Ducati Monster Forum

So long story short, broke up with my gf of five years and figured there is no better time than now to cross off cross country ride on my bucket list. I've only taken one day off all year so I should be able to swing the vacation time. Now, I need a trusty steed for this adventure and this is where I need your help. My S2R1k is awesome but not 500 miles a day awesome and I don't want be putting that many miles on my baby anyways. My only criteria are, comfortable for long miles, decent power, and space to hold the stuff one would need camping across the country(cheap and good MPGs are bonuses). Budget is <7k. Right now i'm leaning towards air cooled cyclops multistradas, there are plenty available around where i live at various points around my budget. A Kawi KLR  650 would be another option also. I don't know how fun the thumper would be across the country thought.

As for the route I only have a couple places picked out for stops at the moment. This will all depend on how much time I can get off.

Start in Massachusetts
Yellowstone park
then go west to the pacific coast HW
ride that all the way to LA(good friend lives in LA)
Vegas(got a friend in vegas)
then tail of the dragon

I'm open to ideas and hopefully I can pull this off.

Thanks in advance
-John

A well maintained ST2 would be my choice and should fall within your price range.

You should be able to do the trip with no maintenance

Get a later model 3phase though.

I would go with the Multi or ST2 as mentioned.  The thumper may get a little buzzy at extended highway speeds.  This may be borderline blasphemy on here, but a V-Strom 650 is another good choice.

JM

An ST would fit the bill well. My only reservation, from experience, is range; I'm looking for a fill-up around 160 miles and getting nervous by 180.

BMW F650 GS might be a good option and in your price range. Nowhere near as fun as a Duc, and not the best at highway speeds, but...

One other note... the lights on the early STs are bad. If you plan to do any riding in the dark, you'll need something better.

Unfortunately, DucatiDesigns is no longer manufacturing the upgraded lights so you'd have to find an alternate option.

You can change out stock st low beam with stock 848 low beam with a small mod.

This is a good answer... but don't limit yourself to the 650.  I like my big one.  They are plentiful and dead reliable, with little maintenance requirements.  I have done nothing but changed oil, filter, chain, sprockets and tires as necessary for nearly 30k miles.

The only niggle is that if you put too much chain lube on, it will gum up the clutch pushrod and leak.

 If someone stole my DB5R I would not hesitate to take an ST2 or 3 on that trip. There are so many nice roads to ride and although many bikes would do a satisfactory job of it, the sport touring Duck really puts the sport into the equation without sacrificing any of the touring part!

Added to the list.

3 Phase alternator and regulator I assume? What year did they make the switch?

Bring on the non ducs!! Added to the list.


Thanks for help everyone
-John

I've done cross country twice on an 01 M900 and it wasn't horrible, especially the second time with a sargent seat. The biggest issue touring on a monster, for me, is the cramped leg room, which hurts my knees and I only have a 30'' inseem.

I've also done cross country on a 98 ST2 and it was the perfect bike, although I had the DD headlight. I still would have done it with the stock headlight though.

I now have an 00 ST4 and while I like the extra HP, it's no more capable than the ST2.


My other choice would have been a 1st gen multi, but the ST's came up cheap and local. I think I would have preferred the more upright position on the multi, but I put bars on the ST which sits it up higher. I also put a desmo Times peg lowering kit on it, which makes a big difference for leg room.

Below is a pic with the bars on the ST2
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/magnus157/coloradosprings2013001_zps697eb10c.jpg) (http://s63.photobucket.com/user/magnus157/media/coloradosprings2013001_zps697eb10c.jpg.html)

As for your route, if you're hitting Yellowstone on your way out, make a short detour to ride beartooth pass.


On your way home, if you're coming through Vegas, hit Grand Canyon if you haven't already seen it. It really is that awesome.

I would also see monument valley in Arizona and then choose one of two ways from there.

 Either continue east into New Mexico and tour along 64 into Taos and then continue east on 64, up towards Raton and then east through Kansas.

   OR

 Head east/north out of Mexican hat and make your way to 550 in western Colorado, up to Ouray. I would then head east through Gunnison and wind your way through Colorado from there.

I agree a Monster is not an ideal bike for continuous 500-mile days. But if you have time, limiting yourself to about 300-400 miles a day would be much more fun since it gives you more time to check things out and for detours. Even then, springing for another bike would not be a bad idea.

