Yeah when I sat on the monster at the show my feet were hitting the exhausts and just felt really cramp feet wise. I would probably want the seat on the higher setting at 6ft tall depending on the difference it makes.
Was told it was "in the middle" position but it only has high and low so I'm not sure what actual position it was in. It felt like my old M1100, my legs were folded up, not desperately uncomfortable but certainly more cramped than my SF (and other bikes). Like with the M1100 I could get used to it. This monster isn't the monster for taller folk.
would probably be good for me as I am 5ft 8in and am having trouble getting a not so cooperative leg over the SF seat.It's the pillion bit that catches my boot as my leg is not as mobile as it should be. I will look forward to having a go on one.I spoke to my dealer,Pro Twins,but they havn't got one in yet .:frown: If I get desperate I will go and look at the one they have at Pand H.Only a short trip away from me.
I was lucky enough to test the new Monster 1200 yesterday,courtesy of Pro Twins,who couldn't have been more obliging. The seat height was set on low for me and off I went.First impressions were favourable-a nicely balanced bike and very,for want of a better word,flickable.It just went where you wanted it to go so easily,almost as if it had already read your mind. As previous posts have stated,plenty of torque from the engine and quite smooth for a V twin at low speeds.Quite an aggresive riding position and I did feel a bit pushed up to the tank,which is quite large,and incidentally,made of metal not plastic. After a bit of riding round the following things became noticeable. I am not a big guy,5ft 8in,but I found myself a bit scrunched up in the leg dept.This was probably in part due to me having the seat on the low setting.The seat seemed to be comfortable with good padding for the bum,but I did feel a bit splayed out.This again could be due to the low seat height I was running. One thing which I found annoying was the dashboard.It was very clear and concise to read and understand in the garage.Get the bike out on the road in the sunshine and the dash reflects light so badly that reading it is almost impossible. I would say that the bike has a lot going for it and perhaps If I had had it for the day and been able to play with the seat position,incidentally there are a few seat options available from Ducati,I perhaps could have found a position more comfortable. I think it is a good bike and is well worth putting on your list for trying out if you are in that particular bike sector. I must say once again that Pro Twins looked after me,as usual,very well.
I had a test on one yesterday at Moto Rapido, loved it, easy to ride, oozes confidence, nice wide bars for a bit of counter steer, and when hitting 7k on the rev counter it goes like fuck, When looking at the display, it gives loads of info, I get the numbers say the speed, there's loads of other stuff, all the settings, pretty pointless as I only need to know the speed tbh, grinning when I got off, I liked it I would post a picture but I can't
OK - only a shortish ride in a group, probably need to take out on own for a few hours but initial feelings Bad I'm only 5'6 and my legs felt cramped compared to SF and my knees hurt at end , its pretty wide to Didn't like the riding position at all , bars too wide , rear brake in awkward position too close to engine - again could probably be adjusted with rear sets ££ etc etc Still don't like the overall look, engine is messy in places, hate the rear number plate holder, front radiator looks like an accident waiting to happen, again needs ££££ spending on it When I test road the SF I knew straight away it blew me away, loved it from the off, the monster is in my eyes 'frumpy and a bit lazy' Very light on front end - again maybe needs getting used to but doesn't feel anywhere like as planted as the SF Good Yes the engine is awesome smooth and full of torque but I still preferred my tuned 848 Great breaks and ABS Would I swap - nope In a couple of years if they don't replace the SF, probably
At the moment I don't think so.Having just read the report from Char which was very informative and very much what I found,probably not.I want to have a look at the new BMW RNinety as it sounds like a good package..Probably more suited to a cool dude aged about 25-but I could keep me crash helmet on and pretend,just like when I am out on the Ducati.
I'm with Char on this. I really tried to like the new M1200S but its just not right (for me). I'll hold off and keep my increasingly bruised fingers crossed for a Pani platform based SF (or more aggressive Monster).
Well I went for a ride out on the panni & came home the owner of a new monster 1200 Dam that man at Ducati Leeds , how much fun is that bike & it sounds soooo nice well even better when the termis are on .i will never be rich just happy.
Buzz, you said it all: if only I didn't already have a Streetfighter... I tested the 1200s this weekend. High bars, tame engine, less grunt than I expected. I find it enlightening that the 'little' 848 engine of the SF delivers almost as much fun as the 1200. No plans for a trade-in in the near future :b
I still don't get why they insist on making things so cramped on Ducatis, especially so when they're not superbike related. I've looked at the pictures of the monster and I'm not sure you can even swap to rear sets can you? It looks like the pegs are part of an entire side piece which also connects to pillion pegs, I may be wrong. I just don't get it, bikes need to be functional for a wider audience and it seems to me that Ducati are still naive enough to only test bikes with small Italian riders at the helm and then expect the rest of europe to just get on with it....pratts
yeah you'd either need to take a hacksaw to it or remove the whole thing - replace with rearsets but then you wont be able to take a pillion - nice one Ducati the one neat thing about the Diavel was the folding hidden pillion pegs
I so wanted to like the Monster before I tried it-looks like everyone who tests it is finding,for them,major problems.
