New bike… Ducati Monster or Triumph ST?
Discussion
Hi
I’m edging closer to replacing my current bike and would welcome some thoughts on the following options. My bike history is a 2009 Street Triple (new), which was replaced after a year with a 2010 Speed Triple…this only lasted 500 miles when I collided with a deer and then sold it. Three years ago I got back into biking with a BMW 650 Xcountry, and having covered 22k miles it’s definitely time for a change. My budget is around £8-10k. I use it for a bit of commuting, but also love riding for pleasure as much as I can. I do like a bigger bike, and the aesthetics are important. I do my own work on bikes so maintenance costs aren’t a big issue.
I’ve narrowed it down to the following options -
Ducati Monster 1200S (2017 updated model) - love its looks, and it does get some great reviews.
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 circa 2016-18 - again I like the look of it and the triple is a great engine.
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 - these seem to be coming in just below my top budget.
I did have a look at a new Street Triple 765 R and RS last week, and I think they look great especially in cosmic yellow (RS), and by all accounts they are great bikes (I did love my old ST 675), but they do feel slightly small/compact and they don’t have as much presence as the larger Speed/Monster.
Any thoughts welcome as I’m terrible at making decisions!
I’m edging closer to replacing my current bike and would welcome some thoughts on the following options. My bike history is a 2009 Street Triple (new), which was replaced after a year with a 2010 Speed Triple…this only lasted 500 miles when I collided with a deer and then sold it. Three years ago I got back into biking with a BMW 650 Xcountry, and having covered 22k miles it’s definitely time for a change. My budget is around £8-10k. I use it for a bit of commuting, but also love riding for pleasure as much as I can. I do like a bigger bike, and the aesthetics are important. I do my own work on bikes so maintenance costs aren’t a big issue.
I’ve narrowed it down to the following options -
Ducati Monster 1200S (2017 updated model) - love its looks, and it does get some great reviews.
Triumph Speed Triple 1050 circa 2016-18 - again I like the look of it and the triple is a great engine.
Triumph Speed Triple 1200 - these seem to be coming in just below my top budget.
I did have a look at a new Street Triple 765 R and RS last week, and I think they look great especially in cosmic yellow (RS), and by all accounts they are great bikes (I did love my old ST 675), but they do feel slightly small/compact and they don’t have as much presence as the larger Speed/Monster.
Any thoughts welcome as I’m terrible at making decisions!
Skeptisk said:
My last bike was a 2019 Tuono Factory. It was brilliant. You should be able to get one for close to £10k.
I did some two day trips clocking up around 800 miles with no problems. Handling is superb but the engine is the star.
Definitely agree with this - I bought a 2017 Factory this spring for £7200 on the private market. The thing is absolutely outrageous, but surprisingly practical - cruise, 40mpg if you're gentle, very comfy seat as standard.I did some two day trips clocking up around 800 miles with no problems. Handling is superb but the engine is the star.
However OP, out of that list I'd have the Monster - too many reliability worries about the Trumpets.
Edited by Krikkit on Friday 14th June 14:08
I have a 2018 Monster 1200R. I think you'd get one for under £10k now. It's a lot different to the S and I think a much more compelling purchase. Ducati had it at 12bhp more than the S at 162bhp but having ridden two Ss as courtesy bikes I can say it feels much more than 12bhp! It's a very fast bike but the best changes are elsewhere - its 25mm taller and so has more ground clearance and so more lean angle. It has a completely different sub-frame with a narrower seat unit which looks much more sporty than the quite wide standard unit that sits on the S. The R has the forged wheels and billet ally footpegs from the Panagale. They came with Diablo Super Corsas and are fitted with an Ohlins steering damper. They also have a carbon fender and a Ducati Corse paint job. So, you have essentially a similar style of bike with a similar riding position but way cooler to look at and capable of more performance, both speed and handling. Put the R next to an S and the S look rather fat and plain! The R is a special thing.
Many thanks for all the replies. The Tuono Factory looks like a great bike but just doesn’t do it for me personally looks wise.
I had read about the harsh ride on the new 1200 Speed but also that you could adjust it to be more compliant? That said, the Monster is probably edging it; the R looks great but I would also be more than happy on the S. I suppose it just depends on what I can get for my budget. The search begins!
