New person!

08-03-2009, 11:55 AM

Just past my test less than a week ago and now feel even less confident about it all!!!
Had a play with a 1999 600cc Ducati Dark yesterday and though not enough room to go above 2nd gear I fell in love. Now is the difficult bit; finding the bike. So any help, advise hand holding will be greatly appreciated. I am so pleased I was told about this forum.

08-03-2009, 12:20 PM

Congratulations on your test and dont worry - it does get easier the more experience you have - but just take it easy for a while - it literally can take years before you become a good, confident rider - but the more training (including the free bikesafe etc courses) you do, the better you'll be. The police motorcycle handbook is an excellent way to get some cheap training (ensuring you read it and take note!) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-R...6514543&sr=8-1 - its £11.99 from amazon

Always be aware of your surroundings...always ride defensively - other people are there on the road to knock you off dont forget

and dont be pressurised by other bikers/vehicles to drive beyond your ability - you are your own person not a sheep - you do things at your pace and f**k everybody else!!!

As for your monster, generally the newer the model, the less hassle it'll be - but I'm a relative newbie, so you'll get far better advice from others on here.

Check service history etc, if its been ridden or stored (ducatis prefer to be ridden than stored apparently)...and other stuff (you'll get better answers than this later I promise

)

You can check these and other ducati forums, bike trader, mcn website, ebay...private sale will be cheaper though maybe more of a risk (less so if you're buying from a well known forum member.

Good luck!

08-03-2009, 01:14 PM

Welcome

I'm new to monsters too...got my M600 back in January...and loving him!

You got some good advice above...ride at your own pace...I find riding with others who are more experienced is good for confidence building (I passed my test years ago but am just returning to biking after 5 or 6 years out)...as long as they are responsible! My other half has an on-board cam, I'm planning on getting him to film me for a bit, so I can get some ideas on how crap I look and how to improve lol. Am also going to book into a Ron Haslam race school to give me confidence in the bends.

Good luck with the bike hunt and enjoy

Nicky

08-03-2009, 01:50 PM

Welcome, you are just up the road from me in Hastings. I scoured autotrader and ebay to track down my 2002/2003 Monster 620S i.e. Eventualy found the one I want from P&H Motorcycles in Crawley for £2,700. Don'y worry too much about peeling paint on Rear hangers (I am probably going to replace mine with racing rearsets) and the engine covers which when I can be bothered I am going to respray in black. The bikes are built for Italian climes so don't like our salt and rain too much so will all have this if they are more than a couple of years old.

The monster handles wonderfully, sounds like a real bike and looks lovely so who wouldn't fall in love with it?

As said previously the thing to look at is if a bike has been lying around, the monster has kevlar belts which if left will stiffen in position. These are the main chunk of cost addition for the 12,000 mile service so if you can get one that has new belts and has been ridden then your are

Take it easy and don't ride like a hooligan, at least not until know you can without killing yourself and anyone else

chris yeatman · 08-03-2009, 09:24 PM

well done mate, and welcome. watch out 4 those car drivers that dont like bike's and b safe.

08-03-2009, 09:35 PM

Welcome from another newbie to the world of the Monster and this forum.....

Best advice I can give....ride defensively...you'll still have loads of fun and live longer to enjoy it....

LVC · 08-03-2009, 09:48 PM

Welcome to the family & well done with your test.

Ride within your limits until you've gained the experience to experiment.

Have fun

08-03-2009, 10:14 PM

hi and welcome, i was/am new a few weeks back and everyone on here is very helpful. i was looking at second hand monsters but ended up going for a new one. Looking at the prices of second hand ones compared to new ones theres not a huge amount of difference when you add up the extra servicing and bits you have to if you want a good clean machine. i did read a thread that ducati have put there prices up by 10% but are countering it by offering 0% finance. not sure if they are doing it on the 696 but wish they did that when i got mine. had it a week now and its the best thing i have ever bought, great bike and handles like a dream...not like i have pushed it htough as im still getting to grips with 2 wheels and sitting on the engine.

be carefull of those car drivers! you will ride down the road and see possible accidents every few miles. as long as you see it all happening a long way in front they become nothing and everybody goes about there lives untouched.

i'm going to do some courses to build confidence and experience, it comes highly recommended by all.

08-03-2009, 11:08 PM

Some of us know enough to offer advice. The rest will offer encouragement.

(I'm in the latter category)

Welcome to the Monster club!

09-03-2009, 12:23 AM

welcome to the forum,now go and search for your bike, summer is coming!!!

09-03-2009, 09:20 AM

Welcome,
If you are really unsure/lack confidence, ride with someone else to start with, it may help to know you have 'back up'..

J.P · 09-03-2009, 10:14 AM

Hello there and welcome to the club.
Good luck hunting for your Monster.

09-03-2009, 04:32 PM

Welcome. Everyone's really friendly on here and will be there to offer advice and encouragement.

Good luck with finding the right bike.

10-03-2009, 07:10 PM

Hi to all! Thank you soo much for the welcome, encouragement and advice. I'm on a mission to find that bike!

11-03-2009, 11:11 AM

There are a few reasonable bike on AutoTrader:-

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...ch_full=SEARCH

08-03-2009, 11:55 AM	#1
Michwell Guest Posts: n/a	New person! Just past my test less than a week ago and now feel even less confident about it all!!! Had a play with a 1999 600cc Ducati Dark yesterday and though not enough room to go above 2nd gear I fell in love. Now is the difficult bit; finding the bike. So any help, advise hand holding will be greatly appreciated. I am so pleased I was told about this forum.

