Moving from S2R800 to 696?

[stopintime]

Although..... stopintime is about to be lined up, have his sword broken and the buttons and epaulets ceremonially ripped off his tunic for this disloyal outburst against  the Roundhead cause...

I still prefer the look of the previous Monsters, especially when modified. That's not going to change.
It's just that when I see what can be done, the 696/1100 are closing the gap.

Another M1100 specific thing is it's power delivery - very impressive mid range.

I'm probably not getting one though. The bars are way too close for me. Same issues with the StreetFighter.
Next bike for me will be either a SBK, MultiStrada or even a SC Paul Smart - if not an S4RS.


"Roundheads"      I'm in trouble when Mark finishes his OrangeKist/Monster headlight

[Travman]

Yeah, me too.  I want to see that OrangeKist/Monster headlight on a M1100 or 696.  If it looks as good on a new Monster as it does in his OrangeKist concept picture then my last hurdle will have been cleared and I'm set to buy.

[DarkMonster620]

hey, the missus wants a 696...let her have her 696...
me, let me keep my m620d, modded to my liking, upgrading little by little and enjoying every moment i wrench on it...
thing is, wife wants new watch....get it???

[Kopfjager]

The round headlight is an easy mod. The new Monster has far more issues to overcome. You can't un-mod ugly. 

[Raux]

The round headlight is an easy mod. The new Monster has far more issues to overcome. You can't un-mod ugly. 

i give up.

[stopintime]

i give up.

Roundheads 1  -  New Style 0

[Raux]

Roundheads 1  -  New Style 0

I know where you are sleeping in June 

[stopintime]

I know where you are sleeping in June 

Oooops 

[High_Side]

  O.K., so what I am hearing is don't buy the 696 because of the looks.....more specifically it doesn't have the round headlight?

  Has anyone here actually owned or at least ridden both (beside the one responder who said that they had) that has insight in to the +/- of owning each? 

[Scottish]

Seriously there is a major contingent here that has nothing good to say about the new body style. I say get what you like you're the one who lives with it. Personally though I'd go with the 1100s. Adjustable suspension and I think the SSS on the new ones are sweet!.

[stopintime]

  O.K., so what I am hearing is don't buy the 696 because of the looks.....more specifically it doesn't have the round headlight?
 

That's correct 

No, seriously - if you like the 696 it's not going to disappoint you - it's a Ducati [moto]

[z0mb1e_DUC]

No, seriously - if you like the 696 it's not going to disappoint you - it's a Ducati [moto]

That's gospel, right there!

[swampduc]

  O.K., so what I am hearing is don't buy the 696 because of the looks.....more specifically it doesn't have the round headlight?

  Has anyone here actually owned or at least ridden both (beside the one responder who said that they had) that has insight in to the +/- of owning each? 

I've had the 696 and the s2r1000, so not really a direct comparison. But what I can say is that the 696 was an excellent bike in most ways. Very manageable, smooth power delivery, brakes were excellent, steering was quick and true. I didn't care for the (essentially nonadjustable) suspension, but even that didn't bother me til I got a 996 with full Ohlins and realized how important suspension was 
If you buy the 696, I seriously doubt that you'd be disappointed.
Now, i switched to the S2R because of looks and suspension, and the character of the DS engine was a pleasant bonus. But I still think my 696 was an excellent machine. I did have some electrical issues with it, but those were solved by changing the wiring harness, and would have been prevented by a recall Duc has since done where they routed some wires a little further from the vertical cylinder.