I just sold a '00 750SSie

It was a quick bike and sounded lovely, the build quality was good as well.

It was a pig to ride less than 80mph and almost impossible in traffic. Horses for courses, I love my do it all 500f now as it does the Grom and the Ducati thing well.

 

You just road the cheapest Ducati you can buy, not even available in the US. You should ride a big Monster or a Panigale and you will have a different opinion. I have a 2004 M1000 which I bought new. After 40,000+ miles - a perfectly reliable, fast and great handling bike. All the controls work with precision, brembo brakes, expensive, maybe not the best value, but I love the bike.

 

Wow! This post has stirred up a lot of passion.

I started off on a v-twin and now I ride a 500f. Two different worlds, totally different feel, image, etc.
Love them both! When I got the 500f, I replied to the wife, "yeah, yeah, I'm selling the 800 Suzuki. Just waiting for spring." ;-)
How can anyone sell a bike they've owned? It's like getting rid of one of your children. Sure some are pesky, needy, attention seeking, bratty. But we love them all, don't we? And it's never good to criticize someone else's kid. That's sure to stir up a hornets nest.
I love the Harleys, the Ducatis, the Triumphs, but will I ever own one? Never say never. Lately I'm enamoured by the Ural, even though it would be highly impractical, inefficient and probably unreliable.
Sometimes I look at a big-ass Harley all decked out, everything but the tires and saddle chromed, and I think that's pretty audacious. But then I saw this early 20s little blonde sexpot in booty shorts taming one off the line almost popping a wheelie and I thought to myself, "Wow, I'd really love to ride that!" (Uhmm... The bike, that is).

As for my Suzuki, my heart says I'll never sell it. But just like kids, sooner or later you gotta let 'em go.

 

I far prefer the single-R over the RR, but maybe that's just me

 

Don't get me wrong guys, I love Ducatis. In fact the dealer that kindly gave me this little Monster for the day (ungrateful ******* I am), only yesterday got back to me with a trade-in offer on my Z1000 to switch it to a Diavel. (The one they lent me a few weeks ago). They're getting closer to the dollar figure I have in my head and I could soon be the proud owner of it.

But there's a huge difference between this and this little 659. Just because it has the Ducati brand, doesn't mean I'm missing the point of the bike. Like all brands have good and less good models.

My post was in relation to learner riders who dream of owning a Ducati and seeing the 659 as their entry point to that dream and IMHO believing they could do a lot better as the bike is rubbish. Seriously, when I would rather drive or ride a scooter, that says a lot.

Now off to decide whether this Diavel joins the family.

Rock.

 

Don't get me wrong guys, I love Ducatis. In fact the dealer that kindly gave me this little Monster for the day (ungrateful ******* I am), only yesterday got back to me with a trade-in offer on my Z1000 to switch it to a Diavel. (The one they lent me a few weeks ago). They're getting closer to the dollar figure I have in my head and I could soon be the proud owner of it.

But there's a huge difference between this and this little 659. Just because it has the Ducati brand, doesn't mean I'm missing the point of the bike. Like all brands have good and less good models.

My post was in relation to learner riders who dream of owning a Ducati and seeing the 659 as their entry point to that dream and IMHO believing they could do a lot better as the bike is rubbish. Seriously, when I would rather drive or ride a scooter, that says a lot.

Now off to decide whether this Diavel joins the family.

Rock.

That's what I meant, too - the one test ride is of course not a deciding factor to not buy any other Ducati.
But after owning several BMWs I decided to stick with Japanese bikes only; they are cheaper, there are more dealers to get them serviced (only one dealer in town when I had my Beemers and they were gangsters!) and I didn't really see that I was getting more even though I paid more.

