Ducati Monster Forum

Hello All,

With tax refund time coming up soon, I've got about $500 to put down on things for the bike and gear.  Here's a list of the things I want to get and prices based on my research, they are in no particular order.  Wanted to get feedback on what you guys would buy.

Frame sliders - $80
Exhaust - $200
Gloves - $50 - $100 -- Currently own cheap pair of Bilts.
Boots - Still researching(Need something that comes in smaller sizes and add's 1/2"-1" height) -- Currently use hiking/work boots.
Mirrors - Still trying to find ones I like
Integrated Tail light - $80
pants - $200-$250 (BMW Summer pants II or Tour Master Flex pants)
levers - $200
camera - $150
Flat tire kit - $40
Finder eliminator - $120
lower seat - $200
Disk Lock - $80

Proper fitting, quality gear first.

 +1 to this [thumbsup]

+11ty billion to this . . .

this is more important than bling

+3

This is how I'd prioritize the list:

Boots - Still researching(Need something that comes in smaller sizes and add's 1/2"-1" height) -- Currently use hiking/work boots. (not good; hiking/work boots may seem sturdy but will do nothing to protect your foot in a crash)
Gloves - $50 - $100 -- Currently own cheap pair of Bilts.
pants - $200-$250 (BMW Summer pants II or Tour Master Flex pants)
Flat tire kit - $40
Frame sliders - $80
Exhaust - $200
camera - $150
Fiender eliminator - $120
Mirrors - Still trying to find ones I like (I assume you mean mirror upgrade and actually have SOME mirrors)
Integrated Tail light - $80
levers - $200
lower seat - $200 (if you are really short and riding is uncomfortable, then bump this up in priority above exhaust)
Disk Lock - $80 (this depends on how bad crime is in your area, so could be higher on the list)

Here's my opinion

1. Boots - Still researching(Need something that comes in smaller sizes and add's 1/2"-1" height) -- Currently use hiking/work boots.
2. pants - $200-$250 (BMW Summer pants II or Tour Master Flex pants)
3. Frame sliders - $80

I might add the lower seat to that list (possibly before #3) IF the issue is you're on the short side and think you might have problems dropping it with the higher seat.

Then whatever tickles your fancy in no particular order after that (though I'll add I probably wouldn't bother with anything not red):

Exhaust - $200
Gloves - $50 - $100 -- Currently own cheap pair of Bilts.

Mirrors - Still trying to find ones I like
Integrated Tail light - $80
levers - $200
camera - $150
Flat tire kit - $40
Finder eliminator - $120
lower seat - $200

Disk Lock - $80

Thanks for the replies.  It's interesting, I had pants at the top of my list of things over boots, I guess I'll have to flip that around. Good to know about hiking boots, I knew they weren't great, but figured they'd be ok since they are leather and offer ankle support.  Hard part is finding boots in my size, 6 1/2 not easy.

I really like the Tour master pants as they seem very all weather, but like the extra padding and shorts part of the bmw's.

I'm on the balls of my feet when I currently sit on the bike, so it's not too bad, I'd just prefer to have a little more foot on the ground. I wish I didn't live in a apartment and I had a garage, then I could just shave the seat myself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKsZpauhALQ

boots first, riding in good boots is awesome. i highly recommend astar SMX plus. but icon has pretty cool boots too.

PERSONALLY i'd take an exhaust over pants, but I wouldn't argue with anyone that chose other wise. I only wear my riding pants if im out on LONG trips (over 5hours) or plan on agressive riding. (sundays in the twistys) and obviously trackdays.

then framesliders. keep that bike shiny, shit happens. bikes fall down.

seriously though... click the youtube link  [evil]

Motorcyclegear.com is a great website for gear. Either to just check out what everyone makes, or if you don't have a good local place to go and buy.

For boots, get something with shin, ankle, and heel protection. Alpinestar SMX Plus boots (mentioned above) are decent boots, but they're overkill for the street. Something like the Sidi Fusion line is a more reasonably priced alternative. I have the older version of this boot and they're nice.

