Morning guys I published a review on the 1200S. I had it for a month straight and another week recently as a loaner. Let me know what you think! 2016 Ducati Monster 1200 S
You say it's "Probably a lot like sex with Idris Elba". You've just put me right off my cornflakes......and the bike as well.
You mean this bit about power delivery? "Crack it open and the thrust is smooth, powerful and exciting. Probably a lot like sex with Idris Elba." You could put it in URBAN mode if you prefer a more unpredicatable, Charlie Sheen like delviery.
Canny write up. I've just looked at a used one today and am interested, But, what is it like for a pillion? The ball & chain likes to come out too, any say on that?
My wife doesn't go pillion any more since little one arrived. So unfortunately I can't tell you accurately what it would be like. Its a good bike ergonomically so perhaps that might translate into the pillion position too.
Just read your review and it matches my experience of my 1200 stripe so far but I'd like to add a bit of detail on the handling. When you're riding sanely the bike handles superbly but it really is a monster and can be a bit of a handful when caning it. It gets twitchy under hard acceleration and will shake the bars when the road surface is a bit uneven and I've had a speed weave brought on by hitting a cat's eye. The weave didn't feel like it was going to build into a tank slapper but it wasn't going away on it's own so I had to close off a hair and this seems to be all that is required to straighten it out. It's a bit disconcerting though. I've lost my tyre pressure gauge so will get a new one and check the tyre pressures to make sure all is OK. I actually like the edgy feel but think I'll be shopping for a steering damper soon to make sure it never gets out of hand. Also, when caning it, the riding position makes me feel a little "thrown back" and I want to get more weight on the bars in the corners. I just can't seem to do that on this bike, not that there is a problem with the handling in corners. I think it's because you sit in the bike rather than on it. I guess the up side of this is all day comfort, and it is a very comfy bike. The bike has masses of torque and will lift the front wheel in 3rd gear under acceleration but I've also scrubbed the rear tyre in 2500 miles. This is the worst mileage I've ever had from a tyre, especially when you consider the first 1500 miles of that was running in and me getting used to the bike. I'll stick with stock tyres until the front is done and then look for something with a longer life. Yet another tyre thread coming your way soon.
A friend has put M7RR on his 1200S and says they are an improvement. Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk
I would agree with Wally on a few points although my test ride was in the wet, even so when hard on the gas the feeling is that u are hanging off the bars a bit, would almost be better if there was more of a step behind the seat just to keep u up near the front, I thought maybe it's because I had jumped off a sportsbike but other naked haven't felt like that.. That said its a different animal to a speed triple which is my point of reference! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hey Wally Just changed my tyres too at 2500. Gone for the Rosso 111s but just scrubbing in. Very little I don't like about the bike, just the pegs and lack of gear indicator. Not sure this will be an upgrade on the 1st service? Never had the "weave", maybe I'll have to try to get up to 50mph to see if the high speed induces one Touring mode is very different to sport mode and good for majority of the time. Power delivery much smoother, but sport does open up a different type of ride. Which mode was the weave induced?
Hey MrH, I was in sport mode, going quite fast and giving it a reasonable handful but when the bars kicked I stopped accelerating and the bike started to weave on a steady throttle. I didn't want to shut the throttle in case that induced something uncontrolled so I just backed of a little, the weave stopped, my breathing started again and I regained control of my bowels. I've decided to get the suspension set up for my weight and riding style. I'm waiting for a firm (ECS Suspension, who seem to use another firm or dept called K-Tech) to get back to me. I've never gone through this before so I guess I just ask them to set it up for road use and "a bit of a dick" riding style. I use touring mode on my saner days and wet days and around town because the bike can be a bit of a liability in sport on tight roundabouts. I use urban when wet in town. Let me know how you get on with the Roso IIIs. Are they meant to last longer than IIs or isn't that what you're after?
