I,m a new rider ( haven't in 30 yrs ) and looking at the bmw R NineT Pure and the Ducati Monster 821. Looking for any feedback on these models hope to buy one within next couple of weeks. Which one would you get any why? Thanks Tommy G
Ducati Monster 821 or BMW R NineT Pure
- Thread starter Tommy G
- Start date
It’s really comes down to which one speaks to you.
Both are appealing in their own way. Naked standards. BMW boxer or Ducati L twin.
I think the Italian might bring out the hooligan in me while the BMW might be a bit more civilized.
I know the beemer has lots of options depending on what you like. Seat, wheels, etc.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Trials
Well-known member
The BMW is super practical to the point of almost being uninspiring, Ducati is more an enthusiast motorcycle. I would buy the BMW if I wanted to ride it all the time all over the place, the Ducati if you are just playing around and want to ride something that feels very competitive & built to go fast.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Heritage style bikes are sold on style, performance and comfort are secondary. Choose the bike that gives you the most wood (not us).
Any Euro bike will be a lot more expensive to maintain and repair than the alternatives, even if you do your own work. Parts are expensive, service locations limited -- dependability and operating costs aren't going to match the Yamaha and Kawi alternatives.
Trials
Well-known member
You don't believe a BMW is as dependable as a Yamaha or Kawasaki?
you gotta be kidding.
Have you test-ridden either?
The riding feel is very different from each other.
The Ducati's engine is more free-revving and will feel faster despite having similar hp to the R nine T. The BMW engine will feel like a tractor in comparison but will have more pull/torque at low revs. The Monster will like to stay in the higher rev range, while the BMW is completely opposite.
The BMW is slightly heavier, but carries its weight down low due to the boxer engine. When you pick it off the sidestand it will feel lighter than the Ducati, but it is not as flickable through the turns as the Monster.
If you are picking a bike for canyon carving (or whatever passes for that in Ontario), I'd choose the Ducati. For cruising, I'd choose the BMW.
R Nine T looks better than the Monster, IMO.
The riding feel is very different from each other.
The Ducati's engine is more free-revving and will feel faster despite having similar hp to the R nine T. The BMW engine will feel like a tractor in comparison but will have more pull/torque at low revs. The Monster will like to stay in the higher rev range, while the BMW is completely opposite.
The BMW is slightly heavier, but carries its weight down low due to the boxer engine. When you pick it off the sidestand it will feel lighter than the Ducati, but it is not as flickable through the turns as the Monster.
If you are picking a bike for canyon carving (or whatever passes for that in Ontario), I'd choose the Ducati. For cruising, I'd choose the BMW.
R Nine T looks better than the Monster, IMO.
It's very hard to find a modern japanese bike with soul. That matters to me in a bike. That means I am drawn to euro bikes. Yes the japanese bike may be faster, it may be cheaper to operate and maintain, but it just doesn't do it for me (for the most part, there are a few exceptions).
Trials
Well-known member
Last bike that I tried to help stranded at the side of the road interesting enough was a modern Triumph. We were not successful in getting it going but he did arrange for Woody to rescue him with a truck.
BMW is not an inspiring ride, they simply don't even aim for that in their regular street rides, but it will ride safe and dependable to the point of almost boredom, the bike will wear you out before you wear it out assuming you take good care of your toys. Does that sound like you, or do you want something to tinker with lots and take out for a blast once in a while ?
Best advice is to buy one of each, call one go fast and the other go far.
... then you just need a go anywhere to complete the set.
You know what, you haven't ridden in 30 years, the BMW will be the easiest to ride.
BMW is not an inspiring ride, they simply don't even aim for that in their regular street rides, but it will ride safe and dependable to the point of almost boredom, the bike will wear you out before you wear it out assuming you take good care of your toys. Does that sound like you, or do you want something to tinker with lots and take out for a blast once in a while ?
Best advice is to buy one of each, call one go fast and the other go far.
... then you just need a go anywhere to complete the set.
You know what, you haven't ridden in 30 years, the BMW will be the easiest to ride.
I believe these brands are desirable mainly because of marketing and exclusivity. You don't see as many of them on the road as compared to the Japanese bikes.
However, some models do have their fans because of their unique features. There's nothing too different about an F800R to any other parallel twin/chain-drive Japanese motorcycle, but get an R-bike and you're suddenly into weird Telelever/Paralever suspensions, horizontally opposed engines, single-sided swingarms mated to shaft drives, etc. Ducati's have Desmodromic valves, and the older models had trellis frames and dry clutches.
These bikes are truly engineered very differently and if you're a fan of owning and riding something out of the ordinary (not necessarily better), than these models are the bikes to look at.
Mad Mike
Well-known member
I know BMWs are not as dependable.You don't believe a BMW is as dependable as a Yamaha or Kawasaki?
Had my fair share of them (the cage type). Note in the table below the last 4 brands have Euro designed and built drivetrains (UK, Italy, Germany then Austria).
Reliability by brand (Consumer reports - sample size 12,300 motorcycles)
| Brand | Percent failed |
|---|---|
| Yamaha/Star | 11% |
| Suzuki | 12 |
| Honda | 12 |
| Kawasaki | 15 |
| Victory | 17 |
| Harley-Davidson | 26 |
| Triumph | 29 |
| Ducati | 33 |
| BMW | 40 |
| Can-Am | 42 |
Trials
Well-known member
The BMW has a dry clutch also, except it is hydraulic operated.
Read "weird" as all good he listed from what I see, every one of those things does something good, not weird.
They do some things better but there are also disadvantages.
While a Telelever prevents front-end dive on hard braking, you also lose front-end feeling compared to conventional forks. I wouldn't want telelever on a race bike.
Dry clutches have less drag and more power conversion than wet clutches. They're also quick to change in the pits, but their lifetime is shorter than a wet clutch.
Shaft drive is less maintenance-intensive than a chain drive (in theory - BMWs have endured endless final drive problems) but they are heavier than chain & sprockets and suffer more power loss.
Single-sided swingarms allow for quicker wheel changes, but they are not as strong as double-sided swingarms.
My opinion is that you have to decide what's important for your style of riding.
But I think for most people, it comes down to: "That single-sided swingarm is Teh Sexay!" and "Hey, I just installed an open clutch cover, now everyone can hear my dry clutch jangling like I'm masturbating with loose change in mah pocket!"
Trials
Well-known member
You are getting your BMW technology mixed up, the bike he is looking at has telescopic front forks, the telelever counter-acts rear wheel hop (jack-shafting)
Mine is one that hops. but his fuel tank would be steel and mine is alloy which is way more
oh and shaft drive on a motor that is already spinning longitudinally only makes sense, just as it makes no sense on one with a traverse motor.
BMW longitudinal motors would suffer a power loss by using a chain
Mine is one that hops. but his fuel tank would be steel and mine is alloy which is way more
oh and shaft drive on a motor that is already spinning longitudinally only makes sense, just as it makes no sense on one with a traverse motor.
BMW longitudinal motors would suffer a power loss by using a chain
Trials
Well-known member
What type of riding do you want or expect to be doing with it?
I was talking about technologies in general, not the R Nine T specifically. I'm aware it has forks.
True...
BMW longitudinal motors would suffer a power loss by using a chain
However, in an R-bike, the flywheel and tire are spinning transversely to each other. You will get power loss either way from a shaft or chain. Whether the conversion happens at the flywheel or rear axle is academic. More weight penalty from a shaft than a chain.
Why were you looking at the BMW in the first place?
