Motard or monster? - Ducati.ms

Ducninja · Oct 22nd, 2009, 11:43 am

I have been wanting a naked bike for some time now, and after riding my friend's monster 696 I know I want a ducati. Now I have to decide monster or motard. Is there any reason you guys picked one over the other? I mostly ride counrty roads and sometimes commute to work. I have a 05 zx6r right now, but I am trying to move away from the cookie cutter crotch rockets. Thanks for any input.

GMP · Oct 22nd, 2009, 12:24 pm

Biggest difference is the riding position, the Monster is closer to what you have now. The Hyper is very upright with lower pegs, just like a real motard or dirtbike. I love it, but you need to try both to decide.

johnchypermotard · Oct 22nd, 2009, 1:17 pm

if you are considering between a monster 696 and the new hypertard 796 ... go for the hypertard 796.

everyone i have spoken to who got to ride the new hypertard @ the press launch in bologna last week, commented that the hypertard 796 is a LOT more bike for the money than the monster 696. the stroked motor really offers a much bigger bang for the buck.

dave2riff · Oct 22nd, 2009, 1:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnchypermotard

if you are considering between a monster 696 and the new hypertard 796 ... go for the hypertard 796.

everyone i have spoken to who got to ride the new hypertard @ the press launch in bologna last week, commented that the hypertard 796 is a LOT more bike for the money than the monster 696. the stroked motor really offers a much bigger bang for the buck.

Sounds like good advice (esp. for a PMS-er

). I test rode the 696
Monster right before I first tried a Hyper, and ended up hitting the rev limiter
about 6 times just on a 15-minute test ride. That is a sure sign that one is
expecting more out of a motor than it can give, or that there is no over-rev
past the HP peak. BTW, I never once hit the limiter on the Hyper test ride,
despite riding it twice as long and generally abusing it. If I hadn't tried the
HM, I'd probably be out working on an Aprilia SXV550 right now...

+1 on what Glenn had to say about riding position, the Monster feels more
like a sportbike with the rearward pegs and lower bars.

breakdown · Oct 22nd, 2009, 2:14 pm

It really comes down to the riding position. As others have said, the Monster is closer to a sportbike and the Hyper is more upright. The riding position on the Hyper rules around town. In the twisties, I don't like it as much. I find that I'm constantly fighting the wind.

jcbertin · Oct 22nd, 2009, 2:17 pm

Hypermotard is the way to go.

You could find a used 1100 for cheap (I am finding this out the hard way), or a new 796 would be a blast.

Monster 696 is a pretty chill bike. No wow factor. Good for novice guys, boring to most.

GtJay · Oct 22nd, 2009, 2:31 pm

Like they said, riding postion. For me, I am 6'2", seat to pegs legroom is too cramped for me on the monster. Nice legroom on the hyper however. The upright riding position takes some getting used, but around town and in tight twisties it is awesome. Get a Fabbri windscreen, it helps a lot with wind protection over 70mph. I also prefer the shorter reach to the bars on the hyper. The monsters riding postion seems to be more for lower primates with short legs and long arms

That being said I love the looks of the monster. I would say, like those before me, ride both, they are different enough that you will probably prefer one over the other. I did and it was the Hyper for me.

v12gte · Oct 22nd, 2009, 2:37 pm

You would grow out of the 696 too soon and become unhappy with lack of grunt, unless you were doing only tight urban stuff/large city riding.

The 1100s Monster is sweet. I was very tempted, but in the end the Hyper had better ergos for me. I was new to motorcycles, and while some claim that the Hyper is the wrong first bike....I find it easier to control, flick to change direction, and the torque got me out of trouble more than once. Throttle discipline is key, but the flexibility and potential are nice.

I do not do long highway stints, so i can put up with a little wind. I will take that over sore wrists, at least in my creeping middle age...

Last is the appearance issue. Hyper has that post-modern angray anteater / transformer look, while the Monster is the original naked look. Both have lovely Italian detailing.

Monstaman · Oct 22nd, 2009, 2:40 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave2riff

ended up hitting the rev limiter
about 6 times just on a 15-minute test ride. That is a sure sign that one is
expecting more out of a motor than it can give.

...or you are just a bloody hoon

Quote:

Originally Posted by breakdown

I find that I'm constantly fighting the wind.

I find that too but only Doon complains cos he is behind me.

Ducninja, the Tard I believe is easier to ride with its more forgiving seating and bar position although the seat height on the Tard is taller so for us shorties I have cut some seat cushion out which is perfect.

I have ridden the 696 Monsta and it is more of a committed position than the Tard, perhaps the one thing that sticks out in my mind is the passenger sets are not separable on the 696 and I found they put your boots in a wedge position as the back of your boots hit the holders if you ride with the ball of your foot on the peg like it do, just something I noticed.

.. have to say to come to the Tard part of a forum and asking if we like Tards is like going into a room full of alchies and asking if anyone wants a drink

dave2riff · Oct 22nd, 2009, 2:52 pm

Monsta, you could be a comedy writer... keep up the good work!

BTW, speaking of our allegiance to all things motard (or motard-like), ever
consider changing your ID to something like, uh, Hyperman? But I guess
having a monster in our midst is appropriate for late October, so nevermind.

Addendum to my Monster 696 post: the seat sucked, forces you into the
back of the fuel tank. That would be the first thing I changed if I had one.
The new Monster 1100 has a bit of that seat-slope thing going on too.