Ducati Monster 950 (2021)
Discussion
I thought I would post up some thoughts on my new bike and my rough thought process before buying it in case its of interest to anyone on here. Sorry it might be a long writeup as I sift through my thoughts 
My previous road bikes were a Honda Blackbird and Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Both are great machines but both have their issues, which is why I started looking for a new 'do it all' bike. My main negatives with the Blackbird are that it is a big old lump and a real handful to manoeuvre down my side alley every day when I want to use it for work. This also translated on the road as it is quite slow steering, although very stable. Its also a well known fact they carry speed very well and even with best intentions, I found myself travelling at quite high speeds more frequently than is probably sensible.
The Enfield is a great reliable bike and I am still in two minds whether to sell it or not. But in day to day riding it is just a bit too slow and sitting at 60-65mph commuting to work is more a chore than being enjoyable. At 6 years old and 13,000 miles it is also starting to show its age a bit and keeping on top of polishing the bare aluminium parts gets a bit boring after a while.
Basically I wanted something modern, with ABS, not likely to encourage crazy speeds and be light weight.
I popped into the local Ducati dealership and they talked me into a test ride on the Supersport S and new Monster. Both have the same engine, but the Supersport is obviously faired, quite a bit heavier and benefits from Ohlins suspension. I took the Supersport out first:
It definitely rode very nicely and was quite comfortable, although I found the fairing a bit rattly and the fairing again made it quite easy to travel very fast without much effort. Brakes were fantastic although I think this made me realise I would be better with a naked bike:
Onto the Monster, and things were much better! The seating position was perfect, nice and upright with wide bars and immediately the weight difference was apparent (166kg dry). It is quick turning, fantastic on the brakes and the mid range grunt addictive. The up / down quickshifter is awesome as well, the only time I have ever ridden with one! I was pretty much sold on the spot although I had a test ride booked with Honda on their CBR650R and CB650R so thought I had better do that first to get a good comparison before making any decisions. I know the Honda is probably not considered by many to be a direct competitor, but to me I have always been a Honda fan so wanted to see what their offerings were like before making any decisions. KTM didnt really interest me as I don't like the styling and there are no dealers near me, and the Aprilia Tuono 660 didnt really float my boat either (and I have had bad experiences with Aprilias in the past)
The Honda CB650 felt very budget in comparison the the Monster when riding. The cheap looking dash, hard seat and lack of any mid range grunt were real turn offs. Also little things like the brake master cylinder where the Ducati had Brembo, and the strangely long travel on the gear lever before it would engage. Sure it would be fine as a cheapish commuter but was not really what I was after, and with much worse residuals than the Ducati did not really make any sense.
Anyways - Enough waffling!
By some amazing stroke of luck I found a 2021 Monster only 20 miles from me, with 100 miles on the clock for £9500, so I am now a very proud owner
I've had it a week and it is now up to 550 miles, with its first service booked tomorrow with the break in procedure complete and I can finally use it properly.
I am very happy as you can imagine, and I think it fits all my criteria for a new bike with a few extra 'nice to haves' that come with a slightly more premium model. Only real criticisms so far is that being so new there are not many aftermarket bits available yet (mainly talking about luggage and exhausts) although I do have an Evotech tail tidy and radiator guard fitted now. Its also quite a mechanically noisy engine below 4000rpm which I didn't notice on the test ride, although this is probably me just noticing it more since I have been restricted to low rpm's for the break in period. I just need to find a tail pack now and also get some decent pictures!
My previous road bikes were a Honda Blackbird and Royal Enfield Bullet 500. Both are great machines but both have their issues, which is why I started looking for a new 'do it all' bike. My main negatives with the Blackbird are that it is a big old lump and a real handful to manoeuvre down my side alley every day when I want to use it for work. This also translated on the road as it is quite slow steering, although very stable. Its also a well known fact they carry speed very well and even with best intentions, I found myself travelling at quite high speeds more frequently than is probably sensible.
The Enfield is a great reliable bike and I am still in two minds whether to sell it or not. But in day to day riding it is just a bit too slow and sitting at 60-65mph commuting to work is more a chore than being enjoyable. At 6 years old and 13,000 miles it is also starting to show its age a bit and keeping on top of polishing the bare aluminium parts gets a bit boring after a while.
Basically I wanted something modern, with ABS, not likely to encourage crazy speeds and be light weight.
I popped into the local Ducati dealership and they talked me into a test ride on the Supersport S and new Monster. Both have the same engine, but the Supersport is obviously faired, quite a bit heavier and benefits from Ohlins suspension. I took the Supersport out first:
It definitely rode very nicely and was quite comfortable, although I found the fairing a bit rattly and the fairing again made it quite easy to travel very fast without much effort. Brakes were fantastic although I think this made me realise I would be better with a naked bike:
Onto the Monster, and things were much better! The seating position was perfect, nice and upright with wide bars and immediately the weight difference was apparent (166kg dry). It is quick turning, fantastic on the brakes and the mid range grunt addictive. The up / down quickshifter is awesome as well, the only time I have ever ridden with one! I was pretty much sold on the spot although I had a test ride booked with Honda on their CBR650R and CB650R so thought I had better do that first to get a good comparison before making any decisions. I know the Honda is probably not considered by many to be a direct competitor, but to me I have always been a Honda fan so wanted to see what their offerings were like before making any decisions. KTM didnt really interest me as I don't like the styling and there are no dealers near me, and the Aprilia Tuono 660 didnt really float my boat either (and I have had bad experiences with Aprilias in the past)
The Honda CB650 felt very budget in comparison the the Monster when riding. The cheap looking dash, hard seat and lack of any mid range grunt were real turn offs. Also little things like the brake master cylinder where the Ducati had Brembo, and the strangely long travel on the gear lever before it would engage. Sure it would be fine as a cheapish commuter but was not really what I was after, and with much worse residuals than the Ducati did not really make any sense.
