Brand New Rider

[grandpa nate]

awwww...garsh.  Just bored at work and love B.S.ing about bike stuff more than anything 

[Speedomax]

My buddy's girlfriend has frame sliders on her sv650, saved the bike a bunch of times from low, moving around the garage/driveway falls. Oh yeah and CRG lanesplitters hold up well to similar falls. 

My girlfriend put a set of frame sliders on her sv650. She dropped it once the first time she rode it, but that was before the sliders were installed, no damage though.

My sister has a set of frame sliders on her ninja 650R that saved it the day after I installed them. 

I don't have them on the monster (which is my first bike), because I don't like the look of them.  Almost dropped it once, but I've been lucky.

[swampduc]

I typically cruise at around 5k rpm. I find the engine on my M696 seems to smooth out there. I have the Termi slip-ons and ECU, don't know if that affects the rpm where things smooth out.
The throttle response on mine is choppy at low revs but especially so between 3 and 4k. I think you'll smooth out at starts and such as you ride more, but after having my bike for 5 mos, I still don't run in that range to ride around town.
I've got the motovation sliders and haven't tested them yet, but I sure wish I had had them on my old sv650. Keep in mind that it's a new bike AND a Ducati, plus it's your 1st - I'd prolly get 'em.

[Labbedds]

Framesliders and bar end mirrors, both are essential.

[Spidey]

Hello All! I just got myself an M696. Sick bike (well at least for a first time newbie..) I took a riding course last week and passed with flying colors..Few questions that I have seen asked over these posts but want to get a more critical response...

1) What RPM range should I be riding in under normal cruising speeds (40 mph..) Ive noticed that the RPMS don't really change when I'm in 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc... Obviously when I roll on in a higher gear the engine lags but I'm trying to find out the best gear to be in depending on my speed...I'm not confident enough to go on the freeways yet so my speed will probably never go over 60 for now...

2) Secondly, whenever i roll on from lets say 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd, this engine / throttle response really jolts..and I'm not really rolling on hard..just a slight minor twist but its really jerky...Ive had to adjust to only , barely, barely barely, twist the throttle...Is this normal? Are there any adjustments that can be made to make it less sensitive?

3) I'm absolutely terrified of dropping this bike...I weight about 160 and i can feel the weight of this thing when I'm at a stand still and try leaning left or right....Do you guys have any advice on how to not drop it.. I know that must sound like a ridiculous question but other than that I'm pretty confident with riding this thing on the streets until i get more accustomed to the intricacies of cornering and high speed riding...

Thanks in advance!!!!

A lot of what you're describing is normal for a new rider.  For example, a throttle feels jerky until you get comfortable with the bike and get some miles under your belt.  Without doing any sort of modifications, it will feel less jerky.  It's a byproduct of experience.  It also depends on your rev range.  If you're way high in the revs (7K or more) and in 1st or second gear, the throttle is going to feel too responsive to a new rider.  If you're too low, it's going to lug and stumble.  Where in the rev range do you find yourself most of the time?  And when you say the throttle feels "jerky" is the bike lunging forward and then stopping or is it just that you're having trouble adding only a little bit of throttle at a time?

Try to keep the bike above 3.5K when you're cruising.  Lugging it isn't good for the engine and it will feel like it's stumbling along.  You'll actually have better control if you keep the revs up a bit.  The suggestion of a 14 tooth front sprocket is a good one.  Ducatis are notoriously geared high from the factory.  A 14 tooth sprock is one the modifications that not only adds performance, but also makes your bike more manageable and easier to ride at around-town speeds

Re the fear of dropping, again, that is will subside as you get more miles under your belt.  As many have said already, frame sliders and full body gear is valuable insurance in case of a drop.  As someone who constantly throws himself on the ground, let me emphasize the importance of gear.  If you haven't already purchased some, you might want to poke around the Gear section and start looking at your options. 

Congrats on the new bike.     Ride safe.   [moto]

[Raux]

th 14t sprocket will help you smooth out the 'off-clutch' throttling, but also make sure you aren't lugging the bike off the line by trying to avoid slipping the clutch. clutch control will definitely improve your off the line smoothness.

My first bike 10 years ago i wish i had sliders on due to 2 small lowspeed/standing tipovers. and i've been thinking about them for the 696, but haven't done it yet. knocking on wood i won't need em. but my new garage is smaller so kids bumping into the bike to get their scooters and such is much more possible now.

the weight thing is more perceptive the shorter you are. the ducatis are great for having that low center of gravity and if you hold the bike with your legs instead of your arms you will feel the weight near your knees. when standing still i rarely hold the bike with my arms.

