Hi folks old retired biker mostly Honda's apart from some other {now vintage} stuff when I was a teenager. My last bike(s) were VFR750 and Pan Euro but now looking at getting a Monster 600 OR preferably a 620. I am small and short arsed so that size of bike would be nice not looking to bust speed limits any more just a nice and economical ride probably all one up as SWMBO will have a fit when I buy the bike any advice or help appreciated kindest regards David
Ive never ridden a 750 monster or SS. I had a 750 Paso before my 907. The 750 motor was a lot less lumpy. I rode a 600 monster for a day and found it a bit gutless. If you're a bit old school/classic you might consider paso, they are cheap but the 750/906 models have 16" wheels which are hard to get tyres for and a dodgy weber carb. 907 are well sorted, have injection 17" wheels and 4pot brakes but are picking up in value lately. They are a comfy bike with low seat height but a bit heavy for a duc.
I didn't know that the 600 was any smaller than any of the other Monsters Get a 900 and be done with it
Yes looks like the bigger engine is a nicer ride BUT what about a Monster S2R 800 looks very sexy and if i scraped these cans I would be off on my arse :-( Still fancy the 620 with the wee bit more power. Shessh even a nice VFR750FV is looking sensible, price wise, performance wise, two up wise OOOOPS I might get banned for suggesting that.
Finally - someone that El T will call by his correct name!! Hi David, you are bound to get a cross-section of views as it's only human nature. I would say 750 is best of all options for the early Monster but nothing wrong with a 600 but after owning Japanese all I will say is get the best/lowest mileage (but not because of standing in a damp garage) you can find as you could be buying a heap of trouble as @jimmer found.
INTERESTING thread thanks for pointing that out to me. I am looking for something reliable and well first choice is a Ducati for a number of silly totally illogical reasons. Then comes logic and the VFR a bike I know well and liked even if it is a bit of a bland ride. The VFR750FV is a nice looking bike {to my eyes} much like the S2R 800 a looker for sure and there is a local{ish} one that I am sure I could steal for just over £1,000. Price is a big issue really as this will not be a popular purchase. So I am conflicted I guess i need to be a little more patient and see what Ducati's come out/up for sale when the sun starts to shine.
sadly that was/is the VFR750FV if it was the S2R 800 I would be over the moon as would be my son he has just started racing in a Ducati in the DesmoDue class after selling his 748 which I never got to ride he had his first race on Saturday and did not come last
Welcome, the Monster 696+ is a lovely wee bike with tons of character, great looks, light, flickable and the noise on the overrun is guaranteed to make you smile. Suspension can be a little harsh when the going gets bumpy.
Welcome! I had the VFR800FI (before VTEC) for a couple of years. Good to ride for long distances, good to commute, good on track. After I sold it, I was 6 years without a bike. Now, when buying my bike last year, did I consider the VFR? No It was a very good bike, but getting on it and swithing the engine on, did nothing. Now I smile already when opening the garage door, when I start to see the red fairings and gold frame. Hearing the rumble when I turn it on, makes me happy even on a bad day. Anyway, I also looked at what would be the most cheap to insure and maintain. Also simple enough so I could fix it myself. That's when I decided to go for the 2-valve desmodue engine instead of the 4-valve. Do your own math, and try to go and test ride a couple, so you can feel the differences between the engines and bikes. Also, when you ride the same model a couple of times, you start to notice if something is out of place, and which odd noises are normal ducati noises
YES well i think you hit the nail on the head and I agree with almost every word you wrote there my Honda's apart from my CB400/4 were just bikes - means of transportation My Ducati when I get one will be quite different MY BABY really cosseted loved and looked after as best I can and as a Ducati should be I have a few that I am watching a nice cheap but not cheap enough yet 620 that I would probably mod a wee bit with high level exhausts and a tail tidy sadly it is not one of the FAST colours {Red and Yellow} two S2R 800's and one S2R 1000 and one 696 I will go for a ride on two local 696's here next week if the weather improves a bit I have seen the bikes sat on them and they are nice but much more expensive than a 696 in Birmingham....WHY I have no idea. My son is a novice rider in the Desmodue series and is at Cardwell Park this weekend for his second race. I threatened to buy one to race and see if he could out race his old dad but that would be very very naughty I think..... But it is his racing of the Desmodue that had/has got me again looking at a Ducati The Honda VFR 750FV is the sensible very cheap option but again it is only a Honda....and that is not where I am with a motorbike now which is why I am here and also on the UKMOC.
