Would you swap this for an M696? Most fun on two wheels I've ever had: Info here for anyone interested: 2003 Yamaha WR450F Supermoto - Lots of mods including Cams - WR450 YZF450 | eBay Obviously two very different bikes and I really don't want to get rid of but I think a M696 may be the one bike that can make me part with it so have to make sure its the right choice. I wouldn't mind covering a bit of distance but can only let the Supermoto go if the next bike ticks ALL the boxes for me as a Yamaha Supermoto in this condition (1 owner never been off road) is VERY hard to find so once I've let it go it's gone forever :-( I've talked to a few people including bike mechanics and an owner of an M696 and the general feeling is that they are pretty unreliable and costly to maintain, have corroding wiring issues and need to be constantly plugged into a battery charger in order to get enough juice to actually start so: What are the common issues with this bike? What needs constant attention? What are the service intervals and costs? I'm looking at an 09+ model and will only be using it the odd sunny Sunday and some commutes to work during the summer months. Currently until my house sells and I get a new one it'll also be living outside (in a very expensive cover) but won't be able to be plugged in all the time. BTW: this isn't a for sale ad in disguise, just after some info.
I've an s4r. 54 plate. Never starts if it's not connected full time to a charger. Needs a service and there's not a lot of change from a grand. That's from jhp,Inc a battery Apparantly it needs belts, full service, valves checking. Etc. only done over 400 miles in 2 years when this lot was done before Its a bloody joke and will never buy another ducati again. All I've ever owned are ducati's. Nice looking bikes with a soul. That japs just don't have
I have a 2010 M696 which I bought new in September 2009. I've done just under 31,000 miles since then. I love it and would recommend it - low seat, light weight, fantastic telepathic handling, enough power for my tastes (and the torque from a twin was a revelation after a 400cc JIL 4 which it replaced). Service interval is every 7,500 miles or every year (whichever comes first). The big expensive belt change and valve clearance service is every other service. The issues I've had are: - it's on its 3rd set of front wheel bearings - they are a known weakness on this bike; - the speedo sensor died on me last year - for my whole ride home from work, it thought it was doing 0mph! Bought a new one from Snells (around £115) but I'm sure you could get one cheaper from a scrappie; - the side stand bolts can rattle loose and fall out - I'm on at least my 3rd. Otherwise it's just the usual semi-consumables like replacing the chain and sprockets, rear brake pads, tyres. I haven't had any problems starting, and don't know that they drain batteries particularly quickly but the battery on a 696 is a real pain to get to (you need to remove about 12 allen bolts holding the plastic tank covers on, slacken the fuel tank drain hoses, lift the tank to get to the battery). It's well worth fitting an optimate lead and plugging it in to a trickle charger, especially if yours will be used for occasional sunny Sundays and the odd commute, rather than every day, simply because you really don't want to have to take the battery out to recharge it. (My old baby Bandit, by contrast, was a question of removing the seat, undoing 4 screws and lifting the battery out). The longest period I've gone between rides without it plugged in to an Optimate was around 2 weeks, and no problems starting. I certainly haven't heard of particular wiring weaknesses on the 696. Those who've seen it will realise my bike is not an obsessively polished fine weather only mantelpiece ornament - I commute on it every day (save ice, snow and severe insomnia that would make me a hazard on 2 wheels), I've done 2 trackdays, ridden it to Italy and back, and gone for the odd weekend bimble. It gets the All Year Biker ACF50 treatment at the start of winter, and very occasional washes when my other half can be bribed with cookies to clean it.
Changed original thread title and original post but the gist is still the same. Wow well thanks for that info, certainly puts me off a bit. That's the honest info I need before parting with my current pride and joy (above).
Everyone on here loves there's. As it's a ducati site. Thats just my opinion. You have a ducati, then the bills are just part of ownership. For or me it's just to much,
Yeah I can relate to that, a house upgrade this year means a lot of my income is already accounted for so not really looking for a money pit right now. That said though I don't do many motorcycle miles so a 7500 mile service interval would probably be 2+ years for me so may not be that bad.
