Test ride results

[ducmeister]

So Heather P, how was the 696?   ?   ?   ?   ?

[heatherp]

Hi Rob

Well I'm not buying one!!!!

I like the size of it - I can put both feet flat on the ground.  I like the weight and seating position - can see how a bloke would be uncomfortable on it.

Like the wet clutch though it took me the whole 45 minute ride to work out where the clutch took up - almost all the way out in first gear. A bit of a stretch for little hands and don't think the levers are adjustable.

Had a blast round the city on it - round the Yarra bend park.

Things I didn't like - throttle was very twitchy.  When sitting at lights an enormous amount of heat hits your thighs - almost scorching in yesterday's heat.  Sounds horribly tinny - can be fixed with $2200 worth of termis. 

Before anyone gets really stuck into me for my opinions of the 696 - I have only ridden my 1000 and other bigger ducs.  Haven't ridden any 620 monsters so I don't really have a lot of experience to judge them.  I only went for a 45 minute spin in the city (hot, lots of traffic) and after doing 3 hours on mine on freeways.  So it's just my opinion.  I'm no expert.     

But most of all I just missed the power of my 1000.  Suppose it was asking a bit much after doing a mad 300kms on country roads on mine then jumping on a smaller bike.  I think it would be a heap of fun around the city but not up to all the touring I do - I'd have to wring it's neck everywhere I went - I think I'm a lazy rider maybe.

So next I sat on the 1100 monster.  But I found the seat height and weight of it comparable to my current bike.  Might be worth a test ride when they get the demo in (7th of Feb for all the Melbournites waiting).  They are currently finding out how much they can lower the 1100 for me!!!


Nice meeting you Rob.  Will have to get the slackers in the city to organise a ride/coffee morning one day when a) theys all have bikes and b) they all have licences.    [moto]

[Jukie]

interesting info Heather, when i go to italy in May im hiring out the 696, i have put my leg over in the shop but not taken it for a ride, nice to have you comments. I ride the 620 so i hoping it might just be right for me, as i don't really want to stack it o/s as the insurance is very expensive.

[heatherp]

You wont stack it Jukie.  It's very easy to ride and I would enjoy it as a town bike. If I was lucky enough to be hiring a bike to ride in Italy I would probably have the smaller bike just because it would be more fun and less chance of stacking it.  I just don't think it would be suitable for the long touring miles I do and maybe I'm just too used to riding a bigger bike.  I'd be interested in your thoughts in comparison to your bike.

One thing I was thinking when I was riding it, if you are that way inclined,  was how very easy it would be to get the front wheel off the ground in first gear, because the bike is so light.  But I promised the shop no monos, burn outs or lane splitting.  Not that I know how to do any of them anyway.

And we absolutely have to have millions of photos of your trip.  Not just bikes but of the rest of Italy as well. 

[techno]

I can't image it being a good test ride in this heat but good on you for taking it for a run.

I'm sure the clutch friction point and the exhaust sound are just ploys to sell aftermarket levers and pipes. Same problem with my 800.

If I recall correctly you weren't the only one doing a test ride were you? Did Spider get to ride the 848?

Someone is gonna say it......any pics?

[heatherp]

HE STOOD ME UP!!!!!!!

Nah Spider got his dates mixed up. He thought he had a date with me last week instead of this week. Then turns out he had another date that outweighed testriding an 848. 

I tend to agree with your opinion about aftermarket bits as I got the impression that they wouldn't let you out of the shop with one unless termis were fitted albeit at added expense. Why don't they just put the them on the bike and sell it like that.  Is it to give us the false impression that we have a choice in the matter?

Anyway turns out the 1100 is now in but demo not available until 7th Feb.  So he can test ride both.  Although I get the impression he doesn't want to spend what a 848 or 1100 costs. But Spider will have to answer that himself when he returns from his date.

So no, no photos as it was just me and George the Duc city test pilot on a hypermotard. Ducmeister was there but had to go to work. (probably in a nice air-conditioned workshop).

[ducmeister]

Hi Rob

Well I'm not buying one!!!!

I like the size of it - I can put both feet flat on the ground.  I like the weight and seating position - can see how a bloke would be uncomfortable on it.

Like the wet clutch though it took me the whole 45 minute ride to work out where the clutch took up - almost all the way out in first gear. A bit of a stretch for little hands and don't think the levers are adjustable.

Had a blast round the city on it - round the Yarra bend park.

Things I didn't like - throttle was very twitchy.  When sitting at lights an enormous amount of heat hits your thighs - almost scorching in yesterday's heat.  Sounds horribly tinny - can be fixed with $2200 worth of termis. 

Before anyone gets really stuck into me for my opinions of the 696 - I have only ridden my 1000 and other bigger ducs.  Haven't ridden any 620 monsters so I don't really have a lot of experience to judge them.  I only went for a 45 minute spin in the city (hot, lots of traffic) and after doing 3 hours on mine on freeways.  So it's just my opinion.  I'm no expert.     

