Ducati Monster Forum

A "blank slate" standard bike with classic lines at a low price point with an air cooled engine.

Those are the reasons I got my monster (S2R800). When the 696/1100 generation started it became a little less of a blank slate (plastic tank, cast subframe ,modern lines) and as much as I like the new bikes, I never had the desire to upgrade.  then with the 821/1200 it went even further from what I felt a Monster was or should be (liquid cooled, more electronics, even less open to mods, more expensive).

now the scrambler is here and looking at the frame and tank on its own, you can really turn it into whatever you want.

I dont mean to hate on newer monsters, theyre great in their own right, just not my thing.

I've seen some rumor posts about Ducati coming out with a smaller Scrambler, maybe in the 600cc range, and also in a 1200 version. If they come out with a 1200 version I don't see how they can keep the plus points you mention, especially air cooled.
I guess we'll know soon enough.

The Monster will continue, but water-cooled. If you go to Ducati USA you won't see any air cooled models. I doubt they'll see the benefit of a 1200, but an entry level in the 600 or smaller would be logical, especially in the emerging markets.

there are "talks" of a smaller LTwin both liquid and air cooled . . . and maybe a mono cylinder in the area of 400cc . . .aircooled

yep my 93 m900 is naked and physical just how it should be. means i can do most work myself for free. to many electric stuff and im lost.but i do like the look of the scrambler  [Dolph]

A thumper would be great!

I personally don't think that we'll see a 1200 or any water cooled scrambler, it is what it is a simple air cooled cheap (by Ducati standards) naked motor cycle (blank slate) on which the owners can mod to their hearts content and make it their own... [bow_down]

I do think that a smaller version will appear at some moment in time perhaps a mono and if sales are anything to go by it  has hit to spot with alot of folks, I'm certainly delivering quite a few... [thumbsup]

Geoff... [coffee]

BTW  I'm already collecting parts for when my one eventually comes along... :o

Certainly looks like the scrambler is doing what the original monster did:

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/ducati-scrambler-sales-april-q1-2015/ (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/news/ducati-scrambler-sales-april-q1-2015/)

Ducati has always done well selling air-cooled bikes. I appreciate the way that they introduce these bikes, sell them for a few years and then discontinue them. I'm sure many out there disagree, but it actually helps the brand and keeps the resale value high. I doubt this will be the case with the Scrambler though.

This bike IMHO is a much better starter bike than the Monster. If what Geoff says pans out, a low displacement twin and/or single would open up a whole new market for Ducati everywhere.

Agreed.  The ducati executives responsible for the scrambler deserve a pat on the back.  Good vision, marketing, and product (or so I hear).  On a DS forum I participate in, there is a guy selling his DR650 to buy a scrambler.  Not exactly a direct swap, but that is exactly what I'd want to hear if I were an executive---stealing a loyal customer from another brand.

http://motorbikewriter.com/ducati-scrambler-learner-coming/ (http://motorbikewriter.com/ducati-scrambler-learner-coming/)

+ 11tybillion

There was a two part article the last two weeks in Cycle News where Claudio Domenicali stated in very clear terms that as far as he is concerned the Scrambler will be as "introductory" a bike as Ducati will make. He does not see the benefit of Ducati appealing to "new" riders. He wants Ducati to remain exclusive and an "aspirational" brand. He shut down any suggestion of a "scooter" of any sort.

When asked about a any kind of single (specifically a Supermono) he said Ducati will not make a single.

But of course, just because he says something doesn't make it true!

Here is a link to the first part of the article: http://cyclenews.uberflip.com/i/506850-cycle-news-2015-issue-18-may-5/54 (http://cyclenews.uberflip.com/i/506850-cycle-news-2015-issue-18-may-5/54)

The second article can be found in the Cycle News current edition.

Mark

Gentlemen I see the customers that are buying scramblers and also deliver new bikes, now what I'm seeing is that the customer is either new to ducati having had other brands of motor cycles and aspired to ducati or he or she has already got one or more ducati's and is adding a scrambler to the garage which is what I intend to do.

Claudio states that there won't be a  single, well when I asked the powers that be afew years ago if they were going to market a 848 streetfighter I was told no, so what happens after I buy my 1098 streetfighter you guessed a 848SF is introduced into the next years line up... [bang]

The way that the scrambler is being marketed I think is very clever, I know some don't like the hipster thing but I can tell you that when ever I drop one off it soon attracts an admiring crowd.