[Capo]

Treat all 4 wheel vehicles as tho they are out to kill you and ride accordingly

[DucHead]

Along the lines of Capo's post, have you taken an MSF course?  If not, here's one of the best parts: SEE. Search (for obstacles/danger), Evaluate (the situation), Execute (a plan).

[grandpa nate]

My buddy's girlfriend has frame sliders on her sv650, saved the bike a bunch of times from low, moving around the garage/driveway falls. Oh yeah and CRG lanesplitters hold up well to similar falls. 

My girlfriend put a set of frame sliders on her sv650. She dropped it once the first time she rode it, but that was before the sliders were installed, no damage though.

My sister has a set of frame sliders on her ninja 650R that saved it the day after I installed them. 

I don't have them on the monster (which is my first bike), because I don't like the look of them.  Almost dropped it once, but I've been lucky.

From what I have heard the 2 valve frame on the monster is the problem.  They work great on other bikes

[Taz Duc]

Welcome and Congrats!   

The weight of the bike is relative to what you are use to and in time you will get use to it.  At 115 lb I'm fine with the weight of my Duc and even my Hog which is 200 lbs heavier.  But when I have to move my hubby's Hog around the garage, its extra 100lb is getting into my non-comfort zone.

I found the jerkiness of the throttle unsettling also.  The bike wants to go but while in the getting to know you stage, going slow will result in the jerk around experience.  I now keep the RPMs in the 3,500 â€" 4,000 range when in lower gears and ignore the screaming of the engine.

Frame sliders are a good idea, but I would also add protective gear for both upper & lower body just in case.  You don't have to being moving for protective gear to work, it come in very handy at no-speed tip overs.

Take learning at a pace you feel comfortable with and don't compare yourself to anyone else.  Being impatient may get you into the situations you want to avoid.  Good Luck and Best to you and your new buddy.

[sbrguy]

[
3) I'm absolutely terrified of dropping this bike...I weight about 160 and i can feel the weight of this thing when I'm at a stand still and try leaning left or right....Do you guys have any advice on how to not drop it.. I know that must sound like a ridiculous question but other than that I'm pretty confident with riding this thing on the streets until i get more accustomed to the intricacies of cornering and high speed riding...

Thanks in advance!!!!
[/quote]

as far as question 3, how not to drop a bike... simple, dont' drop it.  and don't ride it ever. those are two sure fire ways of not dropping a bike 100% of the time.

other than that, the obvious advice is to
be mindful of your footing when stopping,
be mindful of inclines and declines at all speeds especially below 20mph, 
look where you want to go and keep your head and eyes always looking up dont' stare at the ground right in front of you, bc that is where you don't want to end up espeically when doing u turns.

and  dont' try to stop a bike from being dropped once its on its way down get away from the bike and let it fall, you will only possibly hurt yourself more by trying to lift a 400lb piece of metal with one hand or one leg when its falling, and no offence, unless you are an olympic caliber powerlifter at 160, lifting over 400lbs with one leg or arm is a lot of weight for most people.

all joking aside, good luck and welcome to the board and stay safe out there.

and like everyone says, get the best gear you can afford and wear it.  even the more budget priced motorcycle gear will protect you better than most non motorcycle gear.  you dont' have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to get good protection, you can easily find good new gloves/pants/boots/jacket combined for probably under 300 if you shop around and get a dot/snell helmet for under 100 brand new and you will be very well protected.  of course if your budget allows for 1000s of dollars of equipment go for it, but if not you still can ride very very safely.

[somegirl]

Framesliders and bar end mirrors, both are essential.

+1 on the frame sliders, -1 on the bar end mirrors, at least while you are starting out and learning to ride.

Once you feel more confident and less likely to drop it, then add on the bar end mirrors.

Oh and some good reading here: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=3151.0

[Grampa]

Picture yourself on a duc on the highway,
With new triple trees and marmalade tires
Someguy calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A guy with kaleidoscope eyes.




nothing against your skills, but everybody passes the MSF. it's a great first step, but.....

practice practice practice.

and as stated ...gear gear gear ALWAYS!

[duclvr]

Picture yourself on a duc on the highway,
With new triple trees and marmalade tires
Someguy calls you, you answer quite slowly,
A guy with kaleidoscope eyes.

[Grampa]

The frame sliders are just something I would consider...I would love to hear anybody Else's input on them as well.

Also, i want to get your input on Service Maintenance....I purchased a maintainace plan that covers 9 service's over the next 3 years (3 per year)...I paid 1899.00 for it..Did i get raped? Is that a good deal for the next 3 years?

which dealership did you purchase it from?