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Just got it back today .. Looks red in pictures .. But it's a reddish orange .. Which really looks good to me. Oh well lets see if it lasts a whole summer

Next ventureshield it ...

This is your fault, @royalwithcream with your BMW thread. Now you've got me at it.
Put down a deposit on this exact bike today. Collecting on Saturday. One of the last 2015 bikes in the country knocked down to £12,000. 2 grand off list price. Bargain.
Its a replacement for my SMT. I love that bike dearly but this has more power and more orangeyness so what can you do. Bang goes my grand tour this year and eating for about the next two..

Today is a big day for me.After a private consultation I am starting a new drug today.Having seriously gone downhill for the last few months with my Autoimmune System Dysfunction/Central Nervous Systems problems I am at the 'Last chance saloon'.
The only possible drug to help me is one normally used for MS,Parkinsons,etc.My GP would not prescribe it for me as it is not on the 'Approved List'.
I therefore had to find my own Consultant who would take on my case and prescribe me the drug.
Only one Pharmacy in the UK holds this particular drug,my prescription arrived today.I have to take it in stepped doses up to the max level which will take about 3 months.
I am so looking forward to regaining a bit more of a life and getting to ride my lovely new HP2,or should I say my even lovelier MH.
I am keeping everything crossed.

So got made redundant this week and decided to celebrate being a jobless bum by taking a test ride on a s1000rr in the pouring rain. The bike was ridiculous and I've put down a deposit and trading in the KTM 1190 Adventure R!

I've been looking for a do everything bike since before buying the KTM. I thought the KTM would be the one but despite being a great bike in the twisties I couldn't get around how big and heavy the Adventure bikes are and the lack of wind and weather protection at high speed. Plus you get a full on death wobble once into triple figures which was only made worse when I put the more Offroad orrientated tyres on. Offroad on a big ass Adventure bike is just a silly idea, it's only really good for long open dirt tracks with the odd more hardcore stuff, and this is the most Offroad capable of the Adv bikes as well. Very much marketing over reality IMO, I blame Ewen McG and co.

I tried a Tuono last month and whilst one of the best bikes I've ridden I decided a...

At the Motor Bike Expo of Verona (22-24 January) Ducati will be exhibiting a further addition to its XDiavel cruiser world, the all-new "draXter". This "concept bike" interprets the XDiavel world from a sports viewpoint. The project was developed by the Ducati Style Center's Advanced Design area, a section dedicated to exploring the future style and design concepts of Ducati bikes.
Their ideas and sketches have allowed the Ducati prototype department to come up with the "draXter", starting from a standard production XDiavel. The beating heart of the "draXter" is that of an extreme dragster with premium racing componentry. This is particularly evident, for example, in the suspension and brakes, taken directly from the 1299 Panigale Superbike. This styling exercise has accentuated the lines and proportions of the XDiavel making them more extreme than ever and turning the "draXter" into a unique, breath-taking supersport.

The number 90 on the side of the Ducati "draXter" recalls the...

The Ducati Scrambler Land of Joy will be at the Verona Motor Bike Expo from 22 to 24 January
Peace Sixty2, Revolution and Artika: three new Ducati Scrambler proposals that carry the signatures of Italian designers and customizers
The Ducati Scrambler stand will host a demonstration of the art of personalisation on 23 January


Borgo Panigale, Bologna (Italy), 21 January 2016 – The Land of Joy will be at the Motor Bike Expo from 22 to 24 January with three Ducati Scrambler-based specials. Called Peace Sixty2, Revolution and Artika, these customized bikes will be previewed during the Verona held event on the Ducati Scrambler family stand.

Following the Ducati Café Racer Scrambler, the imaginative Verona-based builder Mr. Martini has now come up with his second Scrambler-based creation. This is the Peace Sixty2. Based on the new Sixty2, it has an even “racier” feel than the previous special designed by this builder, largely thanks to its 1960s-style fairing. The plexiglass nose...

Should anyone want to come down this way for a visit then please take a look at the Blog that my wife has just created. There is some useful information and some great pictures on it. We do not run any sort of business and offer help and guidance for free. This has come about as a result of all the bikers who have visited in 2015.
Dordogne Bikers Blog

It's only taken me four and a half years, but I've finally gotten around to framing this picture I took of the late great Marco Simoncelli at the Silverstone GP in 2011. It now has pride of place in my study
This got me thinking of how MotoGP would look now if he hadn't had his accident. What do you think? Factory Honda rider? Guessing not. I'd like to think he'd be on the factory Ducati. I think a factory team of Simoncelli and Iannone would have been something special to watch? We'll obviously never know, but how do you think he would be getting on?

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....

OK - it was 2007, and about 4 miles away in our old house. My 916 had been languishing in a mate's garage while I was busy with a car project and an XT500 rebuild. By the time it was dragged out of his damp shed into daylight the damage had been done and all the ally parts were furry and the fasteners rusting, the zinc plating long since gone. I felt really ashamed for allowing this to happen to such a machine, so I dismantled it into its component parts and packed it away into plastic crates until I had time to resurrect it. In a moment of rashness and unable to find anyone who could guarantee to replicate the dirty bronze paint on the frame, I had it powdercoated satin black.

