Monster 1100EVO vs. Sport 1000S

[The ModFather]

I'm looking at selling (or keeping if I cant get what I want for it) my 2005 Monster 620 and getting a new Duc with some more power. The two bikes I've set my sights on are the Monster 1100EVO or a Sport 1000S. Love the Monster handling and it's super fun to ride but that Sport 1K is gorgeous and quickly becoming collectible. Looking for insights or opinions on one versus the other from the folks on this forum as they're always very informative.

Thanks! 

[Travman]

Get which ever one appeals to you on a visceral level. But if it was my choice it would be the Monster. It is more comfortable. The engine is a little more sophisticated. The suspension and brakes are better. Also the Monster has its own look. The Sport Classic has a borrowed look which IMO is a flawed version. Sport Classics have several flaws which prevent them from achieving a great classic look.  The tank and tail piece look too chubby. There is too much air space under the rear fender. Also, the ass-in the air stance is just wrong for a classic look. 

[Travman]

...and the Sport Classics have the expanding plastic tank.

[SpikeC]

 When I first saw a Sport Classic in the flesh I was very dissapointed in how fat the tank and seat looked. They are fine from the side, butt from above? Eew!

[MojoWorking]

Monster 1100 Evo.

[He Man]

ive ridden both.

i own a 1100EVO motor thats been dyno tuned to 95rwhp. i also owned the 1000DS motor. id go for 1100EVO hands down.

[77south]

Put simply, a Sport1000S is a great bike to look at, but if you want to make it ride as good as looks, you will be spending some serious cash and reducing its collectability.  I own a 2008 sport1000S biposto, so I like to think I know what I am talking about.  The sport1000S looks like an early '70s race bike.  Because of that, it has the ergos of an early '70s race bike.  I am 5'10" and feel like I am stretched out over the tank to grab the bars.  The bars cannot be raised much or they will hit the fairing.  It has spoked wheels.  They are heavy rotating unsprung mass, and will reduce the bike's agility compared to the monster.  Replacing the wheels is a common mod for people who want performance out of their Sport1000S.

 In fact many Sport 1000S owners replace the entire fork/front brake/wheels with the ones from a 999.   If you want a bike that you will love the looks of but have to modify pretty heavily to get it to compete with other Ducs with similar engines, you may be looking at $6000-$8000 (ohlins forks and rear shocks are rare and getting rarer for this bike) in mods before you even look at things like a tail tidy or engine mods. The price of a Sport1000S is the down payment on the mods.  

If you have the cash, that may not be an issue, if you don't you will have great looking bike, that isn't very comfortable (for me) and isn't as nimble as it could be.  That said, it is still the best performing retro bike you can find and will handily outperform Triumphs (Bonnevilles and Thruxtons) and Royal Enfields and Moto Guzzis (whatever their cafe racer looking bike is).  If you want it, it's a great bike, just know what you are getting first. And what you are getting is not a performance bike.

[DRKWNG]

The Sport Classic has a borrowed look which IMO is a flawed version. Sport Classics have several flaws which prevent them from achieving a great classic look.  The tank and tail piece look too chubby. There is too much air space under the rear fender. Also, the ass-in the air stance is just wrong for a classic look. 

[Travman]

I like the Sport Classic looks. They just weren't designed exactly the way I would have done it. I'm surprised you haven't sold yours for $20K now that Sport Classic prices have skyrocketed.

[DRKWNG]

I'm surprised you haven't sold yours for $20K now that Sport Classic prices have skyrocketed.

Had some solid offers on it when it was for sale earlier in the year, but none high enough to see it leave the garage.

[SDRider]

One of my best friends and regular riding buds has a Sport Classic GT1000.  He has done a ton of mods to it including upgrading the wheels/brakes from an ST3 (or ST4, I can never remember which one is the almost direct swap).  It is a very cool looking bike and he certainly has no trouble keeping up with me in the canyons on it.  I've ridden it, rode it right after he bought it in fact and it is the reason I own a Ducati Monster 1100 EVO.  I was really impressed with it.

I'd get whichever bike you like the most.  If you can find a good deal on the Sport and you dig it, then get it.  You'll never lose money on it.  My friend bought his new in 2007 and he could sell it today for what he paid for it.  Not many bikes could make that claim... I know mine isn't worth what I paid for it today.

[Stabel1]

Since I have both of em (1100EVO and 2006 SC) i can tell you that they are great bikes. Each in its own way.
The monster i a great modern bike which can be used for almost any purpose (daily way to work, longer bike trips and a fun day) and it comes with ABS, traction control and slipper clutch.

The Sport Classic is a cafe racer which is a lot of fun to ride with rather modern mechanics and performance...but not for too long distances and great to modify (the original setup for example is not as bad as they say, and you can switch to adjustable Showa forks from a monster which are alot cheaper than öhlins and not too bad either).
The rims are heavier than the 999 ones, that is true bu t in the 1000S they have atleast lighter aluminium rims than in the 1000GT. And you will get alot more comments on it than on the monster.

They are both great bikes, you just have to decide on what you are looking for in a bike.

[HotIce]

Love that SC! 

[DRKWNG]

 

[The ModFather]

Yeah the obvious correct answer to which one I should get is clearly.... BOTH!!! Unfortunately limited funding makes this impossible in the short term but hopefully I can get one now and the other later. My fear is the cost and availability of a Sport 1000 with limited miles on it will become more expensive and harder to find.