I would not miss southern Utah / the Grand Circle region for the world. It would also be a logical area to head to after Vegas. I've ridden my Monster pretty much all over the Southwest and California so I'd be more than happy to give you specific routes/suggestions.

Oh and if you do pass through Chicago, beers are on me  [drink]

"Grand Circle"?  [Dolph]

Basically, all of the National Park Service areas in southern Utah / northern Arizona, plus Monument Valley.

I think it's called that because it's a roughly circular region encompassing the four states of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico where erosion due to the Colorado River and other waters have exposed just about every geological layer in every fantastic way possible. So within a day or two travel of each other you have the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Natural Bridges, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Mesa Verde, and a whole host of other spectacular areas.

http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/grand_canyon/grand-circle-itinerary.htm (http://www.utah.com/nationalparks/grand_canyon/grand-circle-itinerary.htm)

A description from another site:
"The forces of wind and water, and the sheer age of the exposed rock, have created a phantasmagoric land of natural arches, bridges, balanced rocks and basaltic dikes which amaze and delight the eyes and hearts of travelers."

http://www.desertusa.com/grand-circle.html#ixzz3bYjSq2IV (http://www.desertusa.com/grand-circle.html#ixzz3bYjSq2IV)

If the OP has the time, the above is excellent advice. I could easily spend a month in Utah and not see everything I would want to see.

Find a used FJR that's been well maintained.
You can pick them up for about $4000 and then unload it when you get back.
An ST is a great bike, but they are about 10 years old and a top notch one will cost you more than the FJR.

I would agree that even for a short inseam person that a cross country road trip on a duc can be a bit stressful on the knees. Ive done 1000+ mile tripes about 4-5 times on the duc and lets just say as I age, i dont want to try.

But i also beat my knees up offroad racing...martial arts...skydiving. so YMMV

I disagree on pricing. A good condition st2 can be had for under 3k.

Yeah i've been giving more thought to taking the monster....might have to buy bars and risers and go for a long ride.

Not a bad idea.  I do more adventure type riding, usually covering a fair amount of miles mixed with a nice peppering of twisties because that's just how riding is around here.  I have risers and a moose ATV bar on my M750.  Works really well for a more upright riding position. However, after about 4-5 hours, my knees are starting to get unhappy.  Doing the risers and whatnot, just be sure to spend some time to get a feel for any geometry changes.  It also steers completely effortlessly both at speed and in parking lots with the help of the wider bar.

JM

I had a very difficult time choosing my Monster 696 over a VFR800. I still want the VFR, but don't need it for how i ride and my monster is more fun anyways. But much better wind protection on the VFR versus the 2012 Vstrom 650 i just sold. The Vstrom was great. 26k miles over 2 years of ownership and not a single issue.

Yeah, I picked up my 01 ST4 for $3K.

I would actually prefer an FJR 1300 for interstate riding, but I couldn't find one as cheap as most of the ST's that came up.

I have done long trips on my Kawi Versys 650, It was ok, not that stable past 75 MPH.
If you haven't already, read "Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Persig,  best book ever.

Whoohoo, a long motorcycle trip! I hope you take lots of photos. I did a similar trip last year on a Monster 620 with a Sargent seat. I thought it was okay but I also averaged only 350-400 miles a day. One thing I wish I had was a proper windscreen. So whichever bike you end up looking towards (if not your S2R), then that should be a comfort concern for sure.

I wouldn't be hung up on miles per day.  I find it is the time in the saddle that matters.  If you ride interstates you will cover many more miles in a given amount of time than you will on back roads.  I'm rather a wimp and prefer to do about 6 hours of actually riding in a day.  That gives me time to camp which is how I prefer to do long distance rides. 

For long days in the saddle, an AirHawk is your friend.

I throttle lock can be helpful, as well (I've use the Go-Cruise iirc).

Best advice - stay off the slab whenever possible. Hopefully your schedule allows.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I took off the week of September 14th for my little East of the Mississippi trip  ;D I could not get the time off for a east to west trip, but this will do.

I have about three weeks to order parts and get the duc up to snuff for touring duty.

Now I need suggestions for places to stop. Right now I only have Route 97 in NY State(Hawks Nest) and deals gap(tail of the dragon) for places. Places to camp, eat and sights to see are always welcome.

I vote for the Multistrada. Here ya go make an offer and go get her.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-Multistrada-/201405343829?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee4b1a855&item=201405343829 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ducati-Multistrada-/201405343829?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2ee4b1a855&item=201405343829)