carrying a passenger, seat and howl old should I go questions

[hector]

I am looking into a used ducati monster and my wife would love to be a passenger on it.
What did you experience in carrying a passenger on it?
I am 6 feet, 165 lbs. Wife is around 5'8"-5'9".

I started looking into used one and noticed that a lot of them come with just driver seat (http://www.ducati.com/bikes/monster/696/index.do)

There aren't a lot with passenger seat (http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/...ure217211.html)

Is it easy to replace single seat into a seat with passenger? How much does it cost to do so?

**How old should I go question**
I am looking for a used one and would not like to spend more than $5k on it. How old should I go? Are there particular models that I should avoid?

I was looking at CL and came across this: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/3106716416.html
its 96 M900 with 75k on it. Yellow color looks sexy and I am not sure I should check it out or not because it is around 18 yrs old.

[ZLTFUL]

What you are seeing is a cowl that covers the passenger seat. It can be removed when riding with a passenger and put back on when alone.

[MikeZ]

The Monster is OK for 2 up as long as you don't try great distances.  Some have toured on them but in most cases the pillion's seat is a bit small for a full day of riding.

[hector]

What you are seeing is a cowl that covers the passenger seat. It can be removed when riding with a passenger and put back on when alone.

Thanks. That helped.

[Chucko9-696]

My girlfriend is 5'10" and sometimes feels a lil cramped on the back of my monster she is good with short trips about 30 min. or so

[PhilB]

As noted above, all Monsters can carry passengers, by removing the plastic cowl over the rear seat.  But none of them do it very well.

For the older Monsters, a Corbin seat helps a bit, as it is scooped out for the passenger so the seat is at least concave, and doesn't slope to the rear.  Even so, 50-60 miles is about the limit of goodness.  If you are looking at it for short fun rides two-up, it will do the job.  Touring, not so much.  It's really the *only* thing the Monster isn't good at.

I was looking for a while at getting another bike for two-up rides, but instead I bought my wife her own Monster and we ride together that way.

PhilB

[brimo]

I got hold of a second seat, scooped out the rear portion of foam and with a sheepskin on top made it pretty comfortable for touring.
There is a how to modify your seat thread in "accessories and mods"

[hector]

I got hold of a second seat, scooped out the rear portion of foam and with a sheepskin on top made it pretty comfortable for touring.
There is a how to modify your seat thread in "accessories and mods"

I will look for that thread. thanks

I was slight concerned regarding getting a monster and having a passenger on it. but thanks to you guys, I am not that worried now.

[grunte]

My first duc was a 96 m900.  I really loved riding it.  The only thing that really bothered me was that it was a carburtated engine.  When I wanted to start it up in the morning and the temp was below 60 degrees it would not start.  I had to dump gas into the air breather...then it would start.  This would add frustration to my morning before work.     I now have my 08 S2R that fires up even in the cold 20 to 30 degree weather!

[pitbull]

my girl could ride pillion for full weekend and long day rides when she was in her 20's. She's 35 now and all the years of sports and working out leave her knees far to cramped and sore to ride more than a couple hours.

So, like PhilB, she now has her own monster, but she still likes to ride pillion once in awhile.

[SDRider]

I ride with my wife on my M1100 EVO but it isn't the best bike for 2 up riding IMO.  I think a Multistrada would be a much better choice.  My wife is 5'4" and 125lbs.

If you are new to riding I would learn to ride solo and gain some experience before attempting to ride with a passenger.  I'd say a few thousand miles at least.