New Member Not Riding On A Fabulous Day

Hi fellow Ducatistis,
From what I've seen so far, if you see a red 999 bip in Gloucestershire, it's mine! Having said that, when I rode a 180 Jota 30 years ago, I never saw another on the road. Or the 750 Bonneville I wrote off 16 years back.
So, 16 years ago I damaged my hand. I thought my riding days were over - in the UK climate anyway. Then when I began to miss it so much I didn't care about the hand, I wasn't at a location where I could keep a bike (Tudor cottage). Now I've moved and about 3 months ago bought the Duke. Now, after nearly 3000 miles, the 999 is an extension of me, and it is just beautiful!
May be a quirk, but the Jota was a more comfortable riding position - maybe the lack of a fairing. At 5'8" I could only touch the ground on tiptoe. To go by the reviews from taller riders, it was uncompromisingly uncomfortable to ride, while by some outlandish confluence I was apparently just the right size for it once it was rolling!
On the other hand the seat on the 999 is more comfortable than the T140's was. Not that Meriden Triumphs were ever known for comfort (a guy I knew in the late-‘70s sold his on account of his haemorrhoids, and you can’t get more loyal than that! I mean, I’d have changed my diet. You’d almost think he wanted an excuse to sell it: ‘What would all my Triumph-riding mates believe?’ He bought an RE5. And drifted away) yet the Duke seat looks as welcoming as a sheet of plywood! Well, it’s comfortable for the 1st 100 miles.

Anyhow, so after nearly 16 years not so much as sitting on a motorcycle, I get back in the saddle on a 165mph + (presuming the Termi ups the top speed a little) thinly-disguised racer. So I did 25,000 miles on a Jota, long ago. I was confident, but not complacent. The trick is not thinking acceleration will be comparable. Or that you are. I was planning on visiting my traditional 'ton up' road to 'christen' the 999, as it were, but ended up doing my 1st ton, on the M4, by accident, overtaking. Which was a valuable lesson. As for me, though I can see well enough today, the difference between then and now is ridiculous. That, and the gut resting on the tank-pad, are a constant reminder that it’s been a long time and don’t you forget it!
Otherwise, I still appear to have RH-change muscle memory and wonder if I'm too old to ever lose that now... but in most ways it’s like there was no 15 ½ year break; it isn’t just muscle memory – it’s who I am. Like a cowboy on a horse, I guess (I rode a horse, once, 20-odd years ago and thought: “Wow! It’s like a motorbike that’s alive!”)
I used to buy Jota parts from Motodd, and Bonnie parts from Wilemans. I suspect I'll have many 999 parts sourcing questions to post here! I mean, are there actually any shops you can walk into and say "I'd like such-and-such a part", and they know exactly what you mean, and go get it? Do Ducati care? I get the idea they’d rather forget it.
Apparently you like photos: my late mother on the Lav; late father on the Bonnie (panels removed for bell-mouths); Bip in Warwick.

 

Hi Bumpkin,

The group looks interesting, though I'm not sure I have the discipline - you know, not to go haring off on a whim?
Essentially I quit drinking long ago because I preferred riding (and had a close shave 40 years ago when I came back from the pub merry enough that I got the 500 Triumph I was riding back then, out for a blast and nearly hit the kerb on an 'S' bend). So riding to pubs in places like Stow would be very frustrating, because I do still like a nice craft beer/guest ale on occasion!

Anyway, I'm sure we'll talk about it some more, some time.

Trips to the continent, on the other hand...! Post-EU hassle notwithstanding...

Another pic - nearly more than 30 years ago and all rest assured I wouldn't dare ride like this today:

Rethymnon, Crete

 

Sorry, I just keep thinking of Baby Bunting (almost wrote Baby Grumpling!). But you did say this was a Mad House.

I'll kill him!

 

Still not riding!

Not long after I got the bike, the no. plate got dragged over the wheel - presumably I backed it into the post I chain the back wheel to. Naturally the bracket snapped. I improvised a bracket, as I was going to Basingstoke that AM. And when I got there I found I now lost the plate entirely! That's when I found out you can't just have one made without the log book (which I don't carry!).
When I got back to Chelt is when I found out the kinds of mileage you can do without a no. plate!
So I got a plate made, and made another bracket; and you know, I'd stop from time to time to see if it was still there! So, while I'm trying to find the genuine article online, the latest bracket seems fine - until about 1000 miles later I realize I'm riding without a no. plate again!
I finally found the correct - used - bracket (on Ebay). So I'm waiting for that to arrive. Because I don't want to go back to Spa Motorcycles for my 3rd no. plate!
I finally figured it out: my improvised brackets were springy enough to rebound towards the tyre when it hit a bump hard enough to compress the shocker to near full deflection - and zzzzzzip! under the seat it goes!
Which is why I'm not riding on a fabulous day!

 

I'm kind of annoyed at John Cleese for making it look like plagiarism starting a post with 'So anyway'!

So anyway, I'd like to thank the members who've welcomed me to Ducati Forum I haven't replied to directly! It would seem a little OCD to respond to every single post, but you've thoroughly warmed my cockles just the same!

Thanks to all.

 

Hey Ducbird!

Where I live: