- Joined
- Dec 8, 2014
- Messages
- 9
- Location
- Florida
I've put almost 20K on my bike in a little over a year. Much of that in the Four Corners states, but also in Ozarkia and Appalachia, plus home-base in central Florida. Aside from the weak-... panniers, and rear-tyres that can be scrubbed to the belts in just 3K miles (if you're really aggressive in the mtns., or can't resist wheelies!) the bike is absolutely perfect for the roads and infra-structure of N. America. The small range (my light's on @138mi when at sea-level, 150 above 5000') is no real problem as gas-stations are plentiful, except for some parts of the empty West, where one can easily be 70 miles or more between pumps. The tyres are the biggest trouble, and trips over 4000 miles better include a scheduled stop at the few-&-far-between Ducati dealers for a new one. I've had them wear out on me by surprise three times in three trips, with serious impact on my itineraries!
Best US roads for fun, fast, curvy riding, IME, are probably a tie between Colorado and the Ozarks. Appalachian roads are older, follow the terrain more closely, and can be maddeningly slow: so twisty you often can't see far enough to safely ride over 25. No me gusta. Arizona is sandy and windy, twice dust-devils pushed our riders all over their lanes. New Mexico is overrun with cops, some of whom are infamous for their brutality, and deserts (also brutal). Colorado west of the 105th parallel, and Utah, south of I-70 and east of I-15, in spring and fall are practically heaven for riders, esp. if you like kaleidoscopic geology.
The bike handles it all. It charges up to the top of 12,000' passes without a noticeable drop in hp, and flies down the backsides with joy and confidence on that huge rubber and top-flight brakes. The lack of huge wind-stopping fairings means it suffers neither dust-devil nor semis. Even loaded for touring, the suspension is up to even washboardy dirt-roads (esp. with the Russell seat), i.e. Phantom Canyon Rd. and Cottonwood Pass. The slipper clutch means I have yet to hurt myself despite being a novice, and the DTC has probably saved me who-knows-how-many times. It's just a blast to ride, and the Strada, with it's pulled back bar, heated-grips, beefy alternator for the twin-accessory plugs, backrest, and sturdy pillion pegs, is so comfy you could doze off on super-slab drones, IF the bike weren't so fun and steady to ride fast! The weight is hyper-low (compared to its rivals), the bike so agile that steering can be done at slow speed with just your hips. It's sexy to see, seriously stimulating to pilot, and my wife loves it from the pillion spot. A cruiser-style neutral seating position, with the pulled-back bar makes long distances a snap. I parted with $700 for a Russell Day-long seat and it's a miracle, and R&G engine sliders, which are just big enough for my legs to rest on, straight out like a chopper! For safety my buddy and I (he has a red&silver bodyworked DiavelStrada) put Clearwater Darla's up front, and Rizoma LEDs in back. I also made a luggage rack bolted to the DP rack, which is so small it's only good as a frame. To this was added an LED brake-light bar.
At $21K, it cost (past tense--[shakes fist in direction of Bologna]) way less than most of the fat, sclerotic, under-powered, hard-to-stop best-sellers (some people pay $35K USD for some of those shiny pigs! Chrome must be costly!). Ducati made a huge mistake cancelling the Strada, IMHO.
Best US roads for fun, fast, curvy riding, IME, are probably a tie between Colorado and the Ozarks. Appalachian roads are older, follow the terrain more closely, and can be maddeningly slow: so twisty you often can't see far enough to safely ride over 25. No me gusta. Arizona is sandy and windy, twice dust-devils pushed our riders all over their lanes. New Mexico is overrun with cops, some of whom are infamous for their brutality, and deserts (also brutal). Colorado west of the 105th parallel, and Utah, south of I-70 and east of I-15, in spring and fall are practically heaven for riders, esp. if you like kaleidoscopic geology.
The bike handles it all. It charges up to the top of 12,000' passes without a noticeable drop in hp, and flies down the backsides with joy and confidence on that huge rubber and top-flight brakes. The lack of huge wind-stopping fairings means it suffers neither dust-devil nor semis. Even loaded for touring, the suspension is up to even washboardy dirt-roads (esp. with the Russell seat), i.e. Phantom Canyon Rd. and Cottonwood Pass. The slipper clutch means I have yet to hurt myself despite being a novice, and the DTC has probably saved me who-knows-how-many times. It's just a blast to ride, and the Strada, with it's pulled back bar, heated-grips, beefy alternator for the twin-accessory plugs, backrest, and sturdy pillion pegs, is so comfy you could doze off on super-slab drones, IF the bike weren't so fun and steady to ride fast! The weight is hyper-low (compared to its rivals), the bike so agile that steering can be done at slow speed with just your hips. It's sexy to see, seriously stimulating to pilot, and my wife loves it from the pillion spot. A cruiser-style neutral seating position, with the pulled-back bar makes long distances a snap. I parted with $700 for a Russell Day-long seat and it's a miracle, and R&G engine sliders, which are just big enough for my legs to rest on, straight out like a chopper! For safety my buddy and I (he has a red&silver bodyworked DiavelStrada) put Clearwater Darla's up front, and Rizoma LEDs in back. I also made a luggage rack bolted to the DP rack, which is so small it's only good as a frame. To this was added an LED brake-light bar.
At $21K, it cost (past tense--[shakes fist in direction of Bologna]) way less than most of the fat, sclerotic, under-powered, hard-to-stop best-sellers (some people pay $35K USD for some of those shiny pigs! Chrome must be costly!). Ducati made a huge mistake cancelling the Strada, IMHO.
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