Ducati 750 Monster Test Ride

14-07-2011, 11:46 AM

Bike: 1996 Ducati Monster M750
Location: Allenby Motorcycles, Chelmsford
Weather: cloudy, 18º
Jumper: black, grey and white horizontal stripes

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/...f0024df3_b.jpg

Today was a wee experiment. If we can't afford the £180ish a month for a new bike, could I live with something I bought with the money made from the sale of the GS?

I found my answer - it is yes, and I only needed a 750 to prove it.

I've been in Allenby's before for some front pads, and the bloke in there is very straight, very dry and very relaxed. The ideal bike shop owner. He also has an interest in 'different' bikes that you might not find normally. Not being a dealer, but a mechanic and secondhand salesman, he can fill his shop with what he wants, and he does fill it. There's not a duff bike around. I might have to pop back just to take pics of his stock if he lets me. Harris-framed Z1000J, Ducati 600SS, two of the mintiest XT500s I've ever seen (and he says he'll never sell), a BMW S1000RR, an incredibly tidy and cheap TRX850, a few indoor trails bikes as well as the obligatory stickered-up litre sportsbikes. An interesting mix.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/...341f0de7_b.jpg

The bike is dug out for me and left to idle in front of the shop. It's a carb-fed 750 air-cooled twin. A proper, wee Monster. It's not in bad nick for it's 20,000 miles and 15 years. One of the fork bottoms needs a lick of paint, the exhaust downpipes need a polish and if it were mine, I'd tidy some of the pipes and wires on the right side of the bike (though this may be a factory thing), but that's about it. The single front Brembo feels lovely and solid, several times more powerful and accurate than the ****ty Jap crap found on the ER6 yesterday. The carbs look clean with no hint of any leaks, the 1/4-action throttle snaps back nicely, and the tyres are Michelin Pilot Roads. Lovely.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/...0d9b9cfb_b.jpg

He takes my license, and I'm away. The front is bloody soft. The unadjustable forks are probably on the original fork oil and would more closely resemble a frothy cappuccino by now. A revalve wouldn't go amiss, but some heavier, newer fork oil would be a quick fix for a tenner and an hour. This, unfortunately, spoils the handling somewhat and means the bike weaves when decent force is put through it when cornering. Still, it gives me more confidence to **** around than the awful front on the ER6 yesterday. That's saying something.

14-07-2011, 11:46 AM	#1
Tomfoolery Guest Posts: n/a	Ducati 750 Monster Test Ride Bike: 1996 Ducati Monster M750 Location: Allenby Motorcycles, Chelmsford Weather: cloudy, 18º Jumper: black, grey and white horizontal stripes http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6126/...f0024df3_b.jpg Today was a wee experiment. If we can't afford the £180ish a month for a new bike, could I live with something I bought with the money made from the sale of the GS? I found my answer - it is yes, and I only needed a 750 to prove it. I've been in Allenby's before for some front pads, and the bloke in there is very straight, very dry and very relaxed. The ideal bike shop owner. He also has an interest in 'different' bikes that you might not find normally. Not being a dealer, but a mechanic and secondhand salesman, he can fill his shop with what he wants, and he does fill it. There's not a duff bike around. I might have to pop back just to take pics of his stock if he lets me. Harris-framed Z1000J, Ducati 600SS, two of the mintiest XT500s I've ever seen (and he says he'll never sell), a BMW S1000RR, an incredibly tidy and cheap TRX850, a few indoor trails bikes as well as the obligatory stickered-up litre sportsbikes. An interesting mix. http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6024/...341f0de7_b.jpg The bike is dug out for me and left to idle in front of the shop. It's a carb-fed 750 air-cooled twin. A proper, wee Monster. It's not in bad nick for it's 20,000 miles and 15 years. One of the fork bottoms needs a lick of paint, the exhaust downpipes need a polish and if it were mine, I'd tidy some of the pipes and wires on the right side of the bike (though this may be a factory thing), but that's about it. The single front Brembo feels lovely and solid, several times more powerful and accurate than the **ty Jap crap found on the ER6 yesterday. The carbs look clean with no hint of any leaks, the 1/4-action throttle snaps back nicely, and the tyres are Michelin Pilot Roads. Lovely. http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6014/...0d9b9cfb_b.jpg He takes my license, and I'm away. The front is bloody soft. The unadjustable forks are probably on the original fork oil and would more closely resemble a frothy cappuccino by now. A revalve wouldn't go amiss, but some heavier, newer fork oil would be a quick fix for a tenner and an hour. This, unfortunately, spoils the handling somewhat and means the bike weaves when decent force is put through it when cornering. Still, it gives me more confidence to ** around than the awful front on the ER6 yesterday. That's saying something.