Ducati Monster Forum

Hey y'all,
I've recently had my eyes fixed on getting a Ducati Monster. However I'm having a very hard time figuring out if i want to go with the 796 vs the 696. I rode the 696 and loved it but i haven't had a chance to take the 796 out. What are the real differences besides the swing arm in the rear (i really like this), seat height, and the engine size.

Ps.. I call myself the convert because i was set on a Jap bike until i sat on that 696. Now I'm addicted to finding a Duc for myself and excited about riding it even more.

Welcome.

796 vs 696?

796 has everything that you liked about the 696 but comes with the SSS that you already identified.... 

and...

MORE POWER.

Better forks too.  696 front end is pretty basic.

Me?  I'd go the 796.

If you are taller the seat height would be a bit better on the 796. I bought a 696 and was crushed when the 796 came out because it has the extra bits that the 696 doesn't.

Go with the 796 for sure.

Cost
Seat Height (can be made the same either way)
Swingarm
Power
Forks
Wheels
Insurance

^insurance?

some insurance companies charge by cc as well as type

A couple of days ago my local Ducati dealer gave me an information pack on the Monsters and I looked up the prices on the 'net.

From that information, the 796 is A$2,000 dearer, front and rear suspension are the same for both, 796 has a SSS, the 796 seat height is 800 mm Vs 770 for the 696 and the 796 is 2 Kg heavier, wheels and tyres are different.

The 796 makes 64 kW (87 hp) @ 8,250 and 78 Nm (58 ft lb) @ 6,250.
The 696 makes 59.8 kW (80 hp) @9,000 and 69 Nm (50.6 ft lb) @ 7,750

It seems to get an adjustable front suspension means forking out for the 1100 for an additional $2,000. The 1100 has more power and torque developed at lower revs, the Ducati Safety Pack (whatever that is) and the same miserable 13.5 l (3.6 gallon) fuel tank.

Considering the relatively heavy fuel consumption of all three bikes that small fuel capacity is very off-putting.

If you have a budget look at upfront costs + plus fuel costs plus insurance plus any mods you have to do for gien model to get what you want
If no mudget concerns get the best bike out the door

personally the 796 v 696 is appearance. sss v dss
seat height is a $20 part
power diff is negliable

I would seriously consider a good second hand 1100 evo. I just upgraded from 696 to a 12month old 1100evo with <2000klms and I couldn't be happier

Believe me when I say if you buy the 696 you'll want an 1100 pretty damn quick. The Safety pack gives you ABS and switchable traction control.

I take it you're an Aussie like me - I paid $15500 for my evo and it cost an extra $8 a month to insure with QBE mainly because of the increase in value.

Good 1100 evos can be had for that money every day of the week and I would recommend trying to find one with termies already fitted.

Convert123,

Hard to give you much advice when we don't know much about you. We have an intro thread. The more info you give us, the better will be the answers to your questions... And while you are at it, ADD TO YOUR PROFILE YOUR GENERAL LOCATION!!!  ;D (Sorry; a pet peeve of mine on the DMF.  8)) http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=111.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=111.0)

As for 696 vs 796, I rode them all before buying. The 696 was nice, but not enough "go"  for my mission. The 796 was "adequate".  ;) Didn't need an EVO for a "roadster". If I were buying another touring bike, I'd need that displacement.

Two years ago in the U.S. a 796 was a no-brainer as it was ~ $1,000 more than a 696 and had ABS standard, (which works, BTW).

A 796 is on an EVO chassis. The 2011- 696 and 796 have a respectable Marzocchi fork. They can both use a cheap Ohlins shock, as can the EVO. Mine was $625.

If you are not living in Europe, you need to fit a 14T front sprocket before the bike leaves the showroom or you'll never find 6th gear.  ;)

For me the 796 is quick enough. My son who weighs 75 lbs more than I do has no trouble cruising the nice two lane at 80+ MPH on mine. The mods I found essential are below in my signature. YMMV.

Introduce yourself and let us know what you decide!