08-03-2009, 01:50 PM	#4
Willobs Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome Welcome, you are just up the road from me in Hastings. I scoured autotrader and ebay to track down my 2002/2003 Monster 620S i.e. Eventualy found the one I want from P&H Motorcycles in Crawley for £2,700. Don'y worry too much about peeling paint on Rear hangers (I am probably going to replace mine with racing rearsets) and the engine covers which when I can be bothered I am going to respray in black. The bikes are built for Italian climes so don't like our salt and rain too much so will all have this if they are more than a couple of years old. The monster handles wonderfully, sounds like a real bike and looks lovely so who wouldn't fall in love with it? As said previously the thing to look at is if a bike has been lying around, the monster has kevlar belts which if left will stiffen in position. These are the main chunk of cost addition for the 12,000 mile service so if you can get one that has new belts and has been ridden then your are Take it easy and don't ride like a hooligan, at least not until know you can without killing yourself and anyone else

08-03-2009, 09:24 PM	#5
chris yeatman I still have the s4r! Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: salisbury, wiltshire Bike: S4r Posts: 1,896	well done mate, and welcome. watch out 4 those car drivers that dont like bike's and b safe. __________________ What's that coming over the hill.......

08-03-2009, 09:48 PM	#7
LVC The Loire Valley Monster Join Date: May 2006 Location: South of Le Mans Bike: S4 Posts: 709	Welcome to the family & well done with your test. Ride within your limits until you've gained the experience to experiment. Have fun __________________ *Kiss French, Play Japanese, Ride Italian....*

09-03-2009, 10:14 AM	#12
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	Hello there and welcome to the club. Good luck hunting for your Monster. __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

08-03-2009, 12:20 PM	#2
Scootaboy Guest Posts: n/a	Congratulations on your test and dont worry - it does get easier the more experience you have - but just take it easy for a while - it literally can take years before you become a good, confident rider - but the more training (including the free bikesafe etc courses) you do, the better you'll be. The police motorcycle handbook is an excellent way to get some cheap training (ensuring you read it and take note!) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-R...6514543&sr=8-1 - its £11.99 from amazon Always be aware of your surroundings...always ride defensively - other people are there on the road to knock you off dont forget and dont be pressurised by other bikers/vehicles to drive beyond your ability - you are your own person not a sheep - you do things at your pace and f**k everybody else!!! As for your monster, generally the newer the model, the less hassle it'll be - but I'm a relative newbie, so you'll get far better advice from others on here. Check service history etc, if its been ridden or stored (ducatis prefer to be ridden than stored apparently)...and other stuff (you'll get better answers than this later I promise ) You can check these and other ducati forums, bike trader, mcn website, ebay...private sale will be cheaper though maybe more of a risk (less so if you're buying from a well known forum member. Good luck!

08-03-2009, 01:14 PM	#3
MonstaChicky Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome I'm new to monsters too...got my M600 back in January...and loving him! You got some good advice above...ride at your own pace...I find riding with others who are more experienced is good for confidence building (I passed my test years ago but am just returning to biking after 5 or 6 years out)...as long as they are responsible! My other half has an on-board cam, I'm planning on getting him to film me for a bit, so I can get some ideas on how crap I look and how to improve lol. Am also going to book into a Ron Haslam race school to give me confidence in the bends. Good luck with the bike hunt and enjoy Nicky

08-03-2009, 09:35 PM	#6
Steveo Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome from another newbie to the world of the Monster and this forum..... Best advice I can give....ride defensively...you'll still have loads of fun and live longer to enjoy it....

08-03-2009, 10:14 PM	#8
OplayneO Guest Posts: n/a	hi and welcome, i was/am new a few weeks back and everyone on here is very helpful. i was looking at second hand monsters but ended up going for a new one. Looking at the prices of second hand ones compared to new ones theres not a huge amount of difference when you add up the extra servicing and bits you have to if you want a good clean machine. i did read a thread that ducati have put there prices up by 10% but are countering it by offering 0% finance. not sure if they are doing it on the 696 but wish they did that when i got mine. had it a week now and its the best thing i have ever bought, great bike and handles like a dream...not like i have pushed it htough as im still getting to grips with 2 wheels and sitting on the engine. be carefull of those car drivers! you will ride down the road and see possible accidents every few miles. as long as you see it all happening a long way in front they become nothing and everybody goes about there lives untouched. i'm going to do some courses to build confidence and experience, it comes highly recommended by all.

08-03-2009, 11:08 PM	#9
Snips Guest Posts: n/a	Some of us know enough to offer advice. The rest will offer encouragement. (I'm in the latter category) Welcome to the Monster club!

09-03-2009, 12:23 AM	#10
Pomp1 Guest Posts: n/a	welcome to the forum,now go and search for your bike, summer is coming!!!

09-03-2009, 09:20 AM	#11
jimbo696 Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome, If you are really unsure/lack confidence, ride with someone else to start with, it may help to know you have 'back up'..

09-03-2009, 04:32 PM	#13
DavidEJM Guest Posts: n/a	Welcome. Everyone's really friendly on here and will be there to offer advice and encouragement. Good luck with finding the right bike.

10-03-2009, 07:10 PM	#14
Michwell Guest Posts: n/a	Hi to all! Thank you soo much for the welcome, encouragement and advice. I'm on a mission to find that bike!

11-03-2009, 11:11 AM	#15
Willobs Guest Posts: n/a	There are a few reasonable bike on AutoTrader:- http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk...ch_full=SEARCH