Ducati reviews

This bike does it all, cruise, handle and sport. I have a superbike and this model can easily go to the track. The 1198 engine delivers loads of power--enough to lift the front tire if you are not careful. Cornering is confidence building. It still amazes me that such an upright bike can act like a super bike! The electronic ride control works flawlessly and you can really tell the difference from sport to touring to urban. The seat is very comfortable---no need to shop for an aftermarket seat here. Having come from a BMW K1200 R, this bike is more thrilling and versatile. Show less

I've owned plenty of bikes ranging from GSXR's to Supermotos, I've had a few years without a bike and found this on Ebay $1,000 cheaper as it had been stood for 3 years. I bought a new battery and the bike started the first press of the button. I thought I would get bored but the more I ride it the more I like it. It's fast enough for a big grin and also easy to ride. It also looks better in the flesh than on the pictures. There is one small issue of back firing and again only at low revs and only in the city when I'm cruising. Show less

The name says it all...Hyper. I picked it up today and I'm sure I'll be having fun with this bike for many years. It's very hard to keep its front wheel on the asphalt! I cant wait to take it to the track. This bike is definitely the ultimate dream of every Supermoto fan - loud, mean, smooth and sweet all in one. Show less

The Monster 696 is a very good bike, very forgiving, light and great to handle. There is plenty of power when riding on the highway alone or with a passenger and tame for in-city riding. It attracts great attention and positive comments from passersby or other drivers out there. The only issue I had with it was the factory seat. I got that replaced and it's day and night. Show less

I was wondering why the engine ran so rough at idle. The engine acts like it's cold-blooded. Once the rpms. increase, it smooths out. The bike develops most of its power at low end, so the torque is so strong it made my head dizzy. The brakes are good. For merging onto the freeway, this bike gets 5-stars. The power is THERE. I LOVE IT. The foot pegs are too small. The engine noise comes from one side of the machine. I would prefer split sound. The carbon version has a thin skin feel and feels too plastic, but you won't notice it when you crank the throttle. It doesn't matter what setting you have the traction control at. The machine is awesome. Nothing like it, period. It's an Italian sports car in a bike. Show less

This is my first bike ever and so far I love it. The salesman told me it would be a good beginner bike if I would respect it and so far he has been right. I can tell the bike has a lot more power to give, but I am keeping the throttle hand at bay while I learn to ride better. This bike is so easy to handle for a beginner. When I say beginner I mean it. I rode a buddy's bike about three weeks before buying the 696 for the first time. I spent maybe 15 minutes in a parking lot and had to get one. The second time I rode a motorcycle was the day I rode my 696 home from the dealership. Love it. First thing for me will be a re-gear and then going to look at the racing exhaust stystem with AF and ECU. Show less

I bought my M796 around one month ago. It's a great bike, well balanced and a good fit for my height and size. The engine responds really well across the full range. 1st is a little "clunky" and requires a slight clutch slim when setting off. From new, the gears seemed a little rough although it has gotten a significantly smoother change now that I've begun to put a few miles on the clock. I did read that the speed and rev counter were difficult to read although I've not had any problem seeing this set up and the instruments and other settings are easy to use and view. I did get ABS on this bike. I have not had to use it but the brakes on the 796 pull you up pretty quick. I like the dial adjustment on the clutch and brake (nice feature) and makes for that little adjustment if required. The build quality is second to none although this I'm sure is reflected in the price tag, but you get what you pay for! Overall, I'm really pleased with the bike, it rides great, handles well, is lots of fun. If you have the money, it's worth spending a little more - you wont regret it. Show less

It's a nice bike but a little to much vibes for me. The clutch is a little heavy, also. To the goodies now. It's the best ride ever. If you like to put mega miles under you in a day, then this is the bike. Just don't exspect to feel your hands for a couple of hours. It feels like you are on a gyroscope. You don't hardly have to think about keeping it between the lines. This thing is amazing. It just sits up and cruises. And the seating comfort, the best. I've never sat on a bike so perfect in placment of seat, bars and mirrors. Show less

This bike is certainly a fine looking bike, different from almost everything else on the road. Out of the box it is a good bike, but with some improvements it becomes a great bike. I added Termignoni pipes and the bike suddenly sounds fabulous and has some extra hp. I replace the shocks with Ohlins and now the bike gobbles up the road with aplomb. It is a blast to ride; you can spend all day on it comfortably, or take it to the track. It's very versatile, has a wonderful engine and great brakes. It's so much fun. I am sorry Ducati cut the line for 2011. If you can pick up one of these bikes used, I'd recommend it for anyone interested in an all-around performer. It's very reliable, also, I might add. Show less

I spent several days riding motorcycles in Italy this summer and the new Multistrada was one of the bikes I spent a day on. It was an S model without the panniers attached and I rode 2-up the entire time on primarily country back roads with a few miles of highway riding. The most informative thing I believe I could say about it is that it totally lives up to every aspect of riding that Ducati depicts on their various videos on the website. I am 6-1 and the bike fit me perfectly. I am a sportbike guy (1098S) but this bike felt tall to me even taking that into consideration. The handling of the bike is absolutely superb and the suspension is perfect. Even with a passenger I was almost able to keep up with some very good riders on a 1198, 848, 999 and a 996. I wonder what I might have been able to do without a passenger but I didn't get to try that. The stump pulling torque of the engine is absolutely a rush. On the twisty roads I found no use whatsoever for anything but sport mode, but I did try the touring mode and urban mode. It was interesting how much more grunt and growl the engine has in sport mode compared to the others. I was flat out amazed that the same engine could take on such different character from mode to mode. I did get to cycle the DTC - it is truly amazing. Went blasting into a roundabout on a wet road and unexpectedly came across a plate of steel in the road that was laying across a hole that had been dug. The rear tire slipped and the power peeled off smoothly and immediately like nothing was wrong. I also cycled it a few times on some wet mountain roads in the corners. It works exactly like Ducati says it works. Beautiful. This is defintely a bike you can ride all day. The seating position is very, very straight up and the hand grips are spaced further apart than I am used to, but I got over that pretty quickly. Everything about the motorcycle just exudes quality, from fit to finish to sound - everything. AND - it looks better in person than any picture I have seen. I do have a few negatives about it. It is a very tall bike that handles like a sportbike in so many ways. That isn't exactly my taste, but a bike that performs this well, I guess that is an acceptable compromise for the comfort. I also did not care for the note of the stock exhaust - it was a bit neutered. Termigs would be a must. Also, the height of the windscreen was such that it created quite a bit of noisy buffer when it interacted with my helmet. It didn't shake my helmet at all, just noise. The screen is adjustable, however, and I did not try it in any setting other than the lowest because I do not like to look though a windshield when I ride. All said, I give it 5 stars all the way and 5 stars to Ducati for completely delivering a motorcycle that is exactly what they said it would be. Show less