I took a quick ride to Trader Joe's to get some protein bars on Friday. I come out and find this fella parked next to me. I literally hat to do a double take.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/360/twinsvh6.jpg

I must confess... when I was first looking for a bike... it was between the 599 and the Ducati Monster 620. I chose Honda because Ducs aren't exactly known for their reliability.

After I binned my first Hornet I test rode a Monster and did NOT like it. I walked away ever so greatful and knowing for sure that I want another 599.

That's a cool pic.
I could really fall in love with the duc, except that trellis frame just turns me off. :barf

Alex, when we talked about "the next bike" I said I'm interested in a sport bike. But the bike I think about more than anything is another naked bike, the Monster. You see them everywhere in SF. The S2R 800 looks really good to me. I'm curious about your test ride; why didn't you like the Monster?

Im curious as well since my choice also came down to the 599 and the monster. Im glad u said that though because I always wondered what owning one of them would have been like.

My uncle has a duc st4 and maintenance is outrageous expensive.

I considered the monster as well but the monster 600 makes about 65bhp to the hornet's 95bhp, so that pretty much decided it for me!

I'd be tempted by a monster but it would have to be one of the bigger cc later liquid-cooled models, not one of the 600s. They certainly cool but 'all show and no go' I think.

Cool picture though :)

What I didn't like about the Monster 620:
First of all it's not as smooth sounding... one of my friends compared the idling sound to someone shaking a huge set of keys. It sounded, to me, like it was about to fall apart! (and it was only a couple of years old). Then when I pulled off in first gear, the whole bike shook almost violently and I had this feeling that it was going to stall out at any second, but it didn't. Once it was going already it wasn't as bad, but the whole thumpiness of the l-twin wasn't doing it for me at all. The build quality is definitely inferior to Honda.

What I did like:
The bike felt lighter than the 599 and I found myself having fun going into corners. I can see why people love it.

I walked away knowing FOR SURE that I didn't want this bike and that I missed my 599 more than ever.

But that's just my opinion...

I just rescued my buddy from getting a Ducati 620! He went with the SV650 Streetfighter Edition. Nice bike... but between this forum and me... no 599!!! It was just about half the price, not to mention the savings in the long term. Plus the riding position looks painful!

I, too, love the whole naked thing (meow) but my alt bike would be a Speed Triple, all blacked out. Saw one at the dealership last fall and thought it was a fine looking machine.

I, too, love the whole naked thing (meow) but my alt bike would be a Speed Triple, all blacked out. Saw one at the dealership last fall and thought it was a fine looking machine.

I'm a big fan of the Speed Triple. Looks are sick and test riding one made me weak in the knees... literally.

8), Heh, what a cool shot. I'm sure when you first saw that you had
a WTF look on your face. Did you ever talk to the duc owner??

I too have heard some negative comments about Duc reliability.
I wouldn't know, can't afford one. they look sweet enough, but like
anything else if i'm gonna dump a shitload of money on something
the last thing i'd better worry about is reliability!!! But like HD's, Duc
owners are pretty loyal to their brand. :idonno

I didn't get a chance to meet the owner.

Really great pic there, Alex. Pretty unusual coincidence as well as amazing comparison shot. I mean, what are the odds of two yellow bikes at the same place at the same time?? The Duc looks a little meatier, maybe a bit more muscular whereas the hornet looks more simplistic and sculpted with classic motorcycle cues. I like them both a lot and i think that's a great pic. Thanks for posting!

My pleasure. :D

Yup, great pic :) I always fancied a Monster as well and I think this picture shows the characters of both bikes clearly...the Hornet is precision thinking. well made, well thought out and clear of purpose...the Duke is style over function, made with passion rather than precision and has more of a personality. Theres good and bad points for both of these cases...I love the simple lines of my Hornet...that it starts on the button every time and has an air of technical completeness...but I don't really have a relationship with it if that makes sense? I tell the bike what to do and it does what its told (most of the time)...I used to have a Yam TRX (Jap Ducati copy) and I used to feel like we were going on adventures together...and when it was lumpy in the morning I coaxed it up to temperature...when bits fell off I enjoyed mending it...I think its the whole fours vs twins debate in the end. I value my Hornets merits over the whole character thing but I am sure I will be on a twin again some day.

...the Hornet is precision thinking. well made, well thought out and clear of purpose...the Duke is style over function, made with passion rather than precision

Sounds like a good characterization of Italian vs Japanese automobiles as well! :)

Anyone remember those Ducatti stickers on some of the parts on our Hornets... :lol:

I have to agree with the comment about Ducs being everywhere in San Fran.

I was out there a couple weeks back on vacation and noticed A LOT of them. One was apparently owned by someone that lived right next to my hotel because it was in the same area, but in a different spot each day.

I saw a lot of sport bikes out there and a lot of them were variations of naked bikes, so that was cool.

The Ducs are cool and all, but as far as reliability and bang for the buck they cannot even come close to the 599.

Not to mention that when a Duc does break down it can cost a ton to get it fixed.

Just me thinking aloud

YD