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

endodoc said:

sherpa23. Nice write up and very well written. I was really hoping to see some 1199sl odometers but i got pretty much what i expected. 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 douche bandits spend an hour or so racing up and down newport coast dr then they park the thing until the next weekend. I was thinking things were different in the bike community. If your going to spend that kind of money on something with wheels and not flog the crap of it daily, then im thinking the roi is (the investment being that you get to ride a bad ass bike everyday) just not there. And i certainly hope no one is making payments on something like this. That psychology is really mind boggling. Now your in boat territory and we don't need to go anywhere near that mess.

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lol !!

I'm loving this thread!

Continue...

endodoc said:

11 miles? What are you thinking? Im hoping thats annually and not all in one day.

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...."i'm ready"......

I'll take "set of tires" for $200 Alex.

Sherpa23 said:

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.

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Well said!

double0 said:

i'll take "set of tires" for $200 alex.

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lol !!

ps. my UPS guy was getting frustrated

Now that's what I'm talking about RD. Good work. I know you will have a blast with that thing. Desmo on ebay, 9 years old 152 miles. A 2014 SL with 1k miles. A slew of 1199s with less than 1k a year. Either 1, you thought you were an investor and you thought wrong. 2 you live in a place where you should have purchased a snowmobile instead of a Ducati or 3, you just don't like to ride bikes very much. Now I have to get on a plane for a meeting with a bunch of guys who have more miles in Tanks than bikes but I did manage a 60 mile run this morning. Ride those things.

endodoc said:

Now that's what I'm talking about RD. Good work. I know you will have a blast with that thing. Desmo on ebay, 9 years old 152 miles. A 2014 SL with 1k miles. A slew of 1199s with less than 1k a year. Either 1, you thought you were an investor and you thought wrong. 2 you live in a place where you should have purchased a snowmobile instead of a Ducati or 3, you just don't like to ride bikes very much. Now I have to get on a plane for a meeting with a bunch of guys who have more miles in Tanks than bikes but I did manage a 60 mile run this morning. Ride those things.

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yup....i hope i will

- here....how things went with the Desmo:

i'm not sure if the links will still work, but here:

http://www.ducati.org/forums/desmosedici-rr/23436-15k-service-cliffs-ct.html

and here:

http://www.ducati.org/forums/desmosedici-rr/25376-15-000-mile-service-re-cap.html

and finally:


-- overall it was a very special motorcycle, that provided me with the highest SPMF (Smiles Per Miles Factor) of any motorcycle i have ever owned(period)....without creating a list, i've owned plenty of bikes to compare it to

-- the saddest part of ownership were the service appt's (simply because it separated me from the bike), which for no real good reason other than its exotic nature (parts, service knowledge, shop schedules/special technician) would take weeks on end....at one point, months to get done....in the end though it doesn't matter.....it has been one special motorcycle, which i'd gladly repeat purchase for the same experience...

-- as it turns out....after 4 seasons, 23,000+ miles, 1 initial, 2 minor and 1 major service, along with a few trips back and forth to the shop for a few "incidentals"(1 blinker, 2 tail lights, bubble in the cooling system, new rectifier, wire harness glitches), broken shifter spring/stuck in second gear (better than stuck in neutral) ......

- 16 sets of tires (1 set every 1500 miles)
- 1 case of oil used for topping off between rides
- 1300 gallons of fuel (approx)
- 2 ignition coils
- 8 exhaust valves ($649ea - warranty)
- 12 valve shims ($49ea - warranty)
- 3 clutches
- 1 shifter return spring (warranty)
- 1 sprocket set
- 1 under tail exhaust heat shield (warranty)
- 1 footpeg stabilizer bar (warranty)
- 1 rear blinker (warranty)
- 2 tail light units (warranty)
- 1 rectifier (warranty)
- 1 chain
- 1 set front rotors
- 1 set front pads

....i've decided to take a rest from ducati ownership for a while...it has been a pleasant journey, however i welcome the pause (i've owned 4 916's of different flavors, 999r and then the d16rr - each bike with plenty of service miles)....so i have officially semi-retired the d16rr......enter......1 - 2012 kawasaki zx6r - excellent bike, high spmf, and service (when needed) is not a symphony....... after this ducati experience......"thanks for the memories"......."i'll be back" !

Calderara di Reno said:

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

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I have seen this as well but it's the same issue I have with the people with rare/limited/blah blah blah cars or motorcycles that mothball those because that more regular bike means just as much to that person as the R or SL or whatever means to that bike's owner. The monetary value or rarity is a very tangential and distant aspect of it and ultimately meaningless.

To put it in context, my first Ducati was a 748S that I purchased after the PO did a fairly gentle low side. I rebuilt it and made it like new and it meant as much to me as anything. I can't say that my SL means more to me than that 748S did. The rarity and value are solely external measures and not internal ones. Not sure if that makes sense.

The problem here is that people think that's "enjoyment" to just put stuff away and not use them. I mean where is the enjoyment out of that? "Hey, I have a 2015 Panigale with only 50 miles on it! Isn't that awesome? I feel so fulfilled!" Besides, we all know that's bad for any kind of mechanical machinery to sit unused like that.

I love seeing things like these awesome bikes getting used. It warms my heart. That's what they're meant for. That's why I love forums like this.

It's no SL and I don't really keep track of what I've spent on it (it's up there) but I've owned it less than a year and have 6500 miles on the Anniversario...and counting. If I hadn't bought the Hyper a month later the Anni would have 13k miles on it. I bought them to ride them. Wouldn't hesitate to do the same with an SL.