Once we'd moved house I sold the XT500 and bought and rebuilt a basket case 1968 Triumph. It's now time to turn my attention to the Ducati and give it the love and affection it deserves.

Cases cleaned & painted


New mains and gearbox bearings fitted


Ready...

Episode two of The Wild Side of Ducati, the new six-episode web series on Ducati’s most adventurous bike yet, is here.

Now online at www.ducati.com, this second episode of the series illustrates, in just a few minutes, all the strength and reliability of the Multistrada 1200 Enduro. Filmed in Spain and Sardinia and packed with spectacular imagery, this latest instalment showcases the bike’s true spirit: adventurous, wild, more than capable of handling the stresses and strains of off-road riding and always easy to handle.
This episode also talks about the riding position and the riding modes on this new maxi-enduro from Ducati, as explained by those with first-hand experience of riding the Multistrada 1200 Enduro on every type of terrain.

The Wild Side of Ducati can also be followed on Ducati's YouTube channel and Facebook page, as well as on Twitter (@DucatiMotor) and Instagram (@ducatimotor) where there are three brief dedicated videos.

54,800 Ducati bikes delivered to customers in 2015
CEO Claudio Domenicali: “Ducati closes 2015 with record volumes plus a significant 22% growth over 2014”
Andrea Buzzoni, Director Sales & Marketing: “For the first time ever a Ducati bike has made it into the list of the world’s ‘Top 10’ best-selling bikes”

Borgo Panigale, Bologna (Italy), 14 January 2016 – Ducati closes 2015 with its best-ever results, confirming the positive trend of the last five years that has seen a constant increase in sales and production.
With 54,800 bikes sold during 2015, Ducati set a new record by delivering 9,683 more bikes to customers than in 2014, an increase of 22%.

“The record sales of 2015 are the result of our company’s courage and skill”, stated Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding. “Ducati closes 2015 with record volumes and also a substantial growth of 22% over 2014. During the year Ducati not only launched successful new motorcycles, but also a new brand, Ducati Scrambler,...

'Pastafarian' wins right to wear colander in driving licence photo - BBC News

Due to health problems I'm considering selling my sc1000s in red. I'm not to worried though as I have always intended to keep and enjoy short runs. Anyhows very high spec low miles very good condition.

Xmas at Noodle Towers (3 story house) good things came along, along with bad things too..

Parts bins from the kids was a great and very useful gift..

However, probably due to Mrs Noodles overloading the fridge freezer it went bang on Boxing Day, great! The wife and the fridge both in total meltdown..

New FF purchased.. Now I apologise to anyone connected to Bin Men in anyway as most are good..but ours are w$#%#$€... All year round they won't take this or that but come Xmas week and it's Ho Ho bloody Ho.. Knocking on doors for a tip and all that..

Anyway,I stripped out the shelves from inside the FF as per my waste not want not policy.. And dragged it to the edge of the pavement ready for the Bin men or Scrap men, whoever came first.. As I spun it around I noticed the cooling coils on the back and thought I can put them to use I'm sure.. So off they came.. Guess what, to use I put them me did..


A little cutting and modifying and they work a treat with the new parts...

I just had to tell people who understand how happy I am.... I bought a 1098 R today....
I have an early 916 SP and now a 1098 R.
I am ecstatic and trying not to wet myself.

Went over to Oz at Christmas to see my daughter and we were in a seaside resort called Noosa Heads when my Wife spotted "That bloke off the telly that you used to watch all the time".... bugger me, my all time bike hero 3 x WSB champion Troy Bayliss!!
Asked him nicely for a pic with him and he just slapped me on the back and said "Sure, no worries mate!!" absolutely chuffed to bits to meet him, WSB was never the same after he retired.
Had a canny little chat with him, and said the last time I saw him race was at Brands with his Superman leathers on ( 2009 / 2010 ?? ) to which he replied "Jeez, that was a lifetime ago!!"
He even went over to my wife, shook her hand and asked if she was having a nice holiday

While he was doing this I was talking to his wife Kim and said that I lost interest in WSB after Troy retired and hadn't watched a WSB race since, she came back with quick as a flash with "No, neither have I"

His young Son Ollie ( I think ) took the pic, he was better...

Took the toy out for its first ever ride today.
Feck me it's good.
Pop from the Akras is a blast and that's achievable even whilst capped at 6k rpm.
Rode a blend of A,B and motorway to see how it performs and was laughing in the bash hat all the way.
6 miles when it got delivered, 74 by the end of the afternoon.
Roll on post first service as I'm looking forward to riding it like I stole it, till then I'll be a good boy.
Or will I...

Merry Christmas Everyone

Got delivered today, sadly not had a chance to ride it yet but one happy bunny