Lamb cooking so out for a short ride out
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Funnily enough I was going to replace the rear shock when I bought it. I then came to my senses and thought I’d keep it all original as it’ll still run rings around my riding abilities in stock form. Changing the cans was essential though:) It’s only done 9500 miles in its life .
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Lamb cooking so out for a short ride out
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Cheers Matt. She was a real looker, especially with the full Termi system and lots of the Ducati Performance carbon tarting her up. Spent ages tracking the system down and ended up importing it from sunny Cal. But truth be told, the S4RS wasn’t all that to ride. The 999 Testastretta was too highly strung for the chassis, and it never really gelled together.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Talking of nakeds..............
I had a quick blast on my mates new Hyper Naked today - Kwaker supercharged H2..
The roads where we met up wern`t condusive to giving it a proper test (and very busy...) but from the time i had on it i can say that it seems to have sufficient power.
Throttle response is instantaneous followed by immediate and brutally savage acceleration enough to melt your face and bend time.
The quick shifter gives a glorious exhaust note `brapp` on upchanges whereupon you have to endure another surge of warp-factor increase in speed.
I was expecting the total lack of wind deflection coupled with a seating position where you are sat `on` rather than `in` it to be rather bothersome but it didn`t seem too bad. It might be different at 180mph, though.
Not really my kinda` bike, a bit too one-dimentional and of limited practicality - where can you use all that performance safely these days?
He likes it though, and it shares garage space with a ZZR1400 - he likes big fours with a bit of power..
Bury Hill was busy, anyone from here there today?
Interesting comparison, I didnt realise how much weight junking the trellis frame freed up.
https://youtu.be/dFpP725_hFw
Got out on the new bike this weekend.
Ended up at Matlock Bath. Never been before, proper petrol heads meet up.
Had a couple of problems with the new bike. Dodgy battery meant my first stop was halfords to get a new one and fit it. Then it looked like it was leaking oil but after getting home on closer inspection might be coolant.
Going to run it into Yamaha today. Its still in warranty so hopefully get it sorted easily.
Tail tidy and a few other bits arrived over the weekend so going to get them all installed when the bike is back.
Last edited by bigweb; 5th April 2021 at 09:25.
That’s the thing, they couldn’t compete with Triumph, KTM, Yamaha and the rest with a bike that was so heavy. Not with Euro 5 coming in. Maybe they should have retired the classic Monster to being a cool retro cafe racer alongside (or instead of) the Scrambler, and called the new one something else.
I’m sure the combined talent within the Ducati strategy, marketing and sales teams gave the matter a fair amount of thought and made their decision from an informed position.
Probably more likely to get it right than a few old blokes on a watch forum, too (with whom I disagree, btw).
You mean, like marketing and sales team from a couple of well known watchmakers who pretended their new movement was in-house? From car manufacturers who try to sell cars in Spain under the names of "Nova" or "Pajero", or in France "Etron", to name but those 3? That sort of people?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I don’t get Ducati. First they dump the trellis frame, then they dump the v twin motor, both quintessentially Ducati and neither of which they seemed too bothered about, but for some inexplicable reason the one thing they really should dump (because it is an antiquated and expensive pain in the ass to service) and they don’t is Desmo valve gear. They should bin cam belts too while they’re at it.
The entire company is subject to some very dubious strategic decisions. The fact it was bought over by VW/Audi some time ago and is hinted that it might be for sale again to KTM - highlights that it has never sat well in VW's portfolio. There was no business/strategic reason at all for VW to buy Ducati... other than personal ego of Winterkorn. During these years, it sadly appears that Ducati has lost its way - in particular with the latest Monster - as it eschews all the history that made Ducati famous and attracted owners. When Ducati decided to open its factory up for visitors, it showed that they understood owners wanted to be part of the history of the company. That was the era when Ducati really grew and rejuvenated itself around 2000-2012. The latest Monster - developed during these recent wilderness (but rich) VW/Audi-owned years - shows what happens when people who really have no idea just decide to make something high performing, but without value of the many other aspects of history, brand, and product competencies. I expect Ducati to be sold soonish to the likes of KTM who have shown that they are ardent biking enthusiasts first and 'get' what motorbiking is all about.
One thing’s for sure, you’d have a hard time getting the new one to look as good as the one below. Nonetheless, Ducati stands for performance with style, and they’re not about to sacrifice the performance part. The 916 wasn’t just a good looking bike, it was a good looking bike that won championships, and it wouldn’t have been the icon it is otherwise. The current generation are doing 225mph in MotoGP, and they want to win. The new Monster may be the 999 of Monsters, better but less fanciable, but I’m glad they’re not settling for making expensive ornaments. They have a better frame available and they’re going to use it.
We’ve just had a new neighbour move in over the road. He spotted my garage door open today so came across to introduce himself and have a nose.
Nice chap. 77 years old, and was pleased to inform me that he’ll be having his Blackbird delivered from his old place in the next few weeks..
And there was me thinking he was coming to complain about the noise😈😈
Just had a call from the Training centre,, there has been a cancellation today so if I can be there in an hour my CBT is on..... Again.
Chris.
Sent from my Nokia 8.3 5G using Tapatalk
I’d say get on your bike but that’s a bit premature!
Have a good day and enjoy yourself.
The current one is battleship grey with grey wheels. All of the carbon and Ducati performance parts will be removed and will be going on the new one.
I fancy a new bike anyway, but I’ve used a bit of man maths to justify my purchase. The existing bike will over 3 years old and be due a big service and belts, new tyres and pads. And being completely honest, I’m not that keen on owning a Ducati that’s out of warranty.😈
CBT done!!! Chuffed to bits.
MOD 1 booked for 14th May.
Chris.
Sent from my Nokia 8.3 5G using Tapatalk
I also did the CBT yesterday, at the tender age of 43.
Not quite sure how to feel about it yet!
Just realised that at the moment I have chain, shaft and belt drive bikes.
And they are all twins; parallel twins, V-twins and horizontally opposed twins.
Damn right.. he’s got 4 chain drive bikes, I’ve given him a list of tools he needs, the appropriate torque wrench, and I’ve shown him how to do it on a number of occasions.
Complete waste of time. So now when he brings one of his bike around, and mentions that the chain is a little loose, I reply that it’s his shout for breakfast, on the next ride out...
I still won’t let him call himself a biker though.. not in my presence.🏍🏍
Is it that he can't adjust the chain....or he doesn't want to adjust the chain...
I've a mate who appears to be very similar to yours...
I better get myself a torque wrench and learn how to do the chain now
A bit from column A and a bit from Column B.. Honestly, I’ve never seen anybody that’s so cack handed when it comes to holding simple tools. It’s like his brain is detached from any form of dexterity. I watched him trying to start a chain saw once, and if I’d videoed it, it would have gone viral.