All brand new Ducati's are hard to select neutral, after 622 miles and when the run-in oil has been changed the gearboxes are much smoother and neutral can be found easily.
I have had my 2017 Ducati Monster 1200 for 2 new years now and not had any major problems. It has reached 5,000km. Only the first 1000km I had some difficulties finding neutral. Whilst riding I admit I do hit false neutrals a few times, but that is usually because I don't change gears hard enough. I installed a quickshifter and use it mostly whilst accelerating quickly from the traffic light. Otherwise, it is clunky to use at low speeds. Overall I thoroughly enjoy the torque and quick stable acceleration of the Monster 1200. I highly recommend it.
It is the best monster, yet the most expensive. Even if you don’t need 150HP, it is the power naked bike of choice. Öhlins shocks are ultra repsonsive, the engine has massive but very useable torque (Touring Mode) and amazing Brembo M50 brakes famous for sensitive yet extreme powerful breaking if needed. It sounds great with stock exhaust and gives you emotions. Other bikes don’t deliver as much as this monster. Quickshifter is cool but only works acceptable when riding aggressive and reving high.
Had a 821 and upgrade to a 2020 monster 1200s - the false neutral is an issue in the 1200s on the 821 I had the translogic quickshifter and it still found false neutrals, but with the third party quick shifter you can mess with the settings on sensitivity to make it shift a bit better to your shifts - when you shift through gears don't be weak as it will find false neutrals from time to time it is a known issue - i have even found a neutral between 4 and 5 on a freeway so when i can i use the clutch but if i do use the quickshifter i definitely up shift with authority the best setting i have found on 1200s is taking touring mode and putting engine to high - for some reason it is at medium with traction control and wheelie control moderately set - moving the engine setting to high gives you same engine/throttle response as sport mode but with more traction control and wheelie control i have been daily commuting in a large downtown city i found urban the way to go when the road conditions are cold or rainey. if i want to commute in my customized touring mode i have to be mindful when passing in urban setting you can literaly launch yourself out in bumper to bumper traffic if you hit the throttle. if you are groggy in the mornings on your daily commute recommend urban mode in an urban setting as the power delivery is 75% of the touring and sport mode Sometimes I think I should have gotten with a 959 but i do most of my riding short distances and it is my only vehicle. the seating position is really why i love the monster. I cant imagine commuting in bumper to bumper traffic in an 848, 959, v4 etc. Monster is definitely more sporty then the diavel, but I feel like I have a racer harley on my hands as short touring like under 3 hours is totally doable with good weather and low wind conditions. A motorcycle is a motorcycle and after driving with other 1200s owners it seems everybody I met loves to go fast in a straight line with a crapload of torque and confidence in performance in stability and being able to brake the 1200s does that great the 821 past 100mph feels a bit risky but you only get that feeling past 135 mph on the 1200s. 154 is the highest speed i have seen on the monster 1200s - I don't really like going that high once you are in the 120-135 range you begin to want to slow down. But going from 70 to 120 back and forth in that range is really enjoyable the torque curve is consistent through the rpms and high in the 1200s. Its just fun to drive. I am still meeting more 1200s owners, but it seems people who buy the 1200s are not trying to have a hybrid track bike they really like to get out and ride more frequently. If somebody has a 959 or v4 are they really daily commuting on it? the suspension is night and day between the 821 and 1200s literally bumps that would make me jolt in the 821 i roll over and the bike feels so smoothi dont know if i can ever go back to bike with no full suspension now as my daily commuter i simply love a smooth ride - its like riding in a audi with full suspension then going back and riding in a dodge challenger or truck the suspension is just night and day The sound of this machine is definitely a factor when purchasing. If you have been on a ducati be4 nothing sounds like it. The 1200s twin is grunty and str8 mean. When i rode my friends triumph and japanese bike I could go 100mph and feel/sound like I am going 40-50mph on my ducati. The engines sound is one of my fav things about the riding experience. The 