Monster advice

[Rudeboy99]

Hi all after some advice guys.ive always had jap inline fours or 2 strokes but a lusting for a Ducati lies within and a monster is the choice lol. The decision I need advice with is 1100 or 796 it's is mostly going to be a weekend toy some town work mostly B road scratching and possibly a 4-5 day euro trip but the group will be Harley's and old boys.im about 5.10ish 12 stone never owned a twin but I just have to do it.any advice and experiences please.

[slob]

Either should be fine. The 796 is probably a better town bike and more nimble on the b-roads at a trade off of a bit less grunt and revvier cruising on long trips. What type of fours have you been riding? this may affect your expectations of your next bike. Either way, I'd find dealers that have 2nd hand examples in stock and try a short test ride so you can make your own mind up. (even if you plan to buy privately later)

[Rudeboy99]

Last bike was cb1000r and fz8 before that it's going to be mostly a pretty toy.i keep looking at the safe inline option but always end up swooning over the monster.i know the bhp top end is less but as long as I get there with a grin etc I'm happy. I would guess the 796 isn't a whole lot slower because of the power delivery is that right?

[jonzi]

The 796 weighs about 30-40kg less than the FZ8. With marginally less BHP on the monster.

I doubt it's slower at all.

[Ron1000]

I can recommend the 1100 evo. Very quick in the twisties.

[Albie]

You cant go wrong with an 1100. You possibly could with a lesser cc long term wanting more. Best try both and go for what you wish for.

[Darren69]

As far as the air cooled 2 valvers go, I'd go for the biggest and newest you can afford. There's a couple of nice looking 1100's on ebay at the moment. There's a black 1100S (so has Ohlins and lots of exotic stuff like that) seems quite reasonable for <5k.

[SunEye]

I owned a succession of Kawasaki ZRX1100 and 1200 before my Monsters. When I was thinking about buying my first Monster I test rode a 796 and 1100. I preferred the 1100. It had a bit more grunt than the 796, more like what I was used to.

I have toured on an 1100 and 1100evo. I'm about the same height and weight as you and never had any significant issues other than occasional cramp in my hips because the pegs are quite high, but that was when I was riding for 11-12 hours a day. The only thing that I would say about touring with people riding Harleys is that it can be slightly frustrating because their natural cruising speed and cornering speed is much lower than a Monster. On twisty roads I ride ahead and then stop and wait.

For comfortable town riding on the 1100 I would suggest a slight change of gearing (1 tooth down on the front sprocket or two up on the rear) to help with low speed performance, but bear in mind that much below 4000 rpm the bike isn't happy. A remap of the ECU will sort that out and keep things smooth down to about 2500 rpm. Bear in mind the Monsters aren't like big in line fours. My Kawasaksis could be ridden at walking speed on tickover without the need to slip the clutch. My 1100 generally needed the clutch until about 15 mph.

There's only about £1000 (or less) price difference between a low mileage 796 and an 1100, which to me makes the 1100 look to be good value.

[Ron1000]

+1 suneye.

I’ve never owned an il4 and the shot i had on one I wasn’t keen. Some people moving to twins just can’t live with them. Try and get a test ride on one first, they are very different to your jap il4’s

[Albie]

I know many a person who went on the hunt for new style bikes opting for 796 even though I said 1100 and they have slight regrets but that's not to take anything from the 796 as its a stonking bike with all the power you should need. I only bought an 1100s because the alternative was a 696 at the time. I never regretted it but had a 1100 scrambler been available when I bought my scrambler 800 I would have the bigger engine for more torque.

[Ron1000]

Apologies for the thread hijack.

Albie,
Have you got a topbox for your scrambler? If so what make did you go for

[Albie]

Apologies for the thread hijack.

Albie,
Have you got a topbox for your scrambler? If so what make did you go for

No topbox just a small rack in black I use kriega bags if travelling.

[Ron1000]

What make of small rack and kreiga bags do you use

[Albie]

What make of small rack and kreiga bags do you use

pm sent to you.

[Ron1000]

Cheers albie.

Post un-hijacked.

Please accept my apologies again. I’m a bad bad person.

[chris.p]

1100 Evo, awesome bit of kit once the suspension etc sorted out :D
Plenty of post on here.

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=50780

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=50851

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=51391
there are plenty of other threads by Ron etc