Ducati Monster Forum

So... I've had my 09 696 monster dark for two years now. Love it! Now my husband is starting to ride. And now he's taken over my bike! Since I don't like to share, I've been thinking about another duc. I'm  debating between just getting another monster (09 696 used) or maybe an older 600 or 620. But I'm worried about reliability and ridability. That's why I'm leaning toward a newer monster. Thoughts?

an older 620ie is probably one of the most reliable bikes on the product line from the previous generation....I'd advise looking for an '03- early '05 for to have the more desirable metal tank...

Steel tank is a plus...

Instrument cluster issues an be problematic.

i have an 07 695, the power bump from the 620 are a nice, as well as having 6 gears...I've had it since new, and have had no problems with it, or the tank. also the black on red frame combo is killer...(yes that's what i have)

the older 620 as far as the engines are basically very good if the maintenance has been done.  the only thing is sometimes if the bike wasn't taken care of the wiring may or may not be finiky at times, but nothing that bad. 

plus the older monsters are easier to change the battery and such than the newer ones.  and have a metal tank.

The 620 only made about 60hp, I wouldn't want to go from the 80hp of the 696 down to 60hp personally. Even if the measurements are at the wheel for the 620 and at the crank for the 696, the 696 still comes out on top by a few ponies.

Wow. You guys are awesome. The 620 would do the job, I'm not a speed freak. My budget would be up to $5500. But a higher mileage 696 would be great too. ( mine has 16,000. Not a single problem) so.......thanks!

At that price point you might get something more than a 620. You could look a little older like a 1000 not the s2r1000, just 1000 or a 900. Better suspension than the 6xx bikes and the 900 is a tank. Mines got 34,000 trouble free miles on the engine. With the older bikes youll save some up front, but they might need a touch of TLC if the maintenance isn't up to date. Though given that the newest 620is a handful of years old that's probably a push.

Besides hubby needs to ride the little bike in the family.

If you are going with the 620 route, find a 2004+.  It comes with 6 speed tranny.  2003 and prior has 5 speed.  Can't go wrong with the 6xx monster though.  Better yet, find a S2R800/1000.  arguably the best looking monster.  :)

Honestly, I'm on team 620 or 696. 6 speed is tempting.  [evil] now all I have to do is find one in AZ!!!!

Have you measured a 696 at the wheel?

I think the rear wheel hp of the 696 is about 68.

my 620 will probably be for sale shortly, altho I'm in SoCal.  If you don't find anything in AZ, let me know and maybe we can work something out.

I can honestly say, going from my 900 to riding my GF's 620, it is just pure joy and fun wringing the throttle on that machine...so I think it depends on your mindset...but mine is akin to the ideal of it being more fun to ride a slower bike faster, than to ride a faster bike slower....YMMV of course...

Eventually, he's gonna try to take your next bike, too.

I agree with zooom about riding the slower bike faster.....60 hp on the street isn't so bad....some of the guys (6'2" and 200+ lbs) I ride with have 620s and they have no problem staying up with liter bikes in the twisties.

How about a used (sporty) Ninja 500R or something similar you can quickly resell when 'Mr. Heaney' realizes he wants a more powerful bike and you get your beloved 696 back?

A 620 has alot of appeal for me. Definitely wanting the 03 to 05. But nothing is really avalible yet. Mr. Heaney wants to go mod crazy on my baby..... He's already set his sights on a sport 1000! And I'm at a point now where I'm smitten with Ducati monsters. Go naked or go home! ;D

Silly boys.. er we're silly that is.

Buy him something orange - all the cool kids are doing it
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=53746.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=53746.0)

I still miss my 620 a bit. It was lacking in suspension, now that I know the difference, but it was a good bike. Some better forks and a shock and I'd flog one again for sure.

BTW, you mentioned an M600 in your original post - they're not all that common so it might not be an issue, but if you do come across one you might want to keep looking.

I had one for - what, five years? - and loved it for what it was, a simple bike that handled nicely enough and had a dash of style. But even coming off a 696, you're definitely going to feel underwhelmed by the power. An older M750, on the other hand, might be worth a look.

All that's for sale in az are s4rs, 900s, and 696s.:-( I'm still worried about the weight on a 750.

I am willing to bet a Monster 750 is no different in weight, or is such a minimal difference, that it is hardly worth mentioning or thinking about...I have in my garage right now, my sisters 00-M750 and my GF's 05-M620 and I hardly notice any difference...

+1 The 750 adds an oil cooler and that's really about it. Jugs might be different, but not drastically. I'd wager the weight is within a stone and not more than 2 between a 750 and 620.

Have you considered the S2R 800?
I sure like mine - and I paid $5500 for an 05 with 5k's on the clock.

.......maybe he needs medication for his ADD 

The M900 is a very popular bike....and I would agree that most steel-tank monsters weigh in around the same.

Oh, btw, the Sport 1000 is not a comfortable bike to ride for very long....predict he'll be selling it in ~6 months...

Why not have him get the S4RS?

Better?

Or not.  She likes her bike.

Buy a 900. 

Yeah, my 696 has the little touches I like. Frame sliders, fender eliminator, bar end mirrors..... Just light add ons for now. But come tax time, an upgraded exhaust will be on my list of priorities. Suggestions? But..... A whole ( new to me) bike is pretty exciting. I'm liking a 620, 696( white preferably) or a really clean 750. Now I just need to keep my eyes peeled! [roll]

I've changed my mind... get him a CB450 to learn on.

696 Exhaust - mostly its looks to start. So do you want to stick to a stock shape - a la the carbon Termis?
Minimalist - GPR Thunderline?
(http://www.gpr-motorcycle-exhausts.co.uk/ProductImages/fullsize/d78.jpg)

Or something inbetween?

Termis are wicked expensive right?

They do tend to be higher cost. Historically their price is high initially, as they are the only ones in the market at first (they get pre release info from Ducati) then the price does come down *some* as other folks enter the market - but still tend to be higher.

There's lots of options
Termi
Arrow
MIVV
Quat-D
Leo-Vince
And probably more than that. Each one of those offers up something different in the looks/materials and some like GPR offer many different looks, materials etc. So there's a lot of options out there.

Perhaps brows around and see what look suits your vision.

Ok....looked around. Arrows seem reasonable. Also, found a clean 620 in Denver that sparks my interest. ( red, ~4k miles, $4300) but hesitant because of the distance. ???

Leo Vance sounds great on a 620 pr 900.  Much deeper than termis

put a call out for a DMF'r to go and take a looksee...

Oh and if you're looking at exhausts for a 620,750,800 etc etc - all DSS monsters since 2000 (and maybe before )until the advent of the 696 can share slip ons