Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

[Eddo211]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

Its a Virgin Yamaha! She will serve you right. You know you got the 2003 R6 engine on that baby right? Keep the front wheel down!!

Picks needed.

[KanadaHye]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

Congrats on the purchase, safe riding. Unfortunately due to "traffic violations" the police have taken all the fun out of my recreational vehicle lol

[levon]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

After reading up on more literature I gradually swayed away from the ducati and the FZY6, and decided on the FZ6.
Just got back from the dealership with a new yellow FZ6. Will probably test it out tonight when I get back from work.

Thanks for all the advice, well appreciated.

[Tali]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

It sounds like you've already made the decision, Levon
Ducati for you, just be careful cuz i'll miss you if anything bad happens and takes you away from here

[Eddo211]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

....I suppose I could also get the ducati, and just spend more time away from any roads than with a more beginner bike.

No don't do that. Each riding environment requires changes in technique and you want to become comfortable with your baby in any situation, rain or shine

Wow, all those broken bones and you're still so mentally hooked to riding. Must really be a whole different kind of experience. Thanks for sharing.

It is an addiction....and a challenge. It is a great feeling of self control, are worries forgotten, and freedom, hard to explain.

Get the Ducati, you be stylin, you will get to grow with your bike, girls love it, it will force you to be serious, it has its own special sweet engine sound, and one of the best high performance suspensions out there. Remember power is not everything, transfer to the rear wheel and traction is.

If you gonna be a Ducati rider then your choice is a good starter bike.



My favorate Ducati: 916 (don't even think about it. )

[levon]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

It's generally better to get another bike before a Ducati. I had to get talked out of riding alltogether. Though I maintain Ducati's are still the best ride plus style, you could always sell the bike you started off with -- especially within the first year if you get comfortable with riding that quickly. You might lose a couple hundred, but at least not the full cost of bike.

The problem is I really want the Ducati, and it'll cost me 10x a couple hundred to switch later. If I bye a bike now I'll have to stick to it for at least a couple of years, or bye a cheap used bike for a few months.

You don't strike me as the reckless type

That's funny, but sadly I'm more of an adrenaline junkie and live from one risk to another, I just don't have the time anymore, so a motorcycle would be a good way to bring back some excitement.

[Tali]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

It's generally better to get another bike before a Ducati. I had to get talked out of riding alltogether. Though I maintain Ducati's are still the best ride plus style, you could always sell the bike you started off with -- especially within the first year if you get comfortable with riding that quickly. You might lose a couple hundred, but at least not the full cost of bike.

Though, as someone else said, Ducati's are among the hardest to maintain - mostly because parts are expensive and then finding someone who knows how to fix it.

The risk factor is really high, so a couple more classes you'd probably want to take are specific "defensive driving" courses for motorcyclists. People who enjoy riding are usually the ones who want to keep doing it for a long time thus aren't reckless. You don't strike me as the reckless type, but also avoid driving inbetween cars if you can (it is super-tempting, so more likely than not, you will -- most do). It's almost unavoidable sometimes, too, so i'd also practice riding inbetween tight spaces (make-shift, like two cones or something; not structures or other vehicles).

I hope you find the bike that fits what you're looking for
Best of luck and looking forward to reading about your adventures

[levon]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

Thanks for the advice. I went to the dealership today and checked out the R6 first-hand. It's an awesome looking bike. I want to eventually get the ducati, so I need to figure out whether getting another bike before-hand would not be too big a loss if I end up switching during the first year. I suppose I could also get the ducati, and just spend more time away from any roads than with a more beginner bike.

Wow, all those broken bones and you're still so mentally hooked to riding. Must really be a whole different kind of experience. Thanks for sharing.

[Eddo211]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

Thanks for the great reply. I'm plan on taking a basic riders class next month, though Ky only requires a permit to ride a motorcycle. I really like the looks of the ducati, but if it's not a beginner bike I'd rather have it later and enjoy it, rather than get it now and crash it. I had no idea there would be such a drastic difference between 600cc and 696cc, but as I mentioned, I'm very new to bikes.

How about the Ninja 600. Is it in the same range as FZ6? There are a lot of them around here so they go lower than others, though I don't like it as much as the FZ6.

Btw, how long have you been riding?

The FZ6 is a street/sport bike which gives you the limited performance of say YZF600 R6 and the street friendly handling of a cruiser. The engine displacement is about the same but the R6 performance is much higher (handling, cornering, traction control, weight, riding position, ground clearance, etc...)

Here is an R6 (I used to own an R1)



Ninja 600 are just as good, however I prefer Yamaha or Honda over Kawii. That Ducati is an awesome bike but as a rule I normally would not recommended to a new starter but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get it....I be jealous

I started riding dirtbikes long time ago, ended up in local motocross 250cc races. I rode streets when I got older starting with a 600 bike above and transitioned to 900cc and track riding in Willow Springs, CA.

I have broken and dislocated collar bones, rib fractures, c12 compression fracture (spinal cord, almost went paralyzed), knee injuries, etc. over the years. I have damaged two helmets beyond use and trashed several riding suits on road rash.....all these years have taken its beating on me and now I have severe curpal tunnel on my right wrist (throttle hand goes complete numb after 15min riding) which has pretty much retired me from advance riding.

I do anything to get back in it.

[levon]

Re: Ducati Monster 696 or Yamaha FZ6 for starter bike

Thanks for the great reply. I'm plan on taking a basic riders class next month, though Ky only requires a permit to ride a motorcycle. I really like the looks of the ducati, but if it's not a beginner bike I'd rather have it later and enjoy it, rather than get it now and crash it. I had no idea there would be such a drastic difference between 600cc and 696cc, but as I mentioned, I'm very new to bikes.

How about the Ninja 600. Is it in the same range as FZ6? There are a lot of them around here so they go lower than others, though I don't like it as much as the FZ6.

Btw, how long have you been riding?