959 and v4s i think use the quaddro engine or whatever and they sound more torquey and great in there own way. The ducati twin is just grunty and mean. I do want a v2 streetfighter in addition to my monster 1200s so I probably need to save up. Its hard to just own 1 ducati its true if you really love the sound and feel of these motorcycles. I do feel like the monster 1200s lean angle is limited somebody at a dealership told me max lean angle in a monster 1200s is 40 degrees. on the track motogp riders are doing 60 degrees as there max so it is kind of good. It keeps you out of trouble, but you also know your 1200s will never be a track bike it is made for the street. You also can't try to use 40-60 degree lean to avoid an emergency situation or you will low side is my general feeling which is a compliant to many that ducati's in turns are bears in comparison to the speed triple or bmw 1000 - once you cross 150hp you really have to ask yourself do you need that much or have the skills for that much 1200s you can nerf the horsepower from 150hp to like 100hp in urban mode while getting the most out of your traction control. I can tell you 100hp with max traction control and awesome suspension is nice in rainey weather it is stable and peppy
Hi, I am thinking about buying a motorcycle, I did not drive 5 years, I am interested in the ducati monster 821 or 1200 s, before that I rode the ktm duke 690, triumph street triple r, I like the 1200s more but I do not know if it is too strong?
@@rafalmatysiak1 did you buy the 1200 or 821? I am kind of having the same issue. Don't care about straight line speed, drive urban 80% of the time and love to throw a bike around corners. on paper the 1200s just seems like a much better bike than the 821 on all fronts and price diff is currently just 2 to 3k around here. But still the 821 seems an attractive option to me.
When my monster was new it refused to find nuetral if I wasn't rolling. Also had a fair amount of false gears. After about 700 miles it broke in and is just fine.
Mate, now mine has done 1700miles it’s mega easy to find neutral and gearbox is perfect also, was a bitch when it was new as they all seem to be! Have ridden loads of different bikes and I do prefer my Monster over my Bro’s recently sold Super Duke R, there are so many great bikes out there for us to chose which makes it loads of fun! Cheers, G-man
I used to watch your channel back in the day, it disappeared from my feed. It showed up again today and am glad I found it again! Great review as always, and the comments section has helped me tremendously in deciding for my new bike
Another really enjoyable review! For me biking is as much about pride of ownership and how the bike makes you feel rather than practicalities although reliability and some ease of use should be expected in these modern times! With that in mind, if you really had to choose would it be this or the speed triple rs, interested to hear your thoughts. Cheers 👍🏻
Thank you, I'm of a similar mindset and given the choice I would probably go for the Speed Triple in all honesty. It suits me down to the ground and I really love its riding style. If you're considering one though I was told to hang on until next year because they have something special in the pipeline.
Not sure about false neutrals but do make sure if you have trouble selecting neutral at a standstill with the engine running, that your clutch lever ( if adjustable) is adjusted so that the bite point is as far away from the bars as possible. Sounds daft but it’s easy to miss and can be the sole cause.
Owned a Speed Triple and a Multistrada with the 1200 non VVT engine. Gearbox on the Ducati was full of neutrals unless you gave it a mighty boot. The whole Ducati experience was a warranty nightmare. I wouldn't dare own a Ducati out of warranty. Loved the Triumph compared to the Ducati but for me the best riding experience on a super naked is the MT10 and you know it will keep going, well till it runs out of petrol, cos it mega thirsty.
Thank you, really good to hear what these bikes are like to live with. Really sad to hear about this gearbox issue with so many of them though, what a shame. Love the MT and love the Speed Triple, great bikes.
It wasn't just that ducati. My monster had a pretty crappy gearbox as well. They do get better as you put miles on them but they're not as silky as others. If you can get your hands on a Tuono I highly recommend it. Would love your opinions on the Ape.
Thanks, it's good to have some confirmation of the issue so it doesn't just seam like i'm hating on the thing. The Tuono is on my list for sure, might take a while with the season drawing to a close but I'm looking to try one.
