Okay, so I've had the Ducati Monster 695 for around two mouths now, so this is what I think...in a slightly condensed form:
What I like - The name on the tank, the riding position, the noise from the exhausts (especially on the overrun), the colour and how easy it is to ride.
What I don't like - Its terrible at low revs and partially throttle, so much so that it's really doing my bloody head in. Despite really trying, I can't easily attach any of the luggage I have. Yes I could just about use my tailpack, but this encroaches on the riding position and the tank isn't magnetic so my tankbag is out of the question too. It's just not fast enough. Now I know this is a daft one, but when I took it out onto some nice open sweeping roads and it just ran out of puff when things started to get interesting. I like riding knowing there is more there if I need it.
As you may have guessed I haven't bonded with this bike at all. Yes the bike is just supposed to be transport, but I firmly believe that 'transport' doesn't have to be boring or be a compromise. Now I'm not saying the Monster is boring and there are certainly those who love their Ducati Monsters and that's great, really great. Loving your bike is really important, even if its just an ER5 Kawasaki. I really loved my Ninja, just as much as I love the 1098s and well maybe that's the problem. I'm trying to make the Monster fill a space that it had hardly any chance of filling, which although is probably unfair, it's the way I'm starting to feel. Using the bike everyday its quirks haven't made me fall for its 'character' instead they are really starting to annoy me.
Deep down I think I've known this since the end of last year, possibly earlier, so this is why I'm now back on the hunt. It makes sense to me that the only way to fill a hole left by a Ninja, is to buy another Ninja.
What I like - The name on the tank, the riding position, the noise from the exhausts (especially on the overrun), the colour and how easy it is to ride.
What I don't like - Its terrible at low revs and partially throttle, so much so that it's really doing my bloody head in. Despite really trying, I can't easily attach any of the luggage I have. Yes I could just about use my tailpack, but this encroaches on the riding position and the tank isn't magnetic so my tankbag is out of the question too. It's just not fast enough. Now I know this is a daft one, but when I took it out onto some nice open sweeping roads and it just ran out of puff when things started to get interesting. I like riding knowing there is more there if I need it.
As you may have guessed I haven't bonded with this bike at all. Yes the bike is just supposed to be transport, but I firmly believe that 'transport' doesn't have to be boring or be a compromise. Now I'm not saying the Monster is boring and there are certainly those who love their Ducati Monsters and that's great, really great. Loving your bike is really important, even if its just an ER5 Kawasaki. I really loved my Ninja, just as much as I love the 1098s and well maybe that's the problem. I'm trying to make the Monster fill a space that it had hardly any chance of filling, which although is probably unfair, it's the way I'm starting to feel. Using the bike everyday its quirks haven't made me fall for its 'character' instead they are really starting to annoy me.
Deep down I think I've known this since the end of last year, possibly earlier, so this is why I'm now back on the hunt. It makes sense to me that the only way to fill a hole left by a Ninja, is to buy another Ninja.
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