Anyone less than impressed with their 696, or is it just me?

[herm]

That is certainly possible, I just didn't think it would be a 19 km test drive.

why not? far more likely that the tech put 12 miles on it than someone taking it for that short of a test ride.

[Howie]

That is certainly possible, I just didn't think it would be a 19 km test drive.

Most new vehicles have some mileage on them before.  Your 696 visited a dyno after assembly.  That plus a test ride at the dealer can add up to your 19 km.

[corey]

This is my first Ducati, so maybe I didn't really know what to expect.  I guess I was hoping that the 696 would offer more performance than my last bike.  I guess I am also bummed that the parts are SOOO expensive.  I didn't expect a new rim to cost $1500.

pony up another $1500 and get some BST's and you'll have a brand new bike.
just watch the potholes...

[MonsterMI]

I gotta say I really enjoy mine, and I think I like it a little more every time I ride, even if it's just a short trip into town. I am surprised that somebody would spring for over 10k (us) for a motorcycle without doing a little research and preparing for the related costs. You could have spent 3/4 of that on an R1 (R6 is what I meant) or something and gotten all the power you need and cheaper maintenance...

Of course I bought a Ducati because that is what "spoke to me". And it feels like my bike when I'm on it.

I hope you can get that rim repaired or replaced, and you can at least ride out the break-in period before you decide to dump it for a huge loss.

[RC Fan]

I'm genuinely shocked!  If I walked into a dealer that didnt allow me a test ride, me and my money would go shopping some other place.  Astounding.

In hindsight, walking away would have been an excellent idea.  None of the dealers here allow test rides.

[RC Fan]

I gotta say I really enjoy mine, and I think I like it a little more every time I ride, even if it's just a short trip into town. I am surprised that somebody would spring for over 10k (us) for a motorcycle without doing a little research and preparing for the related costs. You could have spent 3/4 of that on an R1 (R6 is what I meant) or something and gotten all the power you need and cheaper maintenance...

Of course I bought a Ducati because that is what "spoke to me". And it feels like my bike when I'm on it.

I hope you can get that rim repaired or replaced, and you can at least ride out the break-in period before you decide to dump it for a huge loss.

I actually did lots of research, but I didn't price the rims.  I really didn't see myself replacing one.

An R6 is a couple of grand more than the Monster here.  You are correct though, a Japanese bike would have fit the ticket.  I was impressed with the Ducati because it is the only sport bike for which I wouldn't need a lowering kit.  Also the salesperson promised it would have more power than my Bandit. 

[zedsaid]

I dig the snit out of my 696, and i weigh 220lbs.

+1 to the "power comes after break in"  it's tame below 6k RPM 7k+ is like a turbo boost.

[ENZO696DUCMON]

I LOVE MY 696 MONSTER  [moto] !!!!  SATISFIED TO THE FULLEST  !! YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT IN TO REALLY FEEL THE POWER POTENTIAL BECAUSE THE VALVES OF A DUCATI IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR 650VS/BANDIT . TRIUMPH IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE , TOO . I THINK ANY EURO-BIKE IS . BUY JAPANESE IF YOU WANT LOW COSTS . HOW DID YOU MESS UP YOUR RIMS BY RUNNING OVER A POT HOLE ?? I LIVE IN A CITY WITH PLENTY OF POTHOLES AND I RUN OVER  [bang]THEM 7-10 TIMES A DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS YET . WELL , GOODLUCK IN FIXING YOUR PROBLEM . I LOVE MY 696 MONSTER  [moto] !! NEXT BIKE - KAWASAKI ZX6R and  HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHTSTER . 

[Chchadder]

I've got a 695 front wheel.  Slightly damaged, but just cosmetic and not really noticeable.  I'll sell it to you for $100 plus shipping.

Not to threadjack, but I've also got the rear in near perfect condition...

Shameless bump for those in need...  

Pretty sure that the wheels on the 695/696 are interchangeable.  Anyone know for sure?

Pics:









The scrapes and lip bend are from a low speed crash in November of 2006.  Does not affect function in any way, as I still rode them for another two seasons until I swapped to some forged alum Dymags.  Just saying, you can get yourself back on the road pretty cheaply until you decide what exactly you want to do.  I'd go as low as $75 for the front (plus shipping) to help you out.

[He Man]

WHat do you want out of a bike anyway?

If in hindsight an R6 fits your riding more than a 696 does, then i dont know how you even ended up on a 696. Its not even close to what an R6 is, and if you paid any attention, you would of realized that 696 is in no way the same kind of power as a 600cc jap I4. If you bought it because of the brand, well. thats kind of stupid, but thats not ducati's fault for giving you a bike thats "underpowered".

Im stll for a Street triple R. Its +20hp and -15tq and + 4,000RPMs wanna buy my S2R1000? its 84hp 64tq with a dyno sheet to proove. Its got enough hp to drop a knee on

[Chchadder]

wanna buy my S2R1000? its 84hp 64tq with a dyno sheet to proove. Its got enough hp to drop a knee on

I can vouch for both...

[RC Fan]

I LOVE MY 696 MONSTER  [moto] !!!!  SATISFIED TO THE FULLEST  !! YOU HAVE TO BREAK IT IN TO REALLY FEEL THE POWER POTENTIAL BECAUSE THE VALVES OF A DUCATI IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR 650VS/BANDIT . TRIUMPH IS PRETTY EXPENSIVE , TOO . I THINK ANY EURO-BIKE IS . BUY JAPANESE IF YOU WANT LOW COSTS . HOW DID YOU MESS UP YOUR RIMS BY RUNNING OVER A POT HOLE ?? I LIVE IN A CITY WITH PLENTY OF POTHOLES AND I RUN OVER  [bang]THEM 7-10 TIMES A DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS YET . WELL , GOODLUCK IN FIXING YOUR PROBLEM . I LOVE MY 696 MONSTER  [moto] !! NEXT BIKE - KAWASAKI ZX6R and  HARLEY-DAVIDSON NIGHTSTER . 

All I did was hit a pothole, so watch out.

[RC Fan]

WHat do you want out of a bike anyway?

If in hindsight an R6 fits your riding more than a 696 does, then i dont know how you even ended up on a 696. Its not even close to what an R6 is, and if you paid any attention, you would of realized that 696 is in no way the same kind of power as a 600cc jap I4. If you bought it because of the brand, well. thats kind of stupid, but thats not ducati's fault for giving you a bike thats "underpowered".

Im stll for a Street triple R. Its +20hp and -15tq and + 4,000RPMs wanna buy my S2R1000? its 84hp 64tq with a dyno sheet to proove. Its got enough hp to drop a knee on

I don't want an R6; I was responding to a previous poster who mentioned one.  I would like a GSX-R 750 someday.  I bought a Ducati because the 696 was light and was the right height.

I am still with you on the Speed Triple or Street Triple.

[Moronic]

All I did was hit a pothole, so watch out.

No-one seems to have raised this, so here goes:

Rims bend after the suspension bottoms out. When there is no suspension left to absorb the hit, the tyre deforms, and then it is either the rim bends or the bike gets thrown upwards, or both.

I've had a brief ride on a 696 and thought the front end very soft. Not at all surprised a rim got damaged, if a pothole was hit hard. No suspension will absorb every hit, but the 696 may well be particularly vulnerable here.

Ducati might have specced better quality (as in, lighter) wheels than the entry-level suspension can handle on poor roads.

[zedsaid]

Ducati might have specced better quality (as in, lighter) wheels than the entry-level suspension can handle on poor roads.

Funny, being that everyone else is saying that the 696 wheels are too heavy.