Geoff... [coffee]

But they make such as nice single.  [drool]


(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/144/403070502_cf87effccb_b.jpg)

Ducati could make a single that is not a starter and is aspirational... they just need to be creative.

Put it another way, if they could produce a 70hp single that is sub 300lbs with the tank full and battery installed, it probably isn't going to be cheap.

That was the promise of the Mito 500 single until Cagiva screwed the pooch. Rumor was they were going to use a Husqvarna 500cc mill and yes, they already had my money if they could make that.

I don't know if it's the new monster, I do know they are going to sell, a lot.
The local (Anchorage) Ducati dealership has a Scrambler demo bike.
Took it out yesterday for 30 miles.
I want another ride after it's broke in. (only had 115 miles on the clock) About the time the motor woke up it was time to shift. (out of respect for whoever buys this bike I kept it under 4.5k)
Feels unbelievable light, I've ridden 250 enduros that felt heavier. Very planted, RR tracks- no problem, pit run from a dump truck on the road- no problem, last winters gravel- no problem. On the smallish side of comfortable for my 6'3" frame. Brakes are good. Clutch is good. Shifter was a little notchy (new bike)

Bottom line, thinking seriously about selling the 916 and getting a Scrambler. ( my cough 57 cough year old body just doesn't like hard core riding ergo's anymore)

I loved the original drawings that showed the scrambler as a water cooled single.  Does any one know if Ducati has any plans of doing a scrambler challenge like they did with the monster challenge?

They've barely started delivering them! I doubt they're looking at anything other than getting them out the door. Also, with no availability, after market parts will be very tough to find.

it is true the original monster was a parts pin bin. but the bin was not that deep. the orginal streetfigher. cool parts without the plastic.

what is selling right now. beards and jeans. dudes with ponytails up in a bun (what is that) cafe open face helmets and easy to ride bikes. retro is the marketing best friend.
 
IMHO the new scrambler (if you wanted a dual, get a kawi) is a cheap "me too" bike. a bottom of the parts bin and does not examplify ducati's "only the newest and best techology". ducati is now owned by VW and needs to sell sell sell which is fair enough just not interesting. it could have been soo much better but instead it is uninspired and for the masses. exactly what a shareholder would want them to make and sell to every market possible. easy $$$$$$$ in the pocket.   

is it the new monster. No way.

If the meaning of "new monster" is that it will sell tons bikes and make Ducati a stronger company, then I think it is the "new monster". Ducati is like any other company, they have to keep their product "fresh" and keep drawing in new customers. Ducati being a premium supplier in a business that in the USA is a hobby, needs to have an entry level bike, this bike is perfect and will draw in more new customers, and yet also sell to their existing base.
Everything I've read says Audi / VW is pretty much leaving Ducati alone and as long as they keep making money won't see a need to turn Ducati into the VW of motorcycles.

When I was in high school my cousin -- who worked for Fila -- gave me a pair of Ducati Monster-branded shoes. I had no idea what Ducati did or what the hell a Monster was but the teenaged me wanted one. A few years later, saw it in the flesh parked in an alley in Santa Monica in college. Didn't know anything about bikes but wanted it even more. Got my license a few years after that and the first thing I did was get on craigslist and search for "Monster."

Fast forward a few more years and more than a few miles since. But if I had been born 10 years later than I actually was, I'm sure it'd be the Scrambler, not the current Monster and not anything else, that would speak to me that way.

I don't think there's anything wrong with marketing an aspirational product. Some of those aspiring people become lifelong fans.

Oh and I still have those shoes, never worn. Anybody dying for some circa-2002 Monster-branded Filas?

Yes. Yes I am.

I'd like to see some pictures of the shoes.

Mark

BUT, since the badging is "Scrambler by Ducati", perhaps the Scrambler brand would consider making a single cylinder bike...

See...now Stu is thinking like a lawyer.

I'm scared. ;D

this is what I said a few weeks back . ..

I think that's more a marketing thing than anything else. 

My sources tell me there is no single being developed.  If they did, it couldn't be a supermono type kludge (brilliant tho it was). 

Ducati has prided itself on reusing the same parts and scaling them up or down for output (or market limitations, learner bikes etc)

I would love to see another powerplant based on the old singles.  They are TINY and would contribute to a super-thin bike.

The SuperMono is around 280lbs, but that was achieved using an exotic sub frame, in race kit (no starter) and magnesium engine parts, etc ..

