Thought I’d post an update. After my attempts at making a researched, logical, and practical decision my gut took over and I went with the ’99 monster 750. Picked it up Sunday and rode it home. Irrational or not, the bike just feels right.
The Hawk was a great bike, but at 5’11” and 165 it felt a little small. The rear shock was stock, old, and tended to sag pretty low- about the only thing left to be rebuilt or replaced. And I’m sure that I should have ridden an sv before making the decision, they seem like great bikes. But the Duc won me over. I can’t wait to get home and find some new excuse to ride across town. (No Bay Bridge commute till I get my skills back up to par.)
It’s going to take me awhile to decipher the rumblings from the motor. It sounds nothing like the inline fours of my old Nighthawk or Maxim 650. I’m sure there will be plenty of bloody knuckles trying to fix and maintain the thing. A salvage title Ducati is probably not the most sensible decision. But, aside from learning the valve adjustments I don’t think it will be too bad.
So, thanks everyone.
