What should I buy, a 696 or a 848?

[sea bass]

I'm coming from a monster 620.  What I liked about it was how easy it was to handle at low speeds.  I don't know if the 848 will be like that, given the aggressive position.  But in the turns, the 848 will be so much more fun. Is the 696 a bit more aggressive than the old design?

My next bike will be used on highway more. but a lot of city riding too.

Also I heard the 848 requires a lot less servicing, like it goes longer without valve adjustments.

Any insight to help me decide?

[ScottRNelson]

Unless you'll be doing track days or lots of high speed riding, you'll have more fun on a 696, especially if you do ANY city riding.

[bryant8]

I had a M620 and went to a 848 after I binned the monster. 

The 848 is an amazing bike, but riding in the city and commuting on slab isn't fun.  The 848 shines on the track... no doubt about it

I put 7700 miles on my 848 in just over a year of ownership and I've loved every mile.  (2 trackdays, 2 long weekend spirited rides, and multiple local spirited rides)   

7500 mile service - all valves were still in spec.  PM me if you want to know what the cost breakdown was

4v services will take a bit longer labor wise than 2v, you have 2x the valves to get checked. 

Oh yeah the spark plugs on the 848 are a center fire types and are not cheap

SBK mods tend to be a bit more expensive - my full Termi exhaust was 3k + dyno time. 

The 848 MPGs i(~37 normal riding) a lot less than my M620 (55+)

It took a bit of adjusting to get used to the ergs of the 848 when compared to the M620. 

I miss my M620, it was just a great overall bike.  It was really an ideal commuter bike for me.  It did well in the twisties and was easy on the wallet.

I'd say for a commuter bike the 696 may be the better bet, unless you are going to trackdays and lots of spirited rides.

For kicks, here's a recent pic I got of the bike for a charity fund raiser 

[wbeck257]

The 696 and the 848 have the same service intervals.
If anything the 848 is more expensive to service, seeing how it has twice the amount of valves to adjust.

[sea bass]

Is the 848 horrible for city riding?  Hard to handle at low speeds?

I doubt I'll see any track days.

[JetTest]

After 14k miles on a 2002 620 I went to the 696 and never looked back. Great bike, even more fun than the 620.

[tbird245]

I own a 695 and have ridden both the 848 and 1098. I haven't ridden the 696. The 848 is an amazing bike but if you can only have one bike and are looking for versatility, the 848 won't be the one. It's got an aggressive riding position and is not happy in traffic, especially in hot weather. Gets very hot when sitting at lots of red lights. I personally don't care for the look of the new Monsters, but that's subjective of course. Have you considered a Sport 1000? That's a sweet ride. I'm considering it for my next bike.

[ScottRNelson]

Is the 848 horrible for city riding?  Hard to handle at low speeds?

I doubt I'll see any track days.

I'm sure the 848 works better in town than my 888.  I won't ride the 888 at all in stop and go traffic, since it tends to get hot as low speeds and the riding position is not great for low-speed stuff.  It's wonderful in the hills on twisty roads, though.

I've taken an 848 for a test ride and it has wonderful power, but not a great riding position for low speed stuff.  If anything it's harder on the wrists than my 888 is.

I'm not sure I would say that the 848 is hard to handle at low speeds, but the 696 is much, much easier to deal with at low speeds.

[bryant8]

I wouldn't say the 848 is horrible for city riding... but it's like trying to keep a race horse in the gates.

The undertail exhaust does throw a lot of heat to your right leg.

I can't really say it's hard to handle at low speeds, I've just adjusted to it. 

[sea bass]

hmm points noted.

I will go tool around on a 848 sometime.  Yeah I know the monster is probably much better for the city.

If I can't back out a 848 on a slight hill, I'll get the monster.

[bryant8]

What's your inseam?  I have a 30" inseam and tippytoe on the bike (32.3" seat height). 

It takes a bit more effort to back the bike up on a hill.  Sometimes I just hop off and walk it back

[Slide Panda]

I'm coming from a monster 620.  What I liked about it was how easy it was to handle at low speeds.  I don't know if the 848 will be like that, given the aggressive position.  But in the turns, the 848 will be so much more fun. Is the 696 a bit more aggressive than the old design?

The basic position of the new Monster isn't much different than the classic monsters (I won't call them old).  And like the classics, you can adjust it to fit your needs a good bit and more easily than the SBK.  If you like a bike that is easy to handle a low speeds, then go monster (what about an 1100?) or HyperMotard.

The 848 is great - but doesn't come alive until you're breaking most speed limits.  In a parking lot it gave me the nerevs - it's so ready to fall into a turn that a slow speeds it just feels like it'll fall over at an second.

Also, the 696 and 848 really aren't comparable power wise.  I ride a tuned up 900, which is probably a bit more powerful that the 696, but not that much.  Riding the 848... lots more power - very controlled smooth power, but it just kept giving.  If you're seeking more power, a 696 is up on the 620 by a good bit but not near as much as the 848, a new 1100 would be some place inbetween

My next bike will be used on highway more. but a lot of city riding too.

City = Monster/Motard
Fast canyons/track = 848

Also I heard the 848 requires a lot less servicing, like it goes longer without valve adjustments.

As noted by others - that's 100% upside down.  The service intervals are the same at 7500 mi.  But the SBK has twice the valves, more expensive belts, water cooling systems to service and fairings to get under.  

If you want low maintenance,  a 2v air cooled is the way to go

[sea bass]

my jeans say 32L.  i liked flat footing my monster

hmm maybe i'll rent a 848 for a weekend

[Raux]

just a thought. but price point wise, why are you comparing the 696 to the 848? if you are thinking just displacement it's off.

the 848 should really be compared to the 1100S Monster in this comparison. they are the same price.

http://www.ducati.com/en/bikes/my2009/popup_double_comparison.jhtml?first_id=1065&second_id=1075&modelName=M1100S-09&family=&part=comparison&x=45&y=0


i think in this case if you look at specs and think about the ergos. the Monster wins. (other than hp)

[Slide Panda]

i think in this case if you look at specs and think about the ergos. the Monster wins. (other than hp)

Yeah, look at the clutch row