Speed Triple vs. Ducati Monster

[cheapbastard]

Talk to my friend with his Monster S2r and no doubt you'll buy the triple! His Monster has 6k miles on it and has been in the shop atleast half the time he's owned it! :hammer: One major problem he had which is a common known problem for single side swingarm ducati's is the cush drive in the hub tends to tear up very easily! They almost had to replace his entire swingarm!!! And as for speedy??? She hasn't complained once about anything, except for that time I parked her next to Limey's black one, then she... uke:

Buy the Speed Triple, if the cheapster was a rich man, I'd guarantee ya a benjamin that you'd love it, but we all know that's never gonna happen! :wink: :-D I'm tell'n ya, this is the best d*mn bike I've owned in the 11 yrs I've been riding! :-D

[StoneTriple]

I’ve been riding with a Euro club \ group for the last 7 years and have certainly been around my share of Ducatis. There’s every type imaginable and at least four or five every bike night. Sometimes as many as ten. I’ve never owned one but from what I’ve been exposed to, they never seem to be running quite as well as they could be running.

Doesn’t matter which model. All of them seem to always have something that’s keeping them from running perfectly. The owners are always saying something to the effect of “yeah, I’m gonna fine tune her before the Sunday ride� or “she’s not quite on her game tonight, just needs a slight valve adjustment, man� or “seems a little sluggish, I’m taking her to that shop in Austin, hear they got a guy that’s an expert at adjusting Ducati valves�. There’s also plenty of guys that don’t ride their Ducatis to bike night every week just because they aren’t running well enough to bother. Sometimes they don’t want to ride it too much because there’s an all day ride coming up on the weekend and they want it to be running good that day.

They also seem fragile. They don’t feel substantial – like you need to always be careful or you’ll break something or skew it or knock it out of adjustment. They’re good looking bikes, some of them, but that’s the extent of my interest in them.

I ride nearly every day of the year. I also do a lot of overnighters and week-long trips. I don’t want to have to worry about a bike running poorly, or not at all. I also don’t feel like having to do routine maintenance weekly, just so the thing runs decent. I did that with my old Bonneville – that $hit gets old, man. I want to ride – not sit around getting ready to.

[R100Pilot]

Considered the Monster too when I was shopping. But the performance on the air-cooled monsters just isn't good enough to justify their price, and they're nowhere near the Triumph.

The S4R is a nice piece, suspensionwise, and I too like the sound better than the triple (which I like better than any four cylinder). But figure in high maintenance costs in addition to the extra you pay up front, and you're looking at a case of buyers remorse.

If I was looking now, it'd come down to the Triumph or the Tuono, and it'd be a tough choice. I love that V-twin sound, the performance is comparable (suspension and brakes are better on the Tuono), and I like just about every bit of the styling. Except the front end. It looks like an ant. I do not want to ride around on an ant.

Speed Triple all the way - and for way less than the difference in price, you can trick it out.

Oh yeah - every time I am in the shop, there are a couple of Ducatis getting worked on. Not a good sign.

[ This message was edited by: R100Pilot on 2006-09-07 07:00 ]

[jdub3]

there are many lengthy discussion on this forum for this topic if you do a search. granted this is the speed triple forum, the triple always wins hands down. haven't read many or any convincing arguments for the monster (any model). also, everyone who has went with the s3 over the duc has come back with positive comments on a good choice.

[Limey]

I rode an Sr4 couple of weeks ago, its a nice bike but compared to speedy I wasn't impressed, now the Duc owner who rode my speedy was very impressed :-D

[livefree63]

Heres my list
1) monster is more expensive (probably closer to $6K for similar performance)
2) Ducatis require more maintence
3) V-twin sounds better than a triple
4) Build quality is better on the ducati

But the most important of all is the curiousity factor. Speed Triples just attract attention. I park my bike next to a group of Ducatis all the time and none of them get a second look. About the only people check out the Ducatis are the midlife crisis gang ( of which Im one). The twenty-something crowd doesnt even bother with the Monster. Its just too bland for a hooligan bike. Believe me, I own a few BMW's and I know they are bland. I yawn around Ducatis. So, if you think you can spend $6K more to look good on an Italian Sportbike, dont waste your money because no one is paying attention.

[ssregal39]

i had a buddy that just had to have a ducati 748. he got the bike fairly cheap. after several valve adjustments and other motor related stuff it about broke him and he got rid of it. he now has an SV1000. :hammer:

[Spendthrift]

Been there done that! dont bother with any monster unless maybe an S4RS

[Captain_Rat]

Hey eurorider360, any comments to any of these comments? You're making me think that you asked all of these good people for their opinions and haven't been back to even read them.

Capt.

[Billybob]

On 2006-09-06 22:16, eurorider360 wrote:
I have been looking at Monsters lately, and have almost decided to get one, but i realized that i am being a little closed minded. I know triumphs are great bikes, and the looks of the Speed Triple are great.

Will anyone be able to explain/talk me out of the Monster, and why the Speed Triple is a better bike? :hammer:

Sure, no problem. If they were BMWs, it would be like comparing a 330i to a 545i, except they cost about the same. Not a hard choice, is it?