Make me a bike with normal components -- scale the engine down instead of just lopping off a cylinder.  The old singles could be used as a starting point of design -- they are tiny....  and make it around 325 max.. I will buy it, promise!

They are in a box that I left in CA along with a spare headlight cowl. Will take some pictures as soon as I get a chance to fly back for a visit  [Dolph]

So I am putting up with idiocy at work all day and I take a moment to step back so as to not murder anyone and end up staring at pics of bikes I have decorating my cubicle.  And then I notice something on the scrambler:

(http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--0pnN5D0---/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/h9olrgzudq3xijdxwvkk.jpg)

Does that rear shock position seem wrong?  I mean, at a 45* angle, aren't you losing half the travel of one mounted at near 90*?  For comparison, a pic of a 620 I pulled off the interweb:

(http://www.gegbike.com/modelli/ducati/monster/monster620.jpg)

Not sure exactly how that works but they have the same thing going on in cars as well. See this Zonda:

(http://darsltd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2013-Pagani-Zonda-Revolucion-Engine-and-Performance.jpg)

Perhaps someone more mechanically astute can explain?  [popcorn]

Shock position is very similar to an SS also.

That type of shock set-up eliminates the necessity for a linkage which reduces production costs.

More detail re: linkage, please.  [popcorn]

Remove the seat of your Monster and look at the shock and the way it connects to everything. ;)

Check out the 1199


(http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa91/chiflado/EC711D00-138A-418C-9670-CE73496EDB7D.jpg) (http://s201.photobucket.com/user/chiflado/media/EC711D00-138A-418C-9670-CE73496EDB7D.jpg.html)

1199 is a linkage. New monster mts ss scrambler are linkless

Ah

Yes, yes in every way...

Kawasaki has been doing that for some time on the Ninja and Versys:

(http://content.kawasaki.com/Content/uploads/Products/6049/Nav/rtFace_my15_ninja_650_abs_lim.png?w=759)

(http://moto.zombiedrive.com/image-trim/18587-kawasaki-versys-tourer-2014-6.jpg.html)

The distance from the swingarm pivot to where the shock attaches to the swingarm determines how much travel you get.  The angle isn't really relevant.

And the reason I resurrected this old thread is because I'm trying to figure out what the best forum is for Scrambler information.  I know that this forum, unlike the other one everybody bailed out of years ago, isn't afraid of pointing at other forums.

So where can I get more user information for the Scrambler?


Can you believe it's been seven years since I sold all of my Ducatis?  I think it's time to get another one.

But you did the smart thing, if I am to believe your signature line... and kept the XR650...   [clap]

To be honest, I have no idea.

I do know the Scrambler owners haven't come here...at all.

The Scrambler section in Ducati MS is very quiet. They may hang out with the other young'ns on sites using the facebook platform for bobber/café racer forums. All the model specific independent forums (Paso, Elefant, Multistrada) are all quiet too. Maybe we all gotta work harder and longer for the same or less money since the GFC? Everyone older with responsibilities is probably working their asses off, so I guess I can believe a younger buddy when he says there are younger folk active on facebook sites.

Scott. Send 'em here. ;D

Scott, our friends over at advrider have long threads going on Scramblers and also Desert Sleds. 

http://advrider.com/index.php?forums/moto-bellissima-all-other-dualsports.97/ (http://advrider.com/index.php?forums/moto-bellissima-all-other-dualsports.97/)

Thats right, and even Terramonsters.

Hang on Nate what about this olde Limey chap over here in jolly olde England, I've been modding my scrambler for almost two years now.

Geoff  [coffee]

There's 1. ;D

Ok we need a build thread with photos.
PM sent. ;)

90% of Scrambler owners:  [cheeky]

 - buy trendy lifestyle garage accessory (Scrambler)
 - buy accessories for the accessory
 - read and write about it on their FB wall
 - be dissapointed when nobody responds
 - leave accessory in garage
 - try to sell it
 - be dissapointed when nobody responds
 - never come back to bikes

Sorry Geoff...I forgot you got one. Where are all your Scrambler mates?

THAT's funny...  [laugh]

It's the Harley craze, v2.0.

A Full Throttle version (might have been Icon version) pulled up behind me the other day when I was walking around.  Appeared to be mostly if not completely stock.  Did not recognize anything Ducati about the engine grunt.  Sounded like a weak jap inline 2-cyclinder.
 I'm sure with some mods it might have more of the brrrapp I've come to associate with ducs, but I was less than impressed.