 

If you want a Monster with more performance their are other ones in the range.I had a multistrada 1000Ds which not only had a dry clutch but I fitted a ventilated cover to it and I absolutely loved the sound of it.I love V twins and if I my injury meant could still ride one I would still have one.
Ducatis are like HDs you either get it or you don't

 

"Works as advertised" might be the better term. People that are into Ducati's know pretty much the personality of the bike they are buying. And that is why they buy them. Same with Honda buyers and Harley buyers etc. If we all liked the same things, there would be one motorcycle manufacturer making one model in one color.

 

True, it really just depends on everyone's definition of "better" and what they look for in a bike. Personally I don't believe there is one bike that's better than all other at everything. Some may look better, some may handle better, some may be faster, some may be more comfortable, etc.

The only thing I don't agree with is you kind of emphasized the 500 "works as it should"....I would say most bikes are like that. My Ducati 1198 worked as it should to...in other words, worked AS DESIGNED, even though it did have some of the things you mentioned like being very hot in city traffic, vibrates a lot, uncomfortable to ride for more than an hour (or even less), etc. But you have to know what you're getting. I didn't get my 1198 to be comfortable and keep cool riding around town. It's not a bike that's good for commuting, but it made for a phenomenal track bike. Still is the best and coolest bike I've ever owned. Not the best I've ever ridden, but the best I've ever owned.

Oh and I LOVED the dry clutch!

 

The 659 is a LAMS version here in Australia.

Its power figures from memory are almost identical to the 500 and whilst its been a while since I was on a 500, I don't recall the 500 being so slow and no where near as nasty to ride. I would have estimated it with me riding it, maybe 0-100km/h in about 6 seconds for the 500. This 659, I'd be lucky with 7 or 8s.

It's been crippled. There's only a tiny twist in the throttle which I suppose was Ducati's quick and dirty way to make it a LAMS bike.

Can't say I know the 696 but if it's kitted out as cheap and nasty as the 659, I wouldn't go near it. Saying that, I do like most Ducatis. Have been toying with the idea of buying a Diavel - moreso since I spent a day on one a few weeks ago. There's no comparison between that Ducati and this little Monster.

Can't comment anymore on the rest as I don't ride a 500 anymore. Had one for a little while mainly as a second run around bike but loved it for what it was.

Rock.

 

I would have estimated it with me riding it, maybe 0-100km/h in about 6 seconds for the 500. This 659, I'd be lucky with 7 or 8s.
Rock.

Rock, if it was taking you 6 seconds to go 0-100 km/h on your 500, you must have been doing something wrong, or you must weigh about 800 lbs. I'm a pretty big guy and I'm seeing low fives on my 2014 500F. :wink:

PS: Monsters scare me too!

Glen
Focus On Newfoundland

 

Funny, but the Ducati's V-twin, the better materials used, more power and less weight doesn't interest me, especially when it costs at least 50% more.
Yes, the CBR could be faster, quicker, lighter and sport some cool stuff but frankly I like it just the way it is.
At least it doesn't have a clutch that rattles and some quirks I have to accept.
I've owned several BMWs but I realized that I paid much more but didn't get much more than if I'd bought a Honda.
It was nice to have owned them, it was an experience, it was a phase, but in the end I wouldn't buy a more expensive bike just because it is exotic. I would buy a European bike again if it features something no Japanese manufacturer offers. For example the K75S was a cool bike and there weren't any Japanese bikes at the time which had a three-cylinder engine. But before I'd buy a BMW 650 single or some exotic Aprilia, I'd get me a DR650SE or a XR650L and use the money I've saved to get some parts to improve it.

 

So then what does interest you?? Because if you don't want the things you mentioned above, that's like saying "I'm not interested in getting a better bike". Oh and the dry clutch of the Ducatis is their signature thing. I guess you either love it or hate it. And everyone that has a Ducati obviously loves that feature...sadly they went away from that now, and as far as I know none of the current models come with that. They all have wet clutches, which are as boring as they are on any other japanese bike. Maybe that 659 contraption still has a dry clutch...but I'm sure it won't for long.

The 659 is a LAMS version here in Australia.

