Having been around the block a couple of times I finally got back into bikes after well lets say a long protracted lay off.
Anyway I am back on two wheels and 4 for when I need to go fishing or 4x4'ing.
Recently I was looking at my pics from 1974 when I brought an XR75 as a first bike, I rode on the dirt for 2 years went to a CR125 & finaly a CR250 Elsinore.
My first road bike was a shall we say an attempted custom Honda 500/4 with the fat back tyre well I got my "R" license on it, was very proud trying to hoon on it.
In 1976 the green Z'ed 900 took me to another level I sold my Honda and my car a HG wagon to be able to afford the 900 at $2300 +ORC.
Not allot by todays standards but for a 19 Y/O it was allot of cash but heck here I was owning one of the fastest production bikes with a mind blowing 83HP!!!
We all remember the Kwaka's well some of us as a brilliant bullet proof engine but the frame geometry, brakes & suspension let it down badly.
How many of us remember riding on skinny Metzlers or Dunlops going into a corner hot and hanging on for dear life as the thing gyrated underneath you like some wild horse with barbed wire up its ar*se.
Sadly my original Z'ed was stolen I then got another one the same (Insured) but some weeks later was taken out by a car running a stop sign, 7 days before I was due to be married.
Anyway we were both lucky my fiance & I to not suffer too badly I did a bit as I was squiding it in a t-shirt & jeans she had a dress on anyway left a fair chunk of my skin on the december tar!
The bike was never the same after that prang so I flicked it and brought a ZIR MkI with that stupid small coffin tank 200klm's max range pulling the choke on to get the last of the fuel from the bowls.
After that one I went for a 900F2B Honda as I was in need of more wind & rain protection as all I had was a bike riding long hauls to work in winter.
Then I brought the one bike I should have kept the VF1000R 1984 model what a bike for its day 120HP handled well at high speed low speed it tended to fall into corners with that small front wheel.
But I really loved that bike and only sold it as I went in another direction but I had some awesome rides on it actually pegging it in top at 250Kph indicated.
You cannot really do that now as too many mobile lounge rooms on the road and more sophisticated speed cameras that can get you rear plate.
So after quiting that VF in 1987 in Oct '17 I test rode a 2003 1100XX Honda SBB with only 42,000 on the dial brought it for 5K I was on 2 wheels again.
My wife was not very happy (No.1 wife long gone) as she had asked my old riding buddies about me summed me up as a "Lunatic". (Nice?)
But safe with other riders around me like I am not going to endanger them by changing my line or doing stupid sh*t that endangers them.
So I fought fire with fire and brought her a 500RA Honda taught her to ride and get her RE license great.
Now I needed a fun bike and was looking at an MV F4 1000 I went to my long standing M/C dealer and asked their opinion, don't get it try this one.
They had a 12/2008 reasonabley modded 848 (Not an EVO) in Xerox livery well one ride of that so I brought that great fun but I wanted more.
So figuring I may as well spend some cash I brought a 09/2018 V4 "S" and my wife a 2018 Supersport "S" 937 with panniers.
I have never had it so good all my bikes have been on runs most around the 700klm with one at 900klms (Did that one on the 848)
These Ducati's they are like riding on rails we went to a very twisty road down south where corners were indicated at 60 - 75 klm/hr.
Going in hard with the V4 was not an issue although one corner I went in a tad too hot a 65Klm/Hr indicated and I went in at 140+ as I just glanced at the speedo before entering there was a good bit of trail braking going on!!!!!
So now I understand what all the excitement is with the new Superbikes of today they handle well, have gobs of power and are a joy to own.
Yes there are niggles but when you think of all the years Duke only made V twins except for the Desmosidici they have done a fairly good job with the V4.
I looked at a Speciale and could not justify the $65,000 price tag for the few extra bits you got, your not supposed to have that race exhaust on the road anyway. (Thats why I upgraded my wifes bike she still has the 500 though)
Yes you get a tad hot from the engine yes there are recalls think the next one is the oil cooler mines due for that one but all in all not bad.
You know we are all in it together no matter what you ride, we are all trying to enjoy our bikes and stay alive and away from those fricking car drivers.
I have had my share of stacks on & off road with some very narrow squeeks in between happily surviving to carry on again.
So if you buy a Ferrari type vehicle you have to put up with its niggles because thats what the Ducati is a thoroughbred and it's finicky.
Sorry for the long thread but I just wanted to explain my history with bikes so if I do say something it is probably based on my experiences as an experienced rider & not some noephyte clutching the clouds.
