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

[RC Fan]

RC Fan-
I'm sorry you have such remorse over that bike. Not only did you pay dealer price for the bike, but after a few kms you now must pay dealer price for a new rim. However a little perspective I think is what you need here more than anything.

Number one it's quite likely you desperately need riding lessons. I hit potholes all the time in DC; the streets here look like they've been carpetbombed by B-52s. Never have I had your problem and I've had to hit some pretty nasty ones. Ya gotta know how to hit 'em, better yet avoid them, and I don't quite think you do. It comes from learning how to ride a motorcycle. Number two you seem to be of the non-Ducatisti mindset, therefore you bought the wrong bike; furthermore you are whining about it on the wrong forum, which I find mildly irritating. You really are acting like a baby. Number three you have been presented with viable options that you have refused, options that would have saved you big money yet it seems you choose to pay this big money just so you can claim griping rights. Now, you will either 1) live with your purchase 2) sell the bike at a loss after you replace the rim for $1500CDN. Ouch! You will not get what you paid for the bike as it's now used, especially if you own up to hitting a pothole and causing damage. So you're in a bit of a pickle and understandably upset. Apparently, all the research you said you performed before purchasing the bike of your nightmares was what they call in the scientific profession 'inadequate'.

If you were to simply act like an adult and attempt to understand first what you are condemning, you would be a lot better off. Good luck to you. Hundreds or even thousands of satisfied Ducati Monster 696 owners out there in the world would take issue with your complaints. Suzuki wheels crack and bend too.

Well, it was either hit the pothole, hit the oncoming transport truck, or swerve and go into the gravel.  I am sure my skills could use more work, but please enlighten me as to the correct way to hit a pothole?

Obviously I know Suzuki rims crack and break.  I hit a few potholes with my Bandit with no issues.

I am not interested in paying out $1500 to claim griping rights.  I am way too cheap for that.

I certainly never said that there weren't lots of satisfied 696 owners out there.  I also expected negative feedback.  In what forum do you suggest I pose my question if not here?

[junior varsity]

Well, it was either hit the pothole, hit the oncoming transport truck, or swerve and go into the gravel.  I am sure my skills could use more work, but please enlighten me as to the correct way to hit a pothole?

Ass off the seat, bars light in your hands, give a little gas to lighten the front end as you approach (braking into it puts more weight on the front wheel, compresses the suspension, and generally makes the impact several times worse). You want to let the bike move underneath you and act as a human shock absorber.

Some people have bent rims badly on uneven bridges. A friend did on a Honda, and it was just a bad day.

[DucHead]

Just for the record, I doubt many who have posted here have ridden a Bandit.  They are not your typical high-revving I4 motors.  They make a lot of torque down low. 

RC fan - next time you break something, its best to post up here before you buy an expensive OEM part, and (as you've seen) you'll get a lot of opinions and some good advice.   

[RC Fan]

RC fan - next time you break something, its best to post up here before you buy an expensive OEM part, and (as you've seen) you'll get a lot of opinions and some good advice.   

I will do that for sure!

[RC Fan]

Ass off the seat, bars light in your hands, give a little gas to lighten the front end as you approach (braking into it puts more weight on the front wheel, compresses the suspension, and generally makes the impact several times worse). You want to let the bike move underneath you and act as a human shock absorber.

Yes, I  believe I have read about that in David Hough's 'Proficient Motorcycling' and 'More Proficient Motorcycling'.  I may not have pulled it off though.

[peanut_man]

RC Fan,

It's expected that you will get a lot of defensive answers.  This is a Ducati Monster Forum, afterall. 

I feel your frustration.  There's not much excuse I can make around the part costs.  Ducati bikes are very expensive.  Ducati parts are crazy expensive.  It's more of a specialty brand that would never provide a cost-effective transportation compare to large manufacturer like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, or Kawasaki.  Performance wise, M696 is the 'cheapest' Ducati model currently, so it definitely not going to blow you away either.

For myself, I got into Ducati knowing how it is fully.  I fully expect to find huge price tags from the dealer.  Yet I still buy a Ducati, and that's just my personal choice and preference.  I never pretend that owning a Ducati will be cheap.  It's just going to be more costly than most other brands (save for some even more exotic brands like MV or Bimota).  Sounds like your research wasn't as extensive as you may have thought. 

Back to the part price, as others has mentioned, to get around the high OEM costs, most well-informed owners will try to find spare parts used or aftermarket.  Unfortunately the M696 just came out for a little over 1 year.  The used parts and aftermarket parts aren't as common yet.  It also mean there's not that much competition at the moment for M696 aftermarket parts.  Thus the parts are naturally more expensive.

I would suggest you try to find used rims.  And whatever you do to fix your bike, please get full-coverage insurance.  This way the expensive parts will be the problem of the insurance company.

Good luck and I hope this experience changes your expectation of the M696 but doesn't turn you away from this capable and fun motorcycle.

[RC Fan]

RC Fan,

It's expected that you will get a lot of defensive answers.  This is a Ducati Monster Forum, afterall. 


I would suggest you try to find used rims.  And whatever you do to fix your bike, please get full-coverage insurance.  This way the expensive parts will be the problem of the insurance company.

I expected defensive answers.  I guess I didn't expect someone saying I shouldn't post anything that isn't pro-Ducati.

