Aprilia Shiver v Ducati Monster 696

[Greg]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/8/2444/Motorcycle-Article/Aprilia-Shiver-vs-Ducati-Monster-696.aspx

I thought this was an interesting comparison, and a search of the message board did not reveal any duplicate posts.

[amcloud]

Interesting.  I have read others that praised the Monster.  Funny how the opinions vary so greatly.  I personally don't care for the shiver.  I checked one out last summer.

[redial]

good read, i like the summary at the beggining, sums up the monster nicely i think!

"the majority of riders who wish to keep their driving privileges need something a bit more practical."

i think the 696 looks much better, and at 484lbs id pass on the shiver

[Jarvicious]

484lbs??? It would have to have a punchy engine to tow that weight around.  Good read, but as always they don't give a good extended ownership view on the bikes as far as things like maintenance intervals, gas mileage, etc.  Maybe the Duc is too "subdued" due to emissions standards??

[corndog67]

95 hp vs. 65 hp.  No comparison, in my opinion there would be only one possible option.   Almost 50% more HP would certainly overcome 80 lbs of pork. 

[RBX QB]

95 hp vs. 65 hp. 

Where'd you come up with that? The article says the Shiver has 75hp. Still, the extra weight has got to be somewhere... maybe it's all part of that "extra ground clearance" the article keeps talking about.

I never bought my bike thinking "oooh, it's gonna be fast"... It's certainly fast enough for me, and I know I have yet to develop the experience to take advantage of all the power and handling my bike has. And, I don't feel the need to ever get to that point. Part of me thinks that having a little fear of my bike could end up saving me someday. I bought my bike because I liked it, and I wanted it. If I liked or wanted an Aprilia, I would have bought one.

Motorcycle comparison articles are like a-holes... everyone has one. That's not actually how the quote goes, but I wanted to say it. Lot's of times articles are just biased opinions. Take the information, then decide for yourself.

[Goat_Herder]

I think you meant to say "Personal opinion is like an A-hole - everybody has one".  Every motorcycle / automobile reviewer out there has their own opinion and agenda.  They evaluate based on their own set of criteria that's important to them.  It's just that they compared the 696 to a bigger, heavier, and more powerful Shiver 750.  And if on track performance is the upmost impoartant thing, then the shiver will win every time. 

Good read, nevertheless.

[Sassa]

So, to all you 696 owners...is the comment regarding low ground clearance and how easy it is to scrape parts on the 696 accurate?  The article made it seem as if it were so easy to do it was unexpected and could be an issue.  I have a 620 currently but am considering a 696 at some point. 

[NWapex]

So, to all you 696 owners...is the comment regarding low ground clearance and how easy it is to scrape parts on the 696 accurate? 

Ground clearance may be an issue.  I was alarmed the first time my boot touched pavement.  I think there may be some aftermarket rearsets available, but for some $$$.

[slim_grizzy]

Depends on your foot placement, tbh.  I have big feet (size 13) and if i just ride the pegs with my arch, then it's not too far over before I can drag a toe.  However, when I get on the balls of my feet i haven't dragged anything going as fast as I've dared to so far. 

[Raux]

i was riding two up yesterday and moved my feet forward at one point for comfort... touched toes to ground in a couple right then left switchbacks... the ONLY time i've ever touched boots to ground on my 696 is when i do not have the balls of my feet on the pegs. i've NEVER touched even at a good lean with my balls of my feet on the peg. and i've never touched pegs. now i'm not a racer.. but here in germany the hills have some pretty curvey roads.

the 696 does not have a problem with peg position IMO, but if we ride like it's a SBK with your feet splayed out for braking shifting mid corner, you'll touch.

[hcomp]

Raux, why are your balls near your feet? The part I don't really agree with is the brakes.....80 Less pounds and same brakes and same size front tire, but the Shiver brakes so much better and faster?  What set of physics are they playing with? Magic ones?

[amcloud]

So, to all you 696 owners...is the comment regarding low ground clearance and how easy it is to scrape parts on the 696 accurate?  The article made it seem as if it were so easy to do it was unexpected and could be an issue.  I have a 620 currently but am considering a 696 at some point. 

I ground my shifter and brake pedals on my 696, that is getting down there pretty low though...it never became a problem and didn't happen very often.

[Raux]

I ground my shifter and brake pedals on my 696, that is getting down there pretty low though...it never became a problem and didn't happen very often.

hmmm how low were your knees? did you touch them also? and had you adjusted your pedals to be lower? seems that either your pedals were lower or you weren't off the bike enough unless you were dragging knees.

[monstermania]

All the articles I read on the 696 before I purchased mine said it had 80 hp @ 9000 rpm. WTF this article says 62 hp @8400 rpm? Is that comparable???