Ducati Monster Forum

  Sat on one a few weeks ago, and it kind of planted a seed. Went back a few days ago and checked it out again. The more I read about it the more I like what I hear, and the more I look at it the more I love the way it looks despite being kind of "meh" on its look initially. It's really starting to turn in to a legitimate lust now. I've been thinking of how much I'd like "The One" bike that satisfied every itch, and allowed me to not want another for at least several years. Seems like I could do it all on the SF848, from my intercontinental trip in reasonable comfort, to track days to every day commuting, all while having a bike for increasing my skills on without ever being able to outride.

Any one else here own one or want one?

(http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Ducati-Streetfighter-848-Palm-Springs-test-06.jpg)

Co-worker has one and I got to flog it in the mtns a few months back.

I really enjoyed it more than I expected, much more comfortable than just sitting on it, at speed/moving it was just fine. Test riding it will really plant the lust, it's quite fun. [thumbsup]

I had an extended test ride on one last year. I loved it. I thought about selling all of my bikes and settling down with the Street Fighter.

Cycle World named it their best middleweight street bike.

If you're really considering this, you MUST test ride a MTS.

Way more capable, IMO more fun too.

Multistrada?

Yup. [Dolph]

I bet it's an amazing MC...out of my budget tho...and not my kind of aesthetic.

I agree about the looks, you forget all that once in the saddle, even the older DS models are quite amazing.

I saw that. Not 100% sure I trust Cycle World but the 2 I like the most, Asphalt And Rubber and Ride Apart both glowed over it as well.

BVLP if I decide to buy new I will ride the MTS. I've never walked into a dealership with cash and bought new in my life, and the day that I do I'm going to ride everything I want to ride and take my time doing it. :D

My latest bike, the test ride was over 2 hours on some of my favorite roads. [thumbsup]

 [thumbsup] indeed!

the only one I *have* to ride is the Diavel. Never in my life been more fascinated with a bike that I'd never buy.

I've ridden the latest MTS. It was impressive, but the ride was sandwiched in between a rides on a SF1098 and a MV Agusta Brutale.  The MTS was not really in the same class of fun as the other two. I don't really enjoy tall bikes as much as those bikes with tighter compact ergos for sporty riding.

So why are you lusting after the 848SF if you like the MTS for fun?  If you need more hp there is always the 1098SF.  However, with the 1098SF I worry that I would be riding that much faster than I already do with the large engine.

So you like me? . . . Mine in "Stealth Black" please . . . Oh, and don't forget the CF bits . . .  ;D

I would have so much fun taking on the mod challenge with this beast.


It would be awhile before my skills needed that extra power. And I don't think my license would last that long on a 1098. And lots of reports that it's practically unusable on the street? the 848 just seems perfect for me.

The 848 may just be the perfect bike for you and lots of other folks for that matter.  I have enjoyed an 848 superbike for years and can highly recommend it.

However ............ and this is just an opinion, mind you..........  Anyone that thinks the 1098SF is practically unusable on the street either doesn't know how to ride or is a weenie, or both.    ;D

I can see it both ways...however I've never owned a bike that powerful. I know guys for example that went from 900 Monsters to S4Rk's and ended up REALLLLY missing the 900 for the streets and commutes. If someone were to say "less fun at city/stop and go speeds" rather than "unusable" could you see how that could apply? If I find a 1098 in the same price range I don't wanna pass it up for the wrong reasons.

The SF is my next dream bike.  But I have to admit the seat is not even close to comfortable as my 2006 triumph speed triple. 

I wonder if they will continue to build this bike based on the new direction the company is going.

Seems to me I've heard the SF's are less comfortable than Monsters. So if you were worried about your comfort of your Monster on your intercontinental trip, shouldn't you be worried about the SF?

That said, I agree, I want.

I've heard the opposite as well. Comfort is such a subjective thing IMO, and a persons individual height/posture/etc also plays in. My Monster was a torture rack with the stock and Corbin seats, then the Sargent made a night/day difference.  :-\. I think it'll be fine or more than fine with the right seat and rearsets.

I can see that. It'd probably be one thing if you were used to a Concours or a Multi or something... but you're not, so that's good! Suppose ya gotta always keep the guy that went cross country on the Pani in the back of your head.

Yeah I was thinking of him. That hurts just thinking about it.

already picked out my exhaust... [drool]

Alpha Dog Under Belly Exhaust - 848, 1098, 1198 & StreetFighter (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zRuB0zzQ0#)

^^^^^^^^^^^ THAT IS HOT ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 [drool] [drool] [drool]

Taking a 4-valve Ducati on an intercontinental trip is brave.  :-\

The SF848 is definitely a cool bike though.

Because of reliability issues?

Yep. It's one thing to ride one all over developed countries with dealers...entirely different than riding through less developed countries with no real dealer support. I'd personally stick to the 2-valve motors for that task.

