Ducati Monster Questions

[froggy128]

Do they have a main stand?
Are they reliable?
Whats the cheapest you could get an old one for?

[feef]

[paulthewitt]

the person to ask iss klause. he has one.

they seem to perform fine and look good. just make sure it has been looked after

[Kickstart]

Hi

Seem to be reliable. Apparently they suffer wear to one cylinder fairly early one (excuse to bore them out).

They only have a side stand, and on the older ones (think it has changed now) this is a pain as you cannot leave the bike to idle with the stand down.

My father paid about £2000 for a 5 year old one with 1800 miles on the clocks (normal 600, not a Dark).

The 900 was the original one. They then brought out the 750 which came with a single front disk, but that later got a 2nd disk. Then the 600 had a single disk but for the 620 they have given them another disk.

Servicing is rather less frequent than most Japanese bikes, but more to be done when they are serviced. Cam belts are meant to be done every other year, but seem to last longer. Not sure I would trust them to, but they are cheap and should be easy to change (but my father Monster had the original belts on at 5 years old, but nominal mileage).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Klause]

I love mine! So far no problems (touch wood). Make sure you get one with the lowest mileage for the price and 1-2 owners. This way you get a better chance of it being looked after. They need to be warmed up before you even thinking about ragging it!

What monster are you after?

Got my m600 1997 for £1500, 11,000 miles and in very good condition. Always serviced through it's life by offical ducati ownerships etc (spoilt and nothing changed on the bike 100% original).
____________________
Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[froggy128]

one like yous a 600, around the same age as that cant afford a new one.

[bonehead]

I cant beleive you got that for 1500 you lucky b******, what they like for the pillion?

[froggy128]

might wait till after summer then all the summer bikers might be selling theres abit cheaper

[G]

You can get them quite cheap, but from what I heard they've not quite got the performance (handling, power, etc) of the SV650, even if they have the looks.

(I know it's not what you asked, just offering an alternative).

Another one worth considering is the TRX850; it's better looking that both in my opinion, is pretty low and performs 'ok', though it only has a little bit more power than the SV. (And yes, I'm biased, I just got one - some good prices around at the mo).

[johnafish]

I'm going to sell mine in the next couple of weeks as I'll be abroad for the whole summer. But when I get a new bike next spring another Monster will definately be on the shortlist, I like it that much.

No centre stand, but you'll want a paddock stand anyway to keep that back end nice and clean.

Reliability has been fine, the only odd thing that's happened to me is that two oil pressure switches failed in quick succession when the bike was about 1 yr old.

If anyone is interested in my bike PM me, it's a red, 3yr old, 02, 600 (not ie), 8000km (parallel import), totally clean and original, one or two minor scratches on one can where someone knocked it off the stand in a car park, 12 months tax and MOT, brand new rear tyre, new pads. And I'll throw in the paddock stand.

It'll go for the best offer I get in the next week or so, I might flog it on ebay.
____________________
John Fish,
Bikelug Collapsible Motorcycle Trailers
www.bikelug.co.uk

[froggy128]

how much were you wanting for it, is the speado not in mph then? does it have stickers on it?

[Kickstart]

[johnafish]

Yes the speedo has stickers on it.

To be honest I'm not sure what its worth, no-one lists used prices for a 2002 600, they list the 620ie for that year.

My bike had been new stock at a dealers that went bust, the bikes got auctioned off by the receivers to other dealers and I bought it new from one of them, six months after it was manufactured. By then the 620ie was out.

I'm considering sticking it on ebay with a £2000 reserve, though I would consider a sensible offer.
____________________
John Fish,
Bikelug Collapsible Motorcycle Trailers
www.bikelug.co.uk

[froggy128]

Whats involved in a standard ducati service? because they seem very expencive compared to my honda.

[G]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Frame wise, it is the frame from the old Ducati 888. The superbike that came before the 916, and which was meant to handle better due to the lack of a single sided swinging arm.

Forks vary from which model. Most have Showa forks I think, although the 600 had Marzocchi forks I think.

Brakes will vary as to whether you get a single or twin disk version, and the twin disks work very well. The single disk is fine for what the bike is really intended for (after all, it only weighs ~175kg).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[G]

[Klause]

The handling is spot on, the only thing is I lean so far the exhausts grind along the floor .
The brakes are fine but I've always been use to single disked bikes and now I have a good brembo one. The performance isn't exactly amazing but I've got it restricted to 33bhp at the moment anyway, hits about 85-90mph and just stops.

Anything else you want to know?

*G*
Should test ride mine sometime
____________________
Current bikes: 1960 Triumph 5ta x2, TTR600RE, KTM200EXC, Cagiva Elephant 900ie.

[Jamie_ducati]

[Kickstart]

[johnafish]

I don't think dealer servicing is essential. I've serviced my bike myself from new, I took the decision early on to do it because it was so awkward getting it to a Ducati dealer and to me it is part of the fun of having a bike. Also I thought the dealer service cost was high for the work that was being done. It may hit the used value of the bike a little but I've saved enough over the years to cover it.

I'd be very disappointed if a dealer was checking the valve clearances by doing a compression check, that's totally inadequate. They're actually easy to check properly, a 20 minute job. In reality routine service work is a doddle, resetting valve clearances is the most awkward thing you'll need to do, but not that difficult on the 2 valve engine, get a Haynes manual and it's easy to follow. Access to the rear cylinder on the monster is alright unlike many other Ducatis.

Belts are very easy to change and reasonably cheap, personally I don't think it's necessary to change them that often, I changed mine at 3 years (5000 miles) and they weren't noticably worn, cracked or degraded in any way.

I don't agree that it is essential to service to 'time' regardless of mileage, very few components degrade from age, even belts last for a very long time on the shelf. The most significant factor relating to when & how the bike needs servicing isn't time, or mileage, it'll be how the bike has been used.
____________________
John Fish,
Bikelug Collapsible Motorcycle Trailers
www.bikelug.co.uk