But most of all I just missed the power of my 1000.  Suppose it was asking a bit much after doing a mad 300kms on country roads on mine then jumping on a smaller bike.  I think it would be a heap of fun around the city but not up to all the touring I do - I'd have to wring it's neck everywhere I went - I think I'm a lazy rider maybe.

So next I sat on the 1100 monster.  But I found the seat height and weight of it comparable to my current bike.  Might be worth a test ride when they get the demo in (7th of Feb for all the Melbournites waiting).  They are currently finding out how much they can lower the 1100 for me!!!


Nice meeting you Rob.  Will have to get the slackers in the city to organise a ride/coffee morning one day when a) theys all have bikes and b) they all have licences.    [moto]

Nice meeting you too Heather.  

Your comments are interesting and make me think that there are definite benefits in buying bikes near new but that already have all the extras on board.  Unfortunately it seems that dealers/manufacturers just expect that buyers are ready to shell out for aftermarket pipes when they purchase new bikes, but stuff like adjustable levers, well my '02 900 has them standard.  That's a definite backward step.
As for the heat, yesterday was HOT and I expect that you're probably just not used to sitting in traffic in hot weather (with emphasis on the sitting in traffic bit, not the hot weather bit).

A get together of the Vic members sounds like a fine idea (although I'm not a coffee drinker) and a ride somewhere would be excellent.  Now if we can just get the weather to be a bit nicer....

Cheers,
Rob

P.S.  It was 35 degrees tonight in the "nice airconditioned workshop" 

[craigo]

I noticed that as well, 696's do generate a *hell* of a lot of heat in traffic (which fries the inside of your leg like chicken. mmm, chicken).

[Jukie]

You wont stack it Jukie.  It's very easy to ride and I would enjoy it as a town bike. If I was lucky enough to be hiring a bike to ride in Italy I would probably have the smaller bike just because it would be more fun and less chance of stacking it.  I just don't think it would be suitable for the long touring miles I do and maybe I'm just too used to riding a bigger bike.  I'd be interested in your thoughts in comparison to your bike.

One thing I was thinking when I was riding it, if you are that way inclined,  was how very easy it would be to get the front wheel off the ground in first gear, because the bike is so light.  But I promised the shop no monos, burn outs or lane splitting.  Not that I know how to do any of them anyway.

And we absolutely have to have millions of photos of your trip.  Not just bikes but of the rest of Italy as well. 

i dont do mono so that wont be a problem, if the bike is light than thats good for me as im a short arse, and yes there will be plenty of pics as we will be away for 1 month so there will probably be too many pics, but thanks heaps for the test ride and your comments. 

[Jukie]

HE STOOD ME UP!!!!!!!

Nah Spider got his dates mixed up. He thought he had a date with me last week instead of this week. Then turns out he had another date that outweighed testriding an 848. 

I tend to agree with your opinion about aftermarket bits as I got the impression that they wouldn't let you out of the shop with one unless termis were fitted albeit at added expense. Why don't they just put the them on the bike and sell it like that.  Is it to give us the false impression that we have a choice in the matter?

Anyway turns out the 1100 is now in but demo not available until 7th Feb.  So he can test ride both.  Although I get the impression he doesn't want to spend what a 848 or 1100 costs. But Spider will have to answer that himself when he returns from his date.

So no, no photos as it was just me and George the Duc city test pilot on a hypermotard. Ducmeister was there but had to go to work. (probably in a nice air-conditioned workshop).

i cant believe that SPIDER stood you up, what was he thinking, after all the hard work you did to organise this and then forgets and get the date mixed up, SHAME ON YOU SPIDER. i hope he has done alot of  and he owes you a few of these too 

[pju]

From the tests I've read of this bike its the same old sorry story when it comes to fueling.
Very bad arround town with surge on light throttle openings, sound familiar? it does for me.
Why the F$#$ cannot these buggers get it right. Its absolute bullshit that you need to spend
thousands to get it right.
Aparently the SV650 just blows it in roll ons. Its saving grace is its handling and level of components.

[EGAS1]

if the bike is light than thats good for me as im a short arse

How tall are you Jukie? As I am 152cm short  Just out of interest?  I would love to go to Italy.

[dragonworld.]

How tall are you Jukie? As I am 152cm shaort  Just out of interest?  I would love to go to Italy.

I'll see your 152cm and raise you 3 cm ! 

[Jukie]

How tall are you Jukie? As I am 152cm shaort  Just out of interest?  I would love to go to Italy.

iam about 160cm short so a little bit taller but not much, i just small all over even feet size. and yes i will see if i can sneak you on the tip

[dragonworld.]

iam about 160cm short so a little bit taller but not much, i just small all over even feet size. and yes i will see if i can sneak you on the tip

Small all over?? 

YEAH RIGHT !!