New to this board, interested in 695 Monster - Ducati Monster Forums: Ducati Monster Motorcycle Forum

afuentes · 06-16-2007, 07:51 PM

Hi there,

I'm from Miami and have been riding a cruiser style bike for about a year and almost 9000 miles (Triumph Bonneville America). Love my bike, but am considering adding something sportier and like naked bikes...not to replace my cruiser.

Sat on a Duc 695 Monster today and really liked the fit, looks, seating position, etc. (not a big fan of being in hard racer tuck for very long LOL). I was looking at a Triumph Thruxton (cafe racer) but liked the Monster better.

Husband (who also rides, Harley Heritage Softail) says the 695 is underpowered. I would appreciate any input.

BTW I don't care about going 150 mph up 1-95 or popping wheelies, just buzzing around and having fun, no track days either for me, a high school teacher and mom of 2 boys!! ???

DucIt · 06-16-2007, 09:53 PM

Welcome,

I don't have a 695 I have a 620 but your bike is basically a newer version of mine. I love the bike, the people I ride with are mostly on Harleys or choppers and there isn't anyone that I can't keep up with in a straight line and in a corner it isn't even close. The only way you will know for sure is to try one out but I am betting you will love it. The next time you plan on going out for a ride send me an e-mail and maybe we can go for a ride and you will see that even though a small displacement, light sportbike can easily keep up with a heavier bike.

Brian

mstevens · 06-16-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afuentes

says the 695 is underpowered. I would appreciate any input.

I guess it's all relative. I doubt I'll ever reach the point at which my 620 feels underpowered. I've never gotten out of 4th gear!

One issue is the ratio of HP to weight. Monsters are pretty light for their horsepower.

AZ_FNDuc · 06-16-2007, 10:49 PM

I have a 620..just went for a ride with an R1. On the highway..no fun cuz he was way up there but hitting the surface streets, it was fine!

The 695 is perfect for what you want!

afuentes · 06-17-2007, 07:09 AM

Thanks everybody for your responses! I am going to tryt o test drive either today, which may be tough since it's Fathers Day LOL or definitely TUesday (dealer is not open Monday).

Yeah, I don't plan to keep up with liter sport bikes, again just fun riding. Most of our friends ride cruisers anyway, though some are pretty fast too (Triumph Rocket, Harley street rod).

Quick follow up Q (becuase I won't be able to check this out on test drive) ..can you comfortably go 70-75 on the highway? Does anyone have a flyscreen to help with wind buffeting on high way? And last but not least, do you need a full face helmet due to the wind? (My bike has a nice big windshield so I'm not sure how it is without one)

DucIt · 06-17-2007, 07:37 AM

The flyscreen doesn't help much. When I first got the bike the wind at 70 felt like it was going to blow me off the back but there is a simple cure, just do 90 for a while and then you won't even motice the wind at 70. [cheeky] As for the full face helmet, I would say most people on this forum ride with one and preach about riding with full safety gear, I saw wear what you want as long as you know the risks.

FLMonster1K · 06-17-2007, 06:21 PM

My first bike was an '02 620 dark. I am pretty light and small in stature and the bike fit me like a glove. Like everybody else said, in a straight line they might not be the fastest but the ease of riding due to the handling/power delivery is great and easy. I've heard and read that the 695 has solved much of the issues that the 620 had with lower power. Not until I got my '04 1000ds did I realize how much the flyscreen helps cut the wind for me. I now have an '06 S2R 1K and it's hard to keep it below 90 when I hit the highways... it's 'confy' all the way to 120 then the wind really starts to be an issue. Absolutely wear a full face if you are going to do any out of town riding! Good luck and keep us posted.

*Edit* After my ride home last night, I must specify that the fly screen only helps at half or full tuck. It does little to nothing for standard cruising.

kutter · 06-24-2007, 09:53 AM

I think maybe we should ask the question about how tall she is, this will have a huge impact on how much the windscreen helps. Someone 5'2" to 5'4" with a full face helmet would benefit a lot from it. I am 5'10" and the wind seems to hit me about one third to one half the way up my helmet unless that is I scrunch down but getting older and carrying a pound or two extra I do not scrunch much [laugh]