From a fellow CZcamsr that's a nice review, gave a real sense of its practicalities, strengths and weaknesses. I'll be trying out the S in the next month or so myself.
I own a 2016 monster 1200s and every time I take it out I am amazed at how difficult or should I say how few times I see that little green neutral light. Owned many Japanese bikes and I don't think I ever had such difficulties.
I can't believe they haven't fixed it yet, I've never had a problem on the smaller or older ducatis. And you're right I don't get that issue on any of the Japanese bikes I ride.
I have a Monster 1200s and it drives me crazy!!! It's stupidly hard to find neutral, and sometimes when you don't want to, it finds it for you... I have a strange relationship with my monster, I don't like riding it, the motor has a lot of power and torque but it's only in a limited range of revs, the handling it's strange for me, don't like the breaks, the power delivery is very ruff it makes me uncomfortable accelerating in middle corner... But... It's beautiful!!!! If I had a lot of money I would put it in my leaving room wall and never ride it again, LOLLL.
Yeah they really need to sort out that gearbox. Tough one to fix as looks are subjective but if you fancy a slightly different engine character to play with and rev a little higher maybe try a Z900rs or if you prefer Italian styling maybe an MV Agusta Brutale. That one tends to split a crowd though.
@@RarefiedRoad I'm more a 4 in line guy... I also have a honda hornet 600 and do you believe I like it more then the ducati? ;)... I must be a strange guy... LOL... The bike that I enjoyed the most to this moment is the BMW S1000 R or XR ( Motor is the same), the only problem is that they are ugly has F********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Z900 seams like a good option but I want a bit more power ;)...
@@mtelles2000 I can believe it, I used to have a hornet and I loved that thing. I can't think of a four cylinder with the Ducati's style unfortunately. Buy the BMW and ride it quickly, that way you get the performance you're looking for and no one will have eyes fast enough to see you on it, problem solved :)
Had a Scrambler 800 icon. Gearbox was a bag of spanners from new but did improve greatly after a couple of thousand miles running in - and learning to be 'positive' with it. Monster 1200 might just be a bit of a dog in the gearbox department because it's a demo which has been ridden a bit unsympathetically by previous riders.
Hi I have a 2018 1200s done 21000 miles on it gearbox is still a little funny now and then at slow speeds however when its ridden hard its never faulted at all . I have a couple of issues, had an oil leak from clutch push rod and have a big problem with the top left bracket of the radiator breaking off got a new 1 under warranty and now its broken off again.
Yeah you won't miss out on a lot, the standard suspension is still pretty good, and the quickshifter isn't perfect so you might as well go for the regular 1200.
@@samihasib Daytime running lights are a legal requirement for most new vehicles so most manufacturers are fitting them as standard so they should both have them yes.
Nice vid, and very spot on. I've not had a false neutral but it was hard to find for while, but seems ok now after an oil change. A great solid bike, never lets me down.
I've had a monster 1100s and a Brutale. Both heart over head decisions. Both had annoying issues... They just can't get it right. Back with a Triumph and won't look back.
It's frustrating when you're taking a chance on 'getting a good one' for the money you'll spend. It'll still have a warrantee though so I think it's more important that you feel you can trust the dealership to take care of you rather than the bike.
So many people complain about Ducati having hard time finding neutral. I find that strange as I have 2 Ducati’s (2018 scrambler and 2009 GT1000) and I have not had any problems. I test rode a monster 1200S and only had a hard time finding neutral once and that was sorted by letting the clutch out a bit while stopped and feathering the shifter down from 2. Is it something different about how people down shift that’s causing the effect? I normally hit all the gears going down (and let you the clutch) while braking
I think it does depend on the bike you get, and I've heard from other people that it improves as you put miles on it. I could definitely get it into neutral eventually but put it this way, there should never be a 'Knack' to getting it into neutral.
It happens occasionally. It's a shame but I don't think it would be enough to completely put me off a bike though, just not ideal if you're setting up for a corner.
