Discussion
I've got an 1100S which is the lat of the oil cooled motors. Great bikes. Ohlins suspension and carbon bits make a difference too.
I think the 1200 is water cooled and more powerful & refined.
Great bikes. I came from litre plus sports bikes and streetfighters, the Monster suits me just fine as it just feels great whatever the speed, where as sports bikes need to be driven at speed to feel like they are alive. They feel far more compact than sports bikes as well.
I think the 1200 is water cooled and more powerful & refined.
Great bikes. I came from litre plus sports bikes and streetfighters, the Monster suits me just fine as it just feels great whatever the speed, where as sports bikes need to be driven at speed to feel like they are alive. They feel far more compact than sports bikes as well.
ritch said:
I've got an 1100S which is the lat of the oil cooled motors. Great bikes. Ohlins suspension and carbon bits make a difference too.
I think the 1200 is water cooled and more powerful & refined.
Great bikes. I came from litre plus sports bikes and streetfighters, the Monster suits me just fine as it just feels great whatever the speed, where as sports bikes need to be driven at speed to feel like they are alive. They feel far more compact than sports bikes as well.
Cheers....I'm moving from sports bikes also ...need more relaxed riding style ...dodgy wrist on clutch hand so auto blipper a must also I think the 1200 is water cooled and more powerful & refined.
Great bikes. I came from litre plus sports bikes and streetfighters, the Monster suits me just fine as it just feels great whatever the speed, where as sports bikes need to be driven at speed to feel like they are alive. They feel far more compact than sports bikes as well.
My mate has a 1200S in white. I had a half hour on it on some lovely twisty roads in the Harz mountains and came away not really wanting one. The main problem was the front end, which just lacked feel but felt like it wanted to fall into corners, you had to sort of hold the bike up on the bars mid corner. It didn't feel at all stable to me – but my mate was riding it at a fair old lick so it's probably just a confidence thing.
It felt faster than my 1198, but that was purely down to the throttle mapping being super sharp. The Monster's engine is great though. Powerful and torquey. Be sure to look into any modifications you'll have to do if you want to remove the pillion pegs/exhaust hanger – on the early bikes your right heel would foul the exhaust heat shield, and I think it was all one cast piece so tricky to sort out.
It felt faster than my 1198, but that was purely down to the throttle mapping being super sharp. The Monster's engine is great though. Powerful and torquey. Be sure to look into any modifications you'll have to do if you want to remove the pillion pegs/exhaust hanger – on the early bikes your right heel would foul the exhaust heat shield, and I think it was all one cast piece so tricky to sort out.
2018 Monster 1200.
I wouldn't regularly ride it 4 hours + tbh. Vibration through the bars over that period might get a bit much.
Front end suspension needs to be dialled in to make it 100% faithful as it can be a little lacking in feel. But that's about it. Other than that I really enjoy it. Not as smooth as an I4 obviously, but realistically, if I was doing long distance an I4 would be preferable for me - I get numb hands after a couple of hours, but that might be personal to me.
Refined for a big twin and the throttle mapping is great, I've got termi and a remap and it feels linear with the high torque.
I chew through a rear in about 3000 miles, but I mainly ride back roads and twisty (Rossi III)
I've got the up/down quickshifter which works well, but the clutch isn't too heavy either.
I had R1s and blades and I prefer the naked style, but for long motorway journeys I'd definitely look at a screen too
I wouldn't regularly ride it 4 hours + tbh. Vibration through the bars over that period might get a bit much.
Front end suspension needs to be dialled in to make it 100% faithful as it can be a little lacking in feel. But that's about it. Other than that I really enjoy it. Not as smooth as an I4 obviously, but realistically, if I was doing long distance an I4 would be preferable for me - I get numb hands after a couple of hours, but that might be personal to me.
Refined for a big twin and the throttle mapping is great, I've got termi and a remap and it feels linear with the high torque.
I chew through a rear in about 3000 miles, but I mainly ride back roads and twisty (Rossi III)
I've got the up/down quickshifter which works well, but the clutch isn't too heavy either.
I had R1s and blades and I prefer the naked style, but for long motorway journeys I'd definitely look at a screen too
ritch said:
I've got an 1100S which is the lat of the oil cooled motors. Great bikes. Ohlins suspension and carbon bits make a difference too.
I think the 1200 is water cooled and more powerful & refined.
Great bikes. I came from litre plus sports bikes and streetfighters, the Monster suits me just fine as it just feels great whatever the speed, where as sports bikes need to be driven at speed to feel like they are alive. They feel far more compact than sports bikes as well.
The 1100 is one of the greatest motorcycle engines ever made .. according the Telegraph,s sadly passed away Kev Ash I think the 1200 is water cooled and more powerful & refined.
