Price rises isn't just a Ducati thing. When it was first announced the yamaha Tenere 700 intrsted me as it was priced around £7k IIRC. Its now over £9.5k new in just a couple of years.
Exactly, it can be a pussy cat pootling around or an utter hooligan when you fancy. Comfy too, I really like it
What’s the build quality like nowadays? I test rode a KTM a few years ago, and whilst it went well and handled well too I was put off by the build quality.
I have to take it all back. I have just had another look at the Ducati web site. I had discounted the monster due to my history with them. But that is not Ducatis problem. They have ditched the crappy exhaust layout and the new Monster does it for me. Still a bit pricey but not stupid. This v Aprilia Tuono 660!!!!
It looks pretty good. But to be honest I haven’t had it up on the bench for maintenance yet. I’ve had the seat off and hooked up battery fly leads and tbf it looks pretty good
I've got the latest Gen3 SDR, and I actually think the build quality is spot on, KTM's mentality to me has always build something that you can pressure wash, i.e. dirtbikes, the plastics are just that plastic and easily replaced, the frame, swingarm all look top notch, they've started using a carbon composite on the Gen3's to replace some of the typical stressed members, and you always get quality components from WP, Brembo etc. So far it's been 100% reliable for me, and I can give it a blast with the Karcher without worry as nothing electrical is exposed.
Could be me! I like deformed ants! And to be serious - for a (very brief) second. I think Ducati have really come up trumps. I read some crap on a Monster forum complaining that they have ditched the trellis frame and so, therefore, it is no longer a Monster. Well. feck you! I think that I got my first Monster in the '90s and what they (Ducati) have done is something known as "keeping up". Whilst I realise that this "keeping up" thing appals many on some forums (just as my water heater did here) I kindof enjoy improvement. Radical I know!
Keeping up to me looks like losing the brand identity, personally the trellis frame has long gone, but you could look at a distance and identify a Ducati from it's look, Pani's still have the same lines, heritage to the 916, a Monster 20 years ago looked liked the last one. I'm not against the new model, it just isn't a monster by any means. The new model is built for the Asian market to introduce them to the brand which is a great thing, it's a huge market but it's a cost effective model for what has been designed and built for. I'm on my high horse now, I'll climb down If that's what you want, good on you, I hope it's a cracker.
I couldnt care less about the frame TBH, any more than I could when the Bevels were dropped in the 1880s or Contis were no longer flavour of the day. I just dont like it. Like you I`m quite happy to buy other makes and currently own a Guzzi as well as 2 old Ducatis and I`m even sort of interested in a Yamaha XSR900. I draw the line at a Fischer Water Heater though !
I’ve been thinking about the build quality on the SDR since @El Toro asked. And it’s actually bloody good. Dare I say, better than my V4S. The standard components such as levers, foot pegs, gear/rear brake levers etc are certainly better. After market parts catalog not required. The trellis frame and welding looks spot on too. An elliptical cross section construction as opposed to the round used by Ducati. Makes sense strength wise....
I think the Monster looks pretty good actually, I do agree tho after the 1299 and the Pani v4 not a lot looks that good to me except for the new multi which is not something I would use as I dont tour yet. I'm drawn to the MV's to be honest.
I found the problem with KTM and Aprilia is that the prices are high and near equal to competing brands but they both have random massive price reductions which makes for pissed off customers when their nice shiny £15k bike is now £13k new which means the resale value suffers. All these new bikes at £20k+ is silly money for majority of people so if they offered more bikes up to maybe £15k it would make them more appealing to a wider customer base. For those of us that use our bikes for 6-8 months of the year ( Depending on the weather each year ) a 200bhp bike just cannot use half of what it is capable of on the roads. Like Phil said the V2 is perfect for the road although my aching bones would struggle on one of those for a long ride nowadays but whatever happened to the V2 Streetfighter that was talked about last year, that would be a fantastic road bike that would appeal to more people.
Hmmmm not sure I agree fully the V4SF is what 20K standard, the KTM SDR is 15.7K and the Tuono roughly the same, there's 4k change there for effectively the same package, yes the V4SF will have electronic Ohlins, but in reality for the road how often do you tinker with your suspension? I agree that KTM and Aprilia will discount in Winter, so that makes them an even better buy IMO. Having 180bhp+ on a wide barred Supernaked is huge fun whether that be a twin (KTM) or a V4 (Tuono/SF), it's actually all of the bike you ever need and I can't see my Pani turning a wheel this year sadly.
