YAMT:Ducati monster 620 as first bike?

[freebee]

Having seen everyone around me in my beginner msf class getting bikes that are either ultra conservative (ninja 250, buell blast) or ultra hardcore (r6, gsxr600, cbr, etc.)

I'm looking for a nice, attractive, easy-to-ride first bike....that is fairly distinctive....no generic Japanese bikes. Thinking about this one: a new Ducati monster 620. Linkage

Cost not really an issue. i've dumped my s2000 funds into buying motorcycle gear, still looking for an Arai and Alpinestars SMX suit that fit my fat belly.

Anyone own one? or maybe a previous gen monster 600? What yall think?

 

[The Stigenator]

i would not recommend a ducati as a first bike.

1. they are expensive to maintain
2. they can be expensive to fix.. anything italian is expensive. You are bound to drop it, so just get a ninja 250, or a gs500f or older gs500 or a ninja500..

dont get an R6 or anything else in the supersport category.

if you want to live.. start small.

 

[notfred]

Get this one

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: notfred
Get this one

Eventually I've always been a big fan of the Italian sportbikes. However, I think if I ever develop the ability to ride those bikes, I'd probably prefer a much cheaper Japanese bike that can offer comparable performance.

Its just at this time, as a first bike, I need a little bit more flash since I won't look right with 2 grand worth of gear on the back of a little Ninja.

 

[boyRacer]

*SQUID ALERT*

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: freebee

Originally posted by: notfred
Get this one

Eventually I've always been a big fan of the Italian sportbikes. However, I think if I ever develop the ability to ride those bikes, I'd probably prefer a much cheaper Japanese bike that can offer comparable performance.

Its just at this time, as a first bike, I need a little bit more flash since I won't look right with 2 grand worth of gear on the back on a little Ninja.

Eventually? That bike is almost an S2000. :laugh:

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: bR
*SQUID ALERT*

Nah, not me. I work in insurance. I'm at the receiving end of all the mistakes that most new bikers make. Having taken more than a few claims from kids on liter bikes and are either injured or dead, I know where my limits are.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: freebee

Originally posted by: bR
*SQUID ALERT*

Nah, not me. I work in insurance. I'm at the receiving end of all the mistakes that most new bikers make. Having taken more than a few claims from kids on liter bikes and are either injured or dead, I know where my limits are.

I was just kidding.

 

[Whisper]

Ducatis are great, but they're very finicky. They have more attitude than most other methods of transportation that I can think of...but the payoff is so worth it. As a first bike though, I'm not sure. Then again, I can't make you any recommendations, either.

 

[nan0bug]

Buy a VROD

 

[KingNothing]

If cost isn't an object and you want something distinctive, maybe a BMW bike? Don't see too many of those around, and they're probably more forgiving than a Ducati. Don't know for sure though.

I just bought a 1999 Suzuki SV650 as my first bike. I like it so far. The newer models come with a half-fairing, mine is a naked bike.

 

[Greyd]

I hear Ducatis can be very hard on the back if you ride for extended periods of time.

 

[Mnementh]

Originally posted by: KingNothing
If cost isn't an object and you want something distinctive, maybe a BMW bike? Don't see too many of those around, and they're probably more forgiving than a Ducati. Don't know for sure though.

I just bought a 1999 Suzuki SV650 as my first bike. I like it so far. The newer models come with a half-fairing, mine is a naked bike.

There's a reason you don't see many BMW's around it ain't cause they're something different, it's cause they're ugly, slow, have high fuel consumption and are downright boring to ride...

SV650's are great first "big" bikes, they've got good handling and enough power to have fun with but they won't throw you off at the smallest mistake like the current sports classes.

Don't consider buying a Duke unless you like repairing/maintaining a bike more than riding it, the majority of dukes are also very uncomfortable for any sort of long stint (more than an hour), though there's nothing quite like the meaty sound of a V-Twin

 

[silverpig]

I heard all the rumours about duc's repair records so I went and asked a few duc owners and dealers when I was thinking of buying. They said they're no different than any other bike. Other than general maintenance (oil, chain...) the only time you'd have to bring it in is if YOU fvck it up. monsters have no fairing so it's not like a huge road rash scar will show up on one for dropping it.

Go on some bike forums where a lot of people actually have them and ask.

 

[CVSiN]

Ducati is a nice bike if you have tons of cash to pay in labor fees...
they are just like an Italian sports car.. they have very sensitive valve trains...
the monster is a great bike but with that Desmo valve train be prepared to have it serviced every few 1000 miles at the cost of over 500 bucks a pop...
not counting normal motocycle maintainance.

the bike itself is nice... the maintanance fees and frequent valve adjsutments are not..
also this is very uncomfortable bike...
as one of the previous posters said..

there are WAY better V twin sporty bikes out there for way less..

I like Ducati but i like my bike in my garage or under me.. not sitting in the shop costing me money.

 

[Mnementh]

Originally posted by: silverpig
I heard all the rumours about duc's repair records so I went and asked a few duc owners and dealers when I was thinking of buying. They said they're no different than any other bike. Other than general maintenance (oil, chain...) the only time you'd have to bring it in is if YOU fvck it up. monsters have no fairing so it's not like a huge road rash scar will show up on one for dropping it.

Go on some bike forums where a lot of people actually have them and ask.

I've got friends who've owned Dukes, they all got rid of them within 6 months because they were uncomfortable and unreliable (mainly electrical), I rode my mates 916 a few months ago it was quite honestly one of the most uncomfortable bikes I've ever ridden, I had to get off after an hour as I was getting back spasms. To be quite honest Dukes have a reputation for class and not much else, I can't justify an extra 4 grand for a bike just to have the Duke name. Duke riders seem to be a different breed they will put up with all sorts of problems and just shrug it off as part of being an italian bike owner, they will always recommend them to anybody and not mention the problems as they consider it to be a normal part of being a Duke owner.

On an aside note, there was an article in this months Fast Bikes magazine over here in the UK where they were comparing the new Augusa MV 1000, the Duke 999R, the Aprilia Factory and a Benelli (can't remember off the top of my head which one), they said the Duke had by far the most power, and the best handling after the MV, however it was the most uncomfortable of all the bikes tested. It would have won the review except for the fact that the engine blew oil everywhere after 150 miles of testing, making it the seventh Duke they've tested this year and... wait for it... the SEVENTH Duke they've had which has broken down while testing with one or numerous major faults...

But hey Dukes have no more problems than other bikes eh?