The 1098SF isn't exactly happy in city stop & go.  But once you get rolling...........  If there's lots of commuting in your plans I'd stick with the 848SF.  You can be a bit more liberal with the throttle on the 848 without having the same worry that it'll bite you like the 1098.  The 1098 is an animal but it's fun.  Just think about all those guys drooling over the new KTM Superduke 1290,  even worse ....  [laugh]

If you can get a good  fueling solution (reflash) the 1098SF is no worse than the 848 down low.  Only the heavier dry clutch is noticeable.  After reading all the negative sentiment on the 1098's, I test rode my current bike, and was amazed at how tractable it was.  As good or better than my 848 sbk with a 14t and slip on ecu. 

With the 1098SF, it is the 'one' bike, because no aspect of it leaves you wanting for more  [evil]

Further complicating matters is the fact that it's not uncommon for second hand SF1098's to be priced fairly near to the 848. The "S" models fetch up to $5000 more though for a used bike. Price would be the determining factor if I had a difficult time choosing. In no way would I feel disappointed in the muscle of the 848....would be far and away the most powerful bike I'd have ever owned. 

also, at 23hp, could there really be *that* much of a difference? what do you folks that have ridden both say?

It's really the torque that you feel.  The 1098 pulls harder at all rpms, feels like 20% more pull everywhere, from off idle to redline.  Also the brakes are wonderfully powerful, whereas the 848 brakes are just nice.  Test ride one if you can, but it will also be more expensive to insure etc. 

KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE R Actionvideo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8heeP16TIc#)

That was $&%@#*@ awesome

yeah, i'd take that superduke over a streetfighter all day every day...especially that prototype with the sweet exhaust and ridiculously awesome wheels. 

Meh, KTM's may be fun, but do nothing for me in the looks dept. :-\

Still not as sexy as the SF imo. Then again it took the looks of the SF quite awhile to grow on me as well.

Haven't seen that posted, oh wait.  :-*

I meant worse as in the KTM is going to be far more worse in the handling all the power department.   [Dolph]  You might say like a Streetfighter 1098 on steroids.

What is the appeal of street fighter bikes?


The whole point is a sport bike without a fairing or windshield right?  Besides looks, I prefer to have the wind kept off of me. Fairings and windshields are very nice above 80mph.

Ride one on the street and you will understand.

That's like saying, "What is the appeal of motorcycles? I prefer to have heat/ac, a radio, and a seatbelt. Cars are very comfortable."

To each their own man. You're currently on a forum whose name is that of a naked bike.

I was sorta scratching my head at that too. Although the Monster isn't "quite" what I consider a SF. I think of a SF as a sport bike with the fairings removed and an upright more comfortable cruising position. The Monster air cooled twin is sporty but I don't really consider it a sport bike, to me nakeds are like cruiser/sport bike hybrids.

tell that to my 1100...the thing rips, and it's much happier at wot than tooling around town.  it's far more capable a machine than I am a rider, and imo much closer to a true sport bike than a true cruiser.  yes, it's underpowered compared to a pani or an 848, but it is still only an air cooled 2 valver.  and it makes compromises in performance for comfort, but they're not glaring.

The new Tuono V4 is slowly creeping up/overtaking the SF as a bike I'd be more likely to buy.  :-\ I also love the Brutale but it's just way too expensive.

Apparently you've moved past the "excessive" power concern.    ;D   [evil]   ;D

I think the launch and wheelie control would be extremely useful towards improving my skills

You can find gently used brutales at reasonable prices, but like others have pointed out with ktm, mv techs may be harder to come by should you need to have it serviced. 

man are they pretty though, i'd have one instead of my duc except for the fact that inbetween the time I found the bike, called the owner, and got to take a look, it was sold. 

Yeah it is IMO the sweetest looking naked/fighter out there atm. Sexy and mean.

Yep.  Turn that shit off and ride with a clear head plus a steady hand and your skills will improve greatly. Work into the power & how to control it.  Then when you  get good a feeling about what's going on and how it happens you can turn that stuff back on and it gets even better. I kid you not about the whole process.

Monster isn't a sport bike at all. Mine is 620. To me a Monster is a standard with excellent styling and heritage.

I tried to make a car comparison, but fairings not only make riding more comfortable, they make the bike faster.

Now that I think about it, in addition to pure aesthetics, sport bikes have a horrible reputation among the general public.

alright, "sport-standard" would be more like it. The riding position is still that of a naked/fighter sport bike and even the 620 and 750 dark models have higher spec sporty suspensions that standards don't really have.

I dont think I would call the suspension on the low end monsters high spec or sporty.  They may have inverted forks but they have very poor spring rates & dampening.  I have not ridden a street fighter, but I ride a 848 sbk.  I think it is a great engine plenty of midrange I realy pulls above 5k.  The handling is a little on the heavy side, but that is pretty standard on any ducati, so the wide bars of the street fighter may help that.

He said higher spec than standards. I believe in his head standard bikes are Harley Sportsters, Triumph Bonneville's, Honda CB's, etc. I agree with him.

Exactly. And Honda Nighthawks, Yamaha Virago's, etc. The sort of bikes the MSF uses. Basic motorcycles.