Bought my first Ducati - a 748 - in 1999. Loved it but it didn't last long as 6 months after purchase I was taken out by a pensioner. Pretty lucky not to be killed or even badly injured beyond a mangled leg. Gave up riding on the road. In fact gave up completely for a few years but decided the accident couldn't be my last experience on a bike so started to do track days. For various reasons decided to get a scooter in 2013, which turned very quickly into a Supernaked and as of three weeks ago an 899 Panigale. When I first picked it up the suspension was stiff as a board but now backed off and bike is handling very well (although still stiff by normal standards). Took a few rides to get back into the swing of riding a Ducati but really loving it now. Although the 899 is brilliant the Ducati I really want (since it came out) is the Desmo. Earlier in the year I tried to get an insurance quote but was given silly numbers. However, last week I finally found a decent quote and this week bought a Desmo! Not been delivered yet. Other bike in the garage is an Aprilia RS250, which I hope to take out for a ride tomorrow if this good weather holds. Seems I have a thing for Italian sportsbikes!
Sorry! I feel a bit like someone that has won the lottery but has no one to tell (except strangers on the internet!!) My wife hates bikes with a passion so can't discuss it with her. My daughter is worried I'm squandering her inheritance! My work colleagues are clueless about bikes so completely lost on them (although lovely people many are a bit posh - e.g. the FD actually described someone last week (non ironically) as "a good egg" and I suspect they are at best bemused by my love of bikes. So sorry again but going to bore you all with pictures and stories
Biking is no more expensive than golf. And you have something of material value when you shut the garage door at night. Once you use up golf membership it's value has completely gone. If you really want to worry her start leaving helicopter magazines lying about
I was once seeing a girl when her father died. A few months later, her mother went on a cruise and she was not best pleased because her mother "spending her inheritance" :Wideyed: To this day, about 20 years later, I know her mother is still about, happily spending away.
The 899 is awesome, the correct successor of your 748. Fantastic choice. A RS250 is also really nice, brings back memories.
