[pplassm]

Hmmm. Very tempting!

 

[iamz]

Bah! Make it a 695 for a couple grand less and I'm sold. I don't need or care to insure anything more.

 

[48389]

Exactly! I don't know where I'll put it, but there has to be a place in my garage for one.

 

[amper]

Granted, it's a very interesting looking bike, but I really just don't understand the point of these jacked-up sport bikes they call "motards". Anyone care to enlighten me?

 

[amper]

Exactly. And while they're at it, how about some SportClassics with the 695 engine? Not all of us need or want liter-plus bikes.

 

[The_AirHawk]

They prefer the term "Supermoto". "[email protected]" is akin to a racial slur; like referring to a Cylon as a "Toaster".

 

[iamz]

A 695 in the SportClassic bikes would be a very nice option.

 

[iamz]

Putting the whole racing aspect aside and looking at street/commuter use, the longer suspension travel should translate into more comfort on bad roads and a higher seating position gives you better visibility in traffic.

 

[The_Aerodynamic_Head]

Thanks for the cultural reminder, Face Man, er, Starbuck.

 

[busa99999]

If you ride down a bumpy pot holed back road on a motard after riding the same road on a sport bike you would not need to ask any questions. The KTM motards and dukes just rock. The usable power vs power designed for the track isn another part of the motard sucess. Go to your local sport bike twist and turn type road and under triple numbers on the speedo a motard will be right with you with equally skilled riders.

 

[33342]

Simple Answer:

All you have to do is ride one, and you'll never want to own a conventional sportbike again unless you only do track days or racing.

-Gabe

 

[Buzglyd]

Re: Simple Answer:

That sounds dangerous since the modern sportbike is the safest vehicle on earth.

 

[amper]

Eh, frack the toasters...but "motard" is part of the name--it's Ducati's choice, not mine.

 

[seruzawa]

Re: Simple Answer:

I like them because the insurance is so cheap!

 

[amper]

Re: Simple Answer:

My opinion, completely. I understand the benefits of the long travel suspension, but I think that a low COG is more important. If I want a dual-purpose, I'll buy one of those. A "motard" or "supermoto", to me, has all the drawbacks of both sport bikes and dual-purpose bikes at the same time, with few of the advantages of either.

Just give me a SportClassic with a 620 or 695, and I'll be a happy camper.

 

[pplassm]

Re: Simple Answer:

Sounds like you've never ridden one. I have 2 street modified dirt bikes, and they are fantastic on the local roads.

Not great for all day superslab riding, though.

 

[23020]

Here here

 

[The_AirHawk]

It was a joke................

 

[acecycleins]

The bike is not supposed to hit the shores until sometime between April-June. Why no 695- because the 695 frame on the Monster is slightly different than the 620 frame. They can't get the MTS (multistrada) frame and the Hyper frame ready quick enough, in short. So, no 07 models will be ready for the US market. They will all be assigned as 08 models.

 

[iamz]

I can wait. Wasn't planning on adding any more bikes until 2008 anyway. Thanks for the info.