Sorry y'all for not introducing myself.
I'm Tyler. I live in the Monterey bay, California, usa. I'm 5'7" with a 30.5 inseam. I've got some time to decide on what i want. The wife said to wait till taxes are back. I would be using this bike for all the above. I put these tcomparison due the height of the seat. Next summer I'm hoping to take a 1k mile trip also. I'm not to worried on budget because being military i get a dang good discount from the dealers around here.
I would also use this bike for day to day commuting to work. Traffic is bad here so I've been riding my Lil ninja till today when is sprung a leak in a gasket. I will fix it Monday or so and be back to riding.
My background was mostly in dirt bikes with a dabble of cruisers till i got my Lil ninja and i love the sport bike feel. I call myself a convert to ducati because i used to think they were just over priced but now I drool at the thought now that i know i can afford one.

796 and 1100 have the taller seat height but can easily and cheaply lowered to the 696 height so don't let that be a deciding factor

but does sound like u have a tght budget

A new 696/796 will price like a used 1100/1100 evo restuvely

i have a 696 since 2008 and although I've modded it only one time have i said i want more power and that was when my ego was bruised on the autobahn by a cbr
I've done 1800 mile trips on it solo and 2up

i do now have a larger st2 for two up trips but the monster has always been enough

It will do triple digits easily and handles like a dream
sorry I'm not one of thos that will say bigger is beeter on cc
bikes have way more power than is needed on the street these days

Raux,
 Like you i am not worried about huge amounts of power. I have let the seat height kinda help me lean towards the 796 and 696. That's actually one of two reasons i didn't want an 1100. I don't want to lower anything on the suspension as to not worry about playing with the handling and messing something up.
I won't be doing any two ups. Maybe just day trips. The wife isn't much into camping without some commodities.

[thumbsup]

Bigger bangs may = more throbbing/heavier vibration too?

30.5" inseam is no issue with any of them. I'm 5' 8" with a 29" inseam and on a Sargent saddle which is a hair taller than stock. It's a stretch for an old geezer but manageable on the bike.

Maybe it's just a comfort thing for me then. The 796 was very comfortable but at my comfort limit for height. I could flat foot it no problem.

797 and 1100 have same seat height as far as I know

I'm ready to be corrected on this, but I believe you're wrong when you say that 696 and 796 have the same front suspension.  Neither are adjustable, but I'm pretty sure the 796 forks are not the one-lame-leg basic variety as is fitted to 696.

Curmudgeon will probably know.... 

 Those of us who disagree with you would appreciate if you stopped saying this like it's a fact and start phrasing it like it's your opinion.  ;)

If you guys wander over to ducati.com and look at the parts manuals you will find your question about forks pretty much unanswered.  Different part numbers for 696 and 796 forks, but the spring, plunger tube and preload tube are the same.

Mine is not a generic suggestion. We are discussing 696 and 796 in this thread, (although riders of EVO's have also reported a more pleasant riding experience with a 14T fitted).

If YOU are still on an M900, it may well NOT require shorter gearing. I'm on my 8th Ducati since 1965 and only two of those cried for a 14T out of the box. In fact it was Jimmy Adamo or Reno Leoni who twisted my arm to fit shorter gearing to my 600SL with a better chain, and that involved removing some metal from the case!

We all know the reasons Ducati gear the bikes the way they do, and in the case of the 696 and 796 that has everything to do with drive-by noise and Euro 3/EPA/CARB, and zip to do with pulling redline in 6th.  ;D

Take a demo ride on a 696 and come back and argue with me.  8) You didn't get anywhere near 6th, did you?! The bike shook your teeth out crawling at 3,000 in 3rd, right? The OP here is near Route 1 on the Monterey Peninsula, not the A8 outside of Stuttgart!

My chipped 851 didn't require shorter gearing.  ;D

No clue actually. Since 2011 both have upside down Marzocchi rather than the original 696 Showa which most here seem to revile. The Marzocchi behaves well with my Ohlins DU-737 but would probably be better with something like Redline or Spectro in them rather than Shell Advance. The stock Sachs shock was essentially "numb". ;) Skybarney fitted a DU-737 to his EVO and thought he died and went to heaven.  ;D

I don't think anyone is disputing that the 14T sprocket makes the bike more fun to ride.

