Ha ha ha. Don't hold back, give it to em straight. Good for you Ducaticonvert. This is the funniest thread I've read in a while. When I can't get on a sports bike I'm hoping for a custom Ducati mobility thingy. Sod it, I have to use the word 'scooter' as a descriptor. (Please God never let Ducati make a scooter). Then I'm going to take this V-Twin mobility thing down to Beachy Head for a flying lesson. Give it some gas and off I go! I'll be 60 years young this year and I just love riding my Panigale. Despite 'White Van Man' and recently a London mini cab driver trying to smash 7 shades of shit out of my back and four or five ops of varying severity/stupidity last year. The Pani is a keeper. Thanks to The Twat that couldn't drive and caused the recent pile up and then buggered off, I recently found myself on the floor totally unable to get up and in serious agony. The Mrs got the pain killing gel, got me up, round to the Docs then physio terrorist. What I really recommend though is a short course of Valium + Ibroprufen and "don't mix it with alcohol". So of course I did. French air traffic control may not have been flying but I was. Happy days. Now this of course meant a total ban on using any machinery "Not even an electric carving knife." according to my doctor. I couldn't move or breath until this cocktail kicked in so riding was impossible. I couldn't even get off the physio table. Insert every expletive you can think of here. After a weeks layoff my back has released off, my system has cleared and yesterday I went for a ride on my ST4. On Thursday me and Mssrs Ibro and Prufen are off for another 1000 mile trek. My advice.... Never give up. Keep the Pani. I found a Mutly too sit up but each to their own, plenty of guys love 'em. I prescribe adding a Monster to the stable if you need to sit up a bit more.
2 cents incoming....not going to change anything my end til I stop....to a certain extent cars don't interest me, (ive got a little Toyota IQ) for when its raining, too cold or I need to transport more than what I can put in my bag. Its cheap (free to tax) and in 5 years apart from the servicing which is also cheap its needed one tyre....if I sold all the bikes and wanted 4 wheel performance id get a kit Cobra (you need to shell out 25k plus to get a decent one). At 46 (47 in a few months) I have an RSV4 factory, a z1ooo (2014), and a ktm 525 supermoto....and a soon be collected hypermotard 1100 evo sp - ktm is up for sale, I didn't think id miss my last hyper but I do, big time, miss the torque, sound, looks, all of it...I think like others here physically I'm 46/47, in my head I'm still 17 and while the bank continues to let me have money ill keep enjoying myself!! Physically if I got to a point where I couldn't ride the RSV4 anymore I'm considering draining the liquids from it and storing it. Let it appreciate in value and leave it for my kids to flog on...the zed will never be uncomfortable and the hyper also, both really comfortable.... Digressing a little but you get the gist...
Well, when I pick it up (7 Sleeps!) ill have the perfect garage. 1x sports (rsv4) 1x Naked (z1ooo) and 1x supermoto (Hyper). Unless I come into a serious amount of money then that's the way itll be staying for the foreseeable future...just have to pay for them all now... If I was greedy the only thing id change is the rsv4 for an RF but a. ive not got another 8k kicking around to spend and b. ill not see the limit of what ive got and more importantly if I did buy something else then I don't think id make it through the night as my lovely wife would have to say something about it...
1 sports naked - 1098 SF 1 sporty but slightly more upright naked - KTM 1290 SR 1 slightly more upright again but still quite sporty naked (with a screen) KTM 990 SMT Van Ideal.
I'm just 64, retired and have rheumatoid arthritis that can sometimes be too uncomfortable or too dangerous to ride. At this very moment I am converting my dilapidated M900 Monster which hasn't turned a wheel in ten years into a café racer, I am obviously going the wrong way. There will be a build thread as soon as I get myself organised with pictures etc. I really enjoy riding fast, preferably on my own, preferably on roads that I roughly know what lies ahead. The sports bike crouch makes it faster (or seem faster) also the weight is forward on the front wheel where you need to feel the grip to go fast. I enjoy riding all sorts of motorcycles, (the second on the restoration list is a delightful 31/2 Moto Morini), but the real fun for me is in going as fast as you can (or dare, or is safe in the circumstances) with enough power to frighten you and be a challenge to tame. That is why I shall always have a sports bike at least until I get a wooden overcoat
Well said, that's the reason I own the 3 that I do....theyre all hooligan bikes, just in different shapes...
I was a sportsbike rider through and through... until I rode a KTM 990 SMT. I then went straight out and ditched the 848 for a KTM 990 SMR and it's the best bike i've ever ridden. I now ride a Multistrada that comes in a very close second but i'm done on sportsbikes. What's the point riding round worrying about damp, greasy, pothole filled roads when you can go just as fast (or faster on those surfaces) on a supermoto style bike.
Thought my sports bike days were behind me a few years ago. Since then I've owned 2 Triumph speed triples and a BMW gs adventure. Fancied a change from my last Speedy as the effort on open roads to maintain speed in the wind blast just became a pain (literally) Always fancied a Ducati and loved the Panigale first time I saw it at the NEC. Bought an 899 and absolutely love it. Best bike I've ever owned and I'm so pleased to be back on a sports bike. There is something about the dynamic, weight, handling, urgency some other bikes just don't give. I'm 49 and hope to be on this for some time to come as I find it really comfortable. JS.
Have you tried the 1290 JH? Same lovely chassis as the SMT/SMR, same effortless steering, just a mahoosive dose of steroids in the engine department. I'm finding its virtually as good at back lane blatting as the SMT. You do sit in rather than on it but it doesn't really feel much bigger or heavier. There's far less margin for error with the throttle with that engine but its smoother and easier to ride quickly on small roads than the Streetfighter. I never thought I'd say it but I'm beginning to see the value of TC....
I like you Gimlet, like me you're always harping on about how good KTM are My dealer has suggested I pop down and try the KTM GT that they're getting in soon. I do too much 2-up and touring to get your 1290 (however good it looks). If my multi died right now i'd sit on ebay scouring the country for a 990 SMR or SMT (or take yours off your hands).
I don't think I can part with it. The SMT feels like a favourite dog. Its a dependable mate that's always there and always ready to come out to play. Never thought I'd say it (again) but if I hadn't spent so much money on engine and suspension which I'll never get back, I think I'd probably sell the SF before either of the KTMs. And the trouble I'm having with the blown dash which may see the SF having to be moth-balled this year, and the cost of parts and servicing, I currently feel far more brand loyalty to KTM than I do to Ducati. There are bikes for polishing and dribbling over and there are bikes for riding... PS: I think you'll like the GT..
Great minds and all that! I had a pact with a mate of mine who has got MS real bad and I've got MD - he is keen on the beaches head idea himself quadraphenia style but I said no way am I having my obituary in the papers saying I departed on a fuckin lambretta/Vespa ladies hairdryer! I said let's be sensible about this m8?- we will go out in a blaze of glory on my cool as chopper (no jokes please)
Started on the building sites during the summer school holidays when I was 16. Sadly managed to drop a 10ft concrete lintel 2 of us were carrying and although I managed to "save" it on my thighs as I sank backwards, it slid off trapping the fingers of my left hand between it and the ground. Stupidly I snatched my hand away too late and ended up having the last joint of 3 fingers being stitched back on. Luckily I was wearing gloves. That was the last time I worked the sites but through the years I've worked in a couple of ship yards and deserts. Andy
