monster mania

[rufus1138]

k, need some advice from the monster community.

a little background first, im an aircraft mechanic, being a mechanic has been a life dream for me. I love working on engines (I build jet engines for the airforce training program in Pensacola currently). started riding on two strokes offroad, had a 2004 Yamaha blaster 200, thing was so much fun, traded that for a 96 cr125r (motor was built by eric gorr), that thing was positively terrifying and I loved it. then I discovered the joy of street riding, had a 2004 r6s that was imported from japan by a g.i., sn was sold in Tokyo according to Yamaha, that bike was awesome, I loved the screaming top end and how the power commander had been tuned to kindof emulate the powerband hit of a two stroke. I still lust for a street legal two stroke.

now since Saturday im breaking in a 2014 baby monster for the wife, she's gonna steal it when she gets her endorsement and we have the 600mi service done, so far I freakin love this engine, the sound above 4k at full throttle is like cocaine in my ears, cant wait to take her to the redline, so my question is, as my love affair with ducati grows what would you guys pick for something that has a little more punch than the 696, but is still light and flickable.

anyone with a history similar to mine that loves two strokes here that can chime in would be awesome.

what monsters should I try to get rides on. (aside from all of them ofcourse)

[DucDucGoos]

All of them are fun. I've had a 620 and currently have a S2r1000. All of the 2V are pretty torquey, when you go to a 4v like the s4r it has more top end power (that 8k-10k range). Of the older body styles, I like the s2r1000. Then you also have a choice do you want a wet clutch or dry clutch?? The newer monster 1100 had a wet clutch. If you're like me, the smaller bike is fun for a while, then you just crave more power, so I would just jump to the bigger. I've also ridden the new 1200 which wasn't too bad. It was very smooth feeling, but then it has the ride by wire- which you can love or hate. Going over bumps causes your hand to move slightly, which effects the throttle, and there is just no feeling to it.
I have a RD350 and understand that 2stroke kick! It's a sensation and experience! For me I've had the most fun on the 1000 and 1100 bikes

[ducpainter]

I grew up w/ two strokes.

There isn't a Ducati made that has the power hit like that. That said, the newer the bike, the more refined they are. Some of the older 4V bikes did make power in a raw kind of way. The long stroke engines in particular like the 916 and 996.

The newest ones make it so smoothly and so much of it you don't realize you're going to jail until you look at the speedo.

I think you'd like an S4R.

[rufus1138]

oh no......not expecting a two stroke like hit from a monster at all, im gonna get me an rz350 to sate that hunger, I just love the refined, high class feel of this little baby monster, been eye-balling the 821, especially liking the idea of that dvt stuff. I have the wife's permission to consider new bikes as well, she's in love with ducati so she wouldn't batt an eye at me snagging a new one, ive come back away from wanting one of the superbikes just because of their higher rate of failure/pushing the envelope with what the engineers have fully figured out yet.

if you had it to do would u get a nicely kept old one like an old long stroker or would u have the new refinement, is the new feel worth it? is the sound and feel on the bigger ones in any way similar to the baby monster?

[ducpainter]

I'd get an older one. Many here will disagree.

I like the way they look better than either gen of the newer Monsters.

Many of the upgrades on the new bike are in electronics and the engines. Being the dinosaur I am I don't have much use for the electronics. I mean what good is a digital display you can't see when it's in the sun? If you need ABS you were going too fast or are too inexperienced...or most likely a combination.

The engines in the new bikes are reported to be excellent, but the old ones were not slouches.  Being a skilled mechanic is in your favor if you decide on a 4V as you'll most likely twist the wrenches yourself. The biggest downside to Ducati ownership for most is the cost of maintenance be it 2 or 4V, but the 4V can get scary if you're paying out of pocket.

Any Duc you buy will have the 'sound and feel'. You can hear any Ducati coming from a mile away.

Buy whatever bike speaks to you.

