Ducati Monster Forum

My neighbour just passed the MSF and is in the market to buy a lower cc bike, i.e. around 600.  I've talked him into looking at Ducati's but he can't find one that is used for sale... just thought I'd post a thread here and check in with the DMF since Winter is just around the corner and maybe there's a chance that someone want to clear out so extra space in the garage... maybe for a new bike next year...  ;D 

I saw a nifty '82 Honda 250 with drum brakes for sale  :P


Fyi, I don't think ducs make good starter bikes.

A Monster 620 or 600 might make an OK starter bike, but I generally agree with someguy that you want to start smaller and less nice. Your first bike will get beaten around a bit, so it's good to find something like an EX 250/500 or a GS 500 to start with, then move up o the Monster 620.

The guys at MotoJava are very good about finding you the right starter bike. You might send your friend over there to check out what they have.

Also, be sure to tell your friend to stay away from the inline-4 600's (like the CBR, Ninja, GSXR, and R6). Those 600's are waaaaaaaaay more powerful than a Monster 620, and could get him in trouble.

ditto for what the other two said.
if you spend some time on craigslist you can really find some good deals.
we got my wife a 1982 kawi 440 off craiglist for free. it's in great shape too.
just food for thought.

I'm fat so I went for the 2v 800 for first bike instead of the 620.

C'mon, man...I expected better from you. Here: I'll step up to the plate on this one:

Turbo 'Busa

Search on CL for Ninja 250, Ninja 500, EX250, EX500, or GS500.  There's a good number of options now.

I think the 620 is a great starter bike. It was my first bike, even bought it new off the showroom floor.

It depends on how crash-prone you are. You started on dirt bikes, so a 620 is probably perfect. For someone with zero riding experience, something that costs a bit less to fix when you drop it.

C'mon guys/gals... For a bunch of motorcycle riders there seems to be some pretty conservative folks around here.  Just because a person hasn't been riding for 10 years doesn't mean that they can't handle  a slightly bigger bike, or are going to crash it.

I think a MSF course is a great start, but when I got my first bike I'd never ridden a street bike.   I didn't take the MSF course.  I was 18 and bought a GSX-R 600.  I think I broke every rule of motorcycling, but I never crashed that bike, never dumped it on the ground or knocked it over.  I sold it with 8k miles looking like the day I bought it.

It can be done.  Pay attention, buy a bike that makes you excited to ride it.  If that's a Duc, then by all means by a Duc.  Get out there and have fun.  I think a 620 or early 750 Monster would make a great first bike.  The low standover height and approachable RPM range is great for beginners.

We're seasoned motorcyclists...we're still around because we managed to avoid mistakes like starting on a GSXR 600  ;D

But really: it comes down to maturity and discretion. If you're the type of person who has a healthy respect for the bike, then you can probably get away with starting on a more powerful mount. But if you're the type of person to go for the thrills, then it's probably a good idea to start on a bike with limited power. And the expense of repairing a Ducati (say, after a tipover) may cause some to shy away from riding.

Also, many of us have known people who got hold of too much bike too soon and ended up paying the price. That's the main reason some of us may sound a bit conservative.

Yeah monsters aren't light that's for sure.

I've caught mine and Mostrobelle's over my head while loading. Luckily a mystery crackhead helped me with 'belles.

The only riding exp i had was the msf 2 years prior.

Really? Your dad was telling us stories during the AMA weekend of you dirt biking as a kid  ???

I think the main issue is common sense, on the part of the new rider. [moto]

+1 to what has been said so far.  [thumbsup]

You can find plenty of smaller displacement inline 4's... CB1's, CB 350-550's... or twins like the 650 Hawk, for reasonable prices.

And yer not fat TCK, yer just big boned! [cheeky] [laugh] But like he was saying, depending on the physical size of the rider, an EX250, or even a Monster 620, may just be too small to fit the rider's proportions. It's better to have a bike that fits correctly, and learn to used the added power, than to have one that is grossly undersized and undoubtedly will be a poor starting experience. But definitely avoid the newer 600-750's (mid 90's- present), they'll be a bit much to bite off.

And nobody wants to look like the circus bear on the tricycle when they ride! ;D

(http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/1128247581413347.JPG?0.7332129761137316)

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'll forward my neighbor this thread to read up on - lots of great info! 