Am I wrong about this?  Was it just a dud?

The engine is pretty much the same as the 800 that came out in '05, as far as the power-producing parts are concerned.
Heads and cylinders got a mild update with 696/796 models.

Single throttle body and a small airbox do trim off some HP.

It captures something like the Monster does and Ducati are on a winner with it. My kids will love it as it does represent fun in it's styling. How many of us learned to ride on an old scrambler in a paddock? Ducati have their technologically sophisticated products and products like this with a motor, two wheels, a tank for fuel and some bars. Sounds a familiar recipe.

I will say that the Sled and the Cafe Racer versions are some of the sharpest looking stock bikes I've seen come off the assembly line.  [thumbsup]

They do look cool, but like any Ducati, they need a pipe.

I guess a simplified 800 air cooled motor that can make 750ish power and meet Euro4/5 is a good platform. You can sleeve it down for a 400 LAMS model and the 800 can be lively with some tweaks. The single throttle body and small airbox while making a tight package must also be good for muffling intake noise. I recently rode an M750 with light flywheel, hi comp pistons, FCR39s, mild porting, good valve job and airbox mods and was very impressed. I haven't ridden an 800 but I guess that's what they're like performance wise?

Like Harley, Ducati gets it's fair share of wankers, but hopefully that means more low mileage used bikes come up on the market when those into fads and not motorcycling move onto the next thing. Then my kids and I can swoop in. :D

Is ABS standard? I know it is on the learner version, but couldn't tell from the model specs.

Yes abs is standard on all model scramblers infact as far as I know all motor cycles over 600cc have to come out of the factory with abs.

I delivered quite afew when they first came out to customers new to the Ducati brand and from what I've seen recently they are now changing up to more expensive Ducati's something that I don't think would have happened without the scrambler.

Geoff  [coffee]

BTW koko I'll send a coule of pics for you to post and alittle bit about the mods that's been done.

Thanks Geoff. Much appreciated. I reckon a Scrambler with low seat option might suit my daughters better than a Monster.
Aww bugger. I've said it before, but geeze I feel old when looking at the factory website marketing for the Scrambler and entry level Monster.  Leaves me convinced that if you're over 40 you better tell the dealer the Scrambler you wanna buy is for your kid otherwise you'll be firmly but respectfully guided over to the Multistrada section.  ;D "Here Sir, we also have some nice beige coloured adventure gear, it's very comfortable, the pants have an adjustable elastic waist". [laugh]

No worries Geoff. Do a thread write up and I'll post up the pics you send. [thumbsup]

Hell, I am under 40 (6 months to go!) and I still feel completely alienated by the Scrambler website.

Interesting Geoff's comment about people upgrading from Scrambler.  I figure 3 more years and I can pick one up cheap on the secondary market.

Well, I can say with FHE that they're not much like an early Monster in at least one way....

Not very friendly to work on. At all.

The used market should be good in a few years, just when my girls need to upgrade. Front wheel ABS aint a bad thing I guess and I got by without it, but would like my kids to have that safety feature.


You're at the height of your powers young stud ;D. The website reeks with model agency talent for sure. The girls look like my kids, (I bet their mums are hot). ;D It's powerful advertising for sure and I'm glad a whole new generation of Ducati riders are coming up.


No flip up tank and all cramped up components?

That's a pretty good description.

The ABS doesn't help, the brick is big, and there's not a lot of places to put it.

I think they assemble most everything onto the engine, then drop the frame on.

I take part of my last post back, the ABS brick is not that big.

But, there's things that have been done that really cramp the packaging.

Looking at the tank, shown here next to an '05 S2R tank.
Ducati says the Scrambler tank is 13.5 liter, S2R 14 liter.


(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4363/36413150124_55170df79c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XtGUVb)

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4369/37109042111_8835e8e869_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/YxcxmT)


The Scrambler tank is significantly smaller in every dimension.
Upshot is, the volume up under the Monster tank that's occupied by the airbox, battery and electronics is now mostly gone.
The frame and a third of the (small) airbox is all that's up under a Scrambler tank.

So the battery and electronics had to go somewhere else.

Yeah, you can see it alright. I wonder if a long range tank will become available?

