What a long effing day when you start it at 0300...
But, WOW, what a day!
It started with the dealer's manager picking me up at my house for the ride to The Ride.
Lot's of "Dude, this bike is going to blow your mind" and "That effing bike is effing sick" and "wait till you ride that baby..."
I sort of had tunnel vision on the way, not really noticing much in passing but I had a clear, crisp vision of everything directly in front of us. I can't remember any other topics of conversation there might have been or recall the name of a single song on the radio. I was bore-sighted!
We stopped at a Starbucks (don't judge me!) on the way for what then became my 5th and 6th cups of coffee.
When we arrived at the dealer the doors weren't even fully opened. I was greeted with "hey, you want some coffee while we get your stuff together?"
"Umm, yeah, sure thanks...let me hit the bathroom first." I'm pretty sure if there was a legal limit on caffeine blood levels that I was about to exceed it.
Paperwork out of the way and a very thorough walk around - (how many times had I already read the manual?) and the keys were in my hand. The manager came out along with the mech who prepped the bike to check on it and me and to congratulate me with another, "DUDE, didn't I tell you that bike is EFFING BAD ASS?!" and, "remember keep it cool until you get 100 miles on her then have your way with her!" The grin on my face widens to the point the helmet becomes tight.
And then, a mere second before I pressed the starter button...my effing work mobile rings...WHY DID I BRING THE DAMN THING? Talk about speedus interruptus, if I had been just a little faster on the starter I never would have heard it. WTF, it's 1000 on a Saturday morning and I have a work emergency!? WHY TODAY? There are 364 other days this could happen...%&)#$*(#&@(&$&!
Anyway, with the auspicious ceremonial start and ride off interrupted and my first ride intentions now completely EFFED, I started her, jumped on and headed to the office.
First impressions albeit from a truncated ride are high!
Firstly, she is bone stock as shipped. I will start adding the bits I've stockpiled this week.
It started right up and idled with the characteristic Ducati rumble. Stock pipes and cans sound just fine and I did not find them obtrusively loud - but then I have a S4Rs with full Termis so I didn't really expect to. ZERO smoke. There were four miles on the odo and the mech said it only smoked the first time he started it.
It is set to FLAT and SPORT/195 LO and surprisingly, the ride, a combination of freeway/motorway and surface streets, wasn't all that rough but I did find the performance somewhat flat on the roll-on but I was not hitting the throttle too hard so we'll see how that changes once I pass 100 miles and again when the pipes are on.
As to that 100 miles: the mech said, "look, by 100 miles it's either going to be broken-in or broken. It isn't going to take 1000 miles for the .... to sort itself out - it will do it in the first 100 miles, probably less. Watch your oil and don't overfill your fuel. I suggest changing your oil at 100 miles and checking for torque on all the important nuts and bolts and then bring her in again for the 600+ service. Other than that, watch the corners on the new tires." Then another "That is one hot EFFING bike, man. Enjoy! Maybe you could take the long way to work."
On the slow parts of the ride, the heat was noticeable but not unbearable. Coolant temp rose to as high as 217 in the stop and go bits but cooled right down once back up to 75-85 mph. I found simply opening a small space between my knees and the tank created enough air flow to keep the hot air from rising directly upward.
It never stalled or hesitated at all. Though, when I stopped to pee, again, it did not want to immediately turn over. It took three attempts to finally get it started so this holds up to others' comments about starting challenges when it's hot. Ambient temp was only 75F/24C and coolant temp was <212F/100C.
I found the stock seat to be just fine. I'm a little concerned about the amount of increase in seat thickness of the comfort seat now given that I did experience a little wrist discomfort with the stock seat. I'm a little better than 6'2" and about 220Lbs/199Kilos/15+ stone so the comfort seat just might create a little too much wrist pressure. We'll see...
Mirrors are the best mirrors stock or aftermarket I've seen. Easily adjustable and not terribly obstructed by elbow or torso. Still can't see directly behind but then again they're not meant to take the place of a quick turn of the head.
The bike certainly draws attention, looks and comments from even non-riders. This could be a good thing and a bad. Was a little dismayed to have a young lady walk up as I was stepping off to go use the toilet (again) say "oh wow, you're old" as I popped the helmet off, "but you have a very cool bike." Yeah, I guess I am, I said, but at least I have a cool bike and by the way, you have a very nice butt!.
I think the bubble windscreen is going to be nice, though the stock one seems to provide ample coverage at speeds up to about 90 - so far.
I didn't notice any head shake at all - but then who would when amped up on a freakin' 6 or 7 cups of coffee? And, the little cornering I did do to and from work felt easy but confident and precise.
The lights are awesome. I can tell you this because it was dark by the time I left work some 10 hours later.
So, again, impressions after only 63 miles are very good! Easy to handle, feels light but positive. The heat was not unbearable. The bike is absolutely gorgeous!
More to follow - today, hopefully, and as I slowly get some of the goodies installed...
Dude you are totally set up!
Just one question. What the hell is a "marta?"
"The lady." It's an Italian colloquialism
For all of you still waiting - hang in there - it is truly worth it!