Cheers,
Cinders
Anyway I am back on two wheels and 4 for when I need to go fishing or 4x4'ing.
Recently I was looking at my pics from 1974 when I brought an XR75 as a first bike, I rode on the dirt for 2 years went to a CR125 & finaly a CR250 Elsinore.
My first road bike was a shall we say an attempted custom Honda 500/4 with the fat back tyre well I got my "R" license on it, was very proud trying to hoon on it.
In 1976 the green Z'ed 900 took me to another level I sold my Honda and my car a HG wagon to be able to afford the 900 at $2300 +ORC.
Not allot by todays standards but for a 19 Y/O it was allot of cash but heck here I was owning one of the fastest production bikes with a mind blowing 83HP!!!
We all remember the Kwaka's well some of us as a brilliant bullet proof engine but the frame geometry, brakes & suspension let it down badly.
How many of us remember riding on skinny Metzlers or Dunlops going into a corner hot and hanging on for dear life as the thing gyrated underneath you like some wild horse with barbed wire up its ar*se.
Sadly my original Z'ed was stolen I then got another one the same (Insured) but some weeks later was taken out by a car running a stop sign, 7 days before I was due to be married.
Anyway we were both lucky my fiance & I to not suffer too badly I did a bit as I was squiding it in a t-shirt & jeans she had a dress on anyway left a fair chunk of my skin on the december tar!
The bike was never the same after that prang so I flicked it and brought a ZIR MkI with that stupid small coffin tank 200klm's max range pulling the choke on to get the last of the fuel from the bowls.
After that one I went for a 900F2B Honda as I was in need of more wind & rain protection as all I had was a bike riding long hauls to work in winter.
Then I brought the one bike I should have kept the VF1000R 1984 model what a bike for its day 120HP handled well at high speed low speed it tended to fall into corners with that small front wheel.
But I really loved that bike and only sold it as I went in another direction but I had some awesome rides on it actually pegging it in top at 250Kph indicated.
You cannot really do that now as too many mobile lounge rooms on the road and more sophisticated speed cameras that can get you rear plate.
So after quiting that VF in 1987 in Oct '17 I test rode a 2003 1100XX Honda SBB with only 42,000 on the dial brought it for 5K I was on 2 wheels again.
My wife was not very happy (No.1 wife long gone) as she had asked my old riding buddies about me summed me up as a "Lunatic". (Nice?)
But safe with other riders around me like I am not going to endanger them by changing my line or doing stupid sh*t that endangers them.
So I fought fire with fire and brought her a 500RA Honda taught her to ride and get her RE license great.
Now I needed a fun bike and was looking at an MV F4 1000 I went to my long standing M/C dealer and asked their opinion, don't get it try this one.
They had a 12/2008 reasonabley modded 848 (Not an EVO) in Xerox livery well one ride of that so I brought that great fun but I wanted more.
So figuring I may as well spend some cash I brought a 09/2018 V4 "S" and my wife a 2018 Supersport "S" 937 with panniers.
I have never had it so good all my bikes have been on runs most around the 700klm with one at 900klms (Did that one on the 848)
These Ducati's they are like riding on rails we went to a very twisty road down south where corners were indicated at 60 - 75 klm/hr.
Going in hard with the V4 was not an issue although one corner I went in a tad too hot a 65Klm/Hr indicated and I went in at 140+ as I just glanced at the speedo before entering there was a good bit of trail braking going on!!!!!
So now I understand what all the excitement is with the new Superbikes of today they handle well, have gobs of power and are a joy to own.
Yes there are niggles but when you think of all the years Duke only made V twins except for the Desmosidici they have done a fairly good job with the V4.
I looked at a Speciale and could not justify the $65,000 price tag for the few extra bits you got, your not supposed to have that race exhaust on the road anyway. (Thats why I upgraded my wifes bike she still has the 500 though)
Yes you get a tad hot from the engine yes there are recalls think the next one is the oil cooler mines due for that one but all in all not bad.
You know we are all in it together no matter what you ride, we are all trying to enjoy our bikes and stay alive and away from those fricking car drivers.
I have had my share of stacks on & off road with some very narrow squeeks in between happily surviving to carry on again.
So if you buy a Ferrari type vehicle you have to put up with its niggles because thats what the Ducati is a thoroughbred and it's finicky.
Sorry for the long thread but I just wanted to explain my history with bikes so if I do say something it is probably based on my experiences as an experienced rider & not some noephyte clutching the clouds.
Cheers,
Cinders
