What should I buy, a 696 or a 848?

[bryant8]

Yeah, look at the clutch row 

Ouch!

My dry clutch is on order 

[duccarlos]

I vote for the Desmosedici. It's an awesome commuter!!

[danaid]

 Wait for the monster 1100. I love my 696, and I mostly use it as a commuter, but I need a little more power for the hills and twisties.

[sea bass]

Wait for the monster 1100. I love my 696, and I mostly use it as a commuter, but I need a little more power for the hills and twisties.

i'm not a big fan of dry clutch.  i can't imagine having everyone keep asking if my bike is broken

[danaid]

i'm not a big fan of dry clutch.  i can't imagine having everyone keep asking if my bike is broken

true, if you keep the stock cover on it shouldn't be very loud

[breakdown]

I'd vote for the Monster 1100 as well.  I used to own an 848 and I now own a Hypermotard 1100S which has the same motor as the new Monster.  It's a fantastic motor for around town and on the highways.

There 848 was terrible around town.  The riding position was too aggressive, it didn't make that much power below 7,000 and the heat from the exhaust was very uncomfortable.  In the back roads, it's a great bike but it still deserves to be on the track.  I think the Monster is just a better all around choice as a street bike.

[Triple J]

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

I doubt I'll see any track days.

Personally I think the 848 is horrible for city riding. Well, maybe not horrible, but not all that good. It's hard not to lean on your wrists in stop and go traffic, and the bike throws off a lot of heat in traffic. It also can't carry much...although the Monster is similar in that regard. I commute on mine every so often, but always am thankful when I hop back on the Multi. My old M900 was MUCH better in town.

It's not hard to handle at low speeds, although it isn't as easy as my old Monster, and definitely not as easy as the Multi.

Now...on a nice curvy road, or the track...it friggin' rocks. If my wife would let me I'd turn my 848 into a track only bike, and always ride my Multi otherwise...but she like to ride the 848 now and again, so I have to leave it street legal. The 848 is an awesome bike...but I think a Monster would be better for city riding.

My vote...M1100.    Suck it up and get a dry clutch nancy boy!!  (I like my wet 848 clutch better...but a clutch isn't a reason to buy or not buy a bike IMO. The M1100 has too many benefits over the M696 to ignore. Dry clutches are still awesome).

[Triple J]

Ouch!

My dry clutch is on order 

Why? Bike not heavy enough as is? 


j/k...I actually like the wet 848 clutch better than the dry one on my MTS, or M900. Mainly because of how smooth it is...butter. 

[ducnymph]

I used to have a M620, then I went to a 748, and now I'm back on another Monster, this time the 696. So I know where you're coming from. It's true after having ridden a SBK, the power difference is really noticeable. But the SBK was an angry beast, and can't compare to the amount of FUN I get to have on the 696 in a variety of riding situations. It's nice to have the comparison because for the kind of riding I want to do, a SBK will just collect dust unless I'm going to the track. I'd prefer to have a SBK as my secondary form of transport and may end up getting a used 848 in a couple years 

The 696's power is much better than the 620, I believe by 20 hp. I've put 5300 mi on mine since I bought it in July, mostly spirited riding through the twisities and some commuting. The 696's seating position is much more natural with the reach being a little closer and being slightly more upright. This bike is great for commuting and tearing it up on twisties IMO. Like some other some other posts have said, you could also hold out for the 1100 since pricewise its on par with the 848. But you could save yourself an arm and and a leg, get the 696 and then just trick it out 

Definatley test ride both 

[Holden]

i'm not a big fan of dry clutch.  i can't imagine having everyone keep asking if my bike is broken

Whenever I tell someone I have a Ducati it goes the same way: "I've always loved those noisy clutches!" they say. And then I have to tell them that mine's not special.

(Plus they look infinitely better!)

[bryant8]

Why? Bike not heavy enough as is? 


j/k...I actually like the wet 848 clutch better than the dry one on my MTS, or M900. Mainly because of how smooth it is...butter. 

It's cheaper than buying another Duc 

[NorDog]

848
848
848

BTW, did I mention...
848

[Sorry, but I hate the new Monsters]

PS
You could wait and get the Streetfighter [the NEW Monster imo].

[mattyvas]

Good thread to read as I am in the process of getting off my 620 and getting onto an 848.
Mostly because the 620 has been on the track 5 times in 3 months with me and it`s time to swap.
I was considering waiting for the new M1100s, I know I could learn to love it especially with the added
touches we on the DML like to do for our bikes.

Right now though the 848 has my attention, I am looking for a pre-loved bike to save a few bucks.
For the limited road riding I have done lately I know I can live with the draw backs of having an SBK only.
Given the major  it will provide for track days.

I intend to put a Monster back in the garage in 12 months or so and it will depend on what I can find on the
pre-loved market again, but most likely an S2R 1000.

The 620 was a great platform to start on, it has lovely manners and generally doesn`t bite unless you really
provoke it. For city commuter riding buying an SBK only would be not such a great idea and if you don`t plan on getting it on the track then there is almost no point.
A Monster commutes better and can also keep up with many SBK`s on most roads and would also be cheaper to run if you are putting greater miles on your bike.

Cheers Matty
looking forward to 848 `s

[MadDuck]

I've been wanting an 848 too but after reading some of the comments here I'll likely just keep the M900 and the Gixxer 750 as the 750 is pretty civilized in hot weather and traffic. It ain't too shabby out on the open road either.

[DRKWNG]

I've been wanting an 848 too but after reading some of the comments here I'll likely just keep the M900 and the Gixxer 750 as the 750 is pretty civilized in hot weather and traffic. It ain't too shabby out on the open road either.

I make ^ this comment in love because Mac and I are riding buddies. 

And by the way, Anne offered to lend me her 848 so we can get a feel for it.