Ducati Monster 696

Ducati Monster 696

by Ariez
(Hawaii)

Ducati Monster 696

Would a Ducati Monster 696 be a good bike for me? I'm 5'2", 130lbs. I fell for it love at first sight. I'm also a beginner rider.

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Ducati Monster 696

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Nov 12, 2010

Ducati Lover
by: Ariez

Thanks everyone, I tried it out and it is a bit powerful, but I think I can get the hang of it. I'm simply in love with this machine!

Jul 25, 2010

It's my first bike..
by: Anonymous

I recently bought the monster 696 in black.. I also fell in love with it at first sight. I also happens to be the first bike I've owned. I learned on a 250cc standard.

I did a lot of research about the weight and height of the bike before I made a final decision. Many people tried to convince me to buy a ninja 250 as a beginner bike. I wasn't sold on it because the difference in curb weight between the two is about 30 lbs, and I wasn't interested in selling it and buying another bike in a month when I got sick of it.

The obvious issue with the monster being a beginner bike is that its fairly powerful. If you do buy it, take time to learn it. It has a lot of quirks. The engine is two cylinders and pretty choppy.. it will cut out on you if you don't mind your gear/rpm range carefully. Basically it wants to be ridden like a Ducati, and for a beginner that can be a little scary. It's also air cooled.. that makes it light, which is great.. but the bike gets very hot. It has to keep moving and you don't want the RPM's going too high. Here in NYC i get stuck in traffic often.. rolling around in first gear because of it will make the bike heat up super fast.. sometimes i just shut it down and wait if I'm stuck.

Another issue is with start ups.. its 90 out here right now, and its still a pain in the ass to start when its cold. This is a common issue with the bike.

All that being said, I adore my bike. I wouldn't go back and change my decision.. but no, I wouldn't generally recommend it as a first bike. If you do buy it, take time to learn it, and be careful.

Jul 08, 2010

Went for a ride the other day.
by: KW

I don't know if anyone is still reading this, but I took the Monster 796 for a ride last Saturday, and it is a very nice bike. You have to keep the revs up quite high, and it really does want to go fast, but it is fun too.

The size was just about perfect for me at 5'5", and it is pretty light, so no problems moving it about with the engine off.

However, I don't think this is a beginners bike. I have only been on a 'bog' bike for a year (I started on a Yamaha XJ6) but I think this would have freaked me out as my first one... I know the 696 is meant to be a bit more beginner-friendly, but it is still a powerful bike.

That said, the only way to know is to try - so if your license allows it, take out as many bikes as the dealer will let you.

Good luck with your choices!

Jun 13, 2010

Should Be Perfect
by: KW

I am about 5'5" tall, and have sat on the Monster 696 in the showroom several times (haven't taken it out yet) and found it easy to get both feet almost totally flat on the floor. It is a bit of a reach to the bars though, but that may not worry you.

I didn't buy the M696 when I was looking for my first bike because an alternative used bike came up at a good price,but now I am realizing that being 90 lbs lighter is going to be easier to move around the driveway.

As mentioned below, the Monster 796 is due out soon (our dealership should be getting one in in a couple of weeks) so ti might be worth looking at that too - seat height is an inch or so higher, but should still be manageable. Good luck with your shopping!

Jun 10, 2010

MONSTER LOWEST SEAT HEIGHT
by: Anonymous

The monster has a 30" plus seat height so it is very easy to sit on if shorter than 5 foot 6...I'm 6 ft and both my feet are flat with lots of bending in the knees but it gives you a sense of total control - I find it would be perfect for a biker wanting something faster but not a starter bike for sure - you don't want to drop that it's too nice! Depending on how comfortable you are with riding, it's a blast and has a light clutch action - I have a 2009 696 and now there is a monster 796 new for 2010/2011....great price point too...

May 26, 2010

Monster
by: Anonymous

YES!! It's a great bike! Get it!

May 22, 2010

Beginner Bike
by: kp

Although many people refer to the Ducati Monster as a "beginner" bike, what they really mean is that it's a good beginner bike in the world of Ducati. It's a sport bike, in my humble opinion, you need some saddle time before you even think about owning/riding a sport bike. What experience do you have riding solo? Do you have your endorsement yet? If you're new to riding solo, I always suggest you spend at least one season on a dual sport bike, a street legal dirt bike. Ride on every surface you can find, asphalt, dirt, gravel and even sand. It'll make you a better street rider if you've encountered all those surfaces.

I love the Ducati Monster so much that I own an '06 M620. It's not my first bike and I shudder to think what would've happened the first time I twisted the throttle and it took off had I not had any experience.

Good luck, keep us posted!

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