New Monster 1100: Initial 600km Impression (PICS)

[Cynic]

I'm waiting to hear how well it crashes 

Don't Jinx him!   Though he'll be safe as long as he doesn't get it on a track 

[darylbowden]

Don't Jinx him!   Though he'll be safe as long as he doesn't get it on a track 

Are you kidding? 

Let him try to wheelie it.  How do you think his bike became the M1000SS? 

[echelon]

The 1100 in Spain - sweet but I hope the weather improves.

Its too bad the bike is still in the run in period, but your comparisons to other Monsters makes your review so much more useful.

Thanks

[IdZer0]

I wonder if the corked up feeling and lurching below 4k could be attributed to the Euro regulations and the automatic exhaust valve (nobody talks about this in any review I've read so far) . Would be nice if you get a chance to try one out with the full Termignoni & DP ECU to see if they resolve these issues.

[Big Troubled Bear]

Great write up 

[ArguZ]

The stutter under 4K is due to all the things needed for EURO 3.
Lean running, high geared, electronic castrated engines...Lambda probes, catalysts and all that eco crap.
Same people drive Porsche Cayennes and don't give a damn.
It helps them selling the bikes to "normal" people and also helps selling the upgrades you need to make it run "properly"
I wonder if you in the US will have the same things in the bike at all.
For me that was one of the no-go reasons to re import a US bike to Europe.

[mattyvas]

Spidey great write up.
I have always been a fan of the new styling.
The only thing that is putting me off at the moment is the headlight and fake (IMO) bikini fairing.

Really liked to read something written by an owner and not just a journo who compares everything how an SBK corners and brakes.

[mostro-nero]

For those that read Italian... here is a fairly good review (yes he is a journo but hey, we all ride motorbikes now dont we!)

For those that DON'T read Italian... the pictures on this review are pretty good... it actually looks half decent!

http://www.moto.it/provemoto/prova6279.asp

[MonsterMI]

Nice job on your collection of thoughts and experiences with the new 1100. I have been thinking that will be my new, new bike when I am ready to upgrade. Its too bad they couldnt have changed the ergos a little bit so the seat is more comfortable but I suppose that is the sacrifice for the "streetfighter stance".

Looking forward to riding one myself to see the power and performance difference between this and the 696.

[M(*)nster]

Actually, a streetfighter stance is more upright by definition and would suggest better ergos than the more crouched racing stance.  In the previous generation Monster, the S4RS had a more leaned-over stance than the more upright 695 and I think Ducati is going the same route here.  Since I'm a short bastard, I had to put risers on my S4RS or I would be kissing the gas tank while I rode. 

[Spidey]

I've now had another 200 kilometers with this bike and let me say, OH MY GOD.  OH MY GOD.   Me likey.   [moto]  

I've definitely changed some opinions from yesterday, and had some others reinforced.   A lot of yesterday's review as dominated by the fact that I rode the bike slowly.  I noticed a lot of things that bugged me, and I just wasn't gelling with the bike.  I though an exhaust and gearing and a new seat was absolutely necessary. 

Then I went faster.  Woohooo!!!  This bike is not made to putter.  Today, we spent the morning going through twisties at slow speeds, even for a group ride.  I got to check out the bike in the dry, but wasn't able to open it up.  Probably good considering that I still had beer and wine and whiskey and limoncello and vodka and mohito and rum coursing through my system.   The pace was a bit faster than in the rain yesterday, so a lot of the low-end stumbling wasn't a problem b/c I could keep it up above 4k.   After lunch, we left the group (we probably weren't supposed to do that) and hit the twisties.  Spanish roads give me wood.   As does the 1100.  I had a blast today.  [moto] 

Engine.   What I said yesterday.  It rocks.   Just rocks.  It just gets smoother and smoother and there's power on tap all the up to redline.  The really sweet spot starts between 5.5k and 6k.  It's really, really smooth, not jerky and completely controllable.  What a great engine.  It gets some of the normal 2V air starvation higher up in the rev range, but much less so than a stock 1000.  I was surprised at the engine braking.  I think I'm used to a lightened flywheel, but the 1100 had less engine braking than I expected.  It made it easier to enter turns smoothly and minor throttle inputs didn't punish you or upset the suspension. 

Someone asked me what I thought of this engine compared to an s4r.  The only s4r I have serious time with is the 996 engine.  I'm a 2 valve guy, so I love this 1100.  That said, the s4r has more power, albeit delivered like a 4 valve engine.  All the comparisons between 2V and 4V still hold, but this 1100 is so much better than the 1000.  Like I said, it feels like it has a little less of that upper end air starvation that plagues the 1000, but it doesn't have the upper end power of the 4V.   As a street motor, it rocks. 

Engine & Exhaust.   I said yesterday that it needs an exhaust.  I'm not sure if that's absolutely necessary after today's ride.   The engine is really, really good in stock form.  Uncorking it will make it even better, but I don't think you absolutely *have* to spend thousands on an exhaust to enjoy this bike.  The stock exhaust sound better than a lot of stock Ducs.  It's not quite as nice as the stock pipes on the Hypermotard, but the 1100 exhaust doesn't have the same awful sewing machine sound that you find with some stock Duc pipes.

