Under the bright sunlight, the painted graphics scheme, the chrome headlight, and the billet stingray wheels (premium Victory wheels replacing the stock black cast wheels) glitter like the crown jewels. The detail in the metal-flake paint combined with the chrome on the frame and swing-arm make the Vegas Jackpot a strong beacon at any roadside cafe. The fit and finish is top-notch, and the only piece of plastic you can easily spot upon removal was the air intake cover-and, yes I was looking for the alleged bottle opener.

For The First-Timer, Choosing A Bike Is A Tough Decision. SR Presents Four Options Which Should Be At The Top Of Your List

By Troy Siahaan

Ducati Monster 696
As the most expensive bike in this quartet at $8995, the Ducati Monster 696 charges a high admission to the two-wheeled party. What you get in return is a motorcycle with unmistakable Ducati character with enough performance potential to please the rookie or veteran alike. As the name suggests, the little Monster is powered by a 696cc air-cooled V-Twin with two valves per cylinder, actuated by Ducati's trademark Desmodromic design. If none of that makes any sense to you then here's what you need to know: this engine makes some serious steam. Nothing crazy, but enough to keep you satisfied for a while. Torque is what V-twins are known for and the 696 produces plenty of it-launching out of corners (or squirming between cars and city traffic) is as simple as twisting the right wrist ever so slightly. We found that the engine is a little sluggish at really low rpm, but get it spinning past 3000 and the powerband lasts almost until redline.

Bringing all that action to a halt are the best brakes in the bunch (and for this price they better be). Dual 320mm rotors are mated to two radially-mounted calipers, each with four pistons. Each caliper is also fed fluid via steel-braided brake lines-standard. You won't even find that on the literbikes in this issue (except, well, the Ducati 1198). As such, the Monster has the most braking power, but lacks modulation. We also found it odd that neither the brake nor clutch levers are adjustable; a feature the other three bikes share.

Seat height is a mere 30.3 inches off the ground, so unless you were cursed with abnormally short legs flat-footing shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, once on the bike many testers felt like the seating position shoved the rider forward into the gas tank at an uncomfortable angle-something male readers in particular might want to be aware of. Thankfully the handlebars are at a higher angle than previous Monsters, relieving some strain from the wrists and lower back, though the crew was still split about the comfort and leverage provided by the wide, flat handlebars. Some felt it cumbersome while others didn't mind.

There's another reason the 696 costs more than the rest: suspension. The 43mm inverted Showa fork in front and Sachs rear shock out back are mated well to each other and damp road imperfections without the dreaded "po-go" effect usually associated with bikes in this price range. Negotiating the twisty stuff is where this Monster comes alive, but again, you'd expect as much from the one that costs almost $2000 more than the next closest machine. With that said, we were simply floored when a reflector on the fork leg, held on by what seemed to be double-sided tape, just fell off the bike. Ultimately it's up to you to decide whether the price of admission is worth it. In his notes, Mikolas said it best, "The 696 is like a high-end knife-style coupled with a very capable and focused destination...I just wish I had the cash."