So, I visited my local Ducati dealer on the Monster 1200 tour.
Ducati - 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 National Tour
I was able to sit on the Monster 1200 (was not the S version) but I didn't hear it run. I would expect it sounds pretty similar to the Multi with that exhaust.
First, I'm sure glad I didn't wait for this thing. Maybe some of this is preproduction schnick schnack but there is profound cheapness in so many things, even when compared to other monsters. It is evident they are fighting a serious price war here. The flimsy gas cap. The rear mudguard. The ignition. Switchgear seemed comparable in quality. Same turn signals. Didn't see the display turned on. The bezel to screen ratio seemed old digital camera poor. Didn't like the cheap bulging unnecessary crap covering the radiator. The plastics in general have a Japanese level of adequacy.
I just can't like the weird curves and angles of the trellis. It's seems clear that it's unnecessary and is there because it's symbolic. Might as well be a fat aluminum spar like the Tuono. Just embrace the engine as stressed member and be done with it.
The bars are quite high, and the tank is very bulbous, more bulbous than the ye olde 1100 Monster, but Monster styled. As such, back angle is very relaxed. I'm 6' with a 32" inseam. My back was maybe 15deg? It's just too relaxed a position for me to want to be that aggressive on it. On the other hand the tank is metal, in your face ye evil ethanol demons.
I really loathe the look of the top of the trellis frame and the lower part of the tank. It's also rough there and one of the nodes in the trellis is there grinding the fleshy part of your knee. I don't get that. Maybe if you have a 34" inseam you wouldn't notice this.
There are some rapid change rubber removable blocks under the seat that change the seating height and position for more relaxed or spirited riding. Eh?
I just don't like the way the pillion pegs come up from the lower part of the bike. While I hated and replaced the slippery stock pegs on the SF, I don't know that the rubber flat Multi-like pegs on the Monster are any better. Are we offroading?
How easy is it to get rid of that whole Multi style license plate thing, I wonder.
I like that there are pillion grips / luggage cleats, well except if a super model is on the back and I want her/him to touch me instead.
I like the more recessed and protected lower radiator. My SF's lower radiator looks like it went through Guadalcanal from rock impacts. I suppose I should have got a rad guard.
Are those Brembos the same quality as the big SF, or a step lower, or do you need to go to the S version to get the nicer monoblocks?
The stock wheels don't really impress me, but I guess they are no worse than the rest of the monster lineup. I guess once you go Marchesini it's hard to go back.
I don't know that I like the curly q exhaust coming out of the the frontmost cylinder. Seems less neat in real life compared to the photos. At least one's foot doesn't catch on those springs that hold the slipon segments together, and one's feet seem fairly unobstructed. I don't have big hoofs so people's complaints about the cramped foot position with the exhaust on the SF didn't really apply to me.
Clutch pull is mercifully lighter than the 1098 SF.
I couldn't bounce the suspension as it was on a precarious platform. Unsure how that is.
It's a great powerplant, I'm sure it's much better to deal with around town, a more friendly beast, and it'll definitely ship units at that price. At the same time I sure do appreciate my SF S more than ever having sat on the Monster 1200 and stared at it for an half hour. My urge to sell it and get a Monster 1200 is zero. Your mileage may vary.
Ducati - 2014 Ducati Monster 1200 National Tour
I was able to sit on the Monster 1200 (was not the S version) but I didn't hear it run. I would expect it sounds pretty similar to the Multi with that exhaust.
First, I'm sure glad I didn't wait for this thing. Maybe some of this is preproduction schnick schnack but there is profound cheapness in so many things, even when compared to other monsters. It is evident they are fighting a serious price war here. The flimsy gas cap. The rear mudguard. The ignition. Switchgear seemed comparable in quality. Same turn signals. Didn't see the display turned on. The bezel to screen ratio seemed old digital camera poor. Didn't like the cheap bulging unnecessary crap covering the radiator. The plastics in general have a Japanese level of adequacy.
I just can't like the weird curves and angles of the trellis. It's seems clear that it's unnecessary and is there because it's symbolic. Might as well be a fat aluminum spar like the Tuono. Just embrace the engine as stressed member and be done with it.
The bars are quite high, and the tank is very bulbous, more bulbous than the ye olde 1100 Monster, but Monster styled. As such, back angle is very relaxed. I'm 6' with a 32" inseam. My back was maybe 15deg? It's just too relaxed a position for me to want to be that aggressive on it. On the other hand the tank is metal, in your face ye evil ethanol demons.
I really loathe the look of the top of the trellis frame and the lower part of the tank. It's also rough there and one of the nodes in the trellis is there grinding the fleshy part of your knee. I don't get that. Maybe if you have a 34" inseam you wouldn't notice this.
There are some rapid change rubber removable blocks under the seat that change the seating height and position for more relaxed or spirited riding. Eh?
I just don't like the way the pillion pegs come up from the lower part of the bike. While I hated and replaced the slippery stock pegs on the SF, I don't know that the rubber flat Multi-like pegs on the Monster are any better. Are we offroading?
How easy is it to get rid of that whole Multi style license plate thing, I wonder.
I like that there are pillion grips / luggage cleats, well except if a super model is on the back and I want her/him to touch me instead.
I like the more recessed and protected lower radiator. My SF's lower radiator looks like it went through Guadalcanal from rock impacts. I suppose I should have got a rad guard.
Are those Brembos the same quality as the big SF, or a step lower, or do you need to go to the S version to get the nicer monoblocks?
The stock wheels don't really impress me, but I guess they are no worse than the rest of the monster lineup. I guess once you go Marchesini it's hard to go back.
I don't know that I like the curly q exhaust coming out of the the frontmost cylinder. Seems less neat in real life compared to the photos. At least one's foot doesn't catch on those springs that hold the slipon segments together, and one's feet seem fairly unobstructed. I don't have big hoofs so people's complaints about the cramped foot position with the exhaust on the SF didn't really apply to me.
Clutch pull is mercifully lighter than the 1098 SF.
I couldn't bounce the suspension as it was on a precarious platform. Unsure how that is.
It's a great powerplant, I'm sure it's much better to deal with around town, a more friendly beast, and it'll definitely ship units at that price. At the same time I sure do appreciate my SF S more than ever having sat on the Monster 1200 and stared at it for an half hour. My urge to sell it and get a Monster 1200 is zero. Your mileage may vary.