Firestorm compared to Ducati 900 Monster/900ss???

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Spacemonkey
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Firestorm compared to Ducati 900 Monster/900ss???

Post by Spacemonkey »

Hi! I currently own a 93 900 Monster, but have made up my mind to get the Firestorm I've wanted for years.
So.... has anyone ridden/owned a Monster 900 or the 900SS that can give a fair comparison? I'm talking stuff like rider comfort (I'm 6'2", 10.5 stone and get aches on the Monster after an hour, and bad neck grief after a sustained 80 mph blast along motorways-I don't have any little flyscreen or anything like that.) performance, handling, general feel, etc.
I will use the bike as an everyday bike around West and Central London (75 miles a day) for all but the very worst weather, as I do with the Monster. Also, blasts down the M3 for the odd weekend are also a requirement, as is the odd ride to Africa via France and my other gaff in Spain. Petrol pumps permitting...

Does the 'Storm suffer carb icing at all? Are the mods of the 2001 model worth paying the extra over the earlier model? Can you get white clock faces for the speedo to match the tacho? Can the speedo be calibrated accurately?

Many thanks peeps...

Spacemonkey
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over...."
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essexbloke
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Post by essexbloke »

Hi, havnt owned a 900ss, but did have a 750....

The storm is much better all round, the duke lacked outright grunt (BUT IT WAS ONLY THE 750)

Have heard of a few cases of icing up, i ride all year round and never suffered from it though, if you're doing lots of miles, i would suggest the newer version, simply for the larger tank, the ole gal does like a drink.... at best you'll be filling up every 120-130 miles, at worst - every 80....

Had mine 4 years now, done 30k miles on it, never had any major prob, (apart from the trip computer dying recently), otherwise, as long as it's serviced regularly and loved she'll go on for years...

Would reccomend some add ons though, i've got a DB screen, makes it more confortable on long runs, also the obligatory race cans for that "Rolling thunder" effect. i also fitted lowers and a hugger to help protect all the metal work for all year riding.

One big gripe is the CCT's, again i've never suffered, but they do have a reputation for letting go...

Otherwise, no comparison to the lower range dukes (lower than 748,916 etc) far better bike.

Hope this helps..... (willing to bet you wouldnt regret buying one - other than the fuel cost to Africa & back!!)
iggy1966
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Post by iggy1966 »

As Ebloke says, better all rounder.

I had a 900 SS for a while, did'nt like the riding position at all, found it very uncomfortable compared to the storm, also the duke was useless in town. The handling was better than the standard storm but with a few minor tweeks they are comparable.

Finish quality- No contest buy the Honda!!

Hope this helps

Ian
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
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Spacemonkey
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Post by Spacemonkey »

Yes, it helps! That's pretty much what I figured, so I guess I'll get the 'Storm. Besides the fuel tank is the 01 onwards bike better for it's mods? The fuel tank problem is the least of my worries as I have been researching many fixes for this. This morning was really cold in London and the bike hadn't any Pro FST in it (anti carb ice gunk-translated to 'an expensive way to buy Isopropyl alcohol') so it carb iced like a bugger all the way from Islington to Feltham, and would barely run properly. Git. And i have the so called carb heater kit. Hahahahahaa.
The irony is that I was looking for a Direstorm but couldn't find one, then the Monster came up at a good price... :roll:
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over...."
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essexbloke
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Post by essexbloke »

Glad we could help......i'm sure you wont be disappointed..... (unless you're REALLY hard to please......

ps, Carb icing.........this morning.......REALLY????

Wasnt even that cold..... Jees..... bin the duke..... :wink:
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Spacemonkey
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Post by Spacemonkey »

Dukes suffer really badly with icing. It was on the road to Damascus that my loyalies started to alter to the Honda camp...
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over...."
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essexbloke
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Post by essexbloke »

Err.........isnt that a song...."Road to Damascus"..... :wink:
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Spacemonkey
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Post by Spacemonkey »

I was thinking in more of a Biblical sense... :wink:
"The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over...."
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cupasoop
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Post by cupasoop »

essexbloke wrote:Err.........isnt that a song...."Road to Damascus"..... :wink:
Was it not a Bob Hope movie? :?:
Rich.

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