post laydown condition?

[cooper01]

Hello, I'm in the process of purchasing a (hopefully newer) ducati monster.  I really like the 696 and 695.  I'm tall, 6'4, but I really think there is no better starter bike on the planet.  Anyways, I have seen several monsters for sale with a little laydown rash.  My questions is, in the typical low speed laydown, besides the cosmetic damage, what else may happen?  I could really care less about the cosmetic stuff if it allows me to get a nicer motorcycle.  If however, there are often some mechanical issues associated with the laydown, that changes everything.  Thank you very much for your assistance on this topic.  If there is anything else you might want to say to a first time ducati/ bike buyer, please by all means go right ahead.  Have a great day

[DucHead]

IMO, there are plenty of better starter bikes...Suzuki GSF 500 for example.   

It takes very little damage to total a bike -- a small tweak of the frame will do the trick.

[swampduc]

Not nearly as many mechanical issues on an air-cooled bike as you could potentially have with a liquid- or oil-cooled machine after a laydown. Aside from the obvious (handlebars, levers, reservoirs), it's important to get the machine to a mechanic and rule out any frame, fork, or wheel (esp front) tweaking.
And I agree, I think a small Monster would make a great starter bike.

[fastwin]

Just my two cents here, but often sellers are a little "light" on accident damage descriptions. Sometimes the pictures in ads on ebay motors or Craiglist don't accurately portray the real damage. I think everyone knows this. If you are fairly new to riding and motorcycles in general it might be good to take someone who is knowledgeable with you when you check out a perspective bike. Any experienced rider can tell a low speed parking lot drop from one that is more serious. They might have more probing questions to ask the seller and they would look for things you might miss. Cracked frame or engine case, tweaked forks or shock, dented rim, etc.

You could also have a mechanic at a local motorcycle shop check the bike out. There might be a fee but it would be worth it to have a pro look things over. If I was a honest seller I wouldn't have a problem meeting the buyer at a shop for this service... as long as they were paying for it.

Good luck!

[Scottish]

On the other hand me and my family have picked up up several Monsters including an S2@ that were totalled with tank scratches and handlebar damage.

Lemme think.
Got Krystals 620, it had bend bars and the steering stop bent, I think $1,200.

Got a S2R outta Georgia
Bent bars, scratched tank, and needed a crankcase cover. $1,600.

If you know bikes and know what you're looking at you should be fine. As always look at the over-all conidition not just the wreck damage. If chain and sprockets look worn, or it has multiple rashes that look like they've occurred at different times you're probably looking at a abused specimen. I can send you pics of mine if you need and example.  On the other hand if it's clean and garaged and relativiely nice minus the damage you can prolly get a great deal on a bike that will treat you well. Look at it like you would a dog adoption. Does the seller have other bikes? What condition are they in? Where are the bikes kept? Look around you the environment can tell you a lot.

[al@sktc]

i picked up a 99 m750 for $900. pics are in "budget build" in general monster forum. the bike was vandalized.