2006 Ducati Motorcycle reviews

I bought the 2006 S2R 1000 Monster in August 2007. I had not owned a bike in 32 years and was wanting a new Triumph Bonneville since I had owned a 1974 Triumph Trident (3 cylinder). The guy I worked with told me to trot on over to the Ducati dealer before I made a decision on what to buy. I fell in love with not only the looks (white wheels, red body), but the test drive sold me in a heartbeat. Nearly two years later, I still enjoy riding the bike and look forward to using it more often this year. Handling is pure Ducati; stable in turns and high winds, and a joy to do the winding roads. I have no problems recommending the S2R 1000 Monster to anyone. The bike is as clean as the day I purchased it (white wheels and all). Show less

This is another head turner from Ducati. Nothing is typical in Ducati's product line, but the Sport 1000 which sells a very small portion of USA sales is a rare find on the road. It's like having a muscle car from the 60s or 70s. It is not a Superbike by any means, but it's more than the average rider could possibly handle or need. It is classy and elegant! Of course that famous twin cylinder music which is delivered from a Ducati exhaust is like no other! 150 mph! And 45 mpg! Not bad, and all at a reasonable price point. Show less

I owned a BMW R1200C Euro. Great Bike! We have a BMW Ducati Vespa dealer here in Ok. City. I noticed the Ducati Multistras both 1000DS and the 620. I looked at them every time I stopped by there for a break from riding (it is that kind of dealership). Anyway they asked if I wanted to test drive the 620 MTS of course I said yes. When I first started off I noticed how light and agile it was. A fantastic ride, surprisingly quick for an air cooled 2 valve 618cc motor. It was so comfortable. I became a Ducati fan immediately. I have been surprised at the reliability, quality and fuel mileage (50-55mpg) and even though I am 55, I don't ride it like most people my age ride. It is a blast to ride, especially in the twisties. Show less

This bike is exciting! Runs great and handles excellent. The most beautiful bike of 2006. My only complaint is the bars are way low, a mile away and not much you can do about it. Perfect for over 100+ mph. Stinks at legal speeds and don't even mention traffic jams. It lives for fast sweeper roads. Worth having just to look at and will definitely get your blood flowing especially wih open Termis. Show less

First off, I have the 2006 model in black. I'm at a loss of what to say about the bike that hasn't already been said, so I'll tell you about a couple of my experiences so far owning and riding it. I usually get at least 1 of 3 questions every time I stop somewhere to hang out while out riding..1) How much was it? 2) How fast is it? and 3) What kind of bike is it? I've on mulitple occasions been stopped and asked if a picture of my bike can be taken, even once while at a red light and a guy using his cell phone camera. I recently told my wife that I wish I had a hidden cam attached to my helmet so she could see the looks I get while on my bike. Is it the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden? Of course not, and I didn't expect it to be. Is it the best handling bike I've I ever had, absolutely! The most fun to ride, affirmative! The cheapest to buy and maintain, duh? Of course not. The bottom line is if you can get one of these Italian masterpieces to call your own, then by all means do so. It's not a coincidence that the vast majority of reviews you read about this bike, or other Ducati superbikes for that matter, are all the same. I'm just thankful that I've been blessed with the good fortune to be able to have one best superbikes ever made. Show less

What else can I say? Truly exotic and gets looks everytime all the time. I find myself just staring at it after every ride and would wake up in the middle of the night just to stare at it again. Is that silly or what? No - that's a Ducati! The Italians really knows how to look sexy. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Maserati, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianni Versace and so on. They all have sex appeal but/and I haven't even talked about the performance of my bike yet. The 749/999 has this distinctive sound when in idle and when it revs. The dry clutch is a thing of beauty. You'll know it's a Duc when it passes by. I have read magazine articles where older Ducs when tested/pitted against more powerful Jap Superbikes with the expert riders/testers scratching their heads and wonder why this less powerful bike clocks faster lap times than the more powerful Jap superbikes?! The other bikes when leaned over has a tendency to stand up where Ducs will remain in it's lean angle position all day all night. Truly mysterious but amazing. There is nothing else like it in the world - well except another Duc. I rated comfort as 1 star - the worst. C'mon guys that's the truth. It was primarily designed for speed and not comfort - get a CBR Honda if that's what's important to you. I would not ride my Duc from Cali to Las Vegas(9 hrs.) but I will track the bike all day for 9 hrs. with 15 minute breaks after each hour. Getting old or what? :( Anyway, if you have money saved up for a sportsbike like a Gixxer, Kawi or Yammie R6/R1 - save a little bit more and get a Duc - it's well worth it. Why do I say that? Well check out current rider's on these Jap bikes and how they drool and sweat when they see a Duc pass by. They always talk about upgrading to a Duc someday. Why upgrade - just go straight to the point and get a Duc instead. Show less

