New and a little lost...

[LYD]

you are planning on putting a clutch cover on that thing soon, right?  i rode mine too/from Scott's place sans cover, (no plastics on either) and have to say that it's more than a little intimidating having a freaking meat/ankle grinder just spinning right there...scott and randy i think were a little "wtf" when they got on to take it for a spin...i know scott was reaching for his Sidi's.  i'm just sayin' man...

nope, Not anytime soon!

[bryant8]

nope, Not anytime soon!

Focus people, new guy needs advice not threadjacking here 

This little community of Ducatisti is pretty good about helping each other out, so don't hesitate to ask for some help.   

[newslacker]

I thought this was the Monster board! Get on a 695, let your wife inherit that when you upgrade to the S4Rs. I don't see what the fuss is about.

[BarneePhife]

Ah, great tip. Well, that's perfect. Guess I'll be spending more money than I thought.  Anyone selling a '07 for a song? 

There are some new '06's still on showroom floors (but they are monoposto) for about $8995 now.  So, the '07's are still going for pretty much MSRP unless you can find a dealership willing to deal.  If you're wanting to do some serious shopping and research on the SC, PM me and I'll tell you about two other sites that have a larger SC community.  I don't want to distract you from this forum though.  I've never owned a Monster, and this group of folks has been the best online community I've been involved with!    So, even if you do end up with an SC, be sure to stick around.

That said...

I guess I didn't realize your riding experience level.  While an SC1000 isn't really a starter bike, just about any bike can out-perform the riding capabilities of any new rider - and especially any irresponsible rider.  Based on your actions and comments so far, it sounds like you're not the irresponsible type.  My wife keeps asking me to teach her how to ride my SC1000.  She's got a good amount of street experience on a Stella scooter, but there's no way I'm going to subject anyone to learning (or at least, getting comfortable with a full size bike) on an SC1000.  Depending on your true riding experience, and the rate you'll likely to pick it up and saddle time, I'd tend to agree with many others that a 695/696 is a very appropriate bike to keep on your list (plus it's thousands less than an 07 SC1000).  It's no piddly scooter, but it's no liter bike.  However, a Monster will take you across the spectrum of most new riders' experience for the first several thousands of miles of street riding.  Plus, there's a much deeper and wider wealth of knowledge and mods for Monsters than for Sport Classics.  In fact, that would be my biggest complaint about my SC1000 - limited mods and much smaller population of riders/vendors/dealers with model-specific knowledge.

Most of the time, if you have a question about a Monster, someone in this crowd will have an answer half way through your sentence. 

Either way - the researching/searching/learning can be as fun finally buying the bike.  Have a good time, and don't get too bogged down in the process.  Ultimately, buy what you want, what you can afford, and what you will enjoy riding - and ride responsibly and safely!  [moto]

[calscrazy]

695 owner and damn proud of it. love it love it love it. i have had three bikes and this by far is the funnest i have had. a million times better than the katana i had and my brothers gsx-r. i like the gsx-r don't get me wrong but when you ride a duc it's whole new world!!! plus you should see the look on those "OTHER" guys faces when you pull up and give her a little gas (ask alan or scott also). call me about exhaust i have some new ideas plus i have a pair of stock cans i need a reason to cut, weld and paint on. [moto]

[fastwin]

Good comments from Jim regarding the Sport 1000s. Anyone can tell you that Ducatis tend to get modified by their owners... you can even call it "personalizing" the bike. Some mods are performance enhancements that just so happen to be visually better and some are just visual/bling stuff. But it's hard to find a pre-owned Ducati that is bone stock. And that is where the Sports Classic line does lag behind. As cool as they are and as good as they are they are not Monsters and Monsters sale-wise are the backbone of the company. They have been produced in great numbers since 1993 and there are a ton of aftermarket parts available for Monsters. Not true of the Sport Classic bikes. It's not that you can't get parts for them. Far from it. It's just the number of aftermarket parts available isn't close to the options you have owning a Monster of any kind. There is not nearly as many Sports Classic bikes out there on the road and who do you want to make a groovy machined from billet part for? Make a part for a hundred thousand Monsters or ten thousand Sports Classics? It's just business.