[rufus1138]

thanks painter, sounds like I need to see and test ride some old monsters, personally I like the look of the aluminum subframe models, the old ones are sexy don't get me wrong but its just a thing for me, cant put my finger on it. I like the idea of the old motors and I would love to do some of the work myself and I will but part of any bike I get is going to be that I don't have time or the place to do it, I also happen to have an excellent shop with good owners (good friends too) that will be doing all the heavy lifting that would be inappropriate maintenance to accomplish in a gravel parking lot lol. the electronics intrigue me as well as the newer motors.  talked to the wife at lunch and I think the probable path is going to be an rz350 later this year and then a monster for me...definitely need to see what that dvt is like once they drop it in a m series bike 

[Ducatamount]

Are you youngish? You will like the newer ones better.
Are you oldish? You will like the older ones better.
Why is this so? I don't know but it goes for almost anything with a motor.
This is a generalization. I have no research or facts to back this up, only gut feeling.
YMMV

[DucDucGoos]

If you're looking at the 821, I would test ride the 1200 also.

The 821 felt as slow as my 620- which was no faster then my rd350 lol

[rufus1138]

definitely gonna try both the 821 and the 1200s, power isn't as important to me as feel and handling, gotta be light on its feet, I wont own a brick, even a fast one (cough cough busa). however ive been looking at the s4 and I like that one a lot, the s2 doesn't speak to me quite as much but I should still ride one if I get the chance, could blow me away.

[lightspd]

definitely gonna try both the 821 and the 1200s, power isn't as important to me as feel and handling, gotta be light on its feet, I wont own a brick, even a fast one (cough cough busa). however ive been looking at the s4 and I like that one a lot, the s2 doesn't speak to me quite as much but I should still ride one if I get the chance, could blow me away.

While, I ride a Duc, I just had to share this video, because I do have a soft spot for busa's and think it shows they can turn better than one thinks.  I actually like their look.

On a more direct note, no matter which one you choose, they're all good.

[Curmudgeon]

Just my $0.02, but try an 1100 EVO too if you can find one. More power than I needed last time, so went 796 which is the same chassis. Can't imagine you'd need more power than an EVO in this country. 

Agree with painter on the 4V. They do 140 MPH in a very sneaky manner.  Quite smooth but $$$ to maintain if you don't need an SBK powerband.

[Slide Panda]

Wild card! Previous gen of Hypermotoard -1100cc air cooled... Weeee!

[rufus1138]

Wild card! Previous gen of Hypermotoard -1100cc air cooled... Weeee!

I like the look of the hyper's but unfortunately im too short and would have to lower it till it was basically a monster anyway lol. anyone had the chance to ride a s2 1000 back to back with a 696?

[twolanefun]

Seriously buy a FI 900 and ride it for a year or so then move up if your heart desires, as other have said the latest generation is more refined and also the service interval is nice but that will cost you not only for the initial purchase but also insurance, Don't get me wrong the new technology is awesome, love my Diavel, but my M900 is still an awesome ride and I'll never get rid of it. - Gene

[rufus1138]

Seriously buy a FI 900 and ride it for a year or so then move up if your heart desires, as other have said the latest generation is more refined and also the service interval is nice but that will cost you not only for the initial purchase but also insurance, Don't get me wrong the new technology is awesome, love my Diavel, but my M900 is still an awesome ride and I'll never get rid of it. - Gene

I think the new ones are the way im gonna go, been doing a lot of research based on what you guys have suggested, bottom line is that maintenance cost isn't a big issue to me, ive got the bug from riding the 696 and honestly curb weight and power to weight ratio is important to me. in that light, running the numbers puts the 821 monster at the top of the list, I agree that fi is important but overall its gonna come down to power/weight with the lower weight being the priority. that 821 is killer compared to all the other models ive looked at, ive never been really impressed with any bikes over 400lbs, hard to quantify but I just don't like em once that magical 400lbs barrier has been violated, honestly if they hadn't killed off the 696 id be pretty tempted to get his and hers models lol, that thing is killer. but I the 821 is pulling hard at me from a visual and a numbers standpoint.

ill still have a smoker soon, the dealership im working with has actually put the bug in my ear that they can get me a street titled ktm 300xcw, and we talked shortly about the possibility of custom ordering one from the factory with the supermoto kit for the 690 installed, that would be an epic ride for around town and cheap to maintain, ive already had thoughts of getting one of those and lowering it, custom subframe with a street style seat and a full fairing  . so we will see where this goes. really appreciate the input and ill still try to get some seat swapping time on some old monsters if the opportunity presents itself.