I test rode a non S Monster last year and the same happed to me. The dealer let me take it out for an hour and I was never able to find neutral at a stop light, not once. I´m a big Ducati fan so that was a big disapointment to me as well. Deal breaker? Maybe.
No I think I'd still give it a bit more of a chance, that was the only negative for the day really and someone did tell me that it improves once it's broken in a bit, but I'm glad to hear it wasn't just me.
It literally feels like im sitting on the Arnold Schwarzenegger himself... It sounds like Thor having sex... Lolz....first 1.5mins in.. And im already laughing 😂😂😂😂
So, I've had my Monster 1200S for a few weeks, and I think your review is dead on. It has a certain gruff personality which gives it real character. It has very tall gearing which has taken some time to get used to, and thus does not seem to enjoy puttering around town at 30mph, though it can be done. I am still struggling a bit with the quick-shifter, particularly at low speeds when it should be a nice commuter aid. I have not reached the 600 mile service and yes, neutral is hard to find. I just pop it into neutral as I'm rolling to a stop. I'm hoping it will get better. Each bike has its own quirks, My Honda CBR 250R will not go into first from neutral without double clutching it. But as Yoda might have said: 'the bike will not adapt to you, you must adapt to the bike'.
That's really encouraging to hear, thanks. It's hard to know if I've got the measure of a bike with the hour or so that I borrow them. It certainly wouldn't be my choice for commuting or city riding, but there are few bikes I'd rather be on round some twisty roads.
When I had my monster it wouldn't find neutral unless it was parked. Again it could be a bikes age thing as mine was close to 30 thousand kms. Ducati are famous for their neutral torture though.
With me as well. That damn neutral can be elusive...and I did get a fist full of false neutrals a couple times. As I’m breaking the bike in I stay off the quick shift for peace of mind use the clutch-I shouldn’t have to, but for now it gets a pass as I progress through the break in period. It’s keeper tho, for many years to come.
Rarefied Road Hi! May I enquire about your ridding jacket? Is that an armored jacket? It’s nice...would love to check it out if you can pass me some info.
All brand new Ducati's are hard to select neutral, after 622 miles and when the run-in oil has been changed the gearboxes are much smoother and neutral can be found easily.
Thanks for the tip.
micah wilkinson this Goëss-Horten Not for 1200. My 1200S (2018) has 10.000 km and neutral is hard to find
@@gusseisern1151 hi is it worth buying a super low mileage 2014 1200s for a big discount? 1/3 of its original price!
Elie Nehme what is super low mileage ? You talking about 6000 € ? Maybe a cheat
@@gusseisern1151 3700 miles. It is a traded in motorcycle at a BMW dealership. It is real I checked it personally.
I have had my 2017 Ducati Monster 1200 for 2 new years now and not had any major problems. It has reached 5,000km. Only the first 1000km I had some difficulties finding neutral. Whilst riding I admit I do hit false neutrals a few times, but that is usually because I don't change gears hard enough. I installed a quickshifter and use it mostly whilst accelerating quickly from the traffic light. Otherwise, it is clunky to use at low speeds. Overall I thoroughly enjoy the torque and quick stable acceleration of the Monster 1200. I highly recommend it.
I thought 2016 and newer comes stock with the quickshifter? Or is that only on certain models?
It is the best monster, yet the most expensive. Even if you don’t need 150HP, it is the power naked bike of choice. Öhlins shocks are ultra repsonsive, the engine has massive but very useable torque (Touring Mode) and amazing Brembo M50 brakes famous for sensitive yet extreme powerful breaking if needed. It sounds great with stock exhaust and gives you emotions. Other bikes don’t deliver as much as this monster. Quickshifter is cool but only works acceptable when riding aggressive and reving high.
