Back on a Ducati after all these years

I bought a 2010 Monster 1100 a few weeks ago, 11000 miles, just serviced including cambelts. I've only ridden it once and thought I'd made a mistake because it handled like a pig on roller skates, then I checked the tyre pressures 25psi front, 30psi rear! I should have known not to trust a dealer



Anyway, I had a bevel drive 900 back in the 1980s, sold it for £1700 shortly after giving Steve Wynn a large sum of money to rebuild the engine after it ate its big end bearings and broke a rod. I was skint, I needed the money



The Monster is a lot more refined, more comfortable and hopefully a lot more reliable.

[Nickj]

Very different beast but still very similar, as you say the current models are more refined but just as good to ride.
There might be an upside to this covid biz.. quieter roads and the more lethal drivers stuck in small loops trying to buy toilet roll, beans and eggs

Enjoy

[Darren69]

Beware the beans, egg and toilet roll cycle. Good advice, you don't want to get caught in that madness.

[slob]

Looks like a nice clean bike with a few tasteful extras.
Welcome to the forum.

[mickj]

Welcome to the forum Druid, I've only owned two Ducati's, an 860 GTS in the 80's and a Monster 1200s now. Your Monster looks good, what bikes did you have in between?

Originally Posted by mjgt

Welcome to the forum Druid, I've only owned two Ducati's, an 860 GTS in the 80's and a Monster 1200s now. Your Monster looks good, what bikes did you have in between?

There have been a few:

2010 MV Agusta Brutale
2009 Aprillia Dorsoduro
2005 Yamaha R1
1976 Suzuki GS750
2006 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
1995 VFR750
2003 Speed Triple 955i
2004 Honda Firestorm
1992 CBR600
1994 VFR750
1988 CBR600
1983 Yamaha XJ900
1984 Honda VF750F
1976 CB400/4

I may have missed one or two, and I still have the GS750 as well

And did the MV Brutale hit The Spot? Gorgeous bikes to look at but far too revvy for my tastes and probably not suited to UK roads. I'll make do with the MV chassis on my two Cagiva Raptors...

Nick

PS Welcome back to Ducati-land!

[Darren69]

Originally Posted by The Clockie

And did the MV Brutale hit The Spot? Gorgeous bikes to look at but far too revvy for my tastes and probably not suited to UK roads. I'll make do with the MV chassis on my two Cagiva Raptors...

Nick

PS Welcome back to Ducati-land!

The Raptor is a very underated bike I think. TL1000 engine and without the stability issues that blighted the TL. The styling is a bit odd in places though perhaps I'm too conventional in my bike tastes?

I always fancied a Bimota myself and very nearly bought a very cheap non running Mantra before the S4!

Anyway welcome along Peter enjoy the ride!

[Mr Gazza]

Welcome aboard Druid.
Really like the bevelhead, you could retire on the sale of that, if you still had it!
My only ride on a bevel was a short test ride in Milton Keynes.. I loved it and all those roundabouts.. Sadly the seller played sillybuggers and I didn't buy it.

Your 1100 looks tidy, but someone has stuck your knee pads on the wrong sides, upsidedown (comment from serial AJS and Matchless owner)

Enjoy your new bike mate and beware the deadly Giant Blue Anaconda!

Originally Posted by Darren69

The Raptor is a very underated bike I think. TL1000 engine and without the stability issues that blighted the TL. The styling is a bit odd in places though perhaps I'm too conventional in my bike tastes?

You must be thinking of the V-Raptor with its droop-snoot, horns on the tank and exaggerated seat hump. The basic Raptor is a dead ringer for an early Monster but rather neater around the motor area. No coincidence, as they were both designed by the same chap! I shall dig out a photo...



Nick

[mickj]

Originally Posted by Druid

There have been a few:

2010 MV Agusta Brutale
2009 Aprillia Dorsoduro
2005 Yamaha R1
1976 Suzuki GS750
2006 Triumph Speed Triple 1050
1995 VFR750
2003 Speed Triple 955i
2004 Honda Firestorm
1992 CBR600
1994 VFR750
1988 CBR600
1983 Yamaha XJ900
1984 Honda VF750F
1976 CB400/4

I may have missed one or two, and I still have the GS750 as well

Quite a mix, I've probably had a couple more over the same time but all naked, still have my 2000 speed triple 955i though, I prefer it to the 1050.

Originally Posted by The Clockie

And did the MV Brutale hit The Spot? Gorgeous bikes to look at but far too revvy for my tastes and probably not suited to UK roads. I'll make do with the MV chassis on my two Cagiva Raptors...

Nick

PS Welcome back to Ducati-land!

I didn't really get on with the Brutale, like you say it needs revving. Handled really well though, even on the bumpy roads up here. Some irritating stuff - 6 button presses of differing lengths on two different buttons to reset the trip used to really annoy me. Thirsty too, 120 miles to a 23 litre tank, I worked it out once at 30mpg. Looks are subjective aren't they, looks gorgeous from behind but awful from the front, really wide and heavy

Originally Posted by mjgt

Quite a mix, I've probably had a couple more over the same time but all naked, still have my 2000 speed triple 955i though, I prefer it to the 1050.

I thought the 1050 was much better, a little bit more power, better suspension, a lighter clutch and a much more comfortable seat made all day rides a pleasure rather than a pain. I think it loos better too, I'd have another one, but only a round headlamp model.

[Darren69]

No, indeed Geoff, spot on. and I did actually serve my apprenticeship on air cooled early '90's Dukes (750/900SS) and so I can appreciate the airhead mentality but despite there shortcomings I stayed loyal to the brand but wanted to performance upgrade so went to to 4V LC bikes by way of the 748 and loved the overall madness of that particular bike. I should have sold it when it started to cost megabucks to maintain but I didn't and so it sits preserved in my dining room as a thing of beauty having last been ridden about but 6-7 years ago. But I digress, the 4V S4 Monster is not such an ornament or desirable as such as the 748/916 are but just as equally mad financially , probably more so but just a tad more practical for this aging body. More torque and power than a 916? yes please.

The 748 serves as just a reminder that if the bike exceeds your own limits by so much then you are probably close to or pushing your own. You can just go crazy fast on one on any road and it feels so slow. On the Monster at least you know when you are pushing the limits, you, the bike lets you know.

[utopia]

Oh and apologies .. rude of me to post on this thread without saying ...
Welcome along, Druid.

Interesting to hear your views on the Raptor, but it's a shame none of you has actually ridden one! I don't think there would be anything in it in performance terms compared with the very best contemporary Monster, the main difference being in the refinement of the Suzuki engine, as you might expect. In present company, it wouldn't be wise of me to point out how much rarer the Raptor and all the other excellent Cagiva bikes are, compared to the Bologna Beasts! Of course, I love my Ducatis but they were brought into this country in far greater numbers.

As to tweaking a Raptor 1000, IMO it certainly doesn't need any more power, even though the tune is softer than in the donor Suzuki TL, but I've fitted Matris suspension front and back for comfort, and made the seat cowl from GFRP to balance the looks.

Nick