Aprilia Shiver v Ducati Monster 696

[corndog67]

Where'd you come up with that? The article says the Shiver has 75hp. Still, the extra weight has got to be somewhere... maybe it's all part of that "extra ground clearance" the article keeps talking about.

I never bought my bike thinking "oooh, it's gonna be fast"... It's certainly fast enough for me, and I know I have yet to develop the experience to take advantage of all the power and handling my bike has. And, I don't feel the need to ever get to that point. Part of me thinks that having a little fear of my bike could end up saving me someday. I bought my bike because I liked it, and I wanted it. If I liked or wanted an Aprilia, I would have bought one.

Motorcycle comparison articles are like a-holes... everyone has one. That's not actually how the quote goes, but I wanted to say it. Lot's of times articles are just biased opinions. Take the information, then decide for yourself.

Twice in the replies section, people mentioned 95hp.  I'm not sure of what the real power is.  I know the BMW 800 advertises 90 or 95 hp, so I would assume the Priller is close.

Also check this out, although Popular Mechanics isn't the best motorcycle propaganda out there, they claim 95 also. 
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4296457.html

Also:
http://fromthehandlebars.com/news/2009/mar/23/2008-aprilia-750-shiver-molto-buono/

Some of you guys are very biased towards Ducati, if the Shiver came with a wheelbarrow full of money, you still wouldn't like it.  I'm a little more open minded, I'll ride anything with wheels on it.  In fact, I seriously considered an Aprilia Tuono, but I couldn't come up with a source for parts this side of Texas.   So I bought a Duc. 

If it was up to me, the one with the most power, how comfortable I felt, documented reliability from previous owners, all weigh in.  I am not brand loyal.  Whatever I think is the best bike at the time is the one I get.   I bought the S4 because it's got pretty good power, it isn't the fastest on the block, but it will get there with most of them, it turns pretty well, it was cheaper than the S4R and S4RS, and it was in good shape.  And it's fun to ride.  I'd ride one of those Chinese SV650 knockoffs if they were worth a shit. 

[redial]

if they were worth a shit. 

exactly....

[Greg]

According to the Aprilia site

http://www.aprilia.com/en-US/Model/27/SHIVER+750/Overview.aspx

"Maximum power of 95 HP at 9000 revs"

Dry weight = 417 pounds

And according to the Ducati site

http://www.ducati.com/od/ducatinorthamerica/en/bikes/model.jhtml?model=2521

"78.8 hp - 58.8 kW @ 9000 RPM"

Dry Weight = 355 pounds


So the Shiver overpowers the Duc by 16 hp but also has to lug around an additional 62 pounds.

Duc = 4.5 pounds per hp
Shiver = 4.4 pounds per hp

So while the Shiver appears to be a lot quicker than the Duc in raw power, my feeling is the bikes are pretty similar in acceleration due to the additional weight.

[Raux]

Power*  58.8 kW - 80 CV @ 9000 giri/min 
Torque*  7.0kgm - 50.6lb-ft @ 7750 rpm 


where's the rev limiter set at? cause 9000 rpm... i don't think i've ever hit that. hmmm is that with the DP ECU and higher revs?

[z0mb1e_DUC]

no, I believe the DP ecu's rev limiter kicks in at 10.5k.  I could have sworn that the limiter is set to about 8.5k until the full 1,200 miles is complete, then it moves to 9 or 9.5k.

[Raux]

no, I believe the DP ecu's rev limiter kicks in at 10.5k.  I could have sworn that the limiter is set to about 8.5k until the full 1,200 miles is complete, then it moves to 9 or 9.5k.

well i've hit something... i see the light and then a bit later the bike loses power.    but i wasn't reading the revs, trying to avoid getting run over by a truck entering the autobahn. so i may have hit that high.

[mrplease]

well i care mostly about looks. i mean as long as its still a good bike, which the 696 is most definitely is. so on that point i like the 696 much better. mostly because i think the aprilla looks like ass. but hey thats my opinion. i know a lot of people who don't like the looks of a 696...

when i purchased my bike i wanted a good naked bike that looked awsome. i looked at all the naked bikes from aprilla, mv agusta, ducati, buell, and triumph. i was looking for a bike right under the $10,000 price tag, as i was buying it outright. the only two bikes that i fell in love with was the ducati monster and the triumph street triple based on looks alone. i also liked the buell lighting, but i liked the ducati and the triumph a little bit more. so i had it narrowed down between those two. i went and test rode both and i felt a lot more comfortable on the ducati, so i bought it...

so my point is even if the aprilla is a little bit better bike, it rode a little better, and even if it was a little more comfortable i still wouldn't get it because i think it looks like sh*t. and its not like i bought a sorry ass bike either...

[tbird245]

Aprilia makes great bikes, and I would definitely own one, but try finding a dealer.

[Greg]

After looking at the other Aprilia bikes I'd like to see a comparison of the Aprilia Dorsoduro 750 and the Hypermotard 1100. Basically the same HP but the Aprilia is $9,600 versus $12,000.

Hmmm 

[somegirl]

Aprilia makes great bikes, and I would definitely own one, but try finding a dealer.

Something else to consider is availability/cost of spare parts and maintenance costs.

[DucatiTorrey]

the only two bikes that i fell in love with was the ducati monster and the triumph street triple based on looks alone. i also liked the buell lighting, but i liked the ducati and the triumph a little bit more. so i had it narrowed down between those two.

+1

Aprilia makes great bikes, and I would definitely own one, but try finding a dealer.

+1 again, but then, a month after the Duc purchase i found a dealer in Grand Rapids, Mi

still love the Duc though

[z0mb1e_DUC]

my dealer sells both.  Like the Monster better.  Seacoast started as an Aprilla dealer, then bought Naults franchise.