The fact that you categorically state 'you'll never find 6th gear' isn't accurate at all. Maybe you don't, but many do.

I use 6th all the time on the highway at 60mph, it's a lazy cruise. I have done some mods to smooth things out though.

But we are getting off topic.

to address the OP post about geometry and lowering, lowering the front and rear on the 796/1100 equally has no affect of the handling of the bike, it's a neutral change. lowering just the rear slows the steering, lowering just the front quickens the turn in.

the 696 is the ONLY one of the Monsters with the lower rear suspension piece, which literally is a simple part swap that takes 30 min or less. and then pulling the forks through a small amount is about the same.

But if you are sitting on the 796 with no issues, them you can choose from any of the Monster line.

On a 696/796 4,000 RPM is ~ an indicted 80 MPH in 6th which is essentially lugging the engine below that on a stock bike. With different fueling that might be less of an issue. I'm not running a DP ECU. (Won't discuss my terminal velocity here.  8))

 ;D

Granted this is slightly off topic, but....

Agree with Curmudgeon here fellas.

Sure, you can eventually find 6th if you try hard enough. But you'll be deeply into illegal territory when you do.

I think the point is to integrate top gear into your repertoire of useful riding options every time out.

Why throw away a perfectly valuable gear?  ???

Look, I'm not saying it's a bad idea to lower your gearing, I have done so to get my bike out of the basement (where I store it) and up the grass incline (often wet)... BUT... I do ride deeply into illegal territory (on the highway) and am constantly trying to shift into 7th gear  which I never did before the change and loved it. So in my case it was a trade off. If I had a garage on level ground I would never have done it.
 I definitely respect your guys OPINION on this but it is just that an OPINION, NOT FACT!
 Different strokes....  :)

What bike?

Once again (he says patiently), you are missing (or deliberately obfuscating) my point.

What exactly makes you think that all Ducatis are created equal? Drives me bonkers when advice is offered by someone with zilch familiarity with a specific bike.  8)

My Paso Limited running 38mm Dellortos didn't need shorter gearing. My stock 796 cries for it.

Next you'll tell us that you hit the rev limiter in 6th with a 14T? Maybe you ought to put that one in the museum... ;D

honestly, the thread jack may throw off a new rider.

the bikes are great bikes out the door.

once you ride it for the first 600 miles you can decide for yourself based on your regular riding.

does it bog a bit during city traffic? 14t
do you find 6th gear just fine in highway/hills riding? 15t

either way, it's better you ride it for yourself.

This is what I did. Made it easy to decide for myself.  [drink]

 Early this year I bought an M1100S that had stock gearing. When it got crunched I replaced it with a nearly identical one with 14/39 gearing. For me there was no appreciable difference. Te bike with the 15 tooth sprocket was fine at freeway speeds in 6th gear.
 3k rpm is not lugging this motor, or any other for that matter. My Bimota has 15/38 gearing with a Multistrada motor and it is just dandy in 6th at 60 or so. It pulls very cleanly from under 2.5k!

No it isn't.

696 vs 796

Here's an idea:  How about those of us who have owned or had experience with either 696/796 share opinion on the relative merits of those machines?

And then when the OP has decided which of these Monsters (if either) to own....

...we can all argue about what make the beast with two backsing gearing is better  [bang].

;D

Now..., wouldn't THAT be unique and refreshing!

 I apologize for insetting 1100 stuff here, butt the idea that anything below 4k is lugging just gets my whatnot unsettled!

Refraining from stating preferences  - around a topic not sought  - as if they were actual fact would also be quite refreshing  [cheeky].

