M696

[ellingly]

Anything anyone wants to know about the M696? I've got one in the garage till at least tomorrow.

Overall impression: motor good, suspension pretty good for a low-spec bike, brakes awesome! I might be able to mod the ugly out. Big deal killer is the ergos just don't fit me (whereas the S2R1k is perfect). So, I wouldn't want an M1100 if it's gonna be the same ergos but better motor and suspension.

I'm happy to take photos of details if people want, or post a more detailed ride report. I'll probably go harass some extra twisties tomorrow if this shitful Canberra weather eases up. I did do a bit of twsitie riding on the way to work just to check out how it went, so I can probably give some impressions based on that even if it is still shitful tomorrow.

[Spider]

yep, I have a question...

how did you 'lure' the 696 into the garage?

had a white one go past my house yesterday whilst I was 'watering' the lemon tree - they aren't 'proper' Ducati loud, good note though.

seriously - can you pull off the tank panels and tell me in the 'vents' in the outer shell actually do anything? I s the airbox still under the tank with the airflow coming in from the fork clamp area?

Trying being 6 foot 6 and sitting on one....it was hilarious! (and the salesperson is going 'hmmmm, that's a good fit')

[ellingly]

yep, I have a question...

how did you 'lure' the 696 into the garage?

had a white one go past my house yesterday whilst I was 'watering' the lemon tree - they aren't 'proper' Ducati loud, good note though.

seriously - can you pull off the tank panels and tell me in the 'vents' in the outer shell actually do anything? I s the airbox still under the tank with the airflow coming in from the fork clamp area?

Trying being 6 foot 6 and sitting on one....it was hilarious! (and the salesperson is going 'hmmmm, that's a good fit')

Local Ducati dealer didn't finish my 20k service by the time they shut tonight. I had the 696 as the demo all day today; added bonus of getting it into the garage. When I rang up to organise this service & a loan bike, I asked for a non-Monster, cause I want to ride something else. I would have had a 1100 Multisrada but it had no fuel.

It wasn't really a good night in Canberra to ride it home - howling winds (in the order of 90 km/h!) and pissing with rain. Handled it okay, although I got a powerslide out of a roundabout. I was asking it to though!

I'll see if I can pull off the panels. I'm interested to see if the breathers do anything. It does have a fair bit of induction noise though, so maybe... They do serve as excellent things to ensure no tank dents - the switchgear would nicely smack into them rather than the tank. I agree about the noise - they actually sound okay stock, better than, say, my S2R1k sounded stock (well, the demo, mine's only ever had the pipes on it).

EDIT: Yep, they're functional. That explains the extra induction noise over a completely stock Monster airbox.

I'll post all my photos tomorrow.

EDIT2: Here's the pics of the vents.

[Spider]

thanks mate! I'm happy with that - would have been very disappointing if they were just window dressing!

[dragonworld.]

Re EDIT !! SHIT they've put the decals on upside down.

Sweet, this is what the missus might be looking at sometime next year [moto]

[q monster]

had the 696 for a spin yesterday when my s2r1k was getting a ecu transplant [DP] - my thoughts on the 696 are
1 built for small people [i'm 6'1" but this bike is low at 770mm]
2 engine is just ok - coming from the s2r1k it felf gutless
3 doesnt have much noise - need some work to make it sound right
4 brakes were shit [i suppose they match the engine performance]
but not all bad  - the sitting posture was fun - you are slightly tilted foreward a la hypermotard so you're over the front a bit more - made me wanto have some fun with it - pity the engine and brakes are wimpy.

so overall, disappointed. now if they made it taller, more grunt, better brakes but kept the forward tilt on the seat - that would be great - ?s2r1100

[fizz]

i want the new 696 prob is im 6 3''. is it comfortable for tall ppl. Please let me know asap as i have to decide.

thankis

[ellingly]

i want the new 696 prob is im 6 3''. is it comfortable for tall ppl. Please let me know asap as i have to decide.

thankis

I'm 6' and nothing more, and I think I'm a touch too tall for it. It depends on your arms, legs and torso though, so it's not as simple as one person's height. Only one sure way to know: get a test ride.

For me it's not so much a height issue as them trying to force you forwards, so your nuts are crushed on the tank and the way the tank, seat and subfrome combine is to push my knees out in a way that doesn't work for me. I also felt my upper body was in an odd position, but that was cause I ride with my forearms parallel to the road (as you should, but this is not the point of this thread to debate this!). If you sit upright and point your arms down it would probably be comfortable and your torso would be further back, feeling more comfortable.

Spidey on the main board, who is apparently a bit shorter than me, rode the M1100S (which is exactly the same ergo wise as the M696) and said the ergos didn't work for him, either.

Testride, testride, testride. It's the only way to know.

[craigo]

definitely test ride, the longer the better. I'm 6.2 and I think the 696 is too low and short. Long rides become cramp central. It sorta feels like riding a clown bike, legs and arms and shit hanging off everywhere.  And I concur with everything said here about the stock seat giving you a nutjob. You have to arrange your junk very_carefully prior to hopping in the saddle.

Apparently there is a DP seat that is 20-30mm higher that helps out, but I'd still strongly recommend and 30minute+ test ride.

[Spider]

ah, at 6 foot 6 a 'normal' monster doesn't fit! the 696 felt hilarious, like I was sitting on one of those old childrens toys that vibrated and you put a 20c piece in!

nope fizz, it ain't going to work! (i'll put money on it!)