Got me a Duc and a Goose

[gentlemanjim]

Yep I'm back.  After I sold my way too heavy Breva V1100,  Picked up a Monster and now a V50III.  I heard yellow is the new Black 

[sdcr]

Or maybe, the V Twin is the new black!

Yep I'm back...  I heard yellow is the new Black 

[guzzisteve]

Sweet lookin V50, and the other Quacker. All the newer stuff is way too top heavy.

[Diploman]

I'm like you, Jim, in that going on 72 I now have a definite preference for lightweight bikes.  Hence, my V50II cafe, and KTM 390 Duke, both light, agile, easy to manage and great fun.

Are you planning to to cafe or resto/mod the V50III, similarly to the one you did before?

Cheers, Will

[Kev m]

Great looking Duc...

[Vince in Milwaukee]

My girlfriend and I were at the Ducati store in Milwaukee (West Allis), WI last weekend checking out the new bikes.  I liked the Monster 797 as it's fairly inexpensive (for a Duc), is air cooled, and only has 2 valves per head.  What I didn't like was the board hard set and no windscreen on the front.  Your Monster looks to check all the right buttons.  Wonder what nice, used Monsters are going for.     

[Charles in Lake Charles]

Yellow is the new black or from my point of view 75 is the new 55.

[Kev m]

My girlfriend and I were at the Ducati store in Milwaukee (West Allis), WI last weekend checking out the new bikes.  I liked the Monster 797 as it's fairly inexpensive (for a Duc), is air cooled, and only has 2 valves per head.  What I didn't like was the board hard set and no windscreen on the front.  Your Monster looks to check all the right buttons.  Wonder what nice, used Monsters are going for.     

Probably my only real complaint with the 696 is the seat, especially the ball crushing angle. But Jenn doesn't see that as a problem. [emoji848][emoji23]

I must admit the motor and chassis otherwise feel fantastic and light years ahead of my beloved V7, even if I still prefer the V7.

Then again I'm sure I'd love the V7 just as much if the motor and chassis performed just as well as the Duc.

[JACoH]

Both the Monster and v50 are tremendous looking bikes, and I agree about the need for lighter bikes as I get older. I would have got a new Monster this year, but was put off by the desmo valve adjustments, I can do all my Guzzi maintenance in my garage.  I had an old Desmo Ducati when the valves were even harder to adjust than new models.

[kfz]

The ducati will annoy the hell out of you if you own a guzzi.  Rubber bands and fiddly expensive shims are more than just a PIA every 2 years.  Compared to the 20 valve Yamaha its not to bad, compared to the Guzzi, drive you spare.

Kev

[Lannis]

Looks like a great team of bikes.

I have a solution to the seat problem that seems to be bothering people!   I NEVER plan on leaving the stock seat on any bike I get; it's too personal a thing to trust to "showroom feel" or the preference of some 5'6" 122 pound bantamweight tester in Italy ...  No sense in buying a bike and then being miserable on it for the lack of a simple seat modification ....

Lannis

[Motormike]

Nice Ducati.  Good that you got one with a metal fuel tank.  The nylon tanks expand terribly with ethanol fuel.  They seem even worse than the plastic tanks on the CARC Guzzis.  The air cooled Ducs are pretty easy to maintain.  I have a 05 MTS1000 and change the timing belts out every 3 years.  Broken Kevlar timing belts are very rare.  If you don't know how old your belts are, it might be safest to swap them out.  Check the tension rollers, if a bearing on one goes bad, that will burn through a belt quickly.  I've only had to replace one on my bike in 20,000 miles, but was lucky to catch it in time.  L.T. Snyder at http://desmotimes.com/index.html has a large fleet of Ducati's and I think he's up to 4 years on belt swaps and hasn't broken one yet.  His books are great.  California Cycleworks (in Conyers, GA oddly enough) is a great source for timing belts and other parts.   http://ca-cycleworks.com/

[Triple Jim]

I'll be interested to hear your report on the differences between those two.

[Turin]

Looks like you have a theme going, Right on!