Anyways - Enough waffling!
By some amazing stroke of luck I found a 2021 Monster only 20 miles from me, with 100 miles on the clock for £9500, so I am now a very proud owner
I've had it a week and it is now up to 550 miles, with its first service booked tomorrow with the break in procedure complete and I can finally use it properly.
I am very happy as you can imagine, and I think it fits all my criteria for a new bike with a few extra 'nice to haves' that come with a slightly more premium model. Only real criticisms so far is that being so new there are not many aftermarket bits available yet (mainly talking about luggage and exhausts) although I do have an Evotech tail tidy and radiator guard fitted now. Its also quite a mechanically noisy engine below 4000rpm which I didn't notice on the test ride, although this is probably me just noticing it more since I have been restricted to low rpm's for the break in period. I just need to find a tail pack now and also get some decent pictures!
Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 14th September 11:06
Edited by AceOfHearts on Tuesday 14th September 11:08
Thanks for the kind comments, I will try to get some better pictures soon 
With regards to the Honda, yes there is a bit of a price difference, the unfaired CB650R is about £7500 and the faired one about £8500 once you have added the quickshifter (up shift only).
The Monster is £10,800 OTR, but as I mentioned I found a pre reg example for £9500 so really not a massive difference in price in my view but definitely worth the extra.
With regards to the Honda, yes there is a bit of a price difference, the unfaired CB650R is about £7500 and the faired one about £8500 once you have added the quickshifter (up shift only).
The Monster is £10,800 OTR, but as I mentioned I found a pre reg example for £9500 so really not a massive difference in price in my view but definitely worth the extra.
Just updating my bit 
Took one out today, I'm smitten.
I should be buying something with a big screen that can take luggage but scratching around Sussex took me back to the 80s and my Yamaha LC, Kawasaki 550, GPz900R and my '88 CBR600F.
I'm 60 and I'm aching due to holding on at motorway speeds on swoopy A roads. Feels like it'll be good in town too.
Similar cc to my old Kawasaki but so light and nimble.
Just checked insurance and it's a lot cheaper than I expected.
They have a new one due at the shop next week. It's closed now, shame as I would have rung up and put a deposit on it.
So I now have until Monday morning to talk myself out of it
PS I was surprised that it sounds great on the standard pipes, either standing behind it or riding. Thought that it would sound thrashy mechanical.
Took one out today, I'm smitten.
I should be buying something with a big screen that can take luggage but scratching around Sussex took me back to the 80s and my Yamaha LC, Kawasaki 550, GPz900R and my '88 CBR600F.
I'm 60 and I'm aching due to holding on at motorway speeds on swoopy A roads. Feels like it'll be good in town too.
Similar cc to my old Kawasaki but so light and nimble.
Just checked insurance and it's a lot cheaper than I expected.
They have a new one due at the shop next week. It's closed now, shame as I would have rung up and put a deposit on it.
So I now have until Monday morning to talk myself out of it
PS I was surprised that it sounds great on the standard pipes, either standing behind it or riding. Thought that it would sound thrashy mechanical.
Still really enjoying the Monster, I've only done 3000 miles on it but hopefully will do much more this summer. I've had no issues and have just fitted a titanium Mivv exhaust which is a lot lighter and deeper sounding without being obnoxious.
It had is annual service at Ducati Cambridge in February which cost an arm and a leg for no good reason, so I will call around and find a different dealer for servicing next year.
I'm away on holiday at the moment but will update properly when I'm back home
It had is annual service at Ducati Cambridge in February which cost an arm and a leg for no good reason, so I will call around and find a different dealer for servicing next year.
I'm away on holiday at the moment but will update properly when I'm back home
One thing I didn't check on my test ride was the space under the seat.
Sometimes I like to ride out without a backpack or tying stuff to the back.
Would it be big enough for my alarmed Abus disclock?
It's about an inch and a half thick, 3 ins wide and 5 ins long.
Pic of the case which is a bit bigger for an idea of size.
Ta.
Sometimes I like to ride out without a backpack or tying stuff to the back.
Would it be big enough for my alarmed Abus disclock?
It's about an inch and a half thick, 3 ins wide and 5 ins long.
Pic of the case which is a bit bigger for an idea of size.
Ta.
Hmm I'm not sure. Under the seat I fit an alarmed (Kovix) disc lock and a small chain and lock for my helmet, but it won't fit my phone due to the length, so I don't think a 5" disc lock would fit (I might be wrong though)
There are a few options for tail packs now but I have been using the official Ducati (made by Givi) small tank bag that fits on a fuel filler lock ring and easily detaches
There are a few options for tail packs now but I have been using the official Ducati (made by Givi) small tank bag that fits on a fuel filler lock ring and easily detaches
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