Thank you all for all the great responses so far. Yes I am in the USA. Generally speaking I can fly to most places, stay 2 nights and fly back and ship the bike home all for around or less than a thousand dollars. I would rather fly and ride (if close enough. Or have a friend drive me and ride home.) Test riding is the biggest hangup here in GA. Over 18 inches of rain since January 1st... and only 7 days in February without rain so far. I will not buy something I cannot ride. (at least a version of it...) Some dealers do not do test rides. Others do not have what I want... Only what they want to sell. I started this journey thinking of buying new. But after reading an article on a forum (this one? another?) asking why do so many used Ducatis have such low mileage... I started looking and WOW some great deals out there. Of course that led me to even more research about even older models. I think I have stopped thinking of other brands, but now there are so many different models of monsters... Maybe its good its still raining. I just want to buy within the next month while I am looking at winter prices... Not spring prices... Thanks Rex
I want a 1200S or R... But an 821 may be enough. I want to be able to use the full Rev range. On the twistiest roads here in North GA I am not sure the 1200 never get out of second gear. and only medium revs at that... Of course I don't want to immediately desire more power than the 821. Both will be more than I need to commute with... Of course I did see a Beautiful S4R... some S2R1000 I believe the S4R is close to the power of a newer 1200. and the 1100EVO is closer to the 821 many of those out there... Plus, a used older bike will leave room $$ for a suspension upgrade. I want adjustable suspension... I know that is key to really enjoying and personalizing your ride. I will be too heavy for stock springs immediately... So the rear will happen fast. The front depends on what I buy, its age, and where the Ziptie is... I want the power... But I REALLY want the torque! I am good at researching numbers... but I really need to feel it... the HP and TQE ratings are close on the 1100EVO and the newer 821. BUT I doubt the feel is the same. Then there is reliability... I understand the maintenance... And I am OK with that on the older bikes. But if I buy it knowing it needs belts/oil/ and a general tune (many older bikes are too low in miles to supposed to need the Desmo... But I might get it done to start fresh...) BUT!! If it probably needs Belts I cannot even ride it home if it is close!! GRRRR I started this saying i will not buy ANYTHING that does not at least have some ABS... But That S4R I saw Mmmmmmm Rex
Dukesox What happens with the log book, when bought on line, does the owner just send off there part and give you the little slip part, main bit is the part the owner sends off won't have new keepers signature.
I ask the courier to collect the slip and give it to me when delivering the bike. I text my details to the seller and ask if they will notify DVLA of the change online in which case I receive an email straight away. If not then you are no worse off than collecting in person and relying on the seller to post the form to DVLA. Professional couriers know to collect the slip . The signature , or lack of, does not seem to matter.
if youre good at detective work and have a feel for it, go for it. the fact youre asking tells me not. Ive bought bikes rougher than described without seeing them, its a chance you take. If you are happy to loose sometimes, risk it, if not, view in person. Theres too many scammers out there to be green. glwp
Well you may be a better judge of deals than character. The fact is I am pretty good at doing whatever I do. I am intelligent. And I research every new thing I do to death... AND I am not afraid to ask questions in case I can find someone more intelligent than me, or at least more experienced that can offer some nugget of wisdom that I have not thought of or been taught yet. Thank you Rex
@RexDangerVest I have ridden at least 500 miles ( a lot more on most)on every monster model produced from 2004 onwards with the exception of the 797 & S2R800 so here are my thoughts which are of course based on my riding style, the roads I ride on & my preferences . Apologies in advance for the long post, I`ll slip in some pics of Catwoman to make it more bearable. S2R1000. My favourite and a model I currently own. Full of character , reasonably comfortable and about the right level of performance for me. Fast enough to be exciting without scary. The only drawback I can think of is that it is a bit lumpy at low revs and I would prefer a steel tank. S4R 996/998. Wonderful bikes . Smoother at low revs than the air cooled bikes and a load more power right through the rev range. Tank range can drop to 80 miles or so when ridden enthusiastically. Hard not to being honest . 696. Good first big bike. Relatively low powered compared to the rest and I`m not keen on the riding position which feels a bit more on than in if you know what I mean. That applies to the 796/1100 too. 796. As 696 but nicer and has the lovely SSA. 1100/Evo. Feels amazingly torquey , a blast to own and will make you smile. Not much point revving over 6000, change up early and ride the torque. The 1100 engine is noticeably more lumpy than the 1000 but also noticeably more powerful. Lovely bikes and dynamically an improvement over the S2R/S4R but I would always choose the S2R/S4R purely down to the riding position . Evos all have ABS, some of the others do I think. 821. Handling & ride are excellent. ABS and traction control are nice to have and good spread of power through the rev range with a rush at the top. That said, way to revvy for my tastes. I prefer bikes with engine that are best between 3000-6000rpm and on this it always felt like it wanted to be 6000 plus and lots of gear changes. 1200. Just brilliant and the only current production Ducati I would consider buying . All day comfortable, fabulous engine that is happy to be docile and will then rip your arms off. Massive torque and even quite good mpg combined with a good size tank giving 150 miles or more as a range. That said, I sold mine and kept the S2R as I`d get off the 1200 and then lock it away, the S2R would always make me take a glance back and even made me want to take up smoking so I could have a fag & stand there and listen to the engine ping as it cooled down. You mention suspension upgrades, with all of these I`d take the bike to a specialist and get them to work on what the bikes comes with before buying anything. Its quite incredible what a difference there is if the bike is set up for you. As I said, that is all just my opinion , other people will have others and they will all be valid. Yours is the most important though.
Had to reply. At the very least for more pics of Cat Woman... I have read where in 2017 the 1200 was changed to be shorter (in length) and sharper handling. Later they crept closer to the power of the 1200R I see some barely used 2016 1200S for sale. Is there a reason that I should avoid the 1200 before 2017? Thanks Rex
they've got up to type 1200 in the Catwoman series?? - i'f i'd had my way they would have thrown the moulds away after the Pfieffer model.
I had a mid 2016 standard bike so cant comment on anything else. Just brilliant, if the later bikes or the s & r models are even better then it would have been wasted on me. As I mentioned, I had the handling on mine professionally set up and never got close to exploring the limits of what mine could do. Same for the engine, if I never ride anything quicker I wont mind.
With Monsters as well as most other things, the original shape is the best. This is abley demonstrated by Cat Woman.
I bought my Duke online without seeing it from a dealer. The bike is actually better than described. I was quite worried but I would have sent it back if it wasn’t any good. I also bought my Daytona online without seeing it and that was a private seller, I just got a good feeling from the guy with the phone call conversations we had, he was a good honest bloke, not many of those about I suppose.
Apart from all Scots are happy to rip you off the protection laws on Scotland ares so much less than rest of UK. Your version of trading standards are not interested, and the small claims limit is £5k. Added to that making a claim is also more difficult. You just cant speak to anyone.
I wasn't aware of differences in trading standards so I can retract my 'rude' remark However, your first comment about us whingeing, scrounging Jocks trying to rip you off how very dare you
