Ducati 698 Mono: yay or nay?

[Biker 1]

I rather like the look of these things - I have previously owned a KTM 690 SMC R & really enjoyed the chuckability, but wasn't so keen on various bits going wrong, including the clutch....
Any PHers own the 698 Mono or ridden one? I'm wondering about reliability, build quality etc. They seem pretty niche, so I'm wondering about spares availability too.

[Bodo]

I'm in the same market, and I'm pondering between these



Watching this thread with interest

[carinaman]

Bodo said:

I'm in the same market, and I'm pondering between these



Watching this thread with interest

That table needs a price column?

[Biker 1]

carinaman said:

That table needs a price column?

Husky/KTM = £10.5k
Stark = £11k: only 118km range in mixed urban riding, so no thanks
Ducati = £12k (ish) depending on options

As mentioned, I'm keen to learn more regarding reliability/parts availability....

[MrWideFit]

The aftermarket support for the KTM/Husky are very expansive,

Plenty of OE parts available from the looks of it

[Bodo]

carinaman said:

Bodo said:

I'm in the same market, and I'm pondering between these



Watching this thread with interest

That table needs a price column?

Hard to pin down without knowing how many miles pa. and how long you want to keep it. You might want to use an LLM to compare options based on your locality.


ETA an example for my usage

Edited by Bodo on Monday 16th February 17:43

[airsafari87]

No, but after seeing them at EICMA a couple of years ago I haven’t been able to talk myself out of needing one since.

I haven’t ridden the 698 yet, but I have ridden the 950 SP which is of a similar flavour I suppose.

I do intend to get a ride on one once it warms up a little though, they are definitely an itch I need to scratch.

[GreaseNipple]

I test rode a 698 hypermotard, and own a svartpilen 701. The Ducati doesn't have the instant torque of the KTM/husky engine but wants to rev more, it didn't feel quite as fast. I felt it was more refined, comfier; the riding position felt more naked than motard, and would be a better everyday proposition and nicer thing to own than the smcr but wouldn't be quite as much fun.

[Biker 1]

GreaseNipple said:

I test rode a 698 hypermotard, and own a svartpilen 701. The Ducati doesn't have the instant torque of the KTM/husky engine but wants to rev more, it didn't feel quite as fast. I felt it was more refined, comfier; the riding position felt more naked than motard, and would be a better everyday proposition and nicer thing to own than the smcr but wouldn't be quite as much fun.

Thanks - that's a good comparison!
I really liked the instant torque on my SMC R I owned some 4 years ago but disliked the crappy plastics, known clutch issues that were never properly addressed & so on.
I've never owned a Ducati - I know they used to have a reputation for crappy Italian electrics, but today's offerings appear to be much better screwed together.
I suppose a trip to the dealer will need to be scheduled asap.
Any ideas on lead time/availability of new Ducatis??

[Krikkit]

Biker 1 said:

I've never owned a Ducati - I know they used to have a reputation for crappy Italian electrics, but today's offerings appear to be much better screwed together.

I think this has been sorted many years ago - my 2011 Monster was top notch quality underneath, the wiring was better than newer and more expensive Japanese bikes etc. My mate's 2018 Monster is the same.

I'd buy any Ducati and not have a single reliability worry above any other new bike.

[Kawasicki]

I rode 1000km on one over 5 days last year. It’s interesting… agile as anything… but precise also. The engine doesn’t have a stomping single feel at low rpm, but it is rapid (for a single) at high rpm. The bike was comfy too, I would easily ride it on long tours. It felt really well put together.

[pmr01]

nearly six years in to a 690smcr and it has never put a foot wrong from a reliability perspective.

i do find myself peeking at the 698 but i just cant see a reason to go thru the ballache of selling and buying for the advantages it offers...yet. the feeling for a change may overcome that. tbf i am feeling the exact same about the others in the garage so it might be a me thing.

[airsafari87]

Called in to my local Ducati dealer this afternoon and they have 2 RVE’s on the showroom floor.
1 standard one and 1 with the full Termi system which they fired up for me and it sounds lovely.

Also got a £900 dealer deposit contribution on for March.

The bike with the Termi system will be going on the test ride fleet n March, so when I get back from Tenerife in 3 weeks time I’ll be taking it out for a decent test ride.

[Biker 1]

Update:
I visited the dealer & was smitten. Build quality appears excellent - even the plastics seem a cut above the others.
I have a nasty habit of being easily arm twisted by salesmen! Negotiations are underway & I will report back if/when a deal has been struck....

[airsafari87]

Just had this out for a couple of hours test ride.

Proper rascal.

[Bodo]

Nice. What's going well, what's not going well on her?

[airsafari87]

Bodo said:

Nice. What's going well, what's not going well on her?

Only thing I didn’t like about it was the footpegs.

Really refined to ride in all situations, as agile as you like, well built and raucous as fk when kicking its tits in down a twisty road.
Surprisingly comfy too.

They are doing them on a 0% 50/50 deal at the minute too, 50% down then pay nothing for 2 years and then either hand it back or pay the remaining 50%

Only thing that is stopping me going for it right now is the same dealer also has an almost new Triumph Street Triple RS in stock which is almost 5k less than the 698