Question S2R 800 OR 796 for about the same money? Which would you buy and Why ?? The 796 is a non ABS model so has a better range (I think) as the ABS model has a smaller tank?
Well it was sunny but not warm yesterday so I went for my test ride on the 696. There are two bikes locally in the one dealer one at £5K the other at £6K. Confused now about what one I rode but I think it was the cheaper older one with more miles. The other had no battery in it so could not do a back to back ride to compare and see if I could see a £1K difference.. First boo boo was I left my Rukka trousers at home...........it was truly brass monkey weather sunny but COLD!!! Ok so it is over ten years since i rode a mobike (and I drive a VOLVO so be nice to me please) and they were Honda VFR 750 and a PanEuro with nice fairings. It is twenty plus years and more since I rode a naked bike my Honda 400/4 and even longer since I rode my Triumph Tiger Cub. Amazing one for sale locally at £2700. So getting on a naked bike in bluddy cold weather was not fun. Plenty of poke on the 696 as I took it on a wee ride almost 90 minutes first down the motorway then then back up the wiggly A roads and through the town so I got a feel for it in most situations. Well as best I could in 90 minutes. A naked bike was a new re experience doubly so at naughty speeds on the Mway but the bike had lots more to give than I would have wanted. Sadly it took me almost 60 minutes before I was comfortable in the wiggly bits and was pushing on the bars to get her well over. I guess I need to go back for some on the bike training ASAP. Brakes were good the front brake awesome one finger at the pivot end was more than enough stopping power for sensible in traffic stops. The front suspension was a wee bit soft and was dipping quite a lot under braking I would have said excessively but that might just be me not being used to riding again. Overall the suspension felt VERY Firm on bumpy not smooth roads. Gears were nice with no false neutrals found. But being a two cylinder bike, in town or in 30 limits third gear was needed if I wanted the engine to be smooth fourth was dooable but the bike/engine was not ultra happy. Sixth gear seems very high and really a Mway gear or really fast A roads. The digital dash was nice but not to my taste and way out of my line of vision even peripheral vision. NO gear indicator and no fuel gauge NOT CLEVER doubly so with a tiny fuel tank. And finding neutral was a bit hit and miss but not a big problem. On the twisty bits it was nice ONCE I was able to lay her over. In town to it was truly lovely to ride, apart from the need to keep her in a low gear to stay legal, leaving the lights was awesome and wiggling in and out of the traffic was great too. That skill came back quickly but then that was quite far into the test ride. Mirrors were nice and I cant see how the bar end mirrors are an improvement as I suspect my hands would get in the way.....thank god I borrowed my sons gloves as my hands were fine even if my legs were like ice poles. So to wind this up. I liked the 696, as standard it was a bit quiet so Termi's are a prerequisite for 'my bike' The naked bike was a shock to my system on a cold day and at speed. The lumpy two cylinder engine was not really a surprise, the need to keep in in a low gear in 30 limits (to stay legal) was. Seat height was great unlike my PanEuro which was a tip toe job at traffic lights. The 696 felt lively and sensitive and was a nice ride the front brake needs 'respect' Loved the looks of the bike and in red it looks great. I will get some pics posted ASAP. I should have taken my sons GoPro for a video. RIDEON were great arranged the test ride with only an hours notice even if I was in chatting to them last week. That was a great customer experience. A 696 at £5/6K is too much money I think the test ride did not make me want to 'buy that bike' doubly so as my partner will go ape-**** once I buy 'my bike' ..she was banned by her sons from ever getting on the back of my Hondas... strange since we risked life and limb when we went round St John in the USVI's on a scooter loaded up with snorkel gear on the truly horrendous switch back roller coaster pot holed St Johns roads loaded with tourists driving Jeeps like drunk blind men.
