Ducati Monster Forum

Well if any of you haven't read my recent post in the Tech area, I've had a slight issue with my 11' m796. Now this isn't one of those let's bash Ducati for the ole' stigma of reliability. My Duc has, bar this freak incident, been top drawer reliable, starts every day, just put fuel in and go.

However I was loaned a Yamaha XT660X and the damn bike impressed me in way's I didn't expect. Suffice to say, I'm thinking of changing the Duc in  :o

The funny thing is I was talking to the dealer I bought the bike from, and trying to get an idea of when was going to be best to change it in (bikes on finance) as I wanted to get maximum value for it. He was explaining that the biggest issue I had was my mileage. I've had the bike 4 months, and stuck 5000 miles on it so far, and gone through 2 sets of rears (don't buy Bridgestone 014's)
I'll be around 14000 miles in a year. Truth be told I'll have a trait that would devalue my Duc against the majority in it having high miles, most average miles on Ducs in the UK are low, seems most are traded with around 7-8k miles.

So I realised whilst I had the XT, I actually feel guilty riding the monster and putting the mileage/wear on it, unlike my previous VFR which I abused to indecent levels and it kept on kicking back!  [evil]

I'm fortunate I got a very good deal on my 796 and the finance will clear itself if I trade, so I can look at it this way, I've had the privilege of owning and riding a Ducati daily for a 1/4 of a year and it's cost me peanuts.

I guess I'm getting round to asking you other inmates; Do any of you feel guilty riding a duc big miles as your only bike??

I buy bikes purely to ride them, so all of my bikes have a descent amount of miles on them.  I would feel more guilt for not riding them.

Ya, same here.  If I buy a bike it's because I love it.  Resale doesn't even come to mind, and why own/buy something you don't want to use?

Nope, not guilty at all.  Yes, resale value drops with mileage, but hey, you are getting use out of it. 

No. The bike is for riding. Riding puts miles on it. Riding also keeps the moving parts limber. The idea is to ride hard and maintain fastidiously. Some will buy the bike and look at it instead of riding it. These people usually tend to borrow money to buy their bikes which is a terrible financial decision in more ways than one. It belongs to the lienholder, not the owner. Thusly the owner regards it as a depreciating asset instead of a motorcycle, and then attempts to preserve it by not riding it. This is the wrong way to go, as it will lose value with time anyway.

I'd not hesitate for a second to trade it in and wipe the debt. I can't believe people still borrow money for toys. I thought that concept died in 2008.

  

Thats why I'm riding my Tuono whilst slowly building my 900 which will be ready in around 18 months time.

...and why our office has a pair of 916 forks laying on the floor [laugh]

Big thumpers are fun, I recently picked up a KTM 690 Enduro which it appears is a direct competitor.

Couple random thoughts
- that bike *if* used for SuMo where there's jumps might end up with flat headers... they are very exposed
- bit different riding style (dur)
- Not so great on longer rides. I find the buzzing the in the bars gets to my hands after a while.

But otherwise I really like the big thumper. Lot easier to handle around congested areas than my monster with its additionally limited steering lock due due-to clip ons and greater mass.

Considering that I'm about to turn over 200K miles (well over 300K km) on mine, I would have to say no, I don't.

PhilB

simple answer is...bikes are meant and designed to be ridden...buy what you are going to ride and ride the ever living snot out of it whatever it is...