In regards to insurance, I am a licensed insurance agent for a large US-based company.  Naturally I carry full coverage.  Habitually making the expensive parts the problem of the insurance company invariably leads to higher rates for everyone.

[Bladecutter]

I expected defensive answers.  I guess I didn't expect someone saying I shouldn't post anything that isn't pro-Ducati.

In regards to insurance, I am a licensed insurance agent for a large US-based company.  Naturally I carry full coverage.  Habitually making the expensive parts the problem of the insurance company invariably leads to higher rates for everyone.

Don't listen to people that say you have to only say nice things about whatever.
Those people don't matter, in the long run.

Also, as long as you don't make a HABIT out of submitting insurance claims, there's nothing to worry about.
And seriously, what's the point of having comprehensive and collision insurance if you're afraid of using it when you actually have an expensive mishap?

Either make the claim and make your bike whole again, or buy a used wheel, and save yourself a bunch of bucks, leaving your insurance claim record spotless.

BC.

[RC Fan]

Also, as long as you don't make a HABIT out of submitting insurance claims, there's nothing to worry about.
And seriously, what's the point of having comprehensive and collision insurance if you're afraid of using it when you actually have an expensive mishap?

Either make the claim and make your bike whole again, or buy a used wheel, and save yourself a bunch of bucks, leaving your insurance claim record spotless.

BC.

Yes, it is making repeated claims that can become problematic in the long term.  Things can change very quickly in the insurance industry.

[peanut_man]

I expected defensive answers.  I guess I didn't expect someone saying I shouldn't post anything that isn't pro-Ducati.

In regards to insurance, I am a licensed insurance agent for a large US-based company.  Naturally I carry full coverage.  Habitually making the expensive parts the problem of the insurance company invariably leads to higher rates for everyone.

off topic, sorry, but I feel I must clarify your statement here.  I'm actually not sure what you mean by 'Habitually making the expensive parts the problem of the insurance company invariably leads to higher rates for everyone.'?  I buy insurance so that I do not have to worry about paying for expensive damages.  Are you saying that claiming for damages for expensive parts that I has insured for is some how wrong or unacceptable?  Seems odd.    Habitually?  Yes, if there's accidents / damages with significant cost, I will file claim with my insurance.  Isn't it why I bought the insurance in the first place?

$1500 is significant cost.  It's not something you claim every week or every month.  Unless you HABITUALLY damage your wheel, there should not be a reason to not file claim and having the insurance takes care of the fix (less deductible of course).

Make that claim, fix your wheel and ride on. 

Now I'm hoping you are just venting... but it's starting to sound more like trolling to me.   

[RC Fan]

off topic, sorry, but I feel I must clarify your statement here.  I'm actually not sure what you mean by 'Habitually making the expensive parts the problem of the insurance company invariably leads to higher rates for everyone.'?  I buy insurance so that I do not have to worry about paying for expensive damages.  Are you saying that claiming for damages for expensive parts that I has insured for is some how wrong or unacceptable?  Seems odd.    Habitually?  Yes, if there's accidents / damages with significant cost, I will file claim with my insurance.  Isn't it why I bought the insurance in the first place?

$1500 is significant cost.  It's not something you claim every week or every month.  Unless you HABITUALLY damage your wheel, there should not be a reason to not file claim and having the insurance takes care of the fix (less deductible of course).

Make that claim, fix your wheel and ride on. 

Now I'm hoping you are just venting... but it's starting to sound more like trolling to me.   

Habitually as in continually.  As in claiming for every little thing.  That is how I perceived your comment in the first place.  Insurance is meant for large claims.  I am not pro-insurance company, I have just seen several small claims roll into a surcharge for the client.  Sometimes short term gains equal long term pain.

How is that trolling?

[peanut_man]

So you have full insurance, the damage is major, you are not habitually filing claims.  Everything is legit, file the claim, get your bike fixed like new, and ride on.  End of story.  However, this thread is now 8 pages.  And that seems to be because a lot of replies are causing emotional responses.  That to me is a sign that the purpose here is not really trying to get a problem solved but to evoke more responses.  Hence I'm starting to think this is trolling.  Maybe I'm wrong, lets see how far this thread goes. 

Also, if you haven't have your 696 serviced yet...  If you think parts are expensive, wait till you see the service prices.    At least you won't have to bother your insurance company with it.

[Popeye the Sailor]

So you have full insurance, the damage is major, you are not habitually filing claims.  Everything is legit, file the claim, get your bike fixed like new, and ride on.  End of story.  However, this thread is now 8 pages.  And that seems to be because a lot of replies are causing emotional responses.  That to me is a sign that the purpose here is not really trying to get a problem solved but to evoke more responses.  Hence I'm starting to think this is trolling.  Maybe I'm wrong, lets see how far this thread goes. 

Also, if you haven't have your 696 serviced yet...  If you think parts are expensive, wait till you see the service prices.    At least you won't have to bother your insurance company with it.

I doubt it's trolling. RC Fan seems to be pretty levelheaded through the crap we've tossed at him, and even seems to be considering it.

[junior varsity]

I doubt it's trolling. RC Fan seems to be pretty levelheaded through the crap we've tossed at him, and even seems to be considering it.

guy named cathy?

[Popeye the Sailor]

guy named cathy?

Profile claims Cathy is a woman. Not that names denote anything-just ask sally101.