That's exactly whats drawn me to the Monster, can't see me on a "2 a penny" jap sport bike tbh. Could it be that the 09+ model might not have the issues that your 54 plate does? Or am I just clutching at straws?
I'm sure all ducati's have to have the 2 year service. Which is a big one. But for me it's a joke that a bike that has only done a few hundred miles needs it all again. If you do the mileage then I suppose it's worth it, me personally isn't into biking that much. So a cheap r1 would suit me to a tee.
monster s4r u paint a slightly tainted picture i think i think you need to look around for a cheaper mechanic JHP are a main dealership with a big reputation so they can charge accordingly. there are plenty of good independent Ducati specialist mechanics who can do the job properly for less money If your bike has an alarm this could be the reason your bike needs to be kept on charge and kills batteries. the datatool system 3 was particularly bad for this. also, isnt your bike very heavily modified? this could also contribute to the higher price you paid to get your bike serviced RIPGROOVE - Mrs C's commnets above are fair and on the money i have had a few monsters inc a 796 which is the slightly bigger brother of the 696. I ahve ridden a few 696's and have a few mates with them its a solid bike and has great handling and torquey engine that has plenty of boot for the road. they are great fun to ride. it has a 2 valve aircooled engine so is much cheaper to run and service than the watercooled 4 valve S4R (which is basically a detuned 996 superbike engine) i'd expect to pay about £175 -200 for the basic annual, about £400 for biannual inc belts and valve clearences this bi annual service is a bit of a hit but replacing the cam belts every 2 years is recommend. some ppl do stretch this to 3 or even 4 years (depending on milage) but the problem is that a belt failure will result in big engine repair bill so most ppl agree its better to follow Ducati advice if your putting mies on the bike then these service costs are not unreasonable compared to Jap bikes imho, if its sits as a garage queen and barely turns a wheel then these costs do mount up. these prices quoted are based on these sites below, there are probably good people who charge less than this depending on where you are in the country. there will be someone who can competently service you bike for less money than a main dealer not too far away Ducati John Ducati proteam fwiw. if you are fairy competent tech, the annual fluids served can easily be managed with basic tools and will save some money to do this yourself the belts are not that hard to change either but valve clearances are best left to the professionals imho go test ride one, im sure you wont be disappointed hth
Again good info thanks. Seems it really depends who you talk to then. Im an engineer so fluids etc and minor repair are not a problem so a £200 yearly and £400 bi yearly I could probably live with tbh. Such a pain no knowing anyone who has one as all a test ride will do is make me want one bu won't actually tell me what its like living with one. Will contact my local bike places and enquire about service costs so can at least settle that. What is involved in both the annual and bi annual service? Just so I can get a thorough quote.
Mines modified cosmetically. Still retains it's old standard engine and suspension etc like I say. If you use it, the cost is relevant, it's when it just sits. Not being used and the service comes around again, you think. Bloody expensive this is. When it's a third of the value if that of the bike I don't use this bike, but my old 996s was used all the time, never had a problem with it, and service seemed cheaper the more they are used the better.
Makes sense thanks As above will get some service quotes to help make my mind up. Whats the deal, guessing: Annual service = fluids, general checks and valve clearance tweeks Bi annual = All the above with cam belt/chain That about right?
Good luck in finding your perfect bike, you will enjoy bike I'm sure and the looks and noise is great, especially when people wind down their windows to hear the exhaust. Makes you smile
If you want to test ride a 696 (albeit not a 2009/10 model) the dates for this year's Ducati roadshows have been announced Ducati Forum Ducati UK announce Roadshow dates for 2014 - Ducati Forum Moto Rapido (Winchester) on 15th March or Ducati Bristol on 29th? You could always contact them to try and book a test ride. If you're in Gloucestershire and didn't fancy your own servicing, Louigi Moto (an independent Ducati specialist) near Bristol have a lot of fans (not used them myself) - Louigi Moto // Ducati Specialists
i think the 696/796 would be a good intro into the cost effective end of ducati ownership, the bigger 4 valve bikes are where the money is spent imho my 796 was cheap to run, my S4 was expensive, M600 was cheap, the 1098 expensive....