Maybe if you set up a separate Scrambler/Desert Sled board here, they would come.  But then I think there's already a few Scrambler forums so they may all have already found a home.   I like the Desert Sled, just wish it wasn't as heavy as it is.  Too heavy for the serious offroad riding that they promote it for.   But from all reports it seems like a good overall bike.

Scott, if you're still here, how's your Scrambler investigation coming along?

We've never had separate sections. All bikes are welcome here, and always will be.

I'm not convinced the forum platform is the choice of the social media user anymore. In case you hadn't noticed, this place is pretty quiet in general. The local boards are almost silent.

Things change.

Not just this forum either. 

Don't get me wrong and I'm not being elitist but there are a few scrambler forums that seem to have attracted quite a lot of new to Ducati and motorcycles in general and some of the posts leave me in total confusion ... [bang] so let's just get on with our own forum as it is.
Like Nate has stated things are a little slow but that seems to be universal theme with forums at this present time, koko has asked me to relay my thoughts and the mods that I've done to my scrambler so hopefully I'll get it sorted shortly.
On another note Ducati sales are still quite strong over here in the UK which is a good thing even if I no longer deliver them to customers which I dearly miss.

Geoff... [coffee]

They sure do. 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311759368135


kinda makes me want a scrambler

That sidecar is f'n enormous

I had a good look at that outfit at last years bike show over here in the UK and it didn't strike me as enormous l just thought it looked the part after all when I was a kid sidecar outfits where the norm.
As for is the scrambler being the next monster?
I think we're going to see the evolution of it shortly.. ;). ;)

Geoff... [coffee]

Geoff...

those weren't side cars.

Those were chariots. ;D

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [beer]

Come on guys give me a break I know that I'm getting on a bit but I'm not that ancient.. :o

and btw it seems you missed the clue... [bang]

Geoff... [coffee]

You'll have to join the dots a bit closer for me as I'm a bit slow coming off night shifts (well, that's my excuse). Do you mean the Scrambler platform being used to create the new
Monster in a retro style harking back to the original? Or am I just hoping against hope?

I believe you may be in the ballpark with that, but maybe even something a bit more retro. (?)

Don't get all sensitive on us now.

These jokers are always tooling on me about age. I figured I'd spread the love. ;D

I don't play guessing games. ;)

https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ducati-scrambler-1100-eicma/

That's the one... [clap]

Geoff [coffee]

The Evo motor? It will need a flywheel ;D

Im so glad its back. A credible source?

Hopefully the running gear is a little upmarket from the standard Scrambler stuff.

Rumour has it the evo motor with twin spark, if so what a wonderful... [bow_down]

Geoff [coffee]

Twin spark for emissions I guess. Good to see the return of the air cooled big bores. So an 1100EvoDS.

https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ducati-scrambler-1100-leak/

From those pics it has become the new Monster. I hope it has 16-18 litres of fuel on board.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2017/november/norton-650-scrambler-supersport/ (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/new-bikes/2017/november/norton-650-scrambler-supersport/)

Here's a good looking Scrambler.  It's I think the 450cc version but the same thing could be done to bigger motor Scramblers.  I think Steve McQueen would've liked it, once he got it good and dirty and dented.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4705/26751822988_834870904a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GKY5Xo)MotoMucci Desert Sled Custom (https://flic.kr/p/GKY5Xo) by bobthomasson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/98470543@N06/), on Flickr

Here is a link to the builder's site:
https://www.motomucci.com/blog//2016/11/art-ducati-sixty2-desert-sled-concept.html (https://www.motomucci.com/blog//2016/11/art-ducati-sixty2-desert-sled-concept.html)

Much more dirt oriented.

For dirt road/trail riding, the150mm of suspension travel at each end of the basic models would be enough (sled has even more).  Certainly less ungainly for my 5'8" than a Multistrada or even a HM1100/796 with dual sport tyres. A litre more fuel than the Hyper is at least something and the compact dimensions look better for someone of my stature. Just looking at how to lower the passenger pegs. The rear set arms holding the passenger pegs swing down on the stockers?
An Ikon could be the bike I throw in the pick up for vacations..

I've worked on Scramblers.
That is a computer image only, IMO.

They imply that it's achievable with their infographic.
You cannot do what is shown there and have a functioning dirt scrambler.
Scrambler packaging is tight as a ducks ass, there is no wasted space.
Stuff does not get 'relocated' and magically disappear from plain view on a scrambler.

