Another motorbike.....Ducati.... am I mad

[stuvy]

Mine has the wierd indicator switches, push to turn on, but a separate button to cancel. Several times I've beeped my horn at cars by pressing the 'cancel button' on the wrong side. It's probably my most favourite ever bike, and I've done 45,000 miles in the five years I've had it.

My mate had a new blade and brought it round to let me have a spin, was a great bike but Honda had moved the indicator and horn location

Basically swapped them over for under(thanks to the idiot that decided that)

I couldn’t help but beep the horn every time I indicated

I said it to my mate and he said it’s the only reason he was gonna sell it as it drove him mad

 

[Rannsachair]

One of the technicians from back then still has an ST2, wouldn't part with it for the world. Salesman had an ST, went to Scotland mosy weekends off, eventually left to live at Glenancross near Mallaig.

I looked at the ST2 when I bought my R1100S, realistically 83 hp is adequate, they still do 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds. Would be a cheaper option, though they seem to be going up in value. Glenancross in about 110 miles North of me., great roads.

 

[Greeves246]

I looked at the ST2 when I bought my R1100S, realistically 83 hp is adequate, they still do 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds. Would be a cheaper option, though they seem to be going up in value. Glenancross in about 110 miles North of me., great roads.

And the beach is the one used in Local Hero, looks like something that should be in the Caribbean.

 

[stuvy]

@Rannsachair and this forum you lot cost me loads

Iv just been looking at Ducati scramblers, Iv always wanted one but just can’t justify the money for what they are

 

[Munkul]

@Rannsachair and this forum you lot cost me loads

Iv just been looking at Ducati scramblers, Iv always wanted one but just can’t justify the money for what they are

Cousin has a scrambler 800 which will be for sale shortly
I really like it, my only complaint is the classic ducati gearbox with ghost shifting if you don't press hard enough.
He's selling because "it doesn't have a fuel gauge or a gear indicator" lol those were his exact words yesterday
He's done less than 300 miles on it since he got it and he's looking at getting an indian FTR just because he likes the look of them...fair play

 

[stuvy]

Cousin has a scrambler 800 which will be for sale shortly
I really like it, my only complaint is the classic ducati gearbox with ghost shifting if you don't press hard enough.
He's selling because "it doesn't have a fuel gauge or a gear indicator" lol those were his exact words yesterday
He's done less than 300 miles on it since he got it and he's looking at getting an indian FTR just because he likes the look of them...fair play

Iv just brought the crf450 off my mate and why is it always the way been offered a project blackbird, project pegaso(rotax) all this weekend

 

[zx9]

Totally at odds with the bikes talked about in the last three and a bit pages, I am thinking about a used 1050 Tiger at the moment, I have not ridden the ZX9 for two years and want something a bit more relaxed.
This year is going to be the year of doing things that I have avoided for far too long, already sold my Audi which I had owned for 22 years, the house in Yorkshire is on the market and both Steph and my self have bikes we are not riding, time to move on.

 

[Edward Teach]

I dropped my Beemer in a lay-by in Andorra a couple of years ago. Forgot the lay-by was on a steep hill, so my downhill foot couldn't reach the floor.... I had to shout to a guy in a car nearby to help stand it up, as it was loaded very top heavy, and had fallen downhill and I simply could not get it up on the gravel.


View attachment 341283

I altered my packing system remarkably after that trip. Far better handling now.

View attachment 341284

If I bought another bike it would probably a slightly more modern version of this same bike, maybe a GS, if the seats not too high for my stumpy little legs.

I thought I took enough kit with me when on tour,
But, you beat me hands down

 

[Rannsachair]

Totally at odds with the bikes talked about in the last three and a bit pages, I am thinking about a used 1050 Tiger at the moment, I have not ridden the ZX9 for two years and want something a bit more relaxed.
This year is going to be the year of doing things that I have avoided for far too long, already sold my Audi which I had owned for 22 years, the house in Yorkshire is on the market and both Steph and my self have bikes we are not riding, time to move on.

A work colleague bought a Tiger 1050 new, loved it, toured Europe a few times on it, nice looking bike.

 

[stuvy]

Totally at odds with the bikes talked about in the last three and a bit pages, I am thinking about a used 1050 Tiger at the moment, I have not ridden the ZX9 for two years and want something a bit more relaxed.
This year is going to be the year of doing things that I have avoided for far too long, already sold my Audi which I had owned for 22 years, the house in Yorkshire is on the market and both Steph and my self have bikes we are not riding, time to move on.

The tiger xc is something Iv always listed after they fetch some serious money

 

[Rannsachair]

I thought I took enough kit with me when on tour,
But, you beat me hands down

I have had more on my old R100RS, Full baggalux tank bank, Krauser Paniers full, a dry bag strapped over that and a rucksack, though I was heading from my Parents house in Perth to live in Leicester for 6 months while working at Triumph.

