Featured Threads Archive

When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do.

Finally the time has come to do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, ride coast to coast USA.

Life has managed to get in the way for several years but this year I was having none of it and said to the Mrs I was just popping out on my bike, again. Well not actually my bike but a hire bike.

She was well up for it, which was a result. However things unraveled. ‘Jorg the laughing German’ was recruited, my bro number 2 was also recruited as was his Mrs, happy days. She however after giving it some thought bailed preferring to walk up Annapurna in the Himalayas instead! Whattt the?

She couldn’t see the attraction of sitting on a motorbike for such long distances, fair enough. At which point my Mrs understandably bailed as well, preferring not to be the only female. She also declined the invitation to walk up Annapurna, which I can also understand, who a blame her, that’s a serious schlep.

Instead she chose to go and see our one...

First proper day out in the 698 in Wales, best riding in the UK. Oh my, what a motorcycle for those roads. No need for more than 75bhp when the bike only weighs 150kg.
Best days riding in a long time.

So about 2 weeks ago I went over to my local Ducati dealer for some fairing bolts for the Panigale and I’ve been swithering about selling it. Reason being I bought a KTM super duke r last year and it’s so much fun, the Panigale hardly gets any used anymore (260 miles since it’s mot last year) and been thinking about something more suitable for leaving in Spain for the roads. They’ve got a beautiful Streetfighter SP in which I thought was perfect and after test riding one a couple of years ago I thought I’d have it. Unfortunately we couldn’t get a deal done as the dealer wouldn’t take my bike as pert ex with the Termi 4Uscite exhaust fitted and no standard exhaust to go with it.

That got me looking around at bikes and I seen that there were some really good deals to be had on new 2024 model S1000Rs with the new 25 model hitting showrooms. The deal I managed to pick up on this brand new S1000R Sport was so good that I’ve managed to hang onto the Panigale for the odd blast when I...

Went to see local dealer today to enquire as to how long to get a Multi V4S from Italy, salesman said about 6 weeks, he checked some details with the boss who said “ I’ve got one it came out of the crate yesterday” on checking it was the V4S Travel & Radar Sport with the forged wheels, he offered me a good deal so it was done.
Got to really crack on and get the garage built now, gonna be a tortuous few weeks until it’s water tight so the bike can come home.

As mentioned last week in another thread, I have bought another bike.

There are many reasons, some health issues, a bit of age creeping in perhaps, but mainly because I look back on my early biking days as a time of great fun on compact, light, really revvy, flickable bikes.

I probably should have bought an Elsie. I looked at a few and they really are gorgeous. I also looked at RD400s and then dreamt of an RG500 £25K -err nope... But, I have been there done that in a way with my 2 stroke TS185er, and finding the parts, buggering about with the carbs is not something that I want to get into right now. I also am still slowly meddling with my VFR400 NC30 so I kinda have that covered -4 carbs!

So I looked again at what is available. Low weight. Compact. Electric start. Easy to get all parts. Cheap to maintain. Simple to fix (probably). Cheap to buy -this could be a pipe dream that doesn't turn out well. Well known for good simple reliability.

Firstly I thought of the...

I’ve covered about 400 miles now on the SL and have to say I’m loving it. Throttle is a little more stiff than my new SS so makes my hand ache (which is easing)
The bike is light, not massively powerful which is no bad thing, brakes are good, it’s really flickable.
Gets lots of looks and sounds great.
Should’ve bought one years ago.

My best mate has just had to give up work due to primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis :-(

He’s not wheelchair-bound yet, but can’t walk more than about half a mile and the prognosis is not good, so I thought f*ck it, we are both 60 this year, so let’s do something big.

He doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve bought a lightweight folding wheelchair and on April 24th we are flying out to Spain and hiring a car for the drive to Jerez!

We have a package from https://www.polepositiontravel.com/ with hotel and passes for the paddock and Gresini Ducati hospitality all three days, a special guest dinner at the hotel on Friday night, a tour of the service road and a visit to the pit garage, plus dinner with the team on Saturday night.

Can’t bloody wait!

Early finish so as the sun was shining I thought I’d go for a ride on my new SL. Did 40 miles, I like the bike but it’s like sitting on a plank of wood. I either get the seat gel filled or get a fat arse!

