Possible NBT; Tell me about air cooled 900 Monsters

[Taipan]

I've always fancied one of the older air cooled 900 Monsters and when I'm idly perusing ebay I always find myself looking at them. So is it time to scratch the Ducati itch? It'd just be a toy and i'd be keeping the X-ADV. My wife rightly says i'd be wasting my time and money as I never go out for rides at the weekend, and I have to agree she is right there. But, I've seen one that is ULEZ complaint, so I could commute on it when I fancied using it! I think I know she si right really, but just for kicks and giggles, let's entertain the possibility!

This is the one I've been looking at for the last few days https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165534221421 ... 1438.l2649
I know nothing about Ducatis though. Are they small bikes? Would I be too cramped on one, cos that will kill the deal if its going to set my dodgy knee off! Any known faults? Anyone know anything about values of these? Is that a good/bad price?

Thoughts?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Test ride one, the engine is agricultural and they're quite small.

[weeksy]

@crust is your man

[Demannu]

Second only to H-D in the 'how few hp can we give this bike' stakes.
I guess it's a V twin thing, don't give them power, give them character instead
Oh, check inside the fuel tank for rust as well.

[Taipan]

Test ride one, the engine is agricultural and they're quite small.

That probably ends the thread tbh...

[Demannu]

Just had a look at your link.
Pretty little bike. They are small, but not cramped.
But that one will be LOUD! Make sure it has airbox fitted.
And the rear subframe has been hacked off (usual mod, but worth haggling over).
Check fuel pipe rubbers, they go soft and then you suffer fuel starvation.
Smixxys 600 was mechanically quite robust, considering its history.

[cheb]

If you want one for the engine then look at the Cagiva Gran canyon, an adventure bikes with the Ducati engine. They seem cheap for what they are.

I'd like one just for the engine experience, but timing, as ever, is the key.

[weeksy]

If you want one for the engine then look at the Cagiva Gran canyon, an adventure bikes with the Ducati engine. They seem cheap for what they are.

I'd like one just for the engine experience, but timing, as ever, is the key.

TBh it's not what i'd call a 'nice' engine... it's lumpy, thumpy and arguably a bit slow.

Get a 990 Superduke, it terms of engine and fun it absolutely blows an old Monster away.

[cheb]

I'm looking at it from the desmo POV, I'd also like to test a rotary engined machine. And a Deltic, but that's another matter.

[weeksy]

I'm looking at it from the desmo POV,

In what way ?

[cheb]

The desmodromic valves. Controlled solely by cams and rockers, no springs. Invented way back, 1930s IIRC*, by the Germans as a way to prevent valve bounce at high rpms.

It's also an engine I lusted after as a youth but couldn't/wouldn't afford. Now I've more money than sense and I'm not reliant on a bike as working transport I can indulge.


*Well there we go, first mentioned in 1896. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmodromic_valve

[weeksy]

The desmodromic valves. Controlled solely by cams and rockers, no springs. Invented way back, 1930s IIRC*, by the Germans as a way to prevent valve bounce at high rpms.

It's also an engine I lusted after as a youth but couldn't/wouldn't afford. Now I've more money than sense and I'm not reliant on a bike as working transport I can indulge.


*Well there we go, first mentioned in 1896. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmodromic_valve

Yes i know what it is But i don't know what you think you'll find if you mean in a riding context, it rides like a big piston, lumpy thumpy twin, it's slow revving and grunty... but it's not anything 'special' in the way it rides compared to a non-desmo Twin. It just rides like a generic old school twin.

[cheb]

I figured you probably did know. In a riding context it's a 50 year old engine design so bound to be rough round the edges. I have bikes to fiddle with, it's stops me fiddling with anything important. I'd prefer to learn from a real engine then read about it.

I looked at Monsters 20 or so years ago but soon realised they were too small for me.

[KungFooBob]

What you really want is a Mantra.

[DefTrap]

I had the 750 version. Pretty but gutless. I wouldn't say it was small as such but it was a very upright seating position. Anyway it was so gutless and uninspiring that I always reached for the Honda keys by preference....

[Supermofo]

What you really want is a Mantra.

Said no one ever.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

What you really want is a Mantra.

Said no one ever.

It's got a walnut dash, like an old mans car

[KungFooBob]

Seriously tho, I'd up the budget and look at 1100's. They're still aircooled, but a bit more modern chassis/equipment wise.

Don't forget about stuff like the S2R (iirc they came is 800 and 1000cc flavours).

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

He'll buy one, ride it for a couple of weeks and then decide that he'd rather ride a big scooter and then sell it, he just won't admit to himself that what he really wants is a Japanese inline 4

[Supermofo]

Seriously tho, I'd up the budget and look at 1100's. They're still aircooled, but a bit more modern chassis/equipment wise.

Don't forget about stuff like the S2R (iirc they came is 800 and 1000cc flavours).

I considered an S2R before I bought my Z750. Really nice looking bikes.