For gloves, get full gauntlet with some knuckle protection (either hard or soft). For the street Held Steve gloves are very nice. I've had a pair for a long time.

Having slid across the ground multiple times at various speeds, I don't ride without riding pants of some sort. Jeans will last you all of about 5' of sliding, and then it's skin on asphalt. No thanks. Most accidents also happen close to home (since you ride there no matter where you go), so I don't get the mentality of only gearing up for long rides.

There is a youtube video somewhere that I can't seem to find wherein someone shows the difference between motorcycle boots and combat boots.  Basically, if you grab the ankle and the heel and twist the boot, the combat boot (or work boot, hiking, etc) will twist to varying levels.  The moto boot will not.  Go to a motorcycle gear store and try this and you'll see.  Moto boots also provide other good protection, like skin protection for rocks, etc that gets kicked up, strong toe and heel structures, etc.

What frame sliders are you looking at for 80$?

Shogun on revzilla

a riding skills class.  your bike will wear out or crash, shit breaks or falls off, bikes get sold.  upgrade your brain and you can use that money on any bike you ride.

Already took one and plan on taking an advanced one once I get a few thousand more miles on the bike. I practice regularly and try to watch or read instructional stuff. I rally wish I had a place I could work on my bike and avoid paying a shop, then I could put more towards gear and the bike.

this gets a +e11ty zillion . . .  if I just had a track here

Most important is good gear to protect yourself, I'd say next is proper suspension set up, which is only about 40 bucks to have a professional do the adjustments.... obviously more if you need to spend dough on different spring rates/fork oil etc..


You'd be amazed at how well a properly suspended bike with great tires will perform.


Regardless... protect your own hide, hands, feet and noggin first

I agree with the guys saying do the gear first, Gloves, pants, jacket, Boots and Helmet and then the advanced riding course. A flat kit would be a good thing as well as sliders. Before you do any mods, ride the bike to feel it out if you haven't done so already and do your mods with what you NEED not what would be nice. the tail tidy kit, Mirrors, exhaust( LEO magnet!!), Integrated tail light kit, levers are all nice but not needed. As a short rider myself, I can see a need for a lower seat if you are on the tips of your boots. If you get boots that have a reasonably thick sole to them, this may give you enough distance to have comfortable footing on the bike and eliminate the need for the seat. The next thing I would do is get the suspension set up properly, between my R-1, Panigale and the Monster I have spent some cash(front and rear springs due to me weighing around 150 Lbs.) and some time getting them right and it makes all the difference in the world. I wouldn't waste any cash on the nice list until I had my gear and the bike sorted but this is just my opinion.

Gear first, bike protection stuff second, suspension, then bling.

The suspension is always the first thing I upgrade when I get a new-to-me bike. It's night and day and adds confidence and safety to riding.

This is the second post where you've mentioned wanting a place to work on your bike.  Not sure what your situation is with work, but now is a reasonably good time to find a house to buy.  It took me a long time to break out of the rental habit and buying a house was pretty close to the best thing I ever did.

I would buy good boots first though.

Wish I could, just not feasible at this point in time. Not having a place to work is just a sore spot for me.  I grew up having a place to work on stuff, whether it be a car/bike, my place or a friends out, knew a couple people who owned garages that I could use.  So I never really had to pay for anything I could do myself, now I do. So dropping $300 for 600 mile service or $100 for oil change, where most of that is labor cost and I could do most of it myself, it's annoying.

Still trying to find a pair of boots I like.  All the local shops have squat and the few I do like, don't come in my size.

You don't need space for an oil change.  I've done them on the sidewalk.  The $600 maybe requires real space...

I got a pair of Alpinestar Scouts, sort of a dual sport boot that has more ankle protection than a street bike boot and it's still very walkable once broken in.  My local dealer ordered them and matched internet prices.

Still need a place, unless I do it stealth like behind a business. It's against the rules of my complex to do any kind of mechanic work.