 

[mangocrazy]

I don’t know anyone who’s owned a Ducati and hasn’t had some sort of disgustingly expensive failure. Wouldn’t be given one.

I’ve recently developed a hankering for a ktm 640 adventure, not as much of a lump as the bigger adventures so can have more of a play off road. I never got on with the bmw gs bikes, they feel insanely wide and uncomfortable on the hips

I've owned two Ducatis, an 851 and an 888 SP3. Neither experienced a disgustingly expensive failure, in fact any failure at all. I only owned the 851 for a couple of years before I traded it in for the 888 SP3, and that was in 1992 and I've owned it ever since. But they do require regular maintenance and in particular the toothed belts. Change those at the recommended intervals and all will be well. Play fast and loose with service intervals and you will pay heavily for it.

Modern Ducatis have service intervals that are at least as good as any other mainstream manufacturer and build quality and reliability are also on par with any other brand.

I also have the last of the line KTM Duke 690 R. It's probably the most fun I've ever had on a bike. If you want something, light, fun and which caters for the hooligan dormant within you, get one.

 

[GavJ]

A work colleague bought a Tiger 1050 new, loved it, toured Europe a few times on it, nice looking bike.

I had a Tiger 1050, kept it 7 years... loved the bike but found it too uncomfortable for long distances, was ok for 100 miles at a time.

 

[Edward Teach]

This one will make you
Only about 25kgs of kit though,
Handled the same,
South of Paris,
Shocked a French R1 rider,
He couldn't believe how quick it was,
Their bikes, at the time were/are restricted apparently
I rode 65,000 miles on this bike before I dropped it, gutted.
All touring, fun miles, never ridden to work.
Rocket ship.

edit:- I have another now

 

[Rannsachair]

I've owned two Ducatis, an 851 and an 888 SP3. Neither experienced a disgustingly expensive failure, in fact any failure at all. I only owned the 851 for a couple of years before I traded it in for the 888 SP3, and that was in 1992 and I've owned it ever since. But they do require regular maintenance and in particular the toothed belts. Change those at the recommended intervals and all will be well. Play fast and loose with service intervals and you will pay heavily for it.

Modern Ducatis have service intervals that are at least as good as any other mainstream manufacturer and build quality and reliability are also on par with any other brand.

I also have the last of the line KTM Duke 690 R. It's probably the most fun I've ever had on a bike. If you want something, light, fun and which caters for the hooligan dormant within you, get one.

Most bike reliability surveys have the Japanese at the top with BMW near the bottom, e.g.

Ducati and Triumph not great either. The 851 and 888 are works of art.

 

[zx9]

I had a Tiger 1050, kept it 7 years... loved the bike but found it too uncomfortable for long distances, was ok for 100 miles at a time.View attachment 341339

That is what has kept me off the ZX9 for so long so interesting to hear the Tiger was uncomfortable, can I ask in what way? If it helps, I am 6ft tall and about 12 1/2 stone, it is the hand stands required from the ZX9 when braking hard which gets me first followed by pain in the hips when riding any distance.

 

[GavJ]

That is what has kept me off the ZX9 for so long so interesting to hear the Tiger was uncomfortable, can I ask in what way? If it helps, I am 6ft tall and about 12 1/2 stone, it is the hand stands required from the ZX9 when braking hard which gets me first followed by pain in the hips when riding any distance.

To be fair it was probably more me than the bike, I got arm pump and numb fingers, had grip puppies on it but still got numbness. The seat wasnt bad, I had the "comfort" seat and riding position was ok for wrists etc. Still ached after a long run, the RT is so different, I want to go the pub after a run on it where I wanted a hot bath after the tiger.

 

[Morrisman]

I thought I took enough kit with me when on tour,
But, you beat me hands down

I only had some tiny ebay side bags, so everything got piled on top, tent, sleeping bag, clothes, tools etc.

Last couple of trips I took I barely filled the alloy boxes, no tent, just hotels every night. Too old to be crawling round on the floor.

 

[Edward Teach]

I only had some tiny ebay side bags, so everything got piled on top, tent, sleeping bag, clothes, tools etc.

Last couple of trips I took I barely filled the alloy boxes, no tent, just hotels every night. Too old to be crawling round on the floor.

I'm just about to be crawling around the floor for several weeks, around Spain and Portugal,
It is surprising though, where did all this kit come from, sort of affair
This is the first fitting, to see what it will be like,
There is less kit than I took last time, to Wales
The rear tyre has now been replaced,
The front tyre will be replaced tomorrow, with stiffer front springs to complement the uprated rear spring

 

[addjunkie]

That is what has kept me off the ZX9 for so long so interesting to hear the Tiger was uncomfortable, can I ask in what way? If it helps, I am 6ft tall and about 12 1/2 stone, it is the hand stands required from the ZX9 when braking hard which gets me first followed by pain in the hips when riding any distance.

Snap, wrists and hips in agony now after 20 minutes on any sporty bike. I had a half day last summer on an 800 xr Triumph, preferred it to the bigger one.