Monster challenge not so great according to owners....suggestions?

[DesmoDisciple]

Well not to kick a dead horse, but paint and an exhaust is not really a 'challenge'.

You can't really create a new look or feel with just paint and a few bolt ons.

Either just call it a paint contest, or give people the time to REALLY customize the bikes.

BTW, some of the paint really was fantastic. But I had basically heard nothing about it until Dave R posted about it.

[duccarlos]

Painfully truthful here:

95% of the paint jobs were hideous. Why? Because the dealers were not given enough time to come up with a good enough theme.

All entries had either termis or stock exhaust, since there are not that many options out there, even less available in short notice.

People are voting purely on the web. Some of the paint jobs would look nicer (hopefully) when seen live.

Most dealers only apply mods to bikes on custom requests. The real innovators of Monster mods have been "civilians".

Have I mentioned how much I hated most of the paint jobs?

[Dareduc]

Not enough Hype AND.... it seemed too much like a marketing stunt. The beauty of customizing monsters is, most custom jobs are done by average joes like us in our garage, over time. (like the monster challenge) I think leaving it up to the professionals really nullified the grass roots feel of the marketing campaigns behind the monster in years past. Even their "ducati people" campaign exploited everyday owners... I think they just lost the connection to the consumer. PS. DNA I am for hire! I will even work at JMPR if you put in a good word! 

[jsanford]

I didn't hear boo about it (and Ducati NA is always sending me survey letters and such) until Ducati Seattle put theirs up.

HOWEVER, in person there's a lot more to the bike than the photos convey.  The seat, clutch cover, and sliders were nice farkles in person, and stirs "if the demo were my bike, I'd do that..." thoughts.  Even "that'd look nice with my 695."

I think the real mistake was doing it with a new model. I'm not even sure what the stock features are of the 1100; and I'm probably not the only one.

[Kopfjäger]

When I had lunch (sorry when bp and I had lunch) with one of DNA folks at the Moto GP Race at Laguna in 07, she said that they hoped the DOC's would take over the Challenge.

[Big Troubled Bear]

I am a painter and a owner of a 696 and must say that the bikes did nothing for me, there really were some hard work on some of those bikes from the painting side, but as for the rest ( mechanical side ) very dissapointing. This whole process was far to hurried to achieve anything other than to attract the common people to look at the bikes and even with that they failed as there were not enough publicity.

As far as the paint customizing goes I have a hard time getting any inspiration to do something special on my own bike (a 696), which was not true for my 98 M900, so asking any painter to come up with something that doesn`t really stir the soul is really difficult. Don`t get me wrong I think the new bikes are so much better mechanically than the old one`s it`s not even funny.

I was actually excited when I heard about this competition, because I thought that I would get some inspiration from it, but I did not.

I would like to say that there were some truly creative paintwork by some really great painters, just not what I like on the new Monster.

[BastrdHK]

Some of the dealers out West need to lay of the grass.  A Beatles theme???   Who in the hell has ever associated the Beatles with bad ass motorcycles?  Save that theme for the custom Vespa contest.   Leave the creativity contests to the people who are truly passionate about the machine they OWN!  Monsters are what they are because they have the potential to be individualized, and that takes INDIVIDUALS not dealers!  Don't fault DNA though....it was a good idea they just did what corporations do.....forgot to put down the stacks of paperwork and take a peek outside of their cubicles to see what they should really focus on......THEIR CUSTOMERS! 

I like the looks of the 1100 over the 696, but keep the "people" informed and involved and it will be more rewarding for all of us .....the company and true enthusiasts!!!

[monsterron]

I agree, There is something really missing on the new ducatis!
Especially the monsters. I usually update every year but i am
thankful i have the origanal monster. I have to admit when
they announced the streetfighter i got a little nervous about it
b ut now i have seen one up close and in detail and again
it did nothing for me at all.

[Dave R]

I think the real mistake was doing it with a new model. I'm not even sure what the stock features are of the 1100; and I'm probably not the only one.

there were two stock ones sitting out front all day Friday and Sat..  the red one is a demo and the white one is for sale  ..  tough crowd  : /

[Dave R]

Maybe I should have posted this here....   

