Topic: another one of my what are they like posts...this time Triumphs and Ducatis...

[DarkRider]

For the past couple days i have been looking up various newer sport bikes to have something newer and reliable to go with the older machines. I still plan on buying the CBR 600 F3 but its eventual plan is to transform it into a Repsol replica bike. So it like the other classics will only see good road conditions. I have been looking at Ducati Monsters and Triumph Daytona 600s lately it seems like... Mostly looking at the smaller 620 Monsters at the moment...though i have seen some 900s get pretty decent in pricing. What can either the Triumph owners or Ducati owners on here tell me about these beasts?

[KB02]

I LOVE my Monster. Be prepared to spend a lot at tune up time or get really friendly with someone that knows (and will show you) how to adjust the valves.

I have a carbed 750. Basically, the same horsepower as the FI'ed 620s. The bike is great fun, handles like a dream, and they just have such a distinct sound to them.

Also, they eat rear tires. There's a lot of torque coming out of that V-Twin and it causes extra wear on the rubber. I'm a fairly conservative rider most of the time and I'll be lucky to get 6000 miles out of a rear tire. 12,000 plus out of a front (and yes, the front tire does stay on the ground when I ride).

[DarkRider]

I get the oddest feeling the way i ride i would get more from the front..but thats because i have the opposite prob...aka keeping the front wheel down on any bike that is capable of wheelies.

[DarkRider]

Im amazed pro teal didnt have anythin to say about the monsters lol

[SteveD CB500F]

The TT600 and 650s were 4 cylinder bikes and largely unloved over here (where everyone loves the triples). Triumph quietly dropped the fours and now only make triples (and twins of course)

If you are looking at a Monster, take a test ride on a Speed Triple.

[Sweep]

I actually came to this forum today to post about my Ducati, funny.

I recently completed my '76 cb750 836cc in pretty much the max state of tune (max for us non-lord moonpies).  I've only been riding that bike until last Saturday that is, when I decided to take my 2003 Ducati ST4s out of the covers.  This starts out badly because I had the bike wedged so far in between things and against the garage wall that I had to put a dolly under the back wheel and pull it out sideways and I lost it and she fell over.  The first time I ever dumped a bike and it's the only full faired bike I own      Anyway, I scream for the wife and the two of us together got it back up and there were no marks anywhere...good.

My God, I had forgotten how fast a bike could be and how well it could handle and brake.  I actually was thinking "what was I thinking" by building my cb as I took my 2 hour Duc ride in beautiful weather on the curvy back roads.  How Ducati gets this much power and reliability out of a 1000cc twin is like a minor miracle, I've got around 125hp with my slip on Staintune pipes.  The power is always there from bottom until top.  I have lost the ability to accelerate involving anything approaching full throttle, it's just been too long away from this kind of power.  I feel the front wheel come off the ground as I try to accelerate hard in 3 gears.  The bike only weighs 440lbs and that makes it feel light to me and that coupled with the well dialed in Ohlins suspension gets me through the corners really well.  One thing I have to say I've learned from my cb750 is to keep the revs high and I've applied that to the Ducati, I used to ride it in the low revs and it's much more enjoyable at 5k+.  This Ducati took me back and forth each day for a year on the worst roads known to man, 100 miles a day lanesplitting up the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, and New York Thruway.  The acceleration kept me out of trouble and the brakes saved my life a number of times.

To my surprise I took the cb out again later and realized that I do still enjoy the ride, sound, and heady rpm range of that bike as well.

[azuredesign]

Even though it's not the quickest, nor the best handling of my bikes, there's still something very cool about the cb. Riding it just makes me smile. Glad your Duke is OK. I worry about garage dumps all the time.

[DarkRider]

Given the speed triple was mentioned..what about the bike it got its origins from the Daytona 900? I have also looked at the ST4s and they look to be very nice bikes as well.

[scunny]

I had the chance to take one of the first (modern) Daytoners for a ride a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to get back home.
the fairing was always in the way of my knees coming to a stop and it handled like crap.
that's my experience. I hope this bike was set up badly but sadly doubt it. others may have had a better experience

[SteveD CB500F]

Given the speed triple was mentioned..what about the bike it got its origins from the Daytona 900?

I've been riding a '96 Daytona 900 to work every day for the last three weeks (100 miles per day, mostly motorway)

Quite what Triumphs engineers thought they were designing I don't know, but it is NOT a sportsbike.

It's big, heavy and has a long wheelbase.  It's quite comfy on my 50 mile blast - not quite in the Sports Tourer class but certainly no "bum in the air" riding position.

Low speed handling is heavy.

The 885cc triple makes a lovely noise through the twin pipes. I get about 10 miles per litre (about 45mpg imperial)

She's got 58k on the clock and is still a solid, reliable ride.

Can't wait to get my Sprint 955 back though.

[jaguar]

i had a 750 monster.  i loved and miss that bike very much.   just a blast to ride and always got someone to talk to you about it.