I had read about the harsh ride on the new 1200 Speed but also that you could adjust it to be more compliant? That said, the Monster is probably edging it; the R looks great but I would also be more than happy on the S. I suppose it just depends on what I can get for my budget. The search begins!
trickywoo said:
Triumph will have needed to pay you to ride around on one of those to make it a steal. A RR is financial suicide resale wise.
I guess that depends on how much I paid for it? Regardless, I didn't buy it to sell it, but to ride it. The first owner lost almost half it's value in 18 months. I doubt that'll happen again.
tim0409 said:
Many thanks for all the replies. The Tuono Factory looks like a great bike but just doesn’t do it for me personally looks wise.
I had read about the harsh ride on the new 1200 Speed but also that you could adjust it to be more compliant? That said, the Monster is probably edging it; the R looks great but I would also be more than happy on the S. I suppose it just depends on what I can get for my budget. The search begins!
My M1200S (pre-facelift). Love it. Absolute beast (to me). In for belts and service at the moment.I had read about the harsh ride on the new 1200 Speed but also that you could adjust it to be more compliant? That said, the Monster is probably edging it; the R looks great but I would also be more than happy on the S. I suppose it just depends on what I can get for my budget. The search begins!
_DJ_ said:
I guess that depends on how much I paid for it?
Regardless, I didn't buy it to sell it, but to ride it. The first owner lost almost half it's value in 18 months. I doubt that'll happen again.
Indeed. I paid £2K more for a brand new bike a year ago compared to the cheapest one currently on AT. I’m quite happy with that. Regardless, I didn't buy it to sell it, but to ride it. The first owner lost almost half it's value in 18 months. I doubt that'll happen again.
Also bought to ride not to sell and for those of us that bought for a lot less than list (most people from what I understand), it hasn’t depreciated any more than anything else.
I love mine. It may be a bit odd, but that fact that they’re not very popular makes it even more appealing to me.
Edited by Lambo FirstBlood on Friday 14th June 22:48
WhisperingWasp said:
When I see pictures like that I realise that it is probably the bike for me; thanks for all the replies. Whilst I love a Ducati in red, I also really like the cement grey/black trellis they have on the >2017 models. 
king game changer re safety net. I looked at the Monster as well but service costs horrified me. The 1200 speed triple seems absolutely riddled with reliability issues. Just adding my little bit. I bought a 2017 Speed Triple R 2 years ago which I absolutely loved and totally trouble free over the 5000 miles I had it. I sold it 9 months ago and it was a toss up between the Triumph 1200RS and KTM Superduke. The Triumph felt sanitised in comparison to the model I had. It also took an absolute age to wake up from the time you switched it on. Not the end of the world but an annoyance. I ended getting a brand new KTM Superduke which I love but I have to be honest and say that the Triumph was such a wonderful road bike with a gem of an engine. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.
tim0409 said:
When I see pictures like that I realise that it is probably the bike for me; thanks for all the replies. Whilst I love a Ducati in red, I also really like the cement grey/black trellis they have on the >2017 models.
I do like the flat grey too. Plus you get gear indicator on the facelift which, whilst only a small thing, you miss it when it's not there.tim0409 said:
I had read about the harsh ride on the new 1200 Speed but also that you could adjust it to be more compliant?
I sold my Speed Triple 1200 RS because of the harsh ride, even at the softest settings it was far too harsh for road use, I’m a lightweight at 60 kg so I don’t think that helped.That aside I loved the bike and in the 18 months I had it, it was absolutely trouble free. If they are about to re-launch it with more compliant road biased electronic suspension, I’d seriously consider it again.
Neal H said:
I sold my Speed Triple 1200 RS because of the harsh ride, even at the softest settings it was far too harsh for road use, I’m a lightweight at 60 kg so I don’t think that helped.
That aside I loved the bike and in the 18 months I had it, it was absolutely trouble free. If they are about to re-launch it with more compliant road biased electronic suspension, I’d seriously consider it again.
Thanks Neal, I’ve just rewatched some of the YT reviews and they all do seem to highlight the harsh ride. It’s a shame they didn’t release an S or R variant more suited to the road.That aside I loved the bike and in the 18 months I had it, it was absolutely trouble free. If they are about to re-launch it with more compliant road biased electronic suspension, I’d seriously consider it again.
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