The Official 696 APPRECIATION Thread!!!

[the ron]

I wanted the 621 but I heard it had odometer problems. That can affect resale value.

funniest retort i have ever heard lol...... still lol...... 

the" i wish more people new the back story so they could appreciate that reply"  ron


still laughing

[Spider]

I think that people shouldn't just look at the bike and make an expression about the looks...because this board proves that the monster is one of the most heavily modified bikes out there.

So I waited, on the fence, and then downloaded the accessories catalog...now tell me there aren't going to be some great bikes out there!....darks with carbon...guys will get one tank panel white, the other red and paint the centre plastic part green for the 696 tricolore, it is going to be brilliant seeing what ducati riders do with this machine to individualize it.

I like to think of Monsters as a good base to be given touches of the rider's personality. The 696 is a great base!

There is so much to be positive about!

It is definitely poor form to post negative comments in an appreciation thread, similar to posting pictures of yourself sitting on a bike in sub-par riding gear in the gear section 

[mstevens]

downloaded the accessories catalog

Where did you find that to download?

[Blackout]

The 696 looks like a pretty cool bike up close and in person. One of the local dealers has a white one in stock outfitted with Termi slip ons. The thing sounds pretty good, too. The sales manager is a friend of mine and usually brings out a 1098 or a GT1000 to our local bike nights (on another forum). He's probably gonna bring out the 696 this week and let me take it for a ride.
The bike probably puts out similar power to my 800.
If I needed a third bike I might buy one.

[CINDESMO]

This weekend I was able to log about 80 miles on a 696 demo and all I can say is "What a fun bike!"  Truly the lightest, tightest turning, most nimble monster I have ridden. The Siemens fuel injection is SWEET!  Smooth, yet responsive.  The brakes...well, they are radial mounted calipers so that pretty much speaks for itself.  They more than stop the bike adequately and they work really nice with the Showa front forks. 

In the local 25-30mph curves I simply rode around in second gear and never really thought about shifting.  Getting on the freeway, the bike gets up to speed very quickly and then some!  Probably due to a combination of the 696 power and the light weight of the bike.  It is really smooth cruising down the freeway.

I found the ergonomics to be very user friendly - the pegs are in a cozy spot yet you can still put the balls of your feet on them for more spirited riding; the seat puts you forward and holds you there; the tank feels narrow like the 1098; the reach to the bars was nice and neutral - easy to get your elbows down for cornering but not committed like clip ons.  Unlike my 2000 M900S, I didn't ever feel like I really needed to change positions approaching a corner.  Although the seat height is a tad lower than the M620/M695/M750D it seems even lower because the bike doesn't have the pegs and peg brackets poking on your leg forcing you to bend your knee.

I am sure that I am forgetting something...but basically, it was easy and fun to ride - a great all around package.  For the record - I am 5'1" and have ridden a wide range of Monsters.

Cindy

[JWG]

I have about 170 miles on my new white 696 and every mile has been a blast (even during break-in).  I have found that I need to "re-adjust" where I place my butt, but it's not very often.  The reach is perfect, and pegs are in the perfect spot for not taking one in the leg when walking the bike.  I have ridden my friends S2R800 and the 696 seems much more nimble.  I'm 5'10 and about 135lbs.  This bike feels like I was born with it attached.  Stock exhaust sounds okay, but looks a little funny.  Headlight has really grown on me.  Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better bike.  [moto]

[monster696]

Where did you find that to download?

No answer yet?? so if you shoot me a PM w/email address I'll send it to you.
I don't have a link, the pdf was sent to me by a local Duc dealer.

Excellent review also, Cindy.

[Howie]

Did any of you folks who put mileage on the 696 notice oil temperature?

[SteveH]

Did any of you folks who put mileage on the 696 notice oil temperature?

Ya - The weather here has been from the low 70's to mid 80's.  Forgive me, but I cannot remember the specific ranges that the oil temp reads; but I see usually 3 bars in usual riding, and 4 bars through the twisties.  I have about 210mi on it so far...

[johnster]

I was talking to msincredible ( ) about how her 695 is so much fun because the whole powerband can be used on the street + in the twistys, whereas the S4 is such that you can't open it up to its fullest potential most of the time....

-This is the main reason I would love to test a 696....It just seems like so much more of its power can be utilized in everyday riding, thereby "making more sense" for a wider range of riding applications...

[CINDESMO]

Did any of you folks who put mileage on the 696 notice oil temperature?

I only looked down at it a couple of times...since my bike doesn't have an oil guage I didn't really pay attention.  Sorry!

Compared to the other small displacement Monsters - there was less shifting.  I would be more inclined to hop on the 696 and ride to the store and back then the other Monsters.

[Snips]

Did any of you folks who put mileage on the 696 notice oil temperature?

The bar gauge sits at 3 bars - the manual would convert that to a temp range. I haven't played much with the modes to see the actual temp reading. I used to get stressed doing that when running in my 620, until I learnt not to worry about it so much.

[JWG]

Ya - The weather here has been from the low 70's to mid 80's.  Forgive me, but I cannot remember the specific ranges that the oil temp reads; but I see usually 3 bars in usual riding, and 4 bars through the twisties.  I have about 210mi on it so far...

Same here.  I was a little worried when it got up to four bars but that was after about 40mins of back road twisties.  Seems to be running nicely.  Not much heat on my legs either.

[mstevens]

No answer yet?? so if you shoot me a PM w/email address I'll send it to you.
I don't have a link, the pdf was sent to me by a local Duc dealer.

Oh, well. Part of the reason I asked was that I was hoping I could find a downloadable accessories catalog for my 620.

[PizzaMonster]

I finally got to see a 696 in a dealership the other day.  Although the salesman was a complete POS the bike really surprised me. 

It still looks a little Japanese to me and I'm not about to abandon the "classic" Monster style but the new Monster is still very much a Monster.  I suppose this is 2008 and I can't expect the old design to last forever.  It will do Ducati well.

I wanted to sit on it and try it for feel but I guess I didn't look like a potential sale to the salesguy.     He would do fine in Hardley Ableson dealership.  Oh well.  His loss.