Ducati Monster 600 (Ducati Monster 600)

Name: lukepatrick

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Product:	Ducati Monster 600
Date:	03/09/05 (6824 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's a Monster!

Disadvantages: It's not a Monster S4R

I bought my mint condition Ducati Monster 600 (2002) from ebay for a bargain £1800 (much to the horror of my friends and family having only just passed my test) . From my experience of it so far it's a quirky but solid kind of creature to learn on and for all those who are thinking of buying one I'd like deconstruct any myths that exist and give you the pro's and con's :

ITS LOOKS ARE LITERALLY A SKIN DEEP SENSATION
It's 'naked' look is unparalled by any other bike in my opinion and my girlfriend simply adores seeing me on it and being seen on it herself. But It's not only a chick magnet - it's for girls (even if you're petiteish) and boys! My female friend has just bought one and a looks hotter on it than i do. The reason it's got cross gender apppeal is bith to do with styling, performance and comfort. It's low and It's handlebars are wide and further back - so there's no hunching over a chunky petrol tank to grapple with tiny handle bars as with a sports bike. Which means with that comfy back seat it's a bike for two and you can enjoy the scenery with that special person.
However, my monster is true nakedness (no half arsed bikini fairing) as I believe it's looks thrive on having no fairing but thus it's aerodynamics are non existent. This means that you can't expect it to protect you from the elements which as an introduction to motoring I've found a great sensation - feeling every last bit of the turbulence.
It's undeniably a mutant sport's bike chopper stripped down to a thong. It's got a pretty engine gripping to a slender ribcage and the most beautiful isolated petrol tank and lady-boy curves.

ENGINE NOISY BUT FRUSTRATED
It's NOISE!!! oh it's goosepimple inducing rumble, no whining Japanese nonsense, it's Barry white not the beejees! I'm still in love with it's dulcet tones even after 2 years.
But it's not all noise and no balls it's an aggressive accelerator and demands to be put in 5th ASAP. Which means it chugs annoyingly with low rev's but once you 'feel it out' you know to keep those revs high and it's smiles all round. But once you hit 80mph it's a struggle to keep it going up (to it's top speed 110 ish) and because it has no fairing you're clinging on for dear life with your head flat against the tank saying "please go over 100 I know you've got it in you!" . So it's not for those who want tail end orgasmic speed. It's cornering abilities are thus an eccentric practice, you can't lean over too much because of the big twins - but it's not bad. If you want fighter pilot style riding and cornering - buy a plastic coated lollystick look-a-like Fireblade or Ninja.
It's not literally a MONSTER in terms of strength but it's a well balanced growling machine: a butch-bitch-beauty and a beast that will keep you happy cruising or accelerating.

PLEASE START THIS TIME
Ducati are known for their dodgy electric's. Its components are sound but there is something amiss somewhere with the start-up - the coil and the plugs I'm told. The newer your Monster the better it's made up, I was going to buy one form the nineties but I'm informed that with every new monster is released they improve it - so Stick to the 2000+ models.

PAYING FOR THE NAME
It's a 'Ducati Monster', I don't know why it's so cool maybe because they have better marketing and styling than the other bike companies, I'm a middle class kind a guy so I'm easily brainwashed into buying these things without question. But there is something intangible about having a Monster. This is why it somehow keeps it's value. If you look after it as I do under lock and key in a garage maybe avoiding rainy days when you can you'll find you can sell it on ebay for the ammount you bought it for second hand.

LOVE TO ALL YOU MONSTER LOVERS OUT THERE -LONG LIVE THE MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summary: I'll be writing another review in about 5 years time , when the S4R decides to come down in price

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