Riding experience on Monsters

Napalm · March 17, 2009, 03:27:37 PM

In about a month I will be probably be purchasing a Ducati. I am leaning more towards the Monster, but have considered an ST 2 or 3. Anyway, I wanted to get input from current Monster owners regarding their riding experience on a naked bike like the Monster. Do you ride long distances on the your Monster or do you most of your riding around the city? I would like to take the Monster on 1 or 2 hour rides in Cincinnati and N. Kentucky, so most of my planned riding would be mixed.

Monstermonkey · March 17, 2009, 03:31:34 PM

It's a great bike for up to 4 hours. Anything longer than that you'd probably want more wind protection and upright position. It does great on windy canyon roads but not so great at the track. Plus, it's about 1000 times sexier than a multi strada!

Mike_D · March 17, 2009, 03:44:45 PM

Definitely get the Monster. I've had several 300-400 mile day rides and have never experienced bike fatigue. And you'll love the comments from people every time you take her out.

pw9990 · March 17, 2009, 04:06:36 PM

+1....Monster.....

stopintime · March 17, 2009, 04:13:40 PM

The ST bikes will, I guess, be a more comfortable ride, but I have little or no problems on my Monster. I'm 6'4".
For my longer rides I have to stop for gas more often than I have to stop for stretching and coffee.

My best selling point for Monster is that you have so much fun riding that you probably won't notice discomfort, if there is any.

The love I have for my bike, or rather the bike & I team, is so much stronger than any second thoughts I might have had.

Ducati Monsters speak to my heart

I assume it will for you too

Triple J · March 17, 2009, 04:16:16 PM

I did a few 400-500 mile days (8-9 hours) on my old M900. It was fine after I got a custom seat. The lack of wind protection never bothered me...it was the leaned over riding position, which made re-positioning myself a little difficult.

I switched to a Multi mainly because of the carrying capacity since I commute on it...or I used to. I also preferred the upright seating position of the Multi after I got used to it. I'm now turning the Multi into a naked bike, as I don't commute as often anymore and I prefer a naked look. Naked and upright...nice!

If you can I'd say ride both a Monster and an ST of some sort, and get the one you like better. People seem to love the ST bikes...especially the ST4. The Monster will be better in town, but the ST better on the hwy...and both will kick ass on the twisties.

LA · March 17, 2009, 05:31:19 PM

The ST3's get rave reviews and the power characteristics of the 3v engine are good - almost as good as the ST4's. The ST series will be far superior on longer trips and the small tank of a Monster will mean 100 mi. fuel stops (on mine anyway).

Well ridden, all the models will hang with almost anything on tight mountain or canyon curves - their pretty much as good as who riding em.

I'm not a long distance rider by any stretch, but my RS is very comfortable, is very docile around town, and is a make the beast with two backsing scary beast at a moments notice when called upon.

You can't go wrong with these choices. Whatever you get, go with the Ohlins stuff if you can. It's worth it.

LA

Labbedds · March 17, 2009, 05:55:12 PM

Quote from: stopintime on March 17, 2009, 04:13:40 PM
The ST bikes will, I guess, be a more comfortable ride, but I have little or no problems on my Monster. I'm 6'4".
For my longer rides I have to stop for gas more often than I have to stop for stretching and coffee.

My best selling point for Monster is that you have so much fun riding that you probably won't notice discomfort, if there is any.

The love I have for my bike, or rather the bike & I team, is so much stronger than any second thoughts I might have had.

Ducati Monsters speak to my heart I assume it will for you too

Yeah, what he said [moto]

silentbob · March 17, 2009, 09:39:01 PM

ST hands down. Wind protection, fuel range, luggage, a real seat, better ergos, and I found my ST4 to be a better handling bike than the Monster.

He Man · March 17, 2009, 11:56:32 PM

if your gonna do a lot of riding...ST4 hands down. The monster...ive had a few 600/700 mile days on it. it gets to you on the stock seat. but the ergos are somewhat forging, i can only inmagine the St4 is better for the longer hauls. plus the 695 has a really limited range, as with any of the newer plastic tank ducs. only about 130-140 before you HAVE to fill up.

zenjim · March 18, 2009, 01:20:08 AM

The Monster is the best all-around bike IMHO. I commute every day, do track days, and take many long distance trips originating from LA. Last year visited NoCal 3 or 4 times, Utah, and Yosemite. Stock seat. Can't go wrong.

Desmo Demon · March 18, 2009, 04:57:29 AM

You are on a Monster forum.....what kind of responses do you expect?

Between my wife and me, we have two ST2 bikes and an M900ie. The Monster is a fun little bike, but if I could only have one bike, I'd keep the ST2. The St2 does EVERYTHING very well. I have done a SaddleSore 1000, dragged my knee while chasing down sportbikes, and ridden two-up for rides in the mountains up to 500 miles. The ST rails, and with similar mods, the ST2 (the weakest of the ST family) just seems to have more get-up-and-go than the Monster. Additionally, the fairing is really nice for wind and rain protection, the seat is more comfortable, and the storage under the seat alone is much more than what the Monster has. Throw on the panniers, and the ST has more storage capacity than 20 Monsters.

As for the Monster......it is just a really fun bike. I've ridden it over 350 miles in a day, and had no real complaints at all for comfort. It feels much smaller than the ST, gives the imprssion of a lower center of gravity, and in the really tight stuff, it is more nimble as the ST has a slightly longer wheelbase and higher center of gravity to make those 10 mph curves a little more challenging, but......I firmly believe the ST rails a lot better on the mid and large sweepers. It just sticks!

My wife is a die-hard sportbike fanatic and we mainly got the Monster because she liked the paint on it. She has been surprised how much she likes the bike, but it is a completely different way of riding. She rides it a lot less agressively and much slower (mainly due to ground clearance). She often calls it her "minibike" or "moped" because it has half the HP as her main bike....her R1. She really does enjoy riding it, though.

My vote....ST, all the way......but I do believe my next bike will be a Monster, probably like the wife's.

Wife's Monster 900ie "Metallic"...

My ST2...

Wife's ST2...

localhero365 · March 18, 2009, 02:49:01 PM

I totally love my S4R. Can do 400+ miles and I'm OK. Got Givi luggage on it with the bars to keep them off hot pipes, so tour too.

OK, probably not as good for long motorway trips, but if you love a bit of speed, a bit of touring, a bit of trackday, and lots of twisties, it's supurb.

Tank range does let it down a bit, but it's such a stunning bike to look at, to own (after over a year of ownership I still just go out to the garage and look at it), and to ride once you get used to the ergos (thought your shape will dictate that too), so I can live with that.

Test them both, see which one talks to your heart.

grandpa nate · March 18, 2009, 04:18:40 PM

I have ridden my old 99 900 from San Diego to Santa Cruz twice and from San Diego to Albuquerque once. Last year I rode my current Monster I have ridden from Tempe AZ to San Diego and plan on doing it again this year. You can tour on anything. It just depends how good your chiropractor is at the end of the trip. Simple fact-Monsters rule

Desmo Demon · March 19, 2009, 06:45:28 AM

Quote from: localhero365 on March 18, 2009, 02:49:01 PM
but if you love a bit of speed, a bit of touring, a bit of trackday, and lots of twisties, it's supurb.

You talking about the ST or the Monster?

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Riding experience on Monsters

Triple J

silentbob

grandpa nate