quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
I still have not decided what I am going to do.

Maybe that would help you get your fix for an Italian bike.

There are Vespas available too.

Ask yourself: Rocker or Mod?

This might not be the Duc for you. But as a Duc owner and rider, get one. They are unlike anything else...

This bike doesn't look like such a great deal.

quote:

It looks like this Monster has been in a crash. It has welds around the aluminum engine case where it mounts to the steel frame.

What part was welded? The steel frame or the aluminum crankcase/cylinders? Whichever, I wouldn't trust it not to crack near the welds. That looks like a stressed member, i.e., the engine forms part of the actual structure of the frame.

"Ducati Monster...talk me out of one" is the request of the esteemed OP...

Here goes...[please turn on your satire detector and set its sensitivity to maximum (11)]

You don't deserve it. You of all people should know this. Your entire life you've known this. When the kids didn't pick you for kickball until the very last...you knew you were worthless. Even now, you are afraid to say anything to the boss about her makeup budget. Or her purse rack that she made you build in the closet where your clothes ought to be. A Ducati? For you?

The Suzuki SV650 is all you need, and all you should ever have. Even the 1000 cc Suzuki is too much for you. Imagine the trouble you're going to get in with a Ducati! More power, better handling, and for what? To ride curvy roads? Alone? With the Ducati you'll no doubt be leaning over more, wearing out tires in a thousand miles, and you will likely find a whole new group of friends who ride crazy like you. There is no way you can afford the Starbucks at the club meet ups, let alone the new leathers in matching Ducati colors. You'll have to pay the man for the valve train adjustments, when the Suzuki just runs and runs and runs. There's no more room in the garage, no more room in the wallet, and this "machine" is just wrong for you. The seating position is cramped, the pegs are too high, the exhaust is too loud, the wind noise is excessive. You'll have to buy official Ducati oil, air filters, clutches, and probably at least one or two chains a year simply due to stretch caused by excessive throttle rotation.

Besides all this, you'll never see your family. You'll be out in the garage just looking at the bike. First from one side. Then the other. Then, you'll be evaluating the chicken strips on the tire edges, documenting your ride lean angles, and watching YouTube videos on how to stop being afraid of your bike's capabilities. You'll be washing bug residue off the front, with expensive spray soap and microfiber towels. You'll be airing out the leathers, then conditioning them with some expensive leather dressing available only from some European parts house. Your family will survive, but in time, they will abandon you to living on Kraft macaroni & cheese and ham chunks that you cook on an induction cook top you bought at the thrift store along with the best non-stick pan they had. The garage never smelled better, with the odor of burning engine oil mixing with the ham crisps left in the pan.

Of course, there is the legal side of things. Another bike, another insurance payment. A big one. Italian. 1000 hp. Likely speeding tickets. Yep, your insurance bill just doubled.

Clearly, this Ducati is not for you. NO way. NO how. Try to stay in your lane.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
It has welds around the aluminum engine case where it mounts to the steel frame.

Deal breaker.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Here goes...

That's some (de-)motivation!

Just get a new SS exhaust for the Buell and ride the snot out of it. Winter is coming, there will be others without the damage.

If he knows it's damaged, toss a stupid low number and maybe you'll get it...

Yeah, you don’t need that bike.

I eagerly await details of your first ride on it.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
Imagine riding at speed if that breaks and drops.

My very first bike was a Buell Blast.
I was riding it from NC -> FL one day.
Somewhere in SC my bike suddenly got REALLY loud and my rear tire bumped up into the air and back down again.
I pulled over to discover my muffler was gone and I had run it over.
Stopped at the nearest store I could find and bought some earplugs.
It was a very loud rest of the way back home to FL.