Great bikes. I came from litre plus sports bikes and streetfighters, the Monster suits me just fine as it just feels great whatever the speed, where as sports bikes need to be driven at speed to feel like they are alive. They feel far more compact than sports bikes as well.
Edited by hyper jay on Sunday 31st May 15:29
V8RX7 said:
Would owners confirm if they'd happily ride for 4+ hours on one or is it really just for short rides?
I used to find 4 hours on fast roads was quite hard work on a Speed Triple. A mix of fast and slow roads is fine, but not always possible. The alternative is to develop a degree of self control. I never could do that.
Ducati996R said:
I'm moving from sports bikes also ...need more relaxed riding style ...dodgy wrist on clutch hand so auto blipper a must also
As well as the Monster – which looks great – I recommend test riding both a Diavel and Xdiavel too. Stunning bikes. (I don't know if the standard Diavel or Xdiavel has an auto blipper, but I'd guess their S-versions do.) I imagine they would be comfier than a Monster for 4+ hour rides because of the seating position.V8RX7 said:
Would owners confirm if they'd happily ride for 4+ hours on one or is it really just for short rides?
2018 1200S here, no regrets. It really is a fantastic bike, did 4 hours on it today, and around 6 last weekend. Today I was out with a mate and his Panigale 1299 and there were no issues keeping up. It's a little more on the wrist than the 215 version. I can honestly say that unless you are touring at motorway speeds then you don't need anything else. I was delivering food on it for the old folk and you can trundle about quite happily. Crack the throttle in Sport mode and there is a lot of fun to be had.
The Ohlins are very good, but it does need setting up, especially if you want to "press on".
If you like the Ducati V-twin power delivery and the thumping, it's great.
I have the Race Termis and the Ducati heated grips as extras and with the baffles out it sounds like a gunfight from a Michael Bay movie with the bass cranked up, especially on overrun.
Happy to answer any questions.
Wildfire said:
2018 1200S here, no regrets. It really is a fantastic bike, did 4 hours on it today, and around 6 last weekend. Today I was out with a mate and his Panigale 1299 and there were no issues keeping up. It's a little more on the wrist than the 215 version. I can honestly say that unless you are touring at motorway speeds then you don't need anything else.
I was delivering food on it for the old folk and you can trundle about quite happily. Crack the throttle in Sport mode and there is a lot of fun to be had.
The Ohlins are very good, but it does need setting up, especially if you want to "press on".
If you like the Ducati V-twin power delivery and the thumping, it's great.
I have the Race Termis and the Ducati heated grips as extras and with the baffles out it sounds like a gunfight from a Michael Bay movie with the bass cranked up, especially on overrun.
Happy to answer any questions.
Cheers... quickshifter work ok ?I was delivering food on it for the old folk and you can trundle about quite happily. Crack the throttle in Sport mode and there is a lot of fun to be had.
The Ohlins are very good, but it does need setting up, especially if you want to "press on".
If you like the Ducati V-twin power delivery and the thumping, it's great.
I have the Race Termis and the Ducati heated grips as extras and with the baffles out it sounds like a gunfight from a Michael Bay movie with the bass cranked up, especially on overrun.
Happy to answer any questions.
My main concern is the pressure on the wrists and being able to use the quickshifter as much as possible
Yeah works very well. But as with all others it is quite sensitive of gear pedal selector position and responds well to a firm kick.
But do bear in mind it’s a quick shifter and not an automatic gearbox. So it works with the throttle at bigger openings.
I don’t really use the auto-blipper too much, but when I do, it’s very good.
If you want something to minimise the wrist pressure and clutch work, that is still a hoot to ride, have a look at the MV Agusta Tourismo Veloce SCA.
That is a good fun bike too! Not like a tourer at all.
But do bear in mind it’s a quick shifter and not an automatic gearbox. So it works with the throttle at bigger openings.
I don’t really use the auto-blipper too much, but when I do, it’s very good.
If you want something to minimise the wrist pressure and clutch work, that is still a hoot to ride, have a look at the MV Agusta Tourismo Veloce SCA.
That is a good fun bike too! Not like a tourer at all.
Salted_Peanut said:
Ducati996R said:
I'm moving from sports bikes also ...need more relaxed riding style ...dodgy wrist on clutch hand so auto blipper a must also
As well as the Monster – which looks great – I recommend test riding both a Diavel and Xdiavel too. Stunning bikes. (I don't know if the standard Diavel or Xdiavel has an auto blipper, but I'd guess their S-versions do.) I imagine they would be comfier than a Monster for 4+ hour rides because of the seating position.
I lived with one for a while, full video review here https://youtu.be/upsU4BK-5x0
Harvey mush man said:
I lived with one for a while, full video review here https://youtu.be/upsU4BK-5x0
Are you he?I've been watching a lot of Bike World content recently. Good stuff.
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