UPDATE from the south of France on: "Having thoughts for a 696 now"

[Bullfrog]

What's up Monsteristi, it's been a while.

As some of you know, I sold my last MS4-RS to get a Benelli TNT S and it's a damn Italian supermodel... fast but not really good for living with.

Now, if we go back in history a little. Since the mid-90s I lusted after a naked Superbike and finally got an S4 in 2001 just to modify the hell out of it so it handled like one. But it didn't look the part, it missed the frame and the tail of a real Superbike. I did grow to love the monster - think: that girl whom you normally wouldn't go for on looks alone but was cute nonetheless and could challenge your mind and was interested in discovering your world to become part of it.

In 2005 I came back home from living abroad for six years and was looking into getting another Duke. At first I put in an order for a 999s, thinking "finally I'm getting a Superbike" but then, like everyone else, around October I start believing in the myth of the S4-RS so I rush to the dealership and pull my order on the 999s and tell them to hold on to my deposit so I'd have the very first order on the S4-RS which they didn't even believe was really coming. Soon after, I get the call that the new price list was in and that I had a deposit on the very first RS in Canada.  [moto] . I took delivery of the new beast on my birthday, in June 2006, and have again modified the hell out of it.

In 2008, i was privy to the intel that a Streetfighter was coming and that the new Monster was going to breathe through two valves only from now on. So I started waiting . . .

The new Monster came and I wasn't impressed. The new style took a while to grow on me as I went a few times to the shop to see if the Fighter was coming soon but, no word.

At some point I was ready to get a new bike and was looking at everything. I soon realized that I didn't like anything that was made outside of Italy so that kind of narrowed the field a little. One day I took the Hypermotard S out for a hoon and the TNT S on the same day. That's when it got weird.

My thoughts were:
- I love the damn 1100 two-valver, it's smooth as butter.
- The TNT S is the most gorgeous bike around, I could probably learn to like the ride.
- Ahhh back on my RS at last. My trusty old pair of slippers.

The following week i was taking delivery of the only TNT S in Quebec, the hottest bike on the street, and grew an ulcer on my way home (again, refer to the supermodel analogy). The only thought in my head was: "If only they made a Monster 1100 S, I would have preferred that".

I normally put about 12 000 Km a year on my bikes in Canada since we can't ride during winter. To this day, the TNT has 4000 Km since coming home back in October 2008. I can't take the damn pregnant dog out, she's good for nothing but looking good.

Last week I'm walking around Little Italy with some friends and stumble upon the new Ducati boutique where they have a few bikes on the floor including a Streetfighter, a Monster 1100 S and A 696, thus the trouble began.

At first I sit, silently, on the Streetfighter and start scrutinizing her. Then, it's off to the 1100 S to realize that it makes sense. My girlfriend, who gets me, says: "why don't you stop denying it and get the Streetfighter and get rid of the TNT. I know you'd be happier.  Did she really say that?  she's a keeper. Not only that, since she's getting her license soon, she's looking at the 696 for herself and says: "that way I'll have a Monster of my own and l'll stop missing your RS" 

So I start looking at my options, and the prices. The 18K tag on the Streetfighter is OK by me for the amount of bike that's attached to it. The 16K tag on the 1100 S is a little steep for a set Ohlins on a Monster but, it comes fully installed and with a two year warranty so it's not ridiculous. So I think that lately I'd prefer a bike with a little less power so I could have the satisfaction of twisting the throttle open while riding around town without loosing my license and, since a regular suspension would be perfectly good for that I find the price dropping to 14K for a standard 1100... what? who? me? 

So I sit on the 696 for a feel of a standard Monster. The only thing that really bothered me was the steel handlebars. So I start to think... I could ride that thing around town all day without getting frustrated... with a set of MIVV Suono it would sound like thunder... on the weekend I'd ride the hell out of it... then I hear a voice say: "you know, if you took a 696 for a year to try it out, it could be my first bike when I get my license and you could get something new again" did she just say that? 

The 696 is starting to grow on me like a bad wart and for reasons that I would never have thought possible, it's lack of power ease of use  [moto]. The best part is, at 9K, I could pick one up right now and not have to sell the TNT in a hurry for chicken feed.

The only downside to the deal... for her to take the 696 from me next year, it has to be A WHITE ONE 

[Howie]

Welcome back, Waldorf!  A Statler without Waldorf is like peanut butter without jelly

[Big Troubled Bear]

Could always swop the skins or have them painted

[ArguZ]

The white one is the ONLY acceptable one
Get a "Brüno" sticker to make it perfect
You have a TNT and you whine about it ? 

[Bullfrog]

Welcome back, Waldorf!  A Statler without Waldorf is like peanut butter without jelly

It's good to be back Howie 

I have to admit, I did miss laughing Statler at Peanut and Jelly and the stupid crap they come up with.

