So let’s set the record straight – why did I choose a Monster? To begin with when you stand at 5’4” and weigh in soaking wet at just over 100 lbs you don’t have many choices as to what you can ride. I have sat on every new machine at the International Motorcycle show since the late nineties in hopes that I could find something that fit, only to walk away time and time again shaking my head and yearning for my Monster.

You see it is not just the seat height, reaching the handle bars and weight are huge issues for people my size too. Yes, I know I could ride a bigger bike in a straight line, but what happens after 20 or more hours on the road when I have to maneuver it into a parking lot or over some gravel? Let’s just say I have no desire to find out as I have seen, on more than one occasion, tired riders much larger than myself on much larger bikes pull into a parking lot and proceed to drop their bikes due to a mixture of exhaustion and a bike weight/height differential too great to handle.

I have even been a passenger on a large BMW when the rider came to a stop sign put his foot down and the angle was such that he, I and the bike all proceeded to end up on the ground. Luckily I am a seasoned rider; the worst part was I couldn’t stop laughing as he had done it at a four way stop so a ton of people witnessed this ridiculous situation.

As far as what I had to do to the Monster to make it rideable, I simply had all the padding removed from the seat. For most this is not an option as there are few who will ride a motorcycle in complete and utter discomfort, but for me to ride or not to ride is never an option and the only way for me to touch the ground without affecting the handling of the bike was to remove the three or more inches of padding from the seat and have a new lower pan built (it is actually so low we had to move the electric stuff that is normally under the seat to behind one of the side panels).

I have made a few other modifications specifically for the longer rides. I have added hand guards (made for an Aprillia) to protect my hands from the wind and some rain, as I ride in all kinds of weather and when your hands go numb riding is no longer fun. I added a small windshield, made by Ducati in the late nineties for their City version of Monster, and updated to the City bars to bring the reach up and back enough for me to have more movement options and less of a reach. I have updated the headlight to a Pia (make sure it is the bright white not the blue tint as the blue does not work as well, I learned that one the hard way). I have added both a mount for my radar detector and a thermostat for my heated gear both within easy reach, and a small clock with a date window hangs from the triple clamp.

My luggage system is Ventura, of which I can say nothing bad. The mounts are easy to install, and the options are beyond belief, whether you are going to work, the market or on a week long trip this system can’t be beat. The only other pack I use is a very small Chase-Harper tank bag simply for keepong my maps and some food stuffs within easy reach.

Now on to the how I actually prep for short rides, day rides and endurance rides.

First and foremost checking the bike over is imperative. I am very compulsive about checking my chain tension, lube and wear. Tires too are really important and my local dealer can attest to the fact that more often then not I put new tires on my bike well before I see the wear markers. Both of these are simple not overly expensive safety precautions that can mean the difference between a wonderful ride and one that ends unexpectedly.

I will qualify that I too have been stopped in my tracks for a few hours by a blown out tire, which brings me to the other item I don’t leave home without a tire patch kit. They are not that expensive, come in small easy to carry packages and are simple enough to use that even the less than mechanically inclined can handle it, or even a local auto mechanic can assist you.

The other thing I never leave home without is a cell phone, preferably fully charged, you just never know.

The two above items I carry whether I am on a 50 mile jaunt or a week long endurance ride, they are by far in my opinion the two items you shouldn’t ride without – well besides at least one credit card as just because you can call someone doesn’t mean it’s free.

Other items I usually have stashed somewhere on me are my electrics (electric gloves, jacket and socks as when riding any distance the weather has a tendency to change drastically), a clear visor and a dark visor, latex gloves, as even the most water-resistant riding gloves eventually give out, a lighter (no I don’t smoke but you can’t believe how many times this has come in handy), hot-hands (those little packets you open and they heat up), candy (peppermints, licorice or some other item that can withstand hours of riding and temperature variances), and at least one energy bar.

Things I might carry with me even on a day ride include suntan lotion (yes you can get a sun burn through your face shield), extra ear plugs, water in my camel back, a small tool kit (you can pick up a pretty basic one from any Ducati store – do not rely on the kit under the seat it is useless), extra fuses, spark plugs, zip-ties and duct tape. As far as extra parts the only item I do carry, as I have found they can break fairly easily if you drop a bike, is a brake/clutch lever – on my Monster one lever serves either side of the bike so I just carry one.

When it comes to endurance rides (days of more than 500 miles), I carry not only the items mentioned above but all my food, extra clothes, toiletries and other miscellaneous items required, like a small battery operated map light, cell phone charger, multiple credit cards, travelers checks, extra contacts and/or glasses (you never know when you will loose a contact), etc. I have a standard list I print up and check off as I pack up so I don’t forget anything. This list gets modified almost every ride based on things I learn along the way.

In regards to on-road maintenance, I try very hard to have all my maintenance handled prior to the ride. Checking the chain along the way to make sure it is lubed and the tension is correct is easy and important, as well as every so often I will check tire pressure and engine oil level (keep in mind even car oil is better than no oil if you find yourself in that situation). The only ride I have ever scheduled mid-ride maintenance for was the Iron Butt Rally at 11 days/11,000 miles I knew the bike would need new tires, oil/filter change and a new sprocket and chain long before the ride ended so I had scheduled a maintenance at the half way mark.

Planning a trip truly depends on what I am intent on accomplishing, if I am just out for a day ride, usually I just ride out, I know my area so well it is not even necessary for me to carry a map. If I desire a weekend vacation, then I will go over the maps thoroughly figuring out where I want to go, see and do before coming home, how much time I have and a what point I need to head back, but even these plans will change drastically based on my mood, traffic and weather. The only time I plan every detail of my ride is when I am doing an Iron Butt Ride, for those I will plan for months sometimes even a year or more. These rides require the utmost of planning as I am not a speed demon and thereby must save time through any means possible, ie if one gas station is just off the freeway but another in a freeway plaza, I will take the second as I do not have to get off the freeway thereby saving minutes.

Also keep in mind your bike is your ride but your gear could make the difference between being comfortable and having to cut a ride short, so gear up accordingly. I always wear layers, and often carry warmer or cooler gear in my pack. I have multiple shields so I can ride in the dark and light, and all my gear is man-made textiles as having to put rain gear on over leathers has never been my idea of a good time, not to mention leathers in temperatures over 100 becomes a riders worst nightmare.

I do use electric gear regardless of the teasing I sometimes encounter, but then again I am the one riding in temps below freezing while everyone else is stuck inside. Electrics also provide just a little more comfort even when the temps drop a little or if you just are unsure as to what kind of weather you may encounter on a longer trip, providing less of a need to pack tons of warmer gear and instead allowing for a lighter pack.

I find staying hydrated and well fed too can make the difference between a good ride and a bad one. I know after years of riding what I personally need, and I can not presume what someone else’s requirements might be, but I can offer up that hard candies and energy bars transport easily, can withstand temperature changes, and can stay in your pack for months providing much needed energy in an emergency when you are stranded or just really hungry. I also usually carry water whether in a bottle or in my camelback as again temperature variances can easily lead to dehydration which will cause lightheadedness and drossiness (remember you can become dehydrated even in cold weather).

The only difference between riding a Monster for the day or for endurance is in the packing and/or planning. Both require some minimal bike checkups and monitoring, as well as some bare minimum gear, which simply can be increased depending on how long you will be out on the road.