At least YOU owned a 696 at one time. You and Raux might have forgotten how they run out-of-the-box however.  8)

After reading all of the above, the OP can go ride both a demo 696 and 796. I'll wager $0.05 he'll know what to do. ;)

FWIW, after doing that myself, I'd have not bought my 796 had no 14T been available. And believe me, it was THAT obvious. Of course I was only relating that experience to the other 34 bikes I've owned...

nonsense. I have motorcycle memory  [Dolph]

 Also coming from a 696, now on an 1100S. I think the OP will be better off with a 696 if he is commuting to work. I miss my 696 for commuting duties as my 1100S has already caused me a few ass puckering moments.  :o.  during the morning commute having to open up the throttle quickly while maneuvering thru busy traffic.  :-[

Thanks y'all,
I'm definitely leaning towards the 696 because of the insurance i just found out it's almost 200 a month for me to own the 796 vs the 100 it would cost for the 696.
New question,
How many if you that own a 696 have done any touring in them? I'm not talking 100k mile touring but something significant like 1k miles in days kinda thing.

Not very far for me, I'm in Fresno and ride to your area and to L.A. To visit my brother -in law. I bought an ugly, but effective, large touring wind screen for the trips. I'm 6'2", 215 and the 696 easily took me over the grapevine and 152 over San Louis reservoir towards the coast with no problem, but I did add a much need oil cooler as the 696 did not come with one.

OUCH!!! Is that with USAA? Shop around and don't buy any insurance you don't need or duplicate coverage you may have on other policies. Maybe move back east?  ;)

And you all doubted me adding insurance to the list

 [laugh]


I've done the touring like that

what do you want to know?

I was gonna say it sounded to me like the OP would prefer the 796 just from a standard ride height/ergos standpoint. But IF $ makes the 696 more attractive it can certainly be made to fit better for not a lot of dosh.

I also want to contradict some of the assumptions/generalizations/opinions made on this thread like:


We regularly get 50-56 mpg from ours - meaning we don't fill up till around 150 miles. Certainly by that point I'd be ready for a break anyway, but I can't make it more than 50 without complaining with the stock seat. Somehow Jenn manages 100 at a pop before starting to wiggle a little  :D



Facts not in evidence. It's likely we'll never even consider a 796 and have absolutely no use for an 1100.



Facts not in evidence. Lugging is not strictly based on rpm and gear, it's based on ambient conditions which include temperature, pressure, AND LOAD. What is lugging with a 200 > lbs. rider may not be with a 150 < lbs. rider. Though I think the gearing is a little tall for ME (230 currently but working my way down again lol) Jenn (~130) has absolutely no complaints and doesn't want me to touch the gearing.



Because of Jenn's work (and little complications that have arisen since buying the Duc - the first one is named Fiona lol) Jenn doesn't get to ride as often as we'd like. So though most of our riding together are short 50 or 100 mile runs on a weekend when we can find a sitter, she has taken 3 or 4 longer trips - like down part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, or up to MA and back to PA again in a long weekend - or like this past weekend about 800 miles in 3 days (out to Pittsburgh and back). She's got no complaints, but to be honest, that's partially her fitness and small build. She also used to put 1-2k mile weeks on her Sportsters WITH STOCK SEATS  :o   I THINK however now that she's getting old (she IS in her 30s  [laugh]) she's warming to the idea of a Sargent seat which I'll have to add to the wish list.

This past weekend:

(http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_20130919_182343_979a.jpg)

(http://www.gigabikes.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10081/IMG_20130920_095931_190a.jpg)

Kev M,
I don't know how important fuel range is for the OP but for some of us a range of only 240 kms (150 miles) would be a bit short.

For example, our ride today was 275 kms and after filling up before the start we didn't pass close to a petrol station until about the 250 km mark. Most of the ride was on back roads so not much opportunity to use 5th and 6th on the VStrom and it may have been even more of a low gear trip on a Monster. With the Monster's small fuel capacity I would have been worrying about fuel running out.

I haven't ruled out a 696 but if I get one I'll alwahys have to carry a couple of litres of fuel with me, which is not exactly convenient.

It's not just about comfort, personnaly I have less than a two hour duration before my backside gets sore, but I don't have to plan my trips around fuel availability.   