NURSE! Where's My Nitro !?! 

[Raux]

the 696 comes in two flavors, black frame or red frame. if you get the red and buy extra white skins for her... she will have the prettiest combo later and you get your red bike in the meantime.
the 696 may have less power, but honestly, with the 14t sprocket even, you can hit 212kph. (ok adjust for 9% loss). that's more than fast enough.
the  other bonus, and some may say this is not a bonus, is the ability to twist the throttle without the concern of lifting the front end to high heaven. just twist and go. i have the roads italia exhaust (not the best but good price for me) and they sound great.

[ducleaner]

Having thoughts for a 696 now

Are they dirty thoughts?

[Bullfrog]

Dirty thoughts indeed. 

Since a simple test ride at the dealership wasn't possible because, well, I had to leave for my vacation in the south of France I then decided to lease a 696 for three days and take the little lady to Monte Carlo, Turini and St-Tropez from Cannes.

[Day One]

First impressions were that it was instantly more comfortable than my previous monster, both for Mrs. co-Pilot and me even in Cannes' July holiday traffic. So it's down Blvd Carnot splitting opposite lanes to La Croisette and cruise along the bay in style. The standard suspension is so compliant and well adapted to the new chassis for commuting, no stress, this is going to be a fantastic week. An Orangina and madelene later we were off to Monaco.

On the 70 Kmh road the bike is fun and responsive enough while not being annoyingly brutale like, well a TNT S for example, and the power isn't really lacking. As I've never owned a 2v, the sound is new to me but I'm sure that even this generation has a new kind of sound for a 2v. It's fun to be able to go from feeling like a V-Rod below 3000 rpm, a Monster below 5500 rpm and something sportier above that.

Onto the 90 Kmh, still with some lingering apprehension about the suspension, I decide to test it a little and ride a little less preventively... I'm still amazed. Toll station stop and go and overtakings are neither a hassle nor tricky, the little sucker is just a joy.

Now the fun begins, 130 Kmh zone, my Garmin's got my back with radars so i jump on the first F550's tail I see and take the convoy to 212 Kmh for a few minutes with so much control and comfort that I still enjoy the scenery and even get the  over my elbow for the co-pilot 

Once in town, it's off to "the F1 tunnel" and around the city until we stop at the Monte Carlo casino for an espresso and a ride report. After much debating, we decide to cancel our tickets to Bologna and keep the 696 for three days instead of visiting the factory. Much more fun. 

The ride back to Cannes was even better because we took the old highway instead of the high-speed autoroute. Throught every town along the coast we had a clear idea of what it was like to live with that bike (well, almost... we don't live near the Mediterranean) and besides the horrible chaos in Nice it was one of the most enjoyable long-way-back-home ride I've enjoyed in a long time.

... dang, got a family dinner to go to. the rest later ...

[Snips]

Great write-up.

I went 620->696->1100s.

The 1100s is too much power to enjoy on the streets. The 696 is not enough. Just as importantly, the stock 696 does not have enough bling. I loved my 696, but when I see my old 696 again, having lived with my 1100s, it looks small and dull: I can't believe I loved that bike.

Ducati need a Monster between the 696, and the 1100, ...in an s variant.

[Statler]

I hate it when I just can't think of anything at all clever to say.   

Sounds like a great trip.

Just remember the differences in roads back home.  What is perfect in Europe may not be here and vice versa.

[Raux]

i'm glad you enjoyed your trip. i started to feel a need for more power before i lost her. i had been blown away by a 600 japanese bike, but i forget they are a different middleweight class, and we had some clutchslippage issues riding two up in hot hot weather, but it was an oiltype issue.
i do wish there was a 800 or 900 monster though. then they could also bump the 1100 up to a 1200.

696, 900, 1200 monsters.. that would be a good series.
696 wet clutch, dss lower suspension 80 hp
900 dry clutch dss raised suspension full adjustble showa 90 hp
1200 dry clutch sss raise suspension full adjustable showa 105 hp
1200s dry clutch sss raised sustpension full adjustable ohlins  105hp

that should be the monster series.

[Special K]

I'd like to, at least, see a 696s option. up spec suspension and ecu.

I don't see a need for something in between the 696 and 1100. 80 hp to 95 hp (though noticeably different) is not a big jump, what would be in between 85 or 90 hp? something in between the 1100 and Streetfighter is definitely warrented.

[Raux]

I'd like to, at least, see a 696s option. up spec suspension and ecu.

I don't see a need for something in between the 696 and 1100. 80 hp to 95 hp (though noticeably different) is not a big jump, what would be in between 85 or 90 hp? something in between the 1100 and Streetfighter is definitely warrented.

yeah i think pushing the 1100 up to a 1200 with at least 105 hp will make room for a middleweight monster.