Mid-sized Monster 796 Coming to USA

[Travman]

A mid-sized Monster 796 is coming to the US.  It will be priced under $10,000 and will be officially announced in April.  Evidently the 1100 hasn't been selling as well as they hoped for.  Remember the S2R 800 was a great selling bike.  I guess they are hoping for more of the same.

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/22march10_Monster796toUS.htm

[IZ]

They're sending a 796 hypermotard too!

[DucatiTorrey]

interesting. sigh. How long do you think before people start asking about a SSS conversion from it (a la hyper 796)? 

[sbrguy]

real question is will they make this one a wet or a dry clutch?  if its like current trends unfortunately it will be a wet clutch, if they are smart they will make it a dry clutch and it will sell awesome

[DucatiTorrey]

real question is will they make this one a wet or a dry clutch?  if its like current trends unfortunately it will be a wet clutch, if they are smart they will make it a dry clutch and it will sell awesome

yeah, with a dry clutch the 1100 sales will really fall off, all go on sale, and then realize how handsome i am a give me an 1100 for free because noone wants them anymore.

[z0mb1e_DUC]

interesting. sigh. How long do you think before people start asking about a SSS conversion from it (a la hyper 796)? 

Here's your answer:

"Although the 796 will have some budget aspects, it's still not an entry-level bike. The seat height will be the same 31.9 inches as the 1100 (the 696 is 30.3 inches), and it also gets the five-spoke Marchesini wheels and curvy single-sided swingarm from its big brother. The fork will likely be non-adjustable. Although the 796 motor in the Hypermotard makes just one more horse than the 696, that power comes on much sooner than the 696: the torque peak of 55.7 foot-pounds is at 6250 rpm (just a gear down from highway-cruising rev range), where 50.6 foot-pounds from the 696 appears at 7750 rpm. So the new Monster will take up a niche not seen since the Monster S2R 800 was dropped in 2008: lower pricing and less power than the 1100cc two-valve model, but not as basic or budget-oriented as the entry-level bike."

[ducatiz]

it's a good idea, the 800 slot is a great power band overall.  i'd like to see it with the fuel management system and head/valve changes in the 696.

[GLantern]

I think they should have thrown in another 50cc on that bike it isn't going to be much of a difference from a 696 but the upgrade are nice.  Of course i understand the logic since they are just transplanting the Hyper 796 motor into it. I wouldn't be surprised if this actually hurts the 696 sales since there isn't much difference between the 2.  The 696 MSRP is at $9k so if the 796 is going to be under $10k the max it could be is a grand more.  What is a grand more in a loan or when your buying the bike of your dreams?  And with that grand you get more torque, a SSS, nicer wheels, what is not to like?!

[ducatiz]

I think they should have thrown in another 50cc on that bike it isn't going to be much of a difference from a 696 but the upgrade are nice.  Of course i understand the logic since they are just transplanting the Hyper 796 motor into it. I wouldn't be surprised if this actually hurts the 696 sales since there isn't much difference between the 2.  The 696 MSRP is at $9k so if the 796 is going to be under $10k the max it could be is a grand more.  What is a grand more in a loan or when your buying the bike of your dreams?  And with that grand you get more torque, a SSS, nicer wheels, what is not to like?!

watch them drop the prices on the 696 and then discontinue it after 1-2 years.

[Triple J]

watch them drop the prices on the 696 and then discontinue it after 1-2 years.

I was gonna say this is the beginniing of the end for the 696. No reason to buy one now.

[sbrguy]

if you look at it this way.

they keep the 796 at the higher seat height and if they do it with a dry clutch you will still have really new people and shorter riders taking the 696, on the basis of, "why spend the extra 1k on a noisy bike and not much more power and its higher too?".. so for that segment the new bike will not sell nad the 696 will have a place.

the 796 will sell to probably heavier riders or riders that want the dry clutch sound but may still be "newer riders" in the sense that they might not want the 1100 or can't afford the extra 2-3 k for it.

rmemeber they had the s2r800 and discontinued that, but kept the 695 and basically continued that to the 696, if anything past history has shown that the 796 may fail in the long run.  if anything if you guys think the 696 will die out that should have happend with the s2r800 adn that should have killed off the 695 but it didnt.

[Triple J]

Why do you think it is going to be a dry clutch? I'd be really surprised if it was dry.

[sbrguy]

really i don't think it will be a dry clutch, i think they are moving to the wet clutches for all but the top end bikes.

but the oly reason i say its a dryclutch is that the original article said the 796 motor is used, 1100 frame is used and the switch gears i think were mentioned as being the same. so if that is the case i'm thinking it oculd be a dry clutch.
it would be good if ducati for once listened ot the owners that said "the s2r800 would be great if only if had a dry clutch"

[GLantern]

really i don't think it will be a dry clutch, i think they are moving to the wet clutches for all but the top end bikes.

but the oly reason i say its a dryclutch is that the original article said the 796 motor is used, 1100 frame is used and the switch gears i think were mentioned as being the same. so if that is the case i'm thinking it oculd be a dry clutch.
it would be good if ducati for once listened ot the owners that said "the s2r800 would be great if only if had a dry clutch"

It is the same motor as the hypermotard 796 i think it will be wet why not just make it easy and transplant the whole thing?

[Spidey]

It'll be a wet clutch.  I'd bet your life on it.   

I'm really trying to figure out Ducati's marketing moves.  They tried to get away from having too many overlapping options.  Now, they're back to it again.