My garage pt5

[Mick_J]

As I have more than one bike and they are all different (but similar) I thought I might write a little review of each of them, so here is the fifth oldest (newest).

Ducati M1200s Monster.

When looking for the BMW I tried it head to head with the Ducati Monster and picked the BMW as it was a more sophisticated bike and better two up bike but a year on I still had a hankering for the Monster so went for another test ride and was hooked.  I liked the price of the standard bike better but also liked most of the extras on the "S" model so my wife said just buy the bike you want so the "s" it was, better (lighter) wheels, ohlins suspension, led indicators and DRL and a quick shifter.  The bike is just brilliant, it has a lot of electronics on it with power modes, cornering ABS, traction control, anti-wheelie and a quick shifter.  I had a higher seat and grab rails fitted as part of the deal and bought a single can for it straight away, having the cat in the silencer made it get very hot and it was burning my wife's foot at it was very close to the foot peg, a lower single straight through can fixed that.  This is great fun to ride and the sound is bloody fantastic although I have fitted the baffle which has reduced the noise a little but improved the drive, it pulls better with the baffle fitted.  So far I have had no problems with the bike except a recall for the gear lever which has failed on a couple of panigales, mine was fine so nothing changed.  I does seem very lazy on the starter but always starts first prod, (just wish it would spin up a bit) but they "all do that sir".  It is better on my own but is acceptable two up and just pulls, not as good as the Suzuki or BMW lower down but higher up the rev range its bloody nuts with nearly 160 BHP on tap and superb handling and when it's time to slow the Brembo M50 brakes make stopping very easy.  The riding experience is much rawer than my other bikes as I am constantly reminded that it is a big twin but the vibration is not intrusive, it's like being massaged as you go along and the sound it makes is lovely.  I am now shopping for the right bits such as tail tidy, radiator and oil cooler guard and of course crash bobbins, I'm also looking into some bar end mirrors as the standard mirrors are crap, not only because they mostly show my elbows but they also rotate on their axis if I start to make any progress.  I've only had this bike for eight months but I can see why this bike has a cult following, especially the earlier air cooled bikes, it's raw, it vibrates, its full of character and just so much fun to ride and returns over 50mpg, I love it.

So which bike is best?  They all do something for me so it's a difficult question.  For a solo ride my Speed Triple or the Monster will always be my first choice, two up it will be a choice between the BMW and the Suzuki although longer distances will favor the BMW.  And the MZ is just very different, rare, has a lot of character and is very satisfying to ride, the induction roar at 3500 rpm is addictive.  I ride all year round but only if it's dry and they all give me a buzz.  Next will almost certainly be a bike with some character so that rules out most UJMs so that means it will most likely be another European bike, maybe Moto guzzi will make a big bike soon.  On the other hand BMW have just released the R1250r, 11 more horses and 13.5 more torques.

[VladTepes]

Nice :D

Moto Guzzi do make a big bike... the Cali. But I know what you mean. A 21st Century Le Mans / Daytona / MGS-01 is called for.

[grog]

mjgt, obviously not from your report, but does Monster surge at constant throttle, up to 4k revs. Diavel certainly does, very badly. Pain to ride, thats why i seldom use it. Top end is amazing, i guess 162 bhp always will be. Have read about it, common problem, fuelling lean below 4k. Apparently many EFI boxes on market will fix it. Most /all just plug in, prob solved. So many say each one is better than other, any clues on which one? 14 is ultra smooth, Diavel  totally opposite.

[Mick_J]

grog, my monster is pretty smooth at 3-4000 revs with no lurching or chattering, just a lovely rumble.  I have never heard of this being a problem with the monster either, no one on the Monster forum has complained about it.  I will ask the question and see what responses I get.

[Mick_J]

grog, I've had a trawl through the Ducati forum and cannot find any posts that describe what you are saying but a couple have had problems with the air pressure sensors under the tank , I've added a link here to one of the posts and you can have a trawl through yourself in case I have missed anything.  Some of the post actually complement the Diavel on it's low speed/rev manners.  Hope this helps.
https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threads/problems-with-my-diavel.64426/

[grog]

Mjgt, have read a lot on low rev surging ducati. Seems very common. https://www.diavel-forum.com/index.php?/topic/1302-fix-for-the-fuelling-issues-on-our-diavel/

[Mick_J]

Thanks for that grog, I don't have any more to offer but I do know a couple of lads with Diavels so will ask them next time I see them.