Well who'd have thought? Got a new Rear Roso II fitted today and put 200 miles on it and the bike is soooooo much more stable than it was. I've not had the suspension setup done yet either, looks like that'll be in May. The old tyre didn't look particularly squared off or anything but what change in profile there was really messed with the handling. I know worn tyres affect handling a bit but I've never felt it this extremely. I was getting a bit wary of the bike but loving it again and had an absolute blast today.
Well the handling with my new front and rear rosso IIIs make the bike feel completely different. 2.3 bar from and 2.5 bar rear. Must admit, not sure if i have got used to the handling with the new tyres. Feels as if it is a bit light, but 2500 miles on the old tyres I have forgotten how they felt at first! The tyre shop put loads more air. Working to the old adage of 36 and 42 i guess.
Hey mrH, how are you getting on with the Rosso IIIs? They are meant to have faster turn in than the rosso IIs and so maybe that's the lightness you're feeling. What are they like when your pushing it? I'm thinking about going for the Metzeler M7RRs but I'm not quite made up my mind yet.
Hi wally I was going for the M7RRs too, but decided on the IIIs. They are really good and turn in nicely. Lots of grip (dry), haven't ventured into the wet apart from when washing the lovely lady I have also gone back to 2.3 and 2.5 bar Handling is good, guess I've got used to them again now. Lots of confidence in the bends. Be interested if you choose the M7RRs and how you get on. As tyres are only lasting 2500 at best, i'll be taking another trip to the tyre dealers soon anyway !:coldsweat:
Hey mrH, I spoke to Ducati Glasgow and they said the IIIs won't last any longer than the IIs and the M7RR, of which they have sold a lot, are likely to last less long so I thought I'd stick with the IIs for now. If you want longer life I think you have to go for a sports touring tyre and, to be honest, they would probably be all the tyre I'd need. But common sense hasn't prevailed and I decided to eat the low mileage and stick with the IIs because I like them. On the up side, if I go for a different sports tyre in the future and don't like them then at least I won't have to put up with it for long.
I finally got around to getting the suspension setup done. The company I was originally thinking of using never got back to me so I phoned Bob Grant (Scotland's only official Ohlins service centre, active racer, one of Ron Haslam's race school instructors - excellent credentials and exceptionally nice man). What a difference he's made to my bike! I've done about 100 miles since the setup. That's 100 miles of being a complete hoodlum and trying to unsettle the bike but I couldn't. The head shake is gone, it's not trying to wheelie all the time so I can stay on the power and it's lost that scary, light at the front feeling when pushing it in the corners. I can't even begin to express how happy I am with the result.
I can't remember off hand but I can get them for you. I think the setting that made the biggest difference was rebound damping. That had to be slowed right down. It's currently set to 2 clicks out (I think) because Bob is loath to go below that. He was going to query Ohlins because he felt the rebound was just too fast on anything above 2 so suspects either my bike has an issue (warranty repair) or the fork setup doesn't particularly suit the bike. I'll email him to see if he's any further forward with it and let you know what he says.
I'd be really grateful if you can dig the settings out - I've come from a Skyhook Multistrada where everything is more or less perfect most of the time. And while this is good it definitely feels like it needs setting up to suit my weight and riding style.
I never rode a skyhook but I'd say the Monster feels like my old 2010 Mutley ST in sport mode in terms of firmness. Never harsh or jarring, just firm. Anyhoo, it turns out Ohlins aren't aware of any issues with the forks on the Monster and have offered to re-valve mine if I want. I'm tempted but, at the same time, I'm quite happy with how things are so, as it ain't broke, I think I'll decline their offer. Or will I? Damn. What to do, what to do? :Nailbiting: I'm a little under 12st (I hope) and my settings are: Forks: Preload 7 turns (was 10) Comp unchanged (i.e. 11) Reb 2 (was 10) Shock: Preload unchanged (I don't have a note but it will be in the owner's manual) Comp 8 (was 10) Reb 18 (was 14) Let me know how you get on. Depending on what you find I may decide to take Ohlins up on their offer.