Had a 821 and upgrade to a 2020 monster 1200s - the false neutral is an issue in the 1200s on the 821 I had the translogic quickshifter and it still found false neutrals, but with the third party quick shifter you can mess with the settings on sensitivity to make it shift a bit better to your shifts - when you shift through gears don't be weak as it will find false neutrals from time to time it is a known issue - i have even found a neutral between 4 and 5 on a freeway so when i can i use the clutch but if i do use the quickshifter i definitely up shift with authority
the best setting i have found on 1200s is taking touring mode and putting engine to high - for some reason it is at medium with traction control and wheelie control moderately set - moving the engine setting to high gives you same engine/throttle response as sport mode but with more traction control and wheelie control
i have been daily commuting in a large downtown city i found urban the way to go when the road conditions are cold or rainey. if i want to commute in my customized touring mode i have to be mindful when passing in urban setting you can literaly launch yourself out in bumper to bumper traffic if you hit the throttle. if you are groggy in the mornings on your daily commute recommend urban mode in an urban setting as the power delivery is 75% of the touring and sport mode
Sometimes I think I should have gotten with a 959 but i do most of my riding short distances and it is my only vehicle. the seating position is really why i love the monster. I cant imagine commuting in bumper to bumper traffic in an 848, 959, v4 etc. Monster is definitely more sporty then the diavel, but I feel like I have a racer harley on my hands as short touring like under 3 hours is totally doable with good weather and low wind conditions.
A motorcycle is a motorcycle and after driving with other 1200s owners it seems everybody I met loves to go fast in a straight line with a crapload of torque and confidence in performance in stability and being able to brake the 1200s does that great the 821 past 100mph feels a bit risky but you only get that feeling past 135 mph on the 1200s. 154 is the highest speed i have seen on the monster 1200s - I don't really like going that high once you are in the 120-135 range you begin to want to slow down. But going from 70 to 120 back and forth in that range is really enjoyable the torque curve is consistent through the rpms and high in the 1200s. Its just fun to drive. I am still meeting more 1200s owners, but it seems people who buy the 1200s are not trying to have a hybrid track bike they really like to get out and ride more frequently. If somebody has a 959 or v4 are they really daily commuting on it?
the suspension is night and day between the 821 and 1200s literally bumps that would make me jolt in the 821 i roll over and the bike feels so smoothi dont know if i can ever go back to bike with no full suspension now as my daily commuter i simply love a smooth ride - its like riding in a audi with full suspension then going back and riding in a dodge challenger or truck the suspension is just night and day
The sound of this machine is definitely a factor when purchasing. If you have been on a ducati be4 nothing sounds like it. The 1200s twin is grunty and str8 mean. When i rode my friends triumph and japanese bike I could go 100mph and feel/sound like I am going 40-50mph on my ducati. The engines sound is one of my fav things about the riding experience. The 959 and v4s i think use the quaddro engine or whatever and they sound more torquey and great in there own way. The ducati twin is just grunty and mean. I do want a v2 streetfighter in addition to my monster 1200s so I probably need to save up. Its hard to just own 1 ducati its true if you really love the sound and feel of these motorcycles.
I do feel like the monster 1200s lean angle is limited somebody at a dealership told me max lean angle in a monster 1200s is 40 degrees. on the track motogp riders are doing 60 degrees as there max so it is kind of good. It keeps you out of trouble, but you also know your 1200s will never be a track bike it is made for the street. You also can't try to use 40-60 degree lean to avoid an emergency situation or you will low side is my general feeling which is a compliant to many that ducati's in turns are bears in comparison to the speed triple or bmw 1000 - once you cross 150hp you really have to ask yourself do you need that much or have the skills for that much
1200s you can nerf the horsepower from 150hp to like 100hp in urban mode while getting the most out of your traction control. I can tell you 100hp with max traction control and awesome suspension is nice in rainey weather it is stable and peppy
Hi, I am thinking about buying a motorcycle, I did not drive 5 years, I am interested in the ducati monster 821 or 1200 s, before that I rode the ktm duke 690, triumph street triple r, I like the 1200s more but I do not know if it is too strong?
@@rafalmatysiak1 did you buy the 1200 or 821? I am kind of having the same issue. Don't care about straight line speed, drive urban 80% of the time and love to throw a bike around corners. on paper the 1200s just seems like a much better bike than the 821 on all fronts and price diff is currently just 2 to 3k around here. But still the 821 seems an attractive option to me.
