Going back to a Monster, need some advice

[dankatz]

I am lucky enough to have a few bikes. My Monster 696 was my fun bike that I used for going out on twisty rides, one track day, and in town going out. After 4 years I replaced it with a Triumph Daytona 675 (the gen 2, 2009) - what a bike! Beautiful, powerful, light, etc...despite being a more aggressive sports bike I found the suspension, especially the forks, much better.  My Daytona has an arrow exhaust and a few tasteful mods. It's been a year and I have been thinking of going back to Ducati (with maybe the only exception a Street Triple R). I miss the character of my Monster. I feel it was a better city bike and I felt more comfortable pushing it in the corners than I feel the Daytona. Maybe, I am just not good enough for the Daytona.  I have been researching a lot about the used monsters. I think I want something a little more powerful than my 696 (with 14T and Termi) was. I can't decide between the 796, 1100M or 1100 Evo. I have researched the threads that compared them new. Now, that they are used, the price difference is not as high. Are the 796 non-adjustable forks as stiff as the 696? Is the 1100M heat issue a big one? Is the 1100 engine in general not a good city engine? Is one more reliable than the other? It sounds like I would want to put a 14T in the front on all of them as their gearing is taller than the stock 696. Is the 1100 Evo's range significantly smaller than the 796? I heard the 796 is supposed to have a lighter and more economical engine than the 696. Any advice is appreciated.

[StephenC]

I can only compare the 1100 with the Street Triple.  The bottom line - see which one I am riding!  I don't have much city traffic on my commute and suspect the clutch might get a bit heavy after a while.  Otherwise I have no issues with traffic and filter etc without issue.  The engine gets hot, but not uncomfortably so.  My Monster has Ohlin's, so no issues there!  The Street Triple was a much smoother ride but lacked soul.

[ungeheuer]

I have owned M696.... traded it for M1100s.   Vary happy with that swap.  M696 was a good thing, M1100s is more of a good thing.

M1100s:
Ohlins adj. suspenders at each end.
Dual Spark.
Dry clutch.

Heat issue?  Sure with the stock exhaust it can get a little discomforting on a hot day.  Not significantly worse that M696 though (and same exhaust routing as M796).  I wouldn't even rate it as an "issue" and certainly wouldn't let that dissuade me.  

[dankatz]

What about the 796 VS 1100? Should I just go for the 1100 since the price difference is small used? I even see some 1100 evo for a reasonable price and am just confused what I should go for. I suspect a test ride is needed

[ungeheuer]

Less, is less.

Test ride 'em both.

And then buy the 1100 

[stopintime]

I read between the lines that you WANT an 1100, so that's what you should get  

If you insist going a few rounds of sensible thinking first:
Maintenance is very similar, lost value by years/mileage is equal, insurrance maybe a tiny bit higher than a 796 (check first), suspension better (?), clutch can be made lighter, gearing changes are available for all, joy of ownership favors the 1100 ......

[mickb]

go for the 1100(S), you'll only feel you're mssing the extra torque / hp by going lower. If you feel exhaust heat is an issue, you can always ceramic-coat the pipes

[koko64]

The torque of the 1100 is intoxicating.

[Raux]

The S for the suspension. Evo for a couple of extra hp.

[The ModFather]

If you get the 796 you'll always wonder "should I have gotten the 1100?" if you get the 1100 I doubt you'll ever wonder if you should've gotten the 796. And I agree drop the extra and get the S. Personally I'd pick up a used 1200S ...they're popping up now.

[dankatz]

OK, 1200S is way over my budget. In fact, my budget is very much dictated by how much I will get for my 2009 Daytona and is likely at $8k top. The 1100S are very hard to find. I did see one recently that also had ABS, was a 2010, but $9k asking is a little too much for me right now. Besides the forks being adjustable, is the 1100 stock suspension better than the 796? Also, is driveability in the city very different for the 1100? My 696 was actually quite good with the 14T mod. When warmed up it was fine form about 2500 rpm on.

[Raux]

The suspension upgrade for my 696, 1198 forks with ohlins and racetech internals was night and day... suspension will always be my number 1 on bikes as power isnt truly useable on the street. The low end tq of my 944 st is great  and the 696 has more than enough power just have to use gears more. Honestly if you get a 696 with 1100s suspension that would be the best street bike to me.

[dankatz]

The suspension upgrade for my 696, 1198 forks with ohlins and racetech internals was night and day... suspension will always be my number 1 on bikes as power isnt truly useable on the street. The low end tq of my 944 st is great  and the 696 has more than enough power just have to use gears more. Honestly if you get a 696 with 1100s suspension that would be the best street bike to me.

I agree. But, how much did it cost to do that suspension upgrade? I feel when you have to do it yourself it is thousands of $$$. My biggest concern was the stiff fork and I wonder if that is a relatively cheap modification.

[Raux]

I think i paid 600 for the forks and had i not had custom triples wouldnt have needed the extra 450 for triples.

[Curmudgeon]

I agree. But, how much did it cost to do that suspension upgrade? I feel when you have to do it yourself it is thousands of $$$. My biggest concern was the stiff fork and I wonder if that is a relatively cheap modification.

You should ride both and see what speaks to you. 796 and EVO share the same chassis. As for the fork, if you had the Showa, the Marzocchi on the 796 is better..., decent actually. Just don't expect $$$ SBK. Mine has never done anything wrong. It could be smoother. Better oil may take care of that. Hope to switch from Shell to Red Line 10W shortly to find out.  The Sachs I switched out to cheap Ohlins before taking delivery. Fits both BTW. IMO both can still use a 14T too because both are geared identically..., and higher stock than a 696.

Ride them! I bought a 796 because I didn't need an 1100. As it is, the bike wants to go everywhere at 80+.  796 may be a hair smoother since the "bangs" aren't as big. Hydraulic wet APTC clutch is nice on the 796 too.

As for heat, the 796 has the flapper valve under the seat which in HOT weather can get warmish, otherwise I barely notice. Haven't ridden an Evo enough to compare..., but YOU can.