Hey there, just picked up my first Ducati. Haven't ridden in a really long time, and figured the monster was the perfect bike to get back into riding. Couldn't see myself riding anything else!
welcome. my first monster was also a 620 dark. great bike!
Thanks Herm! The monster is bone stock. It needs a wash and an oil change, but otherwise it's ready to go. I'm excited! I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions down the line, especially since I'm not remotely mechanically inclined, but this looks like a great place to ask.
Time for my older Duc 'cut n paste file
With any used Duc, you need to check on the age of the cam drive belts. They are a 2 year, or 12k mile replacement item. Low milage, older bikes will probably need new belts.
How old are the tires? Not how many miles, but actual age. There will be a date stamp on the side wall of the tire. If they are originals or more than 4 years of age they will need to be replaced.
Has the suspension fluid (oil) been replaced within the last year? The oil does fatigue with age. Again if it original it's dump-water and needs to be replaced.
Hydraulic fluids, brakes and clutch should be flushed. Lucky for you this is easy DIY and DOT4 fluid is cheap.
My first was a Dark 620 as well. Still miss that bike from time to time.
Thanks for the pointers! Any suggestions on which engine oil I should use?
Oh that can of worms... Lots of options and opinions. Personally, I just got with the Mobil1 10w-40 moto