Anyone know if the passenger peg bracket can pivot to lower the pegs?
Edit: From closer inspection it appears that the rearset it a cast, one piece unit and the peg arm will not pivot downwards. Lowering the muffler with a tucked in afermarket pipe and fitting an adjustable passenger peg will allow the pegs to be lowered and angled forward. Seat looks ok for the passenger (seems more supportive than for the rider) and 150mm of wheel travel makes trail riding look ok.

Interesting, I bailed on the 2018 Monster 821 and chose the 2018 Scrambler 1100! I  currently own a 2004 S4R snd don't plan get rid of it.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4797/40024050224_e055a1db27_c.jpg)

Here's a good looking quasi-semi-scrambler type of bike.  Never owned or even ridden a Guzzi, they are quirky but it seems like owners love them.  Check out the state of the art forks, from here they look like exact replica of my '66 Bonneville forks. I am seriously looking at one of these, called a Stornello.  The name is at least better than some Moto Guzzi names like Stone and Quota. 

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/813/40808773122_35c7a61e6f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/25b8CuA)Stornello (https://flic.kr/p/25b8CuA)   (https://www.flickr.com/photos/98470543@N06/)

Yeah, I called the place and they've never built a real one, although they do build other real custom bikes.  I think you are right about it not being practical to just disappear all that stuff.  But the picture does look cool.

I'd take that Guzzi for a spin just to see what it's like.  [Dolph]

Very few Guzzis around here locally, I saw two in one day and almost had to sit down.

Customer V50 sounded wonderful (as it should) had a ton of flywheel and not much go, but it was 80's era, so par for the course.

I used to teach a kid whose dad rode a Guzzi California every day for years. He loved it.
He had it rebuilt at about 100,000kms iirc.

I never liked the look of BMW's or the Guzzi with cylinders sticking out the side. Understood that cooling is optimized with this configuration but heat blowing back on the rider really doesn't sound appealing either.

Only boxer BMW I've ridden for any amount of time was an R60/5, engine didn't put out much heat (nor power  :-\).

My 350 Kwak triple was faster than an R60/5. :P

Speed wasn't the R60/5's forte. It sure lasted a whole lot longer than a 350 triple though!  [laugh]

The thing used to spit rings out the exhaust port, and would still start and run. :o

Of course it was heavily modified. ;)

Searching around for Stornello rider reviews I ran across an ad for Thousand Oaks Powersports, says they have them in stock.  If you could break away for a couple of hours maybe you could go for a test ride.   And, of course, report  back to the unwashed snowbound masses here.

I'll see what I can do, T.O. is not far away.

Mine just came yesterday. Yellow STD. Seacoast Sport Cycle

STD as in Ikon model?

No.....................as in 1100

Ah. We expect a full report. [thumbsup]

https://youtu.be/xqF3oFjxbVs

https://youtu.be/jtZIsKgYj8M

Cheers for that.

 Meh...yours is just as good and didn’t cost 12,000USD.  It was a reasonable review though and I like how he pointed out the weight.

Yep, the koko tightarse edition. ;D

Mine wouldnt be as good suspension wise compared to the Sled, but probably stack up against the regular models once my suspension guy is done.

Edit: my bike has an oem 17" front wheel and it could use an 18 or 19 inch wheel for sure. Of note is that on an uphill, hard packed dirt and gravel fire trail road, my buddy on a Tiger 800 could not stay with me. This surprised us both. The situation would have been reversed going down hill imo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMqqLtgCN8T/?igshid=13vcupqybvrg2

is it just me who sees nothing but a white box on Kopf's picture posts lately?

Pic is visible here.

Based on Ducati's recent offerings...

I'd prefer a white box. ;D

It's disappointing. They spend years developing a style and evolving that style with a clear historical connection, then build a Hyosung copy.

It displays arrogance and a lack of connection with customers, and lack of respect for the marque's history.

Customers brain function today is shaped by Messenger, Snap and TikTok. Anything not "evolving" in that pace is old fashioned. Most famous (richest) person is a Kardashian who has done one amateur porn film - nothing else. Last century? Last decade? Last year? They have no clue. What so ever. Heritage? Maybe if you can squeeze it in to a 20 second video.

(I'm turning 60 soon)

Grumpy Old Lars  ;D

Have you looked in the mirror? :-*

    ;D  [beer]

Not far behind you Lars. ;D

https://youtu.be/F_F8P1nxBSk