When my monster was new it refused to find nuetral if I wasn't rolling. Also had a fair amount of false gears. After about 700 miles it broke in and is just fine.
Mate, now mine has done 1700miles it’s mega easy to find neutral and gearbox is perfect also, was a bitch when it was new as they all seem to be! Have ridden loads of different bikes and I do prefer my Monster over my Bro’s recently sold Super Duke R, there are so many great bikes out there for us to chose which makes it loads of fun! Cheers, G-man
I used to watch your channel back in the day, it disappeared from my feed. It showed up again today and am glad I found it again!
Great review as always, and the comments section has helped me tremendously in deciding for my new bike
Glad to hear it helps. Thanks for watching.
Another really enjoyable review! For me biking is as much about pride of ownership and how the bike makes you feel rather than practicalities although reliability and some ease of use should be expected in these modern times! With that in mind, if you really had to choose would it be this or the speed triple rs, interested to hear your thoughts.
Cheers 👍🏻
Thank you, I'm of a similar mindset and given the choice I would probably go for the Speed Triple in all honesty. It suits me down to the ground and I really love its riding style. If you're considering one though I was told to hang on until next year because they have something special in the pipeline.
Not sure about false neutrals but do make sure if you have trouble selecting neutral at a standstill with the engine running, that your clutch lever ( if adjustable) is adjusted so that the bite point is as far away from the bars as possible. Sounds daft but it’s easy to miss and can be the sole cause.
Owned a Speed Triple and a Multistrada with the 1200 non VVT engine. Gearbox on the Ducati was full of neutrals unless you gave it a mighty boot. The whole Ducati experience was a warranty nightmare. I wouldn't dare own a Ducati out of warranty.
Loved the Triumph compared to the Ducati but for me the best riding experience on a super naked is the MT10 and you know it will keep going, well till it runs out of petrol, cos it mega thirsty.
Thank you, really good to hear what these bikes are like to live with. Really sad to hear about this gearbox issue with so many of them though, what a shame. Love the MT and love the Speed Triple, great bikes.
It wasn't just that ducati. My monster had a pretty crappy gearbox as well. They do get better as you put miles on them but they're not as silky as others. If you can get your hands on a Tuono I highly recommend it. Would love your opinions on the Ape.
Thanks, it's good to have some confirmation of the issue so it doesn't just seam like i'm hating on the thing. The Tuono is on my list for sure, might take a while with the season drawing to a close but I'm looking to try one.
From a fellow CZcamsr that's a nice review, gave a real sense of its practicalities, strengths and weaknesses. I'll be trying out the S in the next month or so myself.
Thanks, really appreciate the feedback. Let me know how you find it when you get a go and I'll keep my eyes peeled for your review.
I own a 2016 monster 1200s and every time I take it out I am amazed at how difficult or should I say how few times I see that little green neutral light. Owned many Japanese bikes and I don't think I ever had such difficulties.
I can't believe they haven't fixed it yet, I've never had a problem on the smaller or older ducatis. And you're right I don't get that issue on any of the Japanese bikes I ride.
michael homan my 2018 1200S too
You say the motor has variable valve timing but I don't believe it does (?)
also, good review - thanks
I have a Monster 1200s and it drives me crazy!!! It's stupidly hard to find neutral, and sometimes when you don't want to, it finds it for you... I have a strange relationship with my monster, I don't like riding it, the motor has a lot of power and torque but it's only in a limited range of revs, the handling it's strange for me, don't like the breaks, the power delivery is very ruff it makes me uncomfortable accelerating in middle corner... But... It's beautiful!!!! If I had a lot of money I would put it in my leaving room wall and never ride it again, LOLLL.
Yeah they really need to sort out that gearbox. Tough one to fix as looks are subjective but if you fancy a slightly different engine character to play with and rev a little higher maybe try a Z900rs or if you prefer Italian styling maybe an MV Agusta Brutale. That one tends to split a crowd though.
