Buyers guide 696/796?

i had a 796, it would match your requirements and looks far better than the twin sided 696, but i would buy a 1100 over both of them, the 796 runs out of puff....

 

Hey Mr Groove, or can I call you Rip? I don't have any answers, just the same questions. I have a multisrada so am looking for a second bike (I seem to have caught the Ducati bug). I also have a specific bike in mind. This one:

Ducati South Yorkshire

I live a couple of hundred miles north of the dealer so can't just pop in for a look. Does anyone know the bike or it's history?

Here's what I do know. The colour scheme is non standard and according to DVLA it's white so it has been changed at some point. Not a deal breaker though because it looks like Ducati parts. Plus, it's actually a very good looking bike.

The exhaust is matt black. Was that ever an option? Can you get them professional coated like this? It suits the bike but if the owner just sprayed the cans that would make me thing twice about buying.

Lastly, I would be the 5th owner. The last owner kept it 5 months and that's niggling at me. Just how hard is a 696 to live with? How reliable are they?

Any info or advice would be greatly received.

PS- RipGroove, I'm sorry if this is hijacking your thread. I felt it was close enough not to merit a thread of it's own but I don't know much about thread protocol.

 

Bennetts are a good dealer. Ive borrowed a mv from hem in the past.

i had a 2009 696+ for a year or so. Very good bike , but it was a bit small for me and i wanted more grunt. Got a 1100 now which im happy with.

It looks expensive to me but i havent followed the pricing. i paid £4350 in 2011 for a low mileage (cant remember maybe 2k miles) red bike with termi's.

 

Hi d8mok, thanks for getting back to me. I'm trading a Benelli and Bennetts used to be THE place to take your Benelli if you had a problem. I've never heard a bad word said about them.

Yes, the bike is a little over the odds but, from what I've seen on the web, it's not wildly over. I will be haggling but in all honesty I'd be doing pretty well to get it down to what you paid 4 years ago. I was intending to push to get the longest warranty I can though.

 

My wife had a 696 lovely bike but soon swapped it for the 796, which looks better with the single side arm. The 796 is slightly higher has a bigger rear tyre and obviously more grunt. It handles better too, although the 696 is a great bike the 796 has the edge. I too dont want to do 100mph all day and it certainly has the grunt when required, never felt it run out of puff. I have ridden an 1100 and its a total Animal lots of everything, this is the one to do 100mph all day if you want to. If you can stretch to it go for the 796 you will not be disappointed.

 

I have the multistrada which has a huge amount of grunt, superb handling and is a real mile eater so that's not a concern. With the second bike I was planning to use it for commuting, short trips, bumbling about town. I want something light and fun that's cheap(ish) to buy, insure and maintain. The 796 undoubtedly is a better bike but it's roughly £1000 more and I don't have the budget. Damn, it's tempting though.

 

Well, my girl friend had an argument with me about, eh ... not sure really. Whatever it was it seems it was definitely my fault and she's just hating me right now. Anyway, I'm not quite sure how it happened but I found myself on the phone to Bennetts buying the 696. Retail therapy I think.

Hmm, I wonder how this news will go down. :Blackeye:

 

Usually the argument follows the bike purchase not before lol

 

In this case retail therapy for her helps, ie, shoes -- Handbags lol.

 

Well, it turns out if I can afford a bike then we can afford a holiday. Where's the logic in that? Probably not a good idea to say we could have if I hadn't bought the bike.

 

Hi Ducbird, superb idea. If only you'd said earlier.

 

You might be right Ducbird but only we have to know that.
Nice glasses by the way.

I feel a bit bad coz I definitely hijacked RipGroove's thread although it wasn't really my intention. He started the thread to find out if the 696 was a decent bike and I've turned it into an agony aunt column. Well Mr. Groove, as penance I'll let you know what I think of the 696 when it arrives, which should be in around 3 weeks.

 

I'm sure you'll enjoy the 696 Wally!

I had one for a while last year, brilliant little bike, light, lovely revvy motor and can be surprisingly quick in the bendy stuff! Ideal commuter too, great at low speeds, I had as much enjoyment out of it as some of the bigger bikes!

Good choice

 

Hi Rman,

Thanks for that. It's good to get a glowing review from a previous owner.

 

Well the M696 arrived today and I'm delighted to say it is absolutely pristine and a thing of enormous beauty. It's also small. After running around on the multistrada it looks tiny. Almost like a toy. Did I mention how pretty it is?

I got out on it for an hour and my first impressions are: It is feather light, the handling is neutral and confidence inspiring, the breaks are superb, the clutch bites late (like you think it's never going to happen), you have to keep it spinning above 6000 rpm if you want it to feel lively, easy to ride around town (although I need to get used to the clutch bite point), it makes a very addictive noise on the overrun (I'd love a set of termis), the footpegs are low so it feels surprisingly roomy but there is a bit of weight on your wrists, the seat is very low (on the multi I can get the balls of my feet on the ground, on the monster my feet keep meeting the ground a few inches before I expect them to, I feel like I could get my knees on the ground - well not quite), if you're breaking over bumps then you have to push yourself back in the seat to avoid squishing your plums (assuming you're so equipped) into the tank. Oh and it looks great.

Anyway, I'm well pleased so far. When I get the chance I'll post some pics.