Ergonomics.  Remember how I was complaining yesterday?  I found a solution.  Ride hard.  The 1100 felt awesome.  For my body (think 'midget') and riding style, the 1100 is so much better for twisties riding than the s2r1000.  Me likey.  With the 1100, I can lock off my leg really well.  And the seat is wonderful once you get up to pace.  I was complaining yesterday that it's too grippy.  Well, only kinda.  At slower speeds, it grips too much and forces you to be abrupt in your weight shifts rather than pivoting your crotch around the tank.  But at higher speeds, you can move from right to left much more smoothly and it holds your leg well once you get your body off.  A big improvement.  Similarly, under hard braking, it's easier to use your inner leg to absorb the braking force.  If you get off the bike and then start braking on an older monster, your leg can slide up the tank.  Not so with the 1100.  I like it a lot.   

In terms of body position, the 1100 is so much easier to ride fast (maybe because it feels a bit like my m1000ss, which is set up to be a torture rack if you're not hanging off).  You don't have to work to get your head over the front of the bike instead of just off to the side.  It feels really comfortable.  Older monsters always required effort for me to hang off and get my body position right.  I'd often hang off the side too much and wouldn't feel secure with my leg.  The 1100 cures those problems.  My head naturally comes forward and my  leg is locked tight.  The one thing I don't like is the bars.  I found it difficult to get my outside arm on the tank and it forced me to ride a bit like a dirt-bikeâ€"elbows up.  That's a personal preference issue.  I'd like clip-ons to get my body position right. 

Since we're talking about ergos, here it is:  My balls hurt.  This seat forces you into the tank.  And then forces you some more.   I tried to scoot back today to see what it would be like if I had longer legs.  I just slid down the seat into the tank.  The only way to help was to ride fast and hard.   And while fast riding makes your balls much, much bigger, it keeps them off the middle of the tank and provides some relief.  Just don't drag them in the corners like I do (yes, I have ball sliders).   

Also, you don't burn your boot or leg on the exhaust because it's tucked under the seat.  The only exposed pipe is more toward the front.   For those of you with melted boots from your s2r, you'll like this improvement.

Brakes.  Forget anything critical I may have said before.  They rock.  One-finger trail braking, lots of power, total control.  A vast improvement from the s2r.  The 696 has the same caliper but a different master.  The 696 brakes aren't great.  If you have a 696, change out the master and you'll be a happy camper.  Trust me.  The brake set-up is 4 piston, 2 pad with SBK style lines (single line to caliper then another line to the other caliper).   

Heat.   The right side is still hot.  Going slow, I noticed it a lot.  Part of the problem is that I like to sit with my left hand on my thigh, my right buttcheek hanging off, and my right leg against the side of the engine.  Bad idea.  I think I killed all my right side spermies (will I now only have left-handed babies?  Does it work like that?).  That said, once we got up to normal pace for twisties, I didn't notice the heat at all.  Maybe that's because I was moving around more or because we were going faster (more air to cool it off).  Dunno, but I didn't think about it at all until we got back to urban riding. 

Suspension.  It felt good.  I haven't tweaked it at all, but I liked it a lot.  datv said that his felt soft, but mine was fine.  The bike corners well, absorbed bumps and stuck to a line.  The 1100 feels like it turns in more precisely and smoothly than the s2r1000.   I think a lot of that has to do with the new front-end bias.  Nothing stuck out as bad or good.  I guess that's good.  I could ride the bike fast and comfortably without worry.   Not bad for a stock suspension that hasn't been tweaked yet.  I talked yesterday that I thought the front end might be “fast.”  As it turns out, I had a slow leak on the rear tire, so what I was feeling yesterday may have been a result of the rear loosing air. 

Clutch.  I like it a lot more than yesterday.  It's still annoying at slow speeds, but it works well at speed.  You can drag the clutch slightly with a single finger without pulling the lever all the way in or completely disengaging the clutch.  It makes the downshift â€"blip-release a lot easier.  I locked up the rear less than I usually might, and some of that has to do with the clutch feel.     

Styling.  It still looks the same.  <shrug>

Not-So-Initial Impressions: A monster made more for spirited riding than puttering around.  It fixes many of the weakness of the old monster that required energy in order to ride fast.  The engine rocks.  The brakes rock.   It can stay in stock form (no exhaust, sprocket or seat) and still be an absolute blast.  Oh, and it wheelies just fine.  I've been having trouble finding the sweet spot for power wheelies (cuz I don't want to loop it), but I'm getting there.

Counterpoint:  datv doesn't like it as much as his s4r (996).  In particular, he was critical of the 2v engine (he's critical of all 2V engines), the ergos and the suspension.  He's also less impressed with the brakes than I am. 

[Cucciolo]

Thanks again for the reply spidey!!!!! I am so happy that we have a winner!! Can't wait to test ride one... I may be finding a new home for my S4R soon...  if like you said,,. I can get used to the 2V.... but why wouldn't I right?

[r_ciao]

Spidey,

I really enjoyed reading your review.  I missed you at LDD so I don't know you, yet.  But I'm curious as to how you and datv are so priveleged to be in Spain riding around on the M1100.  Do you work for DNA?  Are you a dealer?  Or just some lucky dudes with envious connections?

[Spidey]

Just some dudes.  It's World Presidents' Meeting for the Ducati Owner's Clubs.  I'm here in place of johnc for NorCal DOC.  Normally, it's a week in Italy finishing off with the race at Mugello.  This time, it's in Spain for the Valencia GP. 

[ROBsS4R]

Counterpoint:  datv doesn't like it as much as his s4r (996).  In particular, he was critical of the 2v engine (he's critical of all 2V engines), the ergos and the suspension.  He's also less impressed with the brakes than I am

I guess that's good news for me 

When you guys get back in town I need to pick your brain more about it  [moto]