Of course distance between fills may be of no importance to the OP.

if you know that, carry a liter or two in

http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-070-0643/MSR-fuel-bottle-887-ml-30oz (http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-070-0643/MSR-fuel-bottle-887-ml-30oz)

Location and usage could certainly make this a sticking point - but here on the east coast of the US I can't remember a time where a range of 150 miles would be an issue (hell I can't remember anytime were a range of 100 miles would be an issue).

And honestly, Jenn gets in the upper 50's most of the time - so 150 is being conservative - at 55 mpg I SUSPECT she could make it to about 3.25 gallons of consumption - which would be closing in on 192.5 miles (or 309 km) so it would have been fine on your ride.

Though yeah, she'd probably not like to do that unless she was carrying a spare fuel bottle or two (or at least we had a container and a siphon hose so that she could take some of the 5.8 gallons from my Guzzi V7).

Point taken - but I would DEFINITELY NOT characterize the 696 as having "Heavy Fuel Consumption".

EDIT - noticed this old post searching for something on mileage and range.

The other day Jenn filled up her 696 and managed to put in 3.8G!  :o

And a day later she made it to 195 miles and only put 3.4G in...so she's got a theoretical range approaching 220 miles!!!

Hey y'all, it's been awhile but taxes are back and prices came down on the 796. I've also found cheaper insurance so it's just over $ 100 a month. I rode the 796 and liked it more. I'm supposed to be picking up my bike in two weeks when the red one gets here but if it doesnt then i will settle for black because i don't want to wait any longer than i have to.

Have at it & have fun!!  Thanks for the update. Most folks just let the end of the story drift off into the ether.

Sweet... enjoy!  [beer]

Good choice. I love my 696 but still get jelly every time I see a SSS  [laugh]

Congrats on the new bike. I went through a similar decision last year (696, 796, or 1100) and decided upon the 796. I still love it and made the right decision for me based on the type of riding I do.

Regarding mods, mine is still pretty much stock except I took the emissions canister off and removed the stickers from the frame. This year I'm adding the carbon Termignoni exhaust (wish I did that when I purchased the bike), a Sargent seat, and maybe bar end mirrors.

I read the posts in this thread about changing the front sprocket to make 6th gear useable. I don't plan to change mine out. I use 6th gear as an overdrive when I'm cruising steady above 80mph. The bike runs slightly over 4000 rpm at 80 mph in 6th gear. It doesn't lug unless I accelerate, but shifting down to 5th for accelerating works fine at that speed. Just like choosing the bike, I think all modifications boil down to personal preference.

Enjoy the new bike!

The SSS is what made me like this bike in the beginning because you rarely see that on any bike out here.

The only modification I will make in the next 6 months will be a wind screen because I'm going to ride from Monterey CA to Moab UT haha... it's 980mi going down the interstate but I don't think I will go all interstate the whole way.

Moab?  ??? It's not a dirt bike!  ;D

Just my $0.02; try the stock mirrors and mini fairing combo before tossing them. They were developed in Ducati's wind tunnel, are surprisingly quiet, and work better than you'd suppose. For that long trip you can fit a tall Puig or Givi; those hurt my eyes though.  ;D

I would go to Moab because I have family out there haha... It would be the yearly visit kind of thing. Instead of driving my truck out to Moab and costing me $600 round trip at least.

Good choice on the bike!  I have both a 796 and 696.  Well the wife has the 696 but hasn't bee. The one running up the miles.  That being said,  I love them both.  My 796 has brute force compared to the 696.  Mainly cause of mods... but the 696 is super smooth and soooo flickable!  Another benefit to the 696 is the mileage.  Its gets about 8mpg better.... probably more me than the bike. Other than all that I love them both!

Oh and one last thing... don't settle.  If its red you want get it!  You might regret settling later if you do!  Had the same wrenching decision and boy ambi glad I waited!  Almost took a white one then almost went to a hypermotard.  Glad I got the satin black!