[Kev m]

Nice Ducati.  Good that you got one with a metal fuel tank.  The nylon tanks expand terribly with ethanol fuel.  They seem even worse than the plastic tanks on the CARC Guzzis.  The air cooled Ducs are pretty easy to maintain.  I have a 05 MTS1000 and change the timing belts out every 3 years.  Broken Kevlar timing belts are very rare.  If you don't know how old your belts are, it might be safest to swap them out.  Check the tension rollers, if a bearing on one goes bad, that will burn through a belt quickly.  I've only had to replace one on my bike in 20,000 miles, but was lucky to catch it in time.  L.T. Snyder at http://desmotimes.com/index.html has a large fleet of Ducati's and I think he's up to 4 years on belt swaps and hasn't broken one yet.  His books are great.  California Cycleworks (in Conyers, GA oddly enough) is a great source for timing belts and other parts.   http://ca-cycleworks.com/

The latter Monsters like the 696, 796, 797 have plastic tanks mounted under plastic covers. The covers are large enough to allow for some swelling without causing any issues.

As for belts we went 5 years/7000 miles. The low miles and relatively gentle usage makes us feel confident. We plan on doing the again next time...

[Guzzi Gal]

Congrats on the new rides!   :1:

[Shorty]

Yellow rocks! Nice! I had one Ducati. Ran like stink. My bones could not take the ergos. 

[NC Steve]

Looks like a great team of bikes.

I have a solution to the seat problem that seems to be bothering people!   I NEVER plan on leaving the stock seat on any bike I get; it's too personal a thing to trust to "showroom feel" or the preference of some 5'6" 122 pound bantamweight tester in Italy ...  No sense in buying a bike and then being miserable on it for the lack of a simple seat modification ....

Lannis

Agreed, 100%.   

[jpv7]

Both the Monster and v50 are tremendous looking bikes, and I agree about the need for lighter bikes as I get older. I would have got a new Monster this year, but was put off by the desmo valve adjustments, I can do all my Guzzi maintenance in my garage.  I had an old Desmo Ducati when the valves were even harder to adjust than new models.

Nope.  A used bike like this, you will probably do the valve clearance adjustment ONCE and leave it alone - checking them is easy if you're anal...And yes, belts go a long time when done properly.  BTW - they are easy to do on this Monster.  Probably 30 minutes as there is no fairing.  I've owned 4 air-cooled 2 valvers, and they have been among the cheapest bikes to run that I've owned.  Solid motors.  Last one was a twin-plug Monster S2R1000, and it went like stink.

[Lannis]

Probably my only real complaint with the 696 is the seat, especially the ball crushing angle. But Jenn doesn't see that as a problem. [emoji848][emoji23]

It's the ultimate "the world doesn't make sense" thing.

If the world made sense, women would have straddled horses when they rode, and the MEN would have ridden side-saddle ....

Lannis

[Testarossa]

If the world made sense, women would have straddled horses when they rode, and the MEN would have ridden side-saddle ....

 :1:

[motoguzzibill]

Mr. Jim,
  Congrats on your new to you Monster. Is it a 900? I just sold my 900SS and am Duc-less at the moment. The ergos of the sport riding position is becoming more challenging. I have a V-11 Sport currently for sale because of the riding position and then may sell my Thruxton (05') too.

  Anyway to shorten a story getting too long I have been thinking about finding/buying an air-cooled Monster and have been wondering about seating and peg position. So how comfortable is the Monster? Wish there were some locally so I could sit on one, but they are scarce in Montana. Could you provide a seat of the pants report? Position comparison? It feels like?
Thanks Much,
Bill N

[darkstar1269]

Two sweet rides, offering two completely different types of enjoyment!!!

[gentlemanjim]

The Duc is a 2001, 750, 14000 miles paid $2k, but had to have the tank repainted and added the seat cowl and fairing with other misc. items I have $3.5k in total.

The Goose, I decided to convert into V7 Sport replica.  Bought the tank and decals Gonna call it a V5 Sport.

How many colors did the V7 Sport Come in?  Want to be some what authentic looking.

[jas67]

[Rough Edge racing]

 I ride a 96 Ducati 900 Monster, I'm 175 lbs ,6 foot tall...The bike is reasonably comfortable  considering the seat is 20 years old...I don't find the forward seat tilt to be an issue for a two hour"sporting" ride..The foot pegs are a bit high...

[Triple Jim]

The foot pegs are a bit high...

They'd have to be if you wanted to take advantage of the good handling.   :)