Ducati Monster?

[Renegade]

As with all bikes, but especially with Ducatis a service history is essential for peace of mind. If you can afford to fork out for a 10 or 20k service from a proper Ducati dealer or (like me) build it into the purchase price, then do that. At least get the belts and oil changed and the valve clearances checked. Be prepared for a big bill if there's much to replace. As a ball park I paid half price for a 20k service NZ$750 on my S4 (4 valve). A lot of Ducs are sold close to a service interval.

There's a saying; "Ducatis make mechanics of riders" which is great if you enjoy wrenching, but can be expensive if you do not. I happen to like it

4 valves are more expensive to maintain than 2 valves. Dry clutches wear out quicker than wet. I replaced my OEM dry clutch after 35000kms NZ$800.

If the bike you choose is ex Japan, then make sure that the dealer resets the suspension to stock settings, before you ride it. Those Japs are real lightweights and they tend to wind out the preload and wind up the damping. You may be looking at re-springing also, unless you are 72kg. I've just spent NZ$200 for a rear re-spring, fronts are next.

Also be careful of noisy aftermarket pipes, they may sound great but may cost you with the new noise legislation. Dealers usually have warehouses full of stock exhausts if you need to swap them out for a compliance check.

Injected Ducs are sensitive to intake and exhaust mods. If the bike has been modified, check that that it has ECU mods to suit. Slip ons are generally ok, but airbox mods usually require a new ECU or a tweak.

Try to get a model with adjustable suspension front and rear. Marzocchi forks are crap and non-adjustable. Showa forks are better. Sachs shocks are ok, Ohlins are better. You may get lucky and get a bike that has Ohlins front and rear.

Thanks for that info, just to clarify, if the front shocks are adjustable then good and if not dont buy the bike?

would that be a fair assumption?

[davejenknz]

Thanks for that info, just to clarify, if the front shocks are adjustable then good and if not dont buy the bike?

would that be a fair assumption?

Maybe. There are a number of Monster forums that will yield info on this issue. http://ducatimonsterforum.org for example.

The non-adjustable or limited adjustment suspension units are typically found on the cheaper monsters. You'll get preload adjustment on the back but little else.
'S' models usually have adjustable units but not necessarily at both ends. For example my 800Sie had a fully adjustable rear and a non-adjustable front.

So it depends on how you like the ride of the bike. A non adjustable setup that suits your weight may be fine.

If you don't like the ride then it may be just a case of pre-load and/or damping adjustments to make it right. With bargain suspension you don't get this opportunity.

If like me you have to re-spring to get the correct initial set-up, then with a non-adjustable fork you have to mess around with spacer length to get the correct preload. With adjustable units you still have to do this but also get some fine tuning with preload adjustment.

The cheaper suspension units use old damping technology which just doesn't work as well as the more modern cartridge equipped units.


HTH

[TLMAN]

looking at a '03' monster 1000ie, 14,000km, took it for a ride and loved it, seems to go fine and that dry clutch takes a little gettn used to

is there anything that i really should know about these monsters before i get carried away and buy it??

I dont know if you are anywhere near Hamilton, but if you are check out these guys, brilliant service and a bit flexible on price and they have a heap of dukes in stock

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Members/Lis...member=1158855



.

[Renegade]

Well i did it, i bought a 2001 monster 900S ie, its got a few more kms on the clock than i would have liked at 29,000 but the shop (strada)gave it a full service with all belts replaced and valves etc done for me, new front tyre and a years rego.

its my first big bike after having the hyo for two years, and im loving the sound and extra power.

im the 1st NZ owner as it was a jap import, its in good nick and absolutely standard, including the pipes

i will post a photo as soon as it stops raining cos i dont wanna get it wet.

sooo many mods available....

think ill have the suspension looked at first, i asked the shop to put the front back to standard as it was rock hard at the front but now its to soft so i think they kooked it.

[DUCATI*HARD]

[QUOTE=Renegade;1654627]Well i did it, i bought a 2001 monster 900S ie


DUCATI ALL THE WAY

[mattathm]

PM me, ive owned 8 ducatis I have a fair idea.