As said before, get what you want. But once again you could save some good up front cash on a 695 (especailly with the 696s ready to hit the showrooms... read: discount!) that will carry the spouse for the 2 up riding you might do. There are a lots (and I do mean lots!) of cool aftermarket and Ducati Performance factory goodies for the 695 when the "mod disease" hits you. And it will! I don't know about you but is everyone enjoying this man's dilemma as much as I am? Buying a bike is an emotional experience (anyone care to differ?) it's not like buying a kitchen sink disposal. Get the bike you would love to see sitting in your garage every night. Buy the bike that makes you take off from work early just so you can get home and take it for a spin. Does this sound familiar to anyone? We will all just sit back and vicariously enjoy your buying experience.

Hey, wait a minute, didn't I promise to shut up a few posts ago?... whatever, as if?.

[Ideapimp]

Well, the plan is to run down to TXDOT tomorrow morning and take the written test, get that pretty little "M" on my license.

Sounds like a few of you are within a few blocks of me. Would love to meet you. After work tomorrow I'll be knocking around the house mowing the yard and such. Anyone in the Lakewood / Little Forest Hills / Casa Linda area wanna swing by the casa and show off their bike. Maybe you can convince me off of the 1000?  Might even have a beer in the fridge for 'ya since it's so hot out

Shoot me a PM and lemme know.

[bryant8]

  I live in that same area. I'll send you a PM

[shadowcougar1]

First off, welcome to the gang!  

Now some of my 2 cents...  
All ducatis, being twins, have fairly linear power...  As such, you are less likely to get into trouble due to jerky throtle control on an air cooled 1000cc twin than on a 600cc inline 4.  However, the 1000 aircooled engine is still plenty powerful to get you in trouble if you are not very comfortable on a bike (or not as naturally gifted with such things)...

The new 696 has as much power as an SV650, which is much more than you will need for the street, while still giving you great gas mileage. There is also nothing wrong with starting with an used small bike until you are more comfortable and "in tune" with a bike. i.e. the SV650, a ninja 250, a ninja 650 (the twin cilinder one), and the monster 600/620/695/750.  Then you can use them as a down-payment towards your dream bike.
Everyone dumps their bike sooner or later... you may as well do it with a bike you don't care about as much and that are cheaper to fix.

At the end of the day, do what you believe is best for you.  There are no "right" answers, just some better advice than others.

Now go nuts!  

[fastwin]

Yo, Bryant is within rock throwing distance of your lawn mowing party. I'm pretty darn close myself. Good to know that there are more Ducati folks (or future Ducati folks) in the neighborhood. Again, let us know if you want to have a meet and greet at AMS or somewhere else for scooter talk. We aren't bashful about expressing our bike opinions!

[hiero]

hey, I still have my sweet little M750 which has way less power than even a 620! and I still have a freakin blast on the thing and it's never leaving my hands as far as I know...

[shadowcougar1]

hey, I still have my sweet little M750 which has way less power than even a 620! and I still have a freakin blast on the thing and it's never leaving my hands as far as I know...

yep... If I had enough money I would have kept my 620 (a much better street bike than the 999).

[bryant8]

Yeah, I miss my M620.  I may have to find another one and mod the hell out of it 

[cdc]

Focus people,.....

Hey that's my line.

cdc

[Centerline]

Well, I've posted an introduction in two different places and keep getting routed to different boards, or at least forums within the boards. I think I FINALLY might be on the right one.

The quick version:
ryan
29, married, two dogs
Just took my rider course and had a blast
Live in East Dallas, very near arboretum
Have always wanted a Ducati - Looking hard at the Sport 1000 and also Monsters
Want to make some new friends who can help me into the life
Have owned, worked on, been member of boards for both domestic (F-body) and Import (scion tC and 350z) cars.

So, who's gonna help the newbie spend way too much money?

I will help you spend way to much money.
Get...
1. A Sport 1000
2. Any Monster...they don't call them that for nothing
3. A 1098
4. Hypermotard