As title suggests, the SL passed the MOT today. Tester remarked it is a fine specimen.
Tax it this week then hopefully get out on it next weekend. Rode it 3 miles to the MOT and back, it sounds great.

Hi there......new one from Holland.

Cheers.
Edward

New to the group, I live in Wiltshire. I have owned this 900 Supersport for 24 years. Recommissioned and back on the road last year after many years stored.

So this is the second thread of my 2015 1200S Stripe
Just shy of 7000miles on the clock.
Can’t leave anything standard but I think I’ve just about ran out of things to do.
Recently changed the rear subframe and seat for a 2017 version which has allowed me to add the Spark exhaust. Evotech tail tidy with Ducati performance indicators (and front indicators)
Rolling with a 17 RCS Corsa Corto Brake master with AEM integrated reservoir. To get everything to fit I had to fit Jetprime ignition switchgear as the corsa is bigger than standard RCS. Gone with the standard RCS and integrated reservoir for the clutch master. Fitted a set of Evotech lever protectors and mirrors.
Wheels are Marchesini M10RS front and rear. Evotech sliders
Renthal sprocket/carrier and chain, carbon chain guard.
GB Racing engine protection and water pump cover with evotech crash bobbins. Painted the rad covers black to blend in.
Healtech quick shifter, exhaust servo delete and gear indicator

Couldnt keep me away from motorcycles. This is my earliest photo and memory of a motorcycle. Think it was a tiger cub (200cc?) that my father had. Apparently the engine was running and I had the throttle wide open..some things have remained the same. Just not the full head of hair!
Ill try and find a picture of his Triton at some point. Lovely thing it was in red and chrome. Rebuilt from boxes of parts. To follow.
Meanwhile, the cub:

These were built from scrappy old frames, I picked up off ebay.

Well after many years of lurking and dreaming I have finally bought my first Ducati, a very nice 2022 Desert X.

Have been riding bikes now for about 50 years and have become excited as a teenager with the new bike. I live at the edge of the Peak District so will have many great rides straight from my door.

The bike came with hard luggage which I will be selling soon as I prefer my Kriega soft luggage setup. Look out for the advertising on here first when I subscribe.

Tom

Ducati fleet numbers 19, ranging from a 1958 125 F3 to the Desmosedici, plus 19 others, British iron dating from 1949 to the mid '70's, throw in two Massey Fergie 35s, a Polaris quad and two Jaguars and I mostly run or cycle everywhere.

Up for sale is my Tricolore. £14000
It's in great condition with approx 2500 miles
Genuine Anniversario gold wheels with nearly new rosso corsa tyres.
Ducati performance, rear sets, brake and clutch levers, fuel cap, reservoir caps, indicators, key guard, case cover, exhaust heat shield and comfort seat.
GP Edition top yoke.
Full titanium termignoni exhaust.
Comes with original parts excl exhaust.
Services up to date forks serviced last year.
As you can see it has the lot.
Bike is based in Norfolk
incl original black wheels £14500

I've just become the owner of this.
It's a 1971 Guazzoni Ingranaggino
50cc 17 HP. It weighs less than me so I need to shed some pounds and probably do some yoga as well to be able to fold myself in half to ride it.

I was in the loft yesterday looking for something in one of the boxes from when we cleared my Family home a few years ago and found another box I'd forgotten about in the chaos that was my Mothers passing etc.

The Stationary engine I remember from early childhood, it was a favourite toy, and was also something at my mothers house my boys wanted to 'see' when we visited.
I remember it was secondhand when Father brought it home, possibly acquired from a colleague at work so is probably @60yrs old.

The others however I only have very vague memories of.
I think they may have been gifted to us by a family up the road from Mother and Father when I was away at college. They were moving away their own children having moved out.
My father passed away very shortly after that and they've been in the box ever since, @40yrs.
I expect I added the Stationary engine to the box when I moved it to my own home.
Now as you'd expect, a find of such a nature couldn't be ignored and resulted in a...

Brand new to Ducati following ownership of Honda V4s and 2 strokes. Looking forward to learning and contributing to this forum.