GSX-R600 & Monster 696 - Who's ridden both?

[duckphreak]

I need some barf advice. I'm deployed right now and few weeks from going home. I'm already itching to ride and have been looking at bikes online to see what I want next. I sold my 05 gixxer to a friend right before I left and although I could buy it back from him, there are two bikes I'm tempted to get.

First one is the 06 gixxer in the red/black color scheme. I don't want a newer gixxer. That design/color has caught my eyes for a while now and to me, it's still the sexiest look I've seen on a crotchrocket.

On the other hand, I'm very tempted to get the new Ducati Monster 696 with the Mach 1 Monster Art Kit. I've always had rockets, but I'm thinking now that I'm inching closer to 30, maybe it's time to go for the classier bike and I've never had a naked one. I'm looking at either '09 which is the first year that the Monster Art Kits fit, or the '10 that has the adjustable levers since I have smaller hands.

Before I start a string of suggestions on different bikes and their performances, I'm not interested in Speed Triple or other crotchrockets. I hate to admit it, but I'm a girl, so my first priority is aesthetics and what looks good to ME.

So any advice from those of you who've ridden both? If I switch to the Monster, do you think I'll feel bored? Maybe the 796? The single swingarm does nothing for me and I'm wondering how much difference the 7HP will make. I've also never ridden a naked bike, but I've heard the open wind feels different. Of course I'm going to try to test ride a Monster, but I'm also impatient and I want to ride!

Any help would be appreciated! :teeth

 

[VicTim]

I haven't ridden either one but I will tell you gixxers are way to common and look just like so many other sport bikes. The monster is a much better looking bike no matter wich one you get. Go with the exotic Italian. My :2cents

 

[Triple R]

I had/have the following GSXR's: 03 600, 05 750, 07 750, 06 600. I can tell you this, the 01-05 600 & 00-05 750 motors are pretty much the same and feel "raw" compared to the 06+ 600/750's. The newer bikes are way easier to ride and the power is very linear. Never been on a monster so I couldn't really tell you the difference. :thumbup

 

[NoobCorpse]

How about the new monster 1100 evo? Otherwise, the new 796 monster is nice - coming from a gixxer 600, you might find it lacking on power? Maybe to test ride one first.

 

[Stormdragon]

They're so different from each other in motor 'feel' I think you're better off asking yourself what you want more from a motor. If you want to feel like you're getting yanked forward any time you roll the throttle open, get the Monster. If you like the smoothness of the inline 4, as well as hearing it wind out to 12~14,000 RPM, get another GSXR.

 

[JN396]

I think it really depends on what kind rider / type of riding you'll be doing. Are you interested in hitting the track? Or are you just commuting, enjoying the scenery on 9? I never felt bored on the 60hp m620; but I could tell that I was a more mellow rider with the duc in comparison to riding the gixxer. With the gixxer, it begs to be ridden fast. Riding on the fwy is also different on the duc; at speed I felt fatigued from windblast after a while (I think this goes with any naked bike); with the gixxer wind fatigue wasn't an issue. Cons for the gixxer? I do feel that I can only ride it for 2-3 hours before I need to stop & take a break - I never had back problems when riding the duc. I do miss the ducati from time to time - there's certainly nothing like riding an L-twin with pipes! arty My vote is to test ride each and go from there. Whichever you decide you can't make a bad decision!

 

[Gabe]

Two very different animals! If you're used to 600cc sportbikes, the 696 will seem very fast under 60 mph, very slow past that. I heartily recommend visiting one of the many fine Ducati dealers we have in the Bay Area who get mad if I recommend any specific one and test ride a 696, a 796 and an 1100 EVO. Try a Street Triple, too, while you're at it...

 

[duckphreak]

I don't do any track, mostly just riding around town, curves on the weekends, and once in a while I'll do long trips (usually 300 mi).

Here are the two colors I was talking about. :drool

 

[joe blow]

Haven't ridden the gsxr or the 696 but I've ridden plenty of naked bikes and 600s. You definitely won't feel bored with the monster... what I love about naked bikes: very chill seating position, torquey, usable mirrors, gauges move with bars, easier 2-up riding, and much more 'license' or leeway for mistakes. I commute on 880 daily with a naked bike and personally I like the rawness of it all, the windblast, being able to see your front wheel, and having to hunch down past 70mph+ :teeth As long as you try to like it, which it seems like you're doing, you'll love it.

But I do have to mention that while I use to like the new monsters, I would only buy an older one. The plastic tank is cool because of the fairing kits, but the steel tank and steel subframe of the older monsters are much sexier imo.

 

[99SH]

Get the GSXR, more bike for the money. More power, better handling and more reliable. The 696 is slow, not to mention the forks are not adjustable in either rebound/compression/preload.

 

[EEL]

796 vs Gsxr 600 is more comparable.

696 is in a different league.

 

[Archimedes]

The front ends on the low end Monsters suck monkey dingles. If you're used to a supersport, that will bug you even more than the motor difference.

 

[russ69]

Go ride the Ducati, a nice long test ride and see what you think. You may like it or you might not.

 

[stunna]

track/windy roads = gixxer (I've owned one)

crusing/some windy roads = monster (not ridden one, but I own a Duc)

It's win/win in my book. I'd own both if I could afford it.

 

[ThumperX]

both ? :dunno

you want apples or do you want oranges?

 

[RRrider]

Monsters have..."character". If you're playing with the naked bike option, I'd seriously take a Street Triple R out for a spin. Very linear power delivery, super quick yet predictable and easy to ride, and handles like a dream being based on the Daytona 675. I'd take one of those over a monster any day. I like the aesthetics too, but that of course is purely subjective.

 

[ThumperX]

OP, it sounds like you are deciding on a bike based on its color scheme. I'd choose the bike you really want then give it a custom paint job.

 

[Desmo_Pazzo]

I've ridden both. Boy, they're both so different. The Monster is a really fun bike to ride and it is hard to imagine getting tired of it--either it's styling, aesthetics, or the ride (wonderful torque and maneuverability). Still, if you plan to ride predominantly on the open road you really come to appreciate what a fairing does for you--it really serves to stabilize your ride. For example, I remember that on the Monster even the act of putting out a hand to salute another oncoming rider would cause the bike to wobble a tiny bit in windy conditions; not so on a bike with a fairing.

Hard choice to make.

 

[Rob]

People... the OP wants to know if it's cool to move from a gsxr to a monster. Yes... it's cool.

You'll feel a motor difference but it won't be that bad...you may even like it.
You'll feel a suspension difference but it won't be that bad... you may even like it.
You'll feel a seating ergonommics difference... you'll like it.
You won't get bored... funny to think that you would/could actually.

But Hornet's got it right... get the one that YOU like and then custom paint.

(if you haven't had a ducati yet...)

 

[afm199]

Different bikes. I'd go with the monster for comfortable cruising and street riding, the GSXR for the track.