Duc749r said:

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.

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Can I come over when you do? We just did some filming there recently and it is nothing short of spectacular.

endodoc said:

Sherpa23. Good man. You're doing it right. I completely agree and share the same philosophies. Duc749r, the 1299SL is going to be a great track bike. Thats a viable and practical use and I have a dedicated track (in my case crash) bike. The only thing I do not get is your wise decision to get what will be a great track bike but your complete insanity of mentioning Palm Springs as the home for the thing. That place was 122 last week.Thats just not at all funny

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Yes, heat exhaustion is very unfunny. It's just a short part of the year and he's close to Chuckwalla. While most of us have the trackbikes parked, he's going to enjoy great weather for most of the year there.

Sherpa23 said:

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.

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What's the difference between a hoarder and a collector? Seems the same to me at a basic level. A collector is more sophisticated and appreciates the items at a higher level so if someone wants to make the distinction, you would be more of the latter. I think you're basically a dyed in the wool ENTHUSIAST.

If the item has 0-100 miles and you want it as a sculpture in your living area, great, but unless it's some 1 of 1 from 1903 museum piece,
don't fall for the idea that "I better not use my XXXX because it is/it will become a collectors item."

If they made 100's or 1000's of something believe me when I say it is not nor most likely will it become some priceless artifact.

I had 2 friends die recently, 1 w/ $250K in the bank and the other $100K and I'm sure they both wish they would have spent the $ before they left.

Ive been at car shows and you see some 871-Roots blown big block 60's musclecar, and the guys sitting in lawn chair and you ask him if he's ever hammered it, made a pass, even did a burn out,
and he looks like you slapped him, "Oh no I just putt it around I would never use my car like that"
=-P
that's just sad.

"I bought it so that I could get more enjoyment out of life by experiencing something..."
"That car and I have done some really amazing and cool things..."
" at the end of the day, it's just a motorcycle and it NEEDs to be ridden."
Amen brother

Use what you have, do not hold back and regret later that you did.

headed out to ride my 15' 1299S...=)

endodoc said:

Sherpa23. Good man. You're doing it right. I completely agree and share the same philosophies. Duc749r, the 1299SL is going to be a great track bike. Thats a viable and practical use and I have a dedicated track (in my case crash) bike. The only thing I do not get is your wise decision to get what will be a great track bike but your complete insanity of mentioning Palm Springs as the home for the thing. That place was 122 last week.Thats just not at all funny

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The 1299 SL will be kept in Thermal from late fall to spring. The Thermal club is shut down after late morning track times through the summer because of the heat. And I have zero interest in being outside especially on a track during the summer months down here. Have you looked into the Thermal club? It's a private track resort. From the couple of times I have visited the property looking at lots, there was only 1-2 members on the track at a time durning the week. I'm down here right now and it's like living in a damn oven. During the summer I'll move the bike to Lake Tahoe for rides.

Duc749r said:

The 1299 SL will be kept in Thermal from late fall to spring. The Thermal club is shut down after late morning track times through the summer because of the heat. And I have zero interest in being outside especially on a track during the summer months down here. Have you looked into the Thermal club? It's a private track resort. From the couple of times I have visited the property looking at lots, there was only 1-2 members on the track at a time durning the week. I'm down here right now and it's like living in a damn oven. During the summer I'll move the bike to Lake Tahoe for rides.

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in the North East (New York area) we get a solid 6 months....sometimes lucky with an early Spring together with an "Indian Summer" we can squeeze 7 maybe 8 months in, out of the year...thats our season....it works !

RD16RR said:

in the North East (New York area) we get a solid 6 months....sometimes lucky with an early Spring together with an "Indian Summer" we can squeeze 7 maybe 8 months in, out of the year...thats our season....it works !

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Lake Tahoe this year there was still snow on the roads in May and it lightly snowed on the second week of June. There are great mountain roads around Lake Tahoe for summer rides. I'm looking forward to the arrival of the 1299SL and I'm heading off to Italy in 2 weeks for the 1299 SL track event

Duc749r said:

Lake Tahoe this year there was still snow on the roads in May and it lightly snowed on the second week of June. There are great mountain roads around Lake Tahoe for summer rides. I'm looking forward to the arrival of the 1299SL and I'm heading off to Italy in 2 weeks for the 1299 SL track event

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...Nice !! Enjoy !!

SuperDuc29 said:

What's the difference between a hoarder and a collector? Seems the same to me at a basic level. A collector is more sophisticated and appreciates the items at a higher level so if someone wants to make the distinction, you would be more of the latter. I think you're basically a dyed in the wool ENTHUSIAST.

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Well, you're right and "enthusiast" is probably the best word to describe me. To answer your question, I guess that I consider someone who collects things for the sake of amassing a collection. The collection fits together and makes sense and it's for a sort of show or showcase. Collectors keep their collections in neat spaces designed to show off their acquisitions.

I, on the other hand, just buy things I love. They may or may not "go together" and they're not for display. Instead, they are properly used and when they are not in use, they're cleaned and covered and sort of squeezed into the right sized nooks and spaces in my modest sized garage. And since I don't like to part with things as I'm attached to them, along with the neat but cluttered garage, I've been called a hoarder.

Riding machine! I recently received my 1299 Superleggera, my first ride was to calibrate the slicks followed by a few sessions at COTA. I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't ride and or take it to the track.

Who else is going to Italy in a couple weeks for the 1299 SL track day?