated (hydraulic).

between your seat cowl and rear sets, I guess you've made it perfectly clear that NO ONE is riding with you!

not to mention unshielded high pipes  [evil] and eventually custom monoposto hawtness!

finishing up the 696 in the am and going for a ride

So I predict there will be more than a few people visiting the showroom to check this bike out.  ;)

Will, do you think it will be on the floor by this afternoon?

it will be

Who cares about a stinking 696? There are other, more important bikes to work on!  [laugh]

still waiting on dash (mac)
still waitiing on powdercoat (teddy)

sorry

What color is the 696?  I've noticed that there are quite a few bikes now that look pretty good in white . . . the 696 being 1 of them.

hmmm, methinks I should swing by and check out this... 696... that way I can indeed confirm that it is as ugly as the new SBK  ;D

That's like putting lipstick on a pig.   [cheeky]

I was going to swing by today to check it out, but I was in a hurry when I left work.

werd. dark is the best color... that way all the rubbish bits kinda blend in, like ninja.

DAMN!!  There sure is a lot of love for this bike on here today.  ;)

So, did anyone go down to see it?

ok, it's white
and here is the big surprise, it runs well stock
very fun
120 mph and loving it
with stopies and joy

How irresponsible of you...   [cheeky]

As much as I like any of 'em, I like the white.  And the spec numbers are nice...

I looked at that 696 today.  Mixed bag to me.  I like the trailing arm, the rear shock set up and the seat. There's kind of a nifty scoop deal right in front & above the horizontal cylinder head. While it does have radial calipers up front there's just something odd about how they designed the casting. Meeh, no points won or lost there really. The bars, mirrors and headlight look a bit like an after thought. What I don't like is the "tank", the exhaust (from exhaust port to the tailpipe end --- although there's a bit of neat plumbing off the rear cylinder) and, what bothered me the most I guess, was the bracketing for the passenger foot pegs. That bit of design & casting is horrible.

By contrast a R6 was sitting across from the 696 and the fit, finish and attention to detail is heads and shoulders better on the Yamaha.

Another odd thing about the front brakes that I noticed in LA is that there is a short brake line that runs over the front fender, bridging the two calipers.  I wonder what that's for?  It looks totally odd.  The reason why I noticed it was because the one I was looking at had already worked its way loose from its clip, so it was dangling loose.  If it will do that on the showroom floor, I can only imagine the problems that will bring the owner once the bike is actually ridden. 

That line exists so that there is hydraulic action for both calipers. The short line over the fender is lighter and simpler than having two separate lines from the master cylinder. It does need to be secure though, you're right. There is a big warning about that  on the Superbikes when you are removing and reinstalling the front wheel.  El Tigre, up in the Bay Area Monsters club crashed his superbike at a track day/ race recently because he severed that line and had no front brake when he needed it.  :o :o

That is sure to bring a nasty end to an otherwise tasty day...

at least he walked away from it... crazy pics of the action, too...