Off topic - Street Bike Perfection!

Those that know me know of my love for all things motorcycle, and that I've owned many, many bikes over the years

On street bikes, I've had a CB175, a Kawasaki Spectre 1100, a Kawasaki Custom 900, RD350, CBR600F3, CBR900RR, a pile of R6's, a Harley Fat Boy, CBR600RR, etc...

I believe - through my journeys - I've finally found the perfect motorcycle!

There are certain aspects about a streetbike that we all look for.  We just prioritize them differently.  In all the bikes I've owned, non has fit the bill 100%.  For example, I LOVE my CBR600RR, however it is a little too uncomfortable after 30 or so miles.. otherwise it's near perfect.

So what made my 'Perfect' spot?  A Ducati 696 Monster!

Here's why:

1. Reliability.  If you can't ride it without breaking down, it's not worth having.  The Japanese make ultra-reliable bikes - no question about it - but the 2-valve air-cooled Desmo engine in this bike is also bulletproof.  Literally.

2. Comfort.  The supersports (GSXR/CBR/R6, etc..) are just not comfy enough for an all-day ride.  The Harley is too laid back, and at highway speed I feel like I'm being pulled off the back of the bike by the wind, due largely to the "sit back" riding position.  The Ducati has this perfect lean-in.  Not so far forward as to kill your wrists and back, but leaned forward enough to put me in a good position to handle the wind.  I could ride this bike all day long!  The only other bikes I could ride comfortably this long are dirt bikes

3. Economy.  Silly thing gives me 50MPG around town and 55-60 on the highway.  Who could ask for more?  Insurance (full coverage) set me back $36 per month. 7500 mile service interval that involves an oil change and a valve check - Less than $150 at the local shop, and less than $40 if I do it myself.

4. Style.  Japanese racers are styled in an air tunnel.  Aerodynamic?  You bet!  Stylish?  That's in the eye of the beholder.  But the Ducati 696 is just dripping with style!  It's art in motion, not data in a wind tunnel! The Harley seems ho-hum to me no matter how much chrome I bolt on it..

5. Performance.  Let's face it - we get bikes because they are wicked fast.  A modern 600cc RR will power-wheelie in the first 3 gears, and turn in a sub 11 second 1/4 mile.  The Duc won't do that, but it's still wickedly fast!  It will 0-60 in under 3 seconds and turn in a 12 second quarter mile stock.  Most Ferrari's don't stand a chance.  It will outrun my M3, and that car is scary-fast.  Cornering is unbelievable too! I have never been on a bike that handled so flawlesly.

Finally, there is the matter of 'soul'.  My Japanes bikes have always been technical masterpieces of precision, especially the CBR600RR and the CBR900RR.  They are clearly designed and built by meticulous and talented engineers. My current CBR, for example, feels like it's got an electric motor in it. Dial the throttle and power is metered in with absolute linearity and preision.  But alas, it has no soul.  It's technically perfect, but it's a heartless machine.  The Ducati has a soul. I can feel it!  It's a little cranky in the morning.  It 'purrs' and then rumbles down the road, then howls like a banshee when I open it up.  It's got .. something.. I can't put my finger on, so all I can call it is soul, and I've never felt this out of a bike before.

I've never been 100% satisfied with a bike until now - after 22 years on streetbikes!  I can honestly say I could (and would) ride THIS bike till the end of my days. It's THAT amazing!

If any of you are contemplating a street bike, give this one a test. Your priorities in a bike may not match mine, but all of them are met with spades on the Ducati.

I'm in love with this Italian - can ya tell?!    
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Here we go again!

I remember when they came out Skip, and I instantly liked there look. I liked the Speed Triple as well.
Always been a fan of naked sport bikes. Just never had 10k to spend on a bike. When will you get the 996 monster?  
+++++++++++++++++++++

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

I remember drooling over the original 900 Monster back in the mid nineties when I worked at the dealership.  They would start those bikes up for the customer and the deep throaty sound was a big selling point.  Which leads me to question Why not the bigger engine on your choice?  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

sounds like a sweet bike!  Ducati's are very nice...a friend has the Ducati 748...it was real fun to ride on.  
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"Only the desert has a fascination to ride alone in the sun in the forever unpossessed country away from man. That is a great temptation."
--D.H. Lawrence

street bikes are gay  
__
07 kx450f

thats opion craig not fact!!!
its a matter of preference
thats a sweet bike skipper
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

bhorrigan:
I remember drooling over the original 900 Monster back in the mid nineties when I worked at the dealership.  They would start those bikes up for the customer and the deep throaty sound was a big selling point.  Which leads me to question Why not the bigger engine on your choice?

Darn good question, Bill!

The answer lies in what I like to call the Porsche Boxter effect.  Like it or hate it, the Boxter is one of the purist, most refined Porsche ever made.  The engine power is perfectly balanced with the chassis - everything working at a common limit.

... and along came the Boxter S.  Bigger engine, heavier duty parts to accomidate that engine.  It's a great car, but in 'powering it up', the car lost it's balance.  Instead of railing around corners with the tires at the limit of adhesion, the S engine overpowers the rear of the car and it get's twisted out of shape.

The 696 engine is a perfect fit for the Monster chassis.  Everything is in balance.  Although I think the larger model is nice, my sense is that the addition of 2o ft lbs of torque is going to upset this wonderful chassis.  Also, to handle thar power they had to fit a larger 180 rear tire.  The agile handling of the 696 owes a lot to the narrower section tire it can run.  
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Here we go again!

did you test ride the 900 monster skip?
do they let you test ride them?
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

I test rode a 900 Monster YEARS ago!  I can't even remember what it felt like.  I've not ridden the new 'Big' monster yet, as my dealer doesn't have one on the floor.  I understand there's a waiting list a mile long for my bike's big brother, though!

Generally speaking, the Ducati dealer around here won't let people test the bikes.. however I'm a good customer, so they make exceptions for me  
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Here we go again!

oh so you cant just walk in & expect a test ride?
that has to be a down fall of buying a bike new is if they dont let you test ride it
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

When I walk in I expect to ride whatever I wish.  They don't tell me 'no' because I never ask to ride something I'm not seriously interested in, and I buy at least 75% of the bikes I am interested in enough to test. I would say most people who ask to ride a Ducati are not allowed a test ride, though.

It's a reall bummer when a dealer won't let a customer test ride a bike - however, they have to be careful.  If an unknown rider off the street dumps a $20,000 Ducati, the dealer is SOL...  
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Here we go again!

Good point skip, Even with dirt bikes.  
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DIABETES SUX!

huh i figured they would make you sign a deal that if you crashed you would buy the bike
or something
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks

I used to get to ride all the demo bikes, and I was a 19 year old punk.  It helps that I was the dealerships inventory clerk, and had to use a company vehicle to travel a lot.  

Bill H.
Temperance, Mi
2000 CR250R
1991 YZ125

haha ya bill that might help
DavidS  
i take a lot of pride in what i am

___________________
ride: 02yz426
local: north east Oregon

terrain type woods with lots of roots & rocks