Its power figures from memory are almost identical to the 500 and whilst its been a while since I was on a 500, I don't recall the 500 being so slow and no where near as nasty to ride. I would have estimated it with me riding it, maybe 0-100km/h in about 6 seconds for the 500. This 659, I'd be lucky with 7 or 8s.

It's been crippled. There's only a tiny twist in the throttle which I suppose was Ducati's quick and dirty way to make it a LAMS bike.

Can't say I know the 696 but if it's kitted out as cheap and nasty as the 659, I wouldn't go near it. Saying that, I do like most Ducatis. Have been toying with the idea of buying a Diavel - moreso since I spent a day on one a few weeks ago. There's no comparison between that Ducati and this little Monster.

Can't comment anymore on the rest as I don't ride a 500 anymore. Had one for a little while mainly as a second run around bike but loved it for what it was.

Rock.

Then it's really been neutered if power is similar to the 500. Since Ducati doesn't really make anything that would be ideal for a beginner, they must've just taken their cheapest bike and made it worse, so they can market it in countries that have different laws for beginner riders, and higher differences in insurance based on bike displacement and/or power. The 696 (which is the cheapest and slowest Ducati you can get here) is rated at about 68-70 hp if I remember well, and I can't remember the torque specs off the top of my head but it's more than any 600cc I4 bike. They're fun little bikes to ride, and there's nothing "nasty" about them. They're built very well with better materials than I've seen on other bikes outsourced in southeast Asia (like the 500, the ninja 300, and many others).

 

Wow...I guess to each their own. First off, didn't even know there was such a thing as a 659. The 696 is the smallest one they have now (at least in the US). Presumably it's the same thing but different engine and it's marketed for other areas of the world. In any case, I would take any monster over just about any Honda. Even the 696 which is the most basic one you can get is well worth the price compared to the Honda (which isn't double, it's about 50% more here). You must not have an eye for quality parts then, because these 500s are junk compared to any Ducati. Look around the bike and it's all cast steel and cast aluminum cheaply made, and plastic. No wonder they weigh over 400 lbs! They weigh more than any modern 600 out there which is pathetic. Then there's the power...the 696 has gobs more torque and about 50-60% more power too. Perhaps the 659 is a bit less I'm guessing, but I highly doubt it's less than the 500.

If I was in the market for a street bike I would get the monster for sure. Granted I would get the 821, but I would even get the 696 before I'd get any Honda. On top of all that, the 500 has been a pain in the ass to work on compared to the only Ducati I've ever owned (an 1198). So many poorly designed things.

 

You must not have an eye for quality parts then, because these 500s are junk compared to any Ducati. Look around the bike and it's all cast steel and cast aluminum cheaply made, and plastic.

Fancy materials and high-end features ≠ quality workmanship. A Ducati may be made from billet aluminum, titanium, unobtanium, etc, but your plasticky Honda is going to spend half as much time in the shop as and last twice as long.

 

^ I got plenty of character, I don't need my bike to have any, too!

 

Ducati's have charactar, Honda's are bland.

 

That's a bit like saying Hitler had character... character is great if it a good character :nerd:



.

 

This reminds me of my only test ride of a Ducati Monster!

I was excited to go to the dealer and get this cool-looking bike on the road, but after only ten minutes I returned.

It was just the feeling of riding it, it was no fun! I was sliding forwards onto the tank because the seat is at an angle. The tranny didn't work right, it was in neutral several times and then it was in gear but the neutral light showed. I heard the clatter of the clutch, not the beautiful sound from the exhaust.

I was puzzled and went home with the cash in my pocket.

I'll leave it to others to own big, cool, expensive bikes - then I can see them and hear them, but don't have to deal with all the drawbacks!

Honda built an amazing bike with the CB500 but as so often, when things work as they should, they are not really appreciated.

 

Honda built an amazing bike with the CB500 but as so often, when things work as they should, they are not really appreciated.

Well said:thumbsup