In the Spring of 2006, after a 24 year hiatus from bike riding, I purchsed a BMW R1150R. It was fun, but the ride soon became boring. Like driving your car in a straight line for 150 miles on the Wyoming Interstate. Fast forward to November 2006. I spot a bright red motorcylce parked in front of the Ducati dealership in Las Vegas. I pull into the lot on my BMW and leave riding a Red Ducati 999. There is no rational reason for buying this bike. But once you are sitting on the bike and press the start button to wake up the heart of your Ducati, the sound of the rumbling exhaust, the smell of the fuel being devoured by the beast, and the Ducati's heat pouring upwards from the engine makes your day a special day. This red Ducati 999 makes going to work bearable and gives a reason for having weekends. No motorcyle that I have ridden has created such havoc with what is more important in life---my red Ducati 999 or everything else that a responsible adult is supposed to be doing each day on planet earth. Show less

I did an MSF rider course a few months ago, got my motorcycle license and went bike shopping. I chose my Monster 620 for several reasons. It's lightweight, has excellent handling, and has good creds as a starter bike. To be honest, I thought it might be too much for a starter bike, but after riding for over 500 miles I can say that it's exceeded all my expectations. The handling is superb and very forgiving. The brakes allow you to stop on the proverbial dime. Gear changes can be done incredibly fast with just a flick of the clutch as the action is very light. As a rookie, I found first gear take offs a little tricky at first until I got used to the clutch contact area being so far out. Overall, the bike feels incredibly light and maneuverable. As I'm still breaking it in, I haven't really explored the performance potential, but there's still plenty of power in the 3K to 5K rev range. Riding the bike is a blast and the exhaust note gets serious even with stock pipes. I'd recommended this bike to anyone who wants a safe, secure bike with good performance. As a starter bike, it's unmatched, because of the brakes, handling and the fact that it can be ridden in a very docile manner. Now I'm thinking about moving up to an S2R1000 or a Sport 1000, but not before I fully break in the 620. Show less

Bought my black Monster 620 new at the dealership a few weeks ago, and WOW! The first evening I rode it, riding home from the dealership, I got nothing but stares (and still do). Hitting the throttle impressed me with all the Ducati power I've always heard about. At the end of that first ride I had so much adrenaline going through me I was shaking. It's still incredibly thrilling to just go pick up a carton of orange juice at the grocery store up that twisty road. I never enjoyed the physical act of driving before getting a motorcycle, and the Ducati Experience has been everything I hoped for and then some! The bike has exceptional throttle response. Early on when I got it, I found myself having to really concentrate to not make it go faster, though I'm used to it now. The cornering is amazing and the suspension very stable. What surprised me was how far out you have to let the clutch before it actually engages at all (only in about the last 1/3-1/4 of an inch lies the friction zone). Despite this, it is a very light pull and very maneuverable at low speeds like in parking lots. The riding position is very comfortable and not almost laying down like you find with a lot of race bikes, though you do have to hold yourself up with your legs some (hence the 4-star rating for comfort, as this can get to be taxing). Gas mileage is excellent, especially if you're easy on the throttle (which I have to be since I'm still in the break-in), but this baby can really haul butt if you open it up a little. I don't twist it more than a 1/2 inch really when I'm in traffic because of the power. Great off-the line and mid-range acceleration, ample power for any traffic situation. The bike is also really light, which adds to its maneuverability and is part of the enjoyment of it because you don't have to hold up a hulking machine. If you're on the fence about getting a Ducati, I hope this review shoves you off with a vengeance! That bike is awesome, and I am completely happy with it. Show less

Recently purchased this motorcycle after shopping and stewing over several brands. I have to say that this is one heck of a bike and I love it to no end. It's so very responsive and just a joy to ride. Show less