1199/1299SL owners. Hangar queen or riding machine?

endodoc said:

Ok this is for all the fortunate people with money management skills that could afford the high end stuff and not have to move back home with the parents to do so. Some time ago, I gave up on trying to keep Bike 1 looking somewhat cared for. Sometime next week she will click over 13k miles. I was at Beverly Hills Ducati a week ago and people there looked shocked when they saw the odometer on what was perceived to be something I should only be riding to Starbucks on the weekend. So I'm curious, guys with the high end stuff let's say north of 50k what do those odometers look like?

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I recently bought an 1199 SL. When I was shopping, I was repeatedly told not to ride it, only display it. I made it very clear that I would ride it because that's what it's for. I don't know why people don't get that.

I have several very nice Italian sports cars and they all get driven regularly and maintained like crazy. One of them is a Ferrari F40. Most people probably don't know anything about these but they were a limited Ferrari built between 1987 and 1992 and a lot like Ducati's SL motorcycles in that Ferrari really made something extraordinarily special with it. These are cars that people buy and display and do stupid crap with like post all over their Facebook pages and don't drive. When I bought mine many years ago, the gentleman from whom I purchased it made me promise him that I would drive it and not just keep it in my garage. Well, now it has almost 30k miles on it (the vast majority of these cars have less than 7k), it is incredibly well maintained and I could not be happier. I didn't buy it to "preserve" any kind of monetary value it might have. I bought it so that I could get more enjoyment out of life by experiencing something so special. That car and I have done some really amazing and cool things and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Like you, other people have looked at the odometer and been shocked: partly because it looked like it had 1/4 of the miles it had and secondly, that I would actually use it. I know that some people think that I'm crazy but these things fall apart if they're not used regularly like they were meant to do. Besides, even though it looked like it was incredible shape I embarked on a complete restoration on it (should be done by the end of this year) and it's literally better than new. You can do that with cars and motorcycles.

So back to the SL: I bought one a month ago with 62 miles on it. I had a choice of several bikes with less than 100 miles on them. I just dropped it off for the 600 mile service. I don't know if I will keep getting the opportunity to put miles on it at this pace but I am certainly not going to intentionally avoid using just because people think I shouldn't put miles on it. Besides, they way I care for my cars and motorcycles, I'm sure it will look impeccable regardless of how many miles I put on it so I can use it and drool over it as much as I want.

I worked really freaking hard for my money and had my share of bad breaks along the way and bumps in the road. I'm not going to sell myself short and not get to enjoy the amazing experiences such special creations can offer. And I'll tell you right now that life is short. When I'm on my death bed, I can promise you that I'm not going to say that I wish I put less miles on my cars or motorcycles.

Enjoy your bike. Put all the miles on it that you want. Good for you.

This is a friend of mine and one of several guys I was pitted with that were running SL's. I'd say they are doing it right. These bikes were meant to be ridden and ENJOYED, not tucked away hidden and collecting dust.

Why live life by sitting back and letting it pass you by.. I'll never understand that. There are some fantastic machines out there, but at the end of the day, it's just a motorcycle and it NEEDs to be ridden..

Video Here:
1299 Superleggera - Circuit of the Americas

Not 1, but 2 SL's.....

i was at COTA one weekend and there were 7 - 10 SL's being ridden hard, from my experience alot of SL owners tend to track them.

MotoX183 said:

This is a friend of mine and one of several guys I was pitted with that were running SL's. I'd say they are doing it right. These bikes were meant to be ridden and ENJOYED, not tucked away hidden and collecting dust.

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Now to be fair, Hooks' 1199SL has lived at Ducati Austin almost all it's life and only gets pulled out for COTA track days.

here's mine:

the before & after

someone tell the dude on the scrambler in that video you dont need to weave to warm up your tires...

Rinzlr said:

someone tell the dude on the scrambler in that video you dont need to weave to warm up your tires...

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endodoc said:

Now your in boat territory and we don't need to go anywhere near that mess.

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I'm getting the 1299 SL as a track toy. I'm buying property at the Thermal Club Near Palm Springs and the bike will be stored there and ridden on the track every chance I get. I'll never buy a car or bike to just display it in a temperature controlled room. What's the point?!

endodoc said:

Here in Newport we have a slew of these weekend supercar jockey's. They all drive Lambos, 458s etc. The program is simple. Its 5K plus a month and you get 3000mi a year on the car. Thats right. 3000mi a year. Now, ask yourself about the psychology here. Besides the obvious, this is no different than asking your mom and dad if you can borrow the car. You don't own it and you can only very occasionally drive it with a lot of restrictions. So every Saturday and Sunday these ...... bandits spend an hour or so racing up and down Newport Coast Dr then they park the thing until the next weekend.

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That's a very interesting point. Yeah, I don't get it either, although I don't know if we have a lot of that in Colorado. At least not like Newport Beach. I lived for two years in Corona Del Mar during my athletic career but that's a different story.

The first owner of my SL financed it. Based on what I paid for it with the 62 miles, every one of those miles he put on it was VERY expensive. Again, I don't get it, especially if you're not paying cash.

I'm on a different part of the spectrum. I didn't grow up with a lot so when I buy something, I hold onto it very tightly and I'm really OCD about my stuff. It's a personality flaw, for sure, and there is a lot of the mental side to it. For example, I won't finance any of my cars or motorcycles because I need the titles to be in my safe or else it's not mine. I get full insurance on everything and not the dumb "collectible car/motorcycle" insurance that limits your miles, regardless of how much they get used or not used because I don't want to ever feel restricted on when or where I can use this stuff.

I've basically been told that I'm not a collector but a hoarder. I buy something that speaks to me, I use it properly, I care obsessively for it, and I protect it to bizarre levels. In most cases, I never sell it. I'm sure that this isn't different than most people here but I just get attached to things. I cling to stuff.

Also, I never wanted things that most people wanted in life. I have a nice house but it's nothing special. I don't take expensive holidays (I rarely take holidays at all). All I ever wanted was some nice sports cars and motorcycles and a cool watch and the rest I can do with the bare minimum for an actual living, breathing, financially responsible adult. And as I said, if I'm spending my hard earned money on that stuff, you can bet that I'm going to use them properly. That means actually putting miles on them, maintaining them, cleaning them, etc. Life's too short.

Theres a couple of 1199SL's in my hometown. 1 is ridden around town with the odd track day. But owner also owns a 1098rTB, a Desmo and a original '70's 900ss and well as a number of other bikes. I know he put an order in for a 1299SL but due to dealership being useless didnt complete his request and missed out.

Another is only a once in a blue moon cafe parkup bike.

the 3rd sits in a guys lounge. its never been ridden other than from the dealership door to transport truck. They say its one of the infamous no number SL's

SL: 5500km
Carbon Track Pani: 12300km
All others are south 50kUSD

How about the guys that own your run of the mill bike , and moth ball them ?

I know this is about riding/driving these things or not but I'm surprised nobody commented on sherpa23's F40.damn thats nice car btw & a true classic

Goby1199 said:

I know this is about riding/driving these things or not but I'm surprised nobody commented on sherpa23's F40.damn thats nice car btw & a true classic

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Probably the most awesome sports car of all time. I would like to see some pictures of it......