@@RarefiedRoad I'm more a 4 in line guy... I also have a honda hornet 600 and do you believe I like it more then the ducati? ;)... I must be a strange guy... LOL... The bike that I enjoyed the most to this moment is the BMW S1000 R or XR ( Motor is the same), the only problem is that they are ugly has F********!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Z900 seams like a good option but I want a bit more power ;)...
@@mtelles2000 I can believe it, I used to have a hornet and I loved that thing. I can't think of a four cylinder with the Ducati's style unfortunately. Buy the BMW and ride it quickly, that way you get the performance you're looking for and no one will have eyes fast enough to see you on it, problem solved :)
@@RarefiedRoad hahahahahahah Nice!!!!
Had a Scrambler 800 icon. Gearbox was a bag of spanners from new but did improve greatly after a couple of thousand miles running in - and learning to be 'positive' with it. Monster 1200 might just be a bit of a dog in the gearbox department because it's a demo which has been ridden a bit unsympathetically by previous riders.
Good point, and this was obviously pretty new as well so I'm guessing it would improve over time as you say.
Thankfully, I've got a Street Triple 765R now…
Hi I have a 2018 1200s done 21000 miles on it gearbox is still a little funny now and then at slow speeds however when its ridden hard its never faulted at all . I have a couple of issues, had an oil leak from clutch push rod and have a big problem with the top left bracket of the radiator breaking off got a new 1 under warranty and now its broken off again.
I have this beauty, I love it
Planning to buy monster 1200 and install DQS (Quick shifter). I personally don't see the point of paying for 1200s
Yeah you won't miss out on a lot, the standard suspension is still pretty good, and the quickshifter isn't perfect so you might as well go for the regular 1200.
@@RarefiedRoad both have Day Time Running Light?
@@samihasib Daytime running lights are a legal requirement for most new vehicles so most manufacturers are fitting them as standard so they should both have them yes.
Ohlin shocks
Nice review sir. I have never been a fan of the Monsters, give me a Streetfighter any day, but the 1200S is a looker. It looks positively muscular.
It does, It's one of the most purposeful looking street bikes on the market, and thankfully it's got the braun to back it up.
My 2015 Monster 821 stripe is fast enough for me and looks almost identical to the 1200's. Love the jacket and gloves - any details on these?
I'm a fan of a monster whatever size, they're all good. Jacket and gloves are both Goldtop www.goldtop.co.uk/
Nice vid, and very spot on. I've not had a false neutral but it was hard to find for while, but seems ok now after an oil change. A great solid bike, never lets me down.
I've had a monster 1100s and a Brutale. Both heart over head decisions. Both had annoying issues... They just can't get it right.
Back with a Triumph and won't look back.
Sorry to hear that, it's such a pain in the arse when you can't trust your set of wheels. Glad the triumph is serving you better.
I rode one of these last month, and the gearbox was fine...but tried an 821 before it that was gash. Makes me kind of nervous about buying one.
It's frustrating when you're taking a chance on 'getting a good one' for the money you'll spend. It'll still have a warrantee though so I think it's more important that you feel you can trust the dealership to take care of you rather than the bike.
So many people complain about Ducati having hard time finding neutral. I find that strange as I have 2 Ducati’s (2018 scrambler and 2009 GT1000) and I have not had any problems. I test rode a monster 1200S and only had a hard time finding neutral once and that was sorted by letting the clutch out a bit while stopped and feathering the shifter down from 2. Is it something different about how people down shift that’s causing the effect? I normally hit all the gears going down (and let you the clutch) while braking
I think it does depend on the bike you get, and I've heard from other people that it improves as you put miles on it. I could definitely get it into neutral eventually but put it this way, there should never be a 'Knack' to getting it into neutral.
Have you ridden the 1290R? If you have: How would you say it compares to this in comfort? As in seating position and wind?
I had the same issue on the 2012 659 regarding finding neutral. Didn’t have issues with false neutral between gears though.