My first bike was a Monster 620 after hiring someone to help me pass the test at the DMV 8 years prior and then passing the MSF 2 years before I got the bike...  :)


You're not fat!  :-*

I think the Monster is a great starter bike. The components are good, the torque is forgiving, and it is pretty light. My wife started on an 1970 R60/5, and when we put her on the M750, she was amazed that I had her ride the slow braking, heavy Beemer as a beginner.

I am thinking about selling my M900 and getting something with a bit more power. It would be the equivalent of starting on a 695 as it only has about 72 bhp.

Saw someone similar zoom by on the bicycle trail a little earlier today. ???

I know about another M900 being up for sale as well.

first bike was a 99 monster dark 750, wouldn't have done it any other way.

Hmmm.....I'm really tempted to sell my 620 and move up to a larger bike.  My coworker just got a GT1000 and it's sweet looking! 

I'm going to have to ponder this for a bit.   Tempting...

(And my first bike was also a 620.  It hasn't been down on my watch yet.  Ugh....I feel like I probably shouldn't have said that.  Of course, I've only put in about 1500 miles so far.)

Pete, this is the 620 that you bought from me, right?  It would be very STRANGE indeed if it ended up back in my garage!  :o :o

They are definitely nice-looking bikes. I managed to ride one for a bit, and I think the spoke rims really inhibit performance. I think the Monster 620 probably turns a lot nicer.

1500 miles and you are ready for something bigger?   

the throttle turns more than 1/2"...

word. 

i started lurking on TOB when i first started considering the 620 as my first bike and before, like now, the same comments were made.  i still went ahead and bought it--and even brand new a week after i finished the MSF.  but i also think i fit the criteria of what others have said here, i respect the sport, wanted more than just to go fast and pop wheelies.  a few years later and 8500 miles (yeah, i know that's not a lot) and i'm more excited now than when i first bought her.  the 620 has a lot of limitations, but i love being able to explore them!  it feels good going from chicken strips to chicken slivers. [moto]

b.

I have a yellow 04 620 ie for sale.  slipper clutch  ;D  remus pipes  8)  tail chop  ;)  cyclecat frame sliders [moto]

I haven't posted it yet because I'm lazy and don't really want to sell it (despite the insistence of my wife) ... it would look sweet with clipons.

PM me and we can discuss.

Sounds like she's a beauty! PM sent!

Does the 620 make enough power to need a slipper clutch? Haha I keed I keed :]

they came stock like that ;)

actually, I don't see why a slipper clutch isn't the norm on all bikes.  I guess rev matching is pretty fun too.

Production costs of slipper clutches, et al, aside... an abstract comparison of sorts:

Learning to ride on a non slip dry clutch, is kind of the same as learning to mountain bike on a rigid framed bike. Both require you to be smooth and fluid in your actions. You have to adapt your riding style to suit the equipment. With mountain biking, the rigid frame makes you choose smoother lines, and perfect your technical skills. When you add those skills to a suspension (front only, or dual suspension) bike, you have a much faster and more efficient "machine"...bike and rider.

Learn to ride with a non-slip clutch, and the same principles apply. Knowing when, and how, to shift and manipulate the clutch will ultimately have greater benefits when moving to a slipper unit. Again making a much faster and efficient "machine." [thumbsup]

Just my $.02 ;D

ok, now i'm a little confused.  i thought that the slipper clutch only engaged when it was needed.  am i incorrect and it's actually always working?  there have only been a few times that i felt like the slipper actually engaged on the bike--and all occasions were pretty abrupt/panic stops where i really botched the rev-match into first. 

When the engine RPM is a great deal lower than the drive train RPM, engaging a regular clutch will cause the rear wheel to "hop" as it slows drastically to match the motor. A slipper clutch, on the other hand, will slip, allowing the rear wheel to continue at almost the same speed, until the RPMs match up. It can also be called a "back torque limiting clutch" for that reason.

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper_clutch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipper_clutch)

Yeah, I know.  Probably too early to upgrade.  Part of it is that I feel too tall for the bike (though I've been to one of the Zeitgeist meets and I think at least a few of you guys are taller than I am so it's probably not a great excuse).  The other part is that I'm thinking now that I've ridden a bit, I kind of want a shiny new bike....even though the pre-dented one I have now does have some character!