Posts
179
Joined
5/28/2011
Location
Des Moines, IA
US
Edited Date/Time
9/27/2021 6:15am
I'm getting ready to buy a used Ducati 1200 Monster. The one I'm getting is a 2015 model some dude loaded with aftermarket stuff and only put 1000 miles on it. Exhaust, Corbin seat, screen, side bags.
Anyone own/ridden one and have an opinion? Anything to watch for?
Anyone own/ridden one and have an opinion? Anything to watch for?
I was hoping someone had some experience on one. I'm always surprised how many MX riders don't ride street bikes.
The Shop
1000cc sport bikes are probably the fastest vehicles you can legally own and drive on the street. Ferraris, Lambos, etc. are not even close to the acceleration times of these things. Why anyone wants to ride them on public roads I'll never understand
I will say that "seat of the pants" acceleration on an MX bike seems faster (but I'm sure it's not). Dirt bikes make you feel like you're flying but really don't go all that fast compared to even the mid range street bikes I ride.
It'll be interesting when I get the Ducati. It's running around 150 hp and the street bike I've been riding for 15 years only has 80 hp (2001 BMW R1100R).
1000's are a whole other animal. The sheer top end pull of any brand now feels like your bending time and space.
I bought a 2016 KTM 1190 Adventure bike and I must say it is the most amazing bike I’ve ever been on. The power (150+ HP....stock with a pipe) is incredible. Literally hauls ass! Take it on the twisties and it feels like a road racer, take it down a fire road with the traction control turned off and it’s drift city. Trying to get the courage to do more off-roading but I’m having so much fun on the street I’m in no hurry. The bike weighs close to 500ibs but feels really lightweight once you get going. I think you’ll have a blast on the Ducati
If you make the purchase let us know how you like it
I ride an '09 Multistrada, aka "Last of the Analog Warriors". Air-cooled 1100S putting out around 95 hp, but also 63 ft/lbs of torque, so like the Monster, it has very "'usable" power. (It's 420 lb dry weight doesn't hurt, either.)
The downside? Maintenance requirements and expense. But that's the price you pay for an Italian mistress.
Got home last night (8.5 hour drive each way - Ugh!). Of course that means it's going to snow today so I'll just be hanging out in my garage making vroom-vroom noises until the weather cooperates:
Pit Row
First quick impression is that this bike is liquid smooth. No surprise or jittery movements. Very planted. It felt almost too stable at highway speeds. When I don't "feel" like I'm going fast, I tend to wick it up until I do feel like I'm moving fast.
I thought the three riding modes (Sport, Touring, and Urban) would be hokey but I like it. The Urban mode detunes the motor so I can ease into learning how to ride it. Moving it too Sport mode reminded me of when I got my first fast MX back in the day. Way more power than I think I could ever use - but in reality, it's just another level of speed that I'll eventually get used to. Like they talk about with rookies in the NFL, once they get more practice, the game slows down a little them. I need to do that on this bike and three modes will let me step into it in increments.
I really like it so far but more to come and maybe another couple pics. Weather is supposed to get into the 70's later this week.
Congrats!
Hey - does your right leg ride up against the pipe guard all the time? That's where my leg lands and it seems OK now in the cold weather, but it seems like that thing will get hot in summer, even if it's pretty thick and separated from the pipe itself. Just curious.
I road raced my 450 as well and on shorter tighter tracks the larger displacement bikes had zero advantage except on the longest straightaway where they would blow past you at the end like you were standing still. Of course at that point they jump in front on you and grab a fistful of brake and then you move to the inside, stay on the gas and out brake them to the apex. If you don't wad it up into the back of them when they brake check you like that.
On the gas the sportbikes are much faster once they get over the inertia. But out of the hole and on the brakes, all that extra weight can't be overcome. Supermotos can accelerate faster, brake later and find that inside line easier. The best part is, that riding a dirt bike on slicks makes every dry day feel like a perfect loam day on a motocross track.
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