Quote from: flynbulldog on Yesterday at 06:46:58 PM
I think the paint jobs is awesome! A lot of thought and creativity went into that. I also think it speaks to the time, to right now, it's very "up to the minute" stylistically.

But for me personally, it's not something I would want on my own bike.

Hi Mike, we all agree at DS that few of us would choose this design as our own personal ride.  This was a competition created by DNA in a slow time to inspire dealers, the consumer and lively conversation on forums like these..  The judging is brief (ends on the 16th) and the prize is not much.  They want to send the winners bike on the remaining portion of the Cycle World Show ??  that's it..    The motivation ?  Get some attention on the new model..  is it working ?  I think so : )   

We saw the contest as a chance to showcase my employees (Busch Brothers) artwork.  We wanted to portray a "Monster"..  From the texture of the Rich's custom leather seat and tank to strip to the mouth of the Beast on each side of the tank panel eating the the rest of the bike.  We tried to pay attention to as many details as possible in the limited hours avail.  We took care of a ton of subtle details from plugs, oil cap that matched the large connection point, gold chain to match wheels, grips, tiny CRG mirrors, some DP carbon, no reflectors, DP tail chop, DP clutch plate, Speedymoto cover and springs.  We even went as far as to line up the valve stems in the studio photo shoot !  We had fun with the rush to get it together !  Should it have been handled different ?  Maybe but I can assure you this is only the start..  I am sure DNA has plans to encourage owners of the 696/1100 series Monsters to do their own mods and recreate a new Monster challenge in the not too distant future.  This first one was a good barometer.   I was happy to see those dealers who went so far as to participate in the tough climate areas and then roll the bike out onto the snow covered ground and take photos !  I can promise you it improved the general "mood" in those dealerships who participated..   regardless of whose creation you like, please vote for one and show the dealers some support in a tough times for many.   

[duccarlos]

Sorry Dave, I don't think anyone here meant to offend you or any other dealer. Maybe BastrdHK did, but the rest have been constructive. We all understand the timelines you were given and unless your bike is bone stock most of us know how much time is spent when customizing our bikes. Anyways, try not to take it person, we're not holding you responsible for the new Monster's look.

[mitt]

Yes not enough PR.

Yes, a difficult canvas to start with, both aesthetically and it is so new, I have never seen one in person.

I don't think any contest online can ever create the energy or buzz a traveling show in person does.

The format of the contest webpage stinks.  I can't remember what the first bike looked like after you have seen several others.

mitt

[geoffduc]

Guys don't knock it, just be glad DNA had the balls to do it and yes i agree that 95% of the designs where over the top but what got me was the lack of DP parts which when fitted to a show bike usually help keep the parts guy employed. I showed my wife the photos of the bikes that are on the forum and her verdict was that the stock 1100s i had over the christmas holidays was a far better looking bike than the dealer custumized bikes. We had a local motorcycle show over here in the UK last weekend in manchester and the amount of interest from non ducati riding bikers was fantastic so even though it's not on alot of current monster owners wish lists it can only be good if it makes the ducati community stronger which in the end benefits us all  

[Popeye the Sailor]

This right here should say it all:


There was a monster challenge? 

[sfarchie]

The complaints on the design of the bike is bringing back memories of Datsun's 280Z. When the design changed, so many people balked at it, vowing to break their branded loyalty. But over time, the newer design was accepted. Today's latest version of the Z has a huge following and mechanically it is, as Big Troubled Bear stated, much better than the old.

Spidey wrote a wonderful, honest review of the 1100. He wasn't entirely smitten by the bike initially, but changed his mind at the end. Again, memories of the 280Z.

My friend owns both the original 280Z and a 350Z. We both agree each has their own unique hotness. Comparing them is comparing apples to oranges.

Whether one likes the new Monster design is subjective to ones individual taste. IMHO, I find there is enough love for both the older Monster and the new design.