DUCATI MONSTER 696 2013 thoughts?

Hello

For a long time now i have had my eyes on a Ducati being one of the most well known world wide not to mention the raw power and style, beast! My normal choice of bike is more off road all my life i have had KTM's, XR's etc but now looking for something different with more power. So the other day i came across a Ducati Monster 696 2013 for sale on a bidding site that is just what i am looking for. But being as i have never ridden this style or motorbike before i wan't some opinions on my choice and possibly some advice from the pro's while i'm here. I will place some specs below and his description below.

SPECS
Model: Monster 696
Year: 2013
Engine type: V2 4stroke
Gearbox: 6 speed
Cooling system: Air
Colour: Black
Mileage: 8,345
Price: £4,200

So from the specs and information above what i need from you guys is your own experiences riding the Ducati, and some advice on how much maintenance there is to keep the bike in good shape, what i should look for when viewing the Ducati anything that you think would help throw my way!!

Example image below


Any information will be greatly appreciated
Thanks

[singletrack]

Not sure about the 696 but you can't really go wrong with any Monster!

That's what i'm wanting to hear!!! either way it's a win win

[Mario]

I own one (2013 model). Had it since new. Great little bike. Not an advanced motorcycle so not much to go wrong. Regular servicing (which is not cheap at Ducati dealers) is a must. Check the bike has full service history. If not leave well alone. Overall, every penny I have spent on my 696 has been worth it. Good luck.

[Dirty]

See if any local dealers have something similar available for a test ride.

[MrsC_772]

I bought my 696 new 7 years ago.

It has now done 57,600 miles and my ambition is to get it to 100,000.

Enough power for me, great handling, character, looks good and not too tall for a shorty like me. I use it for my dailiy commute, European tours and the odd weekend bimble.

Belt service every other year is an expensive (if you go to dealers) but necessary evil. Plenty of videos out there if you want to D.I.Y. I'm not mechanically minded so take mine to a dealer, but there are plenty on here who are mechanically minded. One weakness on the 696 is wheel bearings - my bike and BigOz's have eaten multiple sets.

If mine was nicked or written off, I'd buy another 696.

[Darren69]

My advice would be test ride a 696/796 and then for comparison an 1100 or 1000ie or S4 bike and see which floats your boat as they are completely different animals. The smaller bikes are good all rounders and happy to commute and potter around town on. The big >900 twins are something else, they don't like pottering around town so much and crave the open road, where all that torque makes them so much fun to ride!

[Flip]

Has anyone mentioned red ones are faster yet??

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by Flip

Has anyone mentioned red ones are faster yet??

No, because we don,t mislead new members. I'm sure he knows to get yella if outright speed is his thing

I Expected the maintenance to be a little pricey it is a Ducati after all, And i completely agree i will head down to a Ducati dealer and see if they have something similar to give a test drive and the different CC ranges.. After this i will get back to you on what i ridden and what i'm going for!!

Very excited fell like a little child again haha

Thanks guys

[Flip]

Originally Posted by 2wheelsonly

I Expected the maintenance to be a little pricey it is a Ducati after all, And i completely agree i will head down to a Ducati dealer and see if they have something similar to give a test drive and the different CC ranges.. After this i will get back to you on what i ridden and what i'm going for!!

Very excited fell like a little child again haha

Thanks guys

I guess there's an element of a Ducati being a bit of an acquired taste, partly due to the extra care they require (and subsequent additional cost thereof) over say a typical Japanese motorcycle

The cost of running is somewhat dependent on how well you know your way around a set of spanners and a motorcycle although on a lot of later machinery some work is probably prohibitive for the home mechanic due to the electronics etc. but there are a lot of knowledgeable folk on here to help, so ask away and you'll get answers.

They are also rather different to ride than most Japanese bikes (even the V Twin offerings) but if you 'get it' (bear in mind it may not happen immediately) then they are sooo addictive and you'll probably be hooked forever.

I have owned my '97 900 for almost eighteen years and it makes me smile now more than it ever has - I love it that much!!

As for the 696, I like the look of them (not ridden one though), although the base model of the new shape Monsters (I know- no longer current models) I prefer the twin sided swing arm to the single sider fitted to it's bigger brothers the 796 and 100 where to me it looks out of place but somehow manages to look spot-on on the 1100 Evo. Just my personal opinions of the standard bikes of course and because as with most Ducati's there are plenty of sweetly modified Monsters that often change those views.

Oh, and I wouldn't worry about it being the lower capacity engine too much, as with most bikes if they are set up properly then getting the handling spot on is the best performance modification you could ever make while at the same time making your whole riding experience better at whatever speed yet it is overlooked by many riders being seen as too expensive (which to be fair it isn't the cheapest thing in the world) for something that isn't shiny and/or loud.

There!! A sensible reply!!

Now then.....

Originally Posted by Dirty

No, because we don,t mislead new members. I'm sure he knows to get yella if outright speed is his thing

Yes, Yes ok but I thought Ducati designated the colour yellow to their 'little bikes' in racing...WSB were always red while the muuuuuch slower Super Sport class bikes were ye ..ye....I can't even say the word again!! (this could go on!! )

[Darren69]

I'm not sure the 696/796/1100 were ever offered in yellow. I think Red/Black and White were the standard colours. Of course you can always get a Monster Art or Colour Therapy kit so you could have lilac or even gold if you wanted.

http://www.motociclismo.es/equipamie...ia-ducati-7485

http://www.motospecialties.com/store...Num=69924583XX

[Dirty]

Originally Posted by 2wheelsonly

I Expected the maintenance to be a little pricey it is a Ducati after all,

You don't have to go to a main dealer for servicing. There are plenty of local independent Ducati specialists and often they are more qualified than the dealers. For instance a belt change at my local main dealer, Metropolis (who i wouldn't trust to tie my shoelaces let alone change my belts) would cost around the £300 mark. My local independent, Ray Petty Meccanica has more Duke experience than all of Metropolis put together and would charge around half that.

Originally Posted by Flip

Yes, Yes ok but I thought Ducati designated the colour yellow to their 'little bikes' in racing...WSB were always red while the muuuuuch slower Super Sport class bikes were ye ..ye....I can't even say the word again!! (this could go on!! )

As you well know the SS class is highly competitive so such methods where needed. Painting them yellow in WSB would be such an unfair advantage and seen as unsporting so the slower red was chosen.

I had a 696 for a year and a half, apart from a belt service the only thing that went wrong with it is an indicator bulb blew. (Wish I could say the same for my 900.) Very nippy bike and if looked after, should run for years.

I think somebody on here used to have the yellow body art kit on a 696, looked cool.