I know you didn't but would be happy with a Duke if you wanted to ride it all year round,spent a lot of hard earned cash, they just don't do weathering well...what I meant was, I would buy something, that I didn't care too much for and ride that during the winter.
I rode my ST2 all year with no problems at all. The fuglystrada has been different altogether - nothing major at all, but I've no faith in it starting reliably (not a problem at home, with another bike to choose from, but a different prospect when on tour), it won't tickover reliably, the headlight is utter shite, the sidestand keeps coming loose, it leans over way too far on the stand (weird that all italian bikes seem to do this...), the dash throws random warnings at me (2nd dash, the first one died), and so on. Now, if this was a neglected bike I could understand it, but it has a full service history and has obviously been looked after. Quite frankly it isn't good enough. And from the sound of it, it's highly likely the new monster will display some or all of these 'characteristics' at some point. It's frustrating because they're such lovely bikes to ride. But I wouldn't spend more than a couple of grand on something that recalcitrant.
I hear ya...frustrating indeed...maybe the fuglystrada was is a monday morning machine...to be honest I have a St4 same as you even in the depts of winter no problems, once you have a good battery, but that's needed for any make.....it's a tough one, and you will never truly know the answer, unless you indulge yourself..yet again.
I'm a Monster 1100evo owner. I've done ~3200 miles on it since August 2011, and it has not skipped a single beat - idles perfectly - always starts first time - never stalls - no warning lights (not even random)! Yes I keep it on an Optimate IV, but then I had to do that to my Japanese bikes as well. It looks beautiful, goes like a rocket, and sounds fantastic. I do look after it well (although most are just simple things), and it still looks as good as when it came out of the showroom. I've owned Kawasakis and Hondas in the past, and they all had their own little problems too. In fact, I sold one of my Kawasakis due to reliability problems that the dealer couldn't fix. I'd say the Ducati has the best finish on any bike I've owned. I haven't experienced any of the problems that folks speak of above. For me, biking is not a 'rationale' hobby - it is risky and expensive - so why would anyone want to play it TOO safe with the bike they own? If that were the case, then perhaps a CB500 might be your best bet. I think it's a waste of time trying to convince people that your bike is the best. I bought a Monster 1100evo - it is the best bike I've owned - I love it just for that.
Oh, and by the way, the Monster costs less to service thanks to the 7500 mile service intervals, and my excellent Ducati dealer. I'd say some of the Japanese bikes I've owned have been more complex to service than the Monster.
Have air-cooled motors progressed? HTF! Why make something that was so simple so much more complicated? Hardly progression in my opinion. AL
Conflicting views! Thanks for all your input. Neilo, I wouldn't know anything about rationale; the first bike I ever took to the road on was a Kawasaki Mach 3 with a honda 250 front end grafted on...I used it to ride to school. I've also swapped bikes with complete strangers, paid a grand for a bike I'd never set eyes on based on a description given to me by a drunk german, and bought an MZ for touring... But my spidey sense tells me that Arquebus is right. The only reason I haven't sold my multistrada is bloody-mindedness, and the fact I've got two bikes so don't need to rely on it. I can put up with all sorts of quirks, but not starting is a hangable offence in my book, and I don't think Ducati have demonstrated that they've fixed these 'quirks' well enough for me to buy a new bike from them. All I want is a bike that'll start reliably, is that too much to ask..?
Figaro, the 'rationale' comment wasn't pointed at you - it was a general comment, because I always notice how a lot of bikers (excluding commuters) seem to take the 'safe' route when it comes to what bike they buy, and yet indulge in the risky hobby itself - oxymoron. I fully agree with you about the 'starting' thing... It's the main reason I don't still own one of the Japanese bikes I used to have. I sold it on far too cheap, but to me it had lost its value in my eyes, and I had lost faith in it. It is not too much to ask - I fully agree!
Rode the Multistrada 1200 and Monster 1100 EVO today on test rides on twisty fast B roads with the Ducati Road Show demos at Exeter. The Multi was brilliant but the 1100 EVO was 'orrible. Compared to the Multi it was old school Ducati - jerky transmission, coarse feeling motor, crashed over bumps in the road and an unrefined feel at the bars. Not nice to ride at all which was disappointing since I liked its looks. The Multi has moved the game along and left the 2 valve air cooled bikes stuck in the past I'm afraid. Pity about the price though.
Oh well...each to their own. The gearbox on my bike its as good as the gearbox on my ZZR1400, the engine does feel 'raw', but I love that, and after getting it set up, it rides just the way I want it to... I suppose its true to say that it's an acquired taste, but I love it...it makes me feel like I'm riding a proper bike again
Sorry, but having paid the best part of 3/4 of a years wage to buy my Evo it NEEDS be superbly engineered and totaly reliable coz ive nowt left to keep having to fix it. I appeciate Ducati`s are a premium product at a premium price but that also means that i should`nt need to worry about my bike.
I also agree with you, sprocket. So far I've had no issues (whatsoever) on my bike, so fingers crossed, or else it'll go too.
Hi Figaro, I have an early 2010 Monster 1100 and I`ve had no starting issues with it at all, including leaving it for two months without using an optimate or any charger. It just started first time no trouble. There has been no misting in the instruments, no flaking, no peeling, no problems with anything. The headlight is pretty good too. I also have a 2003 900ss and I can say pretty much the same about that apart from that the headlight is rubbish. Maybe you were a bit unlucky with the Multi? David
Maybe so, my ST2 was absolutely spot on. But there are so many people who also seem to be unlucky with Ducatis that it makes me think twice about them as a brand new purchase; it seems to be a bit hit or miss as to whether you get a good'un or bad'un. One mate of mine won't touch another ducati after the experience he had with his late model SS - the sump plug fell out on his first ride; second ride out the sidestand went missing...
My sentiments entirely neilo. And I havent chimed in earlier because I dont feel qualified with only 500 miles & a little over a week of ownership. Ill just mention that this is my 16th bike and my first Ducati. Im extremely impressed.
They ride lovely, don't they? The engine does exactly what I want from a bike engine; I don't need big power, just enough for instant overtakes and worrying sportsbike riders is fine by me. But I also need the dang thing to start when I say so, not when it feels like it.
This is my 9th bike, and I've already hit 3500 miles (in 7 months) on the evo with NO issues whatsoever...so fingers crossed everything stays the same. I intend on taking the extended warranty when the time comes, but I feel confident that the monster will keep running perfectly as long as I look after it. That's fair enough Figaro.
