Whoo hoo! I got my new 696 today!

[Duki09]

The 2009 Monster 696 is my first Ducati.  Finally made it to the dealer today still in the crate.  After spending the afternoon putting it together, the dealer brought the bike to me.

I did a short test ride around the neighborhood.

While I immediately enjoyed the Ducati roar under me and the overall comfort of the bike, there was a couple issues that bothered me which I haven't came across when riding other makes other makes of motorcycles.

First,  the throttle doesn't feel smooth when going from neutral into first.  It feels like there is a delay as I take off.   Switching into 1st and 2nd gear seems to take a bit more effort with my foot than the Harley and Kawsaki I have rode.  Is this because of the type of dry clutch Ducati uses? Is there something I should lubricate or adjust?
I don't know if this is something with a brand new Ducati and that it just needs to be worn in a bit , if there is a problem or if that's just the way it is and I have to get used to it.

I noticed the idle adjustment lever on the left grip.  Should I keep it all the way forward on low idle?

Outside that, I like my new 696.  I am not going to do any major mods to it.  The stock exhaust sounds just fine to me and for my riding purposes there is no reason to spend $$$$$ on Termis or anything like that.
I do plan to get the exhaust pipes wrapped to keep them cooler.

[jdubbs32584]

Your 696 doesn't have a dry clutch.

Ducs are geared tall so low rpms can feel ... sluggish. Many people remedy this by changing to a 14 tooth front sprocket. It gave me a much smoother take off on both my 695 and my 800.

Here's a good thread on the fast idle lever: http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=9885.0. Basically, you use it to start up the bike when its cold and turn it back off once you're off and rolling.

I've found that ducs require a bit more effort to shift, but that could just be me.



I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions or to correct me. Congrats on your new bike!

[Duki09]

You're right, the 696 has a wet multiplate clutch.  The 1100 has a dry clutch, I believe and I must of been thinking of that. 

Since you feel Ducatis need more effort to shift then I what I am experiencing is probably normal and just need to get more adjusted to the Ducati.

[monstermania]

The 696 is a rugged feeling bike. I went from a kawasaki ninja to my 696 and it is a totally different bike. You will get use to it, it just takes a little while.

[monstermania]

Oh yea, get the 14 tooth front sprocket for sure, it makes a big difference and it is a cheap fix. Only about a hundred bucks for part and labor.

[Duki09]

The 696 is a rugged feeling bike. I went from a kawasaki ninja to my 696 and it is a totally different bike. You will get use to it, it just takes a little while.

Yeah, I had a Ninja ZX6R which was very smooth riding bike.  Much different than the 696.

[Cuky_Monster]

Yeah, the Ducati shift lever is very stiff compared to the bikes I have ridden.  You definitely know when you have shifted to the next gear.  And going from second or neutral down to first there is a big clunk but I've read that the majority of them will do that.

The fast idle will come in handy on cold mornings.  I usually have to use it when the temperature outside is below 65 degrees while warming the bike.

Hope you enjoy your 696 as much as I have enjoyed mine.  Now I know why they call it a Monster 

Congrats!!!

[Smokescreen]

While I doubt that the shift action will ever be as seamless as a Japanese bike, it should become easier through run in.

[sfarchie]

Congrats! One thing to note about the cold start lever is when you have it on to warm up your bike, you may see this glowing pipe. I posted a thread asking if this was a problem and everyone said it's normal. I just never noticed it until recently. As for the rough shifting, it'll get better as your bike breaks in.



Two mods that'll you should think about. 1) DP touring seat, 2) adjustable levers (I bought CRG levers). Both were the best mods I made!

[Spidey]

Congrats on your new ride.   

Like others said, the standard Ducati gearbox requires more effort than a lot of bikes.  It will get smoother as the bike breaks in, but even after break-in shifting will still gives you a clunk that you won't find with other bikes.  It will also continue to require a more deliberate effort.  You'll get used to it pretty quickly, but you're right that it's not like your other bikes.  There's nothing to adjust (unless you want to tweak the angle of the shift pedal).  It's normal. 

Much of the lag you're feeling off the line is from gearing.  Ducatis are geared notoriously high from the factory in order to pass emissions.  Changing the OEM 15 tooth front sprocket to a 14 tooth is a cheap mod and one that many people do right out of the box.  The bike will be a million times easy to handle at slower speeds and it won't lug off the line or after a shift.  BTW, $100 for a 14T sprocket is too much in my books.  The sprocket should be about $30.  You can install it yourself (really easy) or pay someone to do it.  It should be .5 hr of labor.

I know you said you're fine with the stock exhaust, but just wait.  Once you hear the Ducati sound uncorked, there will be no turning back.  You don't need anything as expensive as Termis.  Coring the stock cans is a pretty doable DIY modification and gives you most of that Duc sound for cheap.  When you get around to figuring out that you need to let out the beast, come back and folks on the board will walk you through a pipe mod.   

Again, congrats.  Safe riding.   [moto]

[Raux]

welcome to the fold. be careful with the modding. once you start you can't stop.

[TrpprJhn]

Oh yea, get the 14 tooth front sprocket for sure, it makes a big difference and it is a cheap fix. Only about a hundred bucks for part and labor.

I just rode home my 696 yesterday from it's 600 mile service. I had the dealer install the 14t sprocket. It was about $30 for the part, and 1/2 hour labor. The smoothness off the line is MUCH better, makes city riding a lot easier.

That was my first mod. Next is the seat, definitely the seat.

[sroberts152]

Get the touring seat... save your jewels.  Seriously... I did 300 miles on the stock seat and hated it, switched to the touring seat and never considered putting the stocker back.  Do it today.  I can't stress enough how much better it will make the bike.

Get the 14 T sprocket.  It will lower barely lower the top end speed and give you all the get up you could want (from a 696) off the line.

Get some aftermarket pipes (I have Termis), get rid of the baffle and let the bike roar.  

I don't remember mine being too rough in shifting but either it broke in quickly or I just got used to it.  

Congrats on the purchase.

[DucHead]

Getting a 14-tooth sprocket won't hurt anything, but perhaps it's a good idea to get used to your new bike first.  With a little experience, you might feel differently.

The transmissions in the few Ducs that I have ridden are quite different than those of the Japanese bikes.  Shifting my Duc is more "deliberate," and the feel at the shifter is a function of speed (less effort at higher speeds).  Shifting my Bandit feels the same at all speeds and requires less effort.  To me, one isn't better than the other, just different.

[Duki09]

Seems like a 40T front sprocket is highly recommended and not too expensive, but I will ride my new bike as  is and see how much I get used to it without making any mods on it.