Fully agree. All 796's have red frames of course. Wanted the red for resale over here although mine got Pantah skins on set-up because this bike replaces the 600 SL I had both in my stable and in my feeble mind.  8) (See my intro thread.) http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=50673.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=50673.0)

I like the black one too so it's not so much settling. I would just like to have red but would never complain over black. I am just excited about getting my first Ducati and riding the brand i have always dreamed of haha

So I pick my new monster on Saturday. I found out they are not going to order any other 2013 models of the 796. Good thing I'm not opposed to the black one.

IF you REALLY want the Red - make a deal with them now for the replacement plastics. Have them sell them or promise them to you at cost.

The more I look at the black on red vs the red on red it has been growing on me. I'm just excited about picking up my new bike. I am hoping the rain stops enough to let me pick up the bike.

In case you are not aware, there are numerous full kits for new Monsters. My Pantah kit was one of the cheaper ones at ~ $750-. That's front fender, fairing, tank panels and tail piece. Scroll through these. Not all work with a red frame. http://ducati.com/media_gallery/monster_art/index.do (http://ducati.com/media_gallery/monster_art/index.do)

Personally I think the red frame is the most important color cue anyway....

Yes but there's always the 20th anni edition with the dharma kit....

There, I helped =).

Hmmm... REAL Darmahs have BLACK frames.  ;D Gold frame might be a bit much?  8)

When I got my 1100 the dealer had a 20th anniversary on the floor and a Diesel.  I bought the red frame, red paint, white stripe version.  To me, a proper Duc is red with a white stripe.  Kinda like a proper Ferrari is red.....

 8)

Given that reasoning, I bought a red one for resale, even though I had Pantah skins fitted before delivery.  :)

Actually it's the race bikes which are supposed to be red, same as the cars. The only red Ducatis I owned were a factory racing 250 in 1965 and my early 851. Those ONLY came in red.

At least in Italy it was formerly the case that the largest number of "civilian" Ferraris were silver. Can't speak for today. Both my 900SS and 600SL were silver from the factory. My 750 Paso Limited was pearl white. You "could" get an SS in black. Some Darmah SD's were red.  8)

You might find this page interesting. http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/bikes/Ducati.htm (http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/bikes/Ducati.htm)

Whatever makes YOU happy of course..., but I thought YOURS was mostly carbon these days!  ;D

I did do a fair bit of carbon but only on the black plastic bits.  Just been getting the last little bits finished up to the point I just don't have the urge to do much else this next year or so.  Due to keeping nearly all of the aftermarket bits black it somehow manages to not look at that modded.

I had thought of all kinds of different paint jobs, carbon tank covers etc etc.  However the red and white manages to remain my favorite.  Someday she will get wheels and shiny rotors.

Red is dandy with a stripe. In 2014 you can even order a 796 that way.  ;) http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/796_corse_stripe/index.do (http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/796_corse_stripe/index.do) Was just trying to broaden your horizons.  8)

My Pantah skins were for sentimental reasons and for the fact that the 796 handles a lot like my 600 SL..., just with much better "old man" ergos. The bike sat on the floor for a week with those skins before I could get up there 140 miles to pick it up. The dealer said it attracted everyone who came through the door and he had to rope it off.  ;D I'll admit it draws a similar response when I park it at the monthly Sunday biker brunch. Wish it were 600 silver rather than 500 silver blue..., but I'm picking nit...  ;) http://www.ducati.com/cms-web/upl/MediaGalleries/120/MediaGallery_120598/M%20796_10S_LM-Pantah_C01S%20%5B1200x800%5D.jpg (http://www.ducati.com/cms-web/upl/MediaGalleries/120/MediaGallery_120598/M%20796_10S_LM-Pantah_C01S%20%5B1200x800%5D.jpg)

I think I will just leave it black. The more I look at it the better I like it.

No problem. You're the only one who needs to be pleased. ;)

The nice thing about these... Not that hard to change the body work entirely if you change you mind. You'll just need some rather odd torx T-handles.  8)

That is true. Very true.

Btw... This is the first time I've had adjustable levers and it's so nice. Makes working to shift easy breezey... Cover girl lol jk had to finish it because it reminded me of the commercials. Anyway I've never had adjustable levers before.