[doc]

so do i, single sided swing arm, twin high pipes etc etc, no enough $$ im afraid

If you are looking at italian, and are at the end of your budget, just for the purchase price. You are in for grief with the cost of parts and servicing and the idiocycncroys (cant spell) Dont buy unless you have passion for them.

[flame]

If you are looking at italian, and are at the end of your budget, just for the purchase price. You are in for grief with the cost of parts and servicing and the idiocycncroys (cant spell) Dont buy unless you have passion for them.

Not if you find the right mechanic. Admittedly, there ARE certain Ducati Dealerships (which I shant mention names of) that ARE a total rip off. Ive owned a few duc's now, and cringe at what I have paid CERTAIN places for servicing, ie......10,000km service (not including belts) $950. What a crock eh.
Anyhoo....I now know guys that will fully service for less than half that price. And oil and filter changes can be done yourself. So it's realy only every 10,000 that ya need to pay the man. And apart from the belts at 20,000km it really doesn't need to cost more than a big jappa.

So....na na nanna na Doc!

[scracha]

Enjoy pissing away lots of money, buy a Ducati. Enjoy riding a nice reliable bike, buy something else.

[AllanB]

10,000km service (not including belts) $950. What a crock eh.

Wow - I've stuck to the Jap bikes myself - I love them, however if the lotto comes in a big bore monster or Speed Triple would be on the garage list.

What do they do to the Duke to justify a bill like that.
CHCH shop rates are $65 per hour, say $75 for North?
At 75 a FULL days labour is only $600

I'd be very interested to know what is required.

[flame]

Wow - I've stuck to the Jap bikes myself - I love them, however if the lotto comes in a big bore monster or Speed Triple would be on the garage list.

What do they do to the Duke to justify a bill like that.
CHCH shop rates are $65 per hour, say $75 for North?
At 75 a FULL days labour is only $600

I'd be very interested to know what is required.

Yer I was too, the bill had 9 hours labour on it! I must have struck the newby mechanic or something plus plugs, brake fluids, oil, filters etc. I had never been charged that before, not even when new belts had been in the equation. hence I have never been back there for servicing. And considering I purchased the bike from that particular shop for CASH. I was a bit taken back, especially as when I rode out of the shop I had NO front brakes due to the bleed nipples being left undone on the calipers. But did the normal kiwi thing and just accepted it.

When I lived in Hamilton, Ham Motorcycles did all my duc services, they were much cheaper than that for services including new belts. And did a fantastic job. Must be something in the air down here eh

[flame]

Enjoy pissing away lots of money, buy a Ducati. Enjoy riding a nice reliable bike, buy something else.

oi Poopyloops! Was that your jappa race bike getting pingers spent on it, while my lurvly spaghetti bowl of 749, after 50 or so races has yet (apart from some new oil/filters) been untouched

Maybe it's coz I ride like a gurl

[doc]

Not if you find the right mechanic. Admittedly, there ARE certain Ducati Dealerships (which I shant mention names of) that ARE a total rip off. Ive owned a few duc's now, and cringe at what I have paid CERTAIN places for servicing, ie......10,000km service (not including belts) $950. What a crock eh.
Anyhoo....I now know guys that will fully service for less than half that price. And oil and filter changes can be done yourself. So it's realy only every 10,000 that ya need to pay the man. And apart from the belts at 20,000km it really doesn't need to cost more than a big jappa.

So....na na nanna na Doc!

But but..."Girls can do anything" .

[flame]

But but..."Girls can do anything" .

well....not quite 'anything' ... I'll admit to being the worlds 'worst' mechanic amongst other things lol.

[scracha]

oi Poopyloops! Was that your jappa race bike getting pingers spent on it, while my lurvly spaghetti bowl of 749, after 50 or so races has yet (apart from some new oil/filters) been untouched

Maybe it's coz I ride like a gurl

Getting pingers spent on it cos it's been crashed a few dozen times. I would have tried crashing the 748 except the fuckin thing couldn't manage a lap of Taupo without dropping a cylander.