It happens occasionally. It's a shame but I don't think it would be enough to completely put me off a bike though, just not ideal if you're setting up for a corner.
I test rode a non S Monster last year and the same happed to me. The dealer let me take it out for an hour and I was never able to find neutral at a stop light, not once. I´m a big Ducati fan so that was a big disapointment to me as well. Deal breaker? Maybe.
No I think I'd still give it a bit more of a chance, that was the only negative for the day really and someone did tell me that it improves once it's broken in a bit, but I'm glad to hear it wasn't just me.
Great video! Unique perspectives, as usual :)
Thank you.
So they're similar priced bikes, Speed Triple RS and Ducati Monster 1200s . Which would you choose ?
I'd probably get the Triumph but it would be a tough choice.
Good to hear you can adjust the height as I'm 5'8" and don't want to have to live with a bike that I love riding but is set too high .
Yeah I'm with you, it's a pain moving bigger bikes around when your feet are just about touching the floor.
Hyper and muiltistrada were both hard to find neutral
Ok so it is a wide spread issue then. Shame.
It literally feels like im sitting on the Arnold Schwarzenegger himself...
It sounds like Thor having sex...
Lolz....first 1.5mins in.. And im already laughing 😂😂😂😂
Glad I could entertain :)
Very interesting review as usual.
I would also stick to the speed triple but the Monster is a serious challenger. V
Thank you. Both really nice bikes but I think you're right to wait and get the Speed Triple.
I was recently told the false neutrals smooth out after 1600-2000 miles. How true it is, well, I’m not sure. Maybe you herd something similar?
Just from chatting to people on here. I'm inclined to trust them.
So, I've had my Monster 1200S for a few weeks, and I think your review is dead on. It has a certain gruff personality which gives it real character. It has very tall gearing which has taken some time to get used to, and thus does not seem to enjoy puttering around town at 30mph, though it can be done. I am still struggling a bit with the quick-shifter, particularly at low speeds when it should be a nice commuter aid. I have not reached the 600 mile service and yes, neutral is hard to find. I just pop it into neutral as I'm rolling to a stop. I'm hoping it will get better. Each bike has its own quirks, My Honda CBR 250R will not go into first from neutral without double clutching it. But as Yoda might have said: 'the bike will not adapt to you, you must adapt to the bike'.
That's really encouraging to hear, thanks. It's hard to know if I've got the measure of a bike with the hour or so that I borrow them. It certainly wouldn't be my choice for commuting or city riding, but there are few bikes I'd rather be on round some twisty roads.
Ducati Monster could be nice but I never will trade a Speed or a Street for one.
Just my 2 cents.
Cheers
Fair play, they're very evenly matched to be honest and if you prefer the style of the triple then I'd stick with it too.
Yes it happened to me I have the monster R
Frustrating, sorry to hear that mate.
When I had my monster it wouldn't find neutral unless it was parked. Again it could be a bikes age thing as mine was close to 30 thousand kms. Ducati are famous for their neutral torture though.
Hows the engine/exhaust heat?
I have a 2019 1200 25th Anniversary Editio and my right ankle/lower leg feels like it's being BBQ'd.
Best Duc Monster 1200,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,in yer dreams mucker.
Italians do it better 😜🇮🇹 pity that the property belongs to Audi
With me as well. That damn neutral can be elusive...and I did get a fist full of false neutrals a couple times. As I’m breaking the bike in I stay off the quick shift for peace of mind use the clutch-I shouldn’t have to, but for now it gets a pass as I progress through the break in period. It’s keeper tho, for many years to come.
Yeah it should break in eventually, it's pretty much the only fault I could pick with the thing. Love it.
Rarefied Road Hi! May I enquire about your ridding jacket? Is that an armored jacket? It’s nice...would love to check it out if you can pass me some info.
Absolutely it's from a company called Goldtop, I think this is called the bobber and it is a riding jacket complete with D30 armour.
Rarefied Road Thank you! I’ll check it out. ;-)...no worries, I’m in the US so you wont see me ridding with the same, lol.