I was lucky enough to do a road trip on a rented 1098s from Pisa to Misano in 2009. The first hour or so riding out of the city I remember being so disappointed. I was finally riding my dream bike and it was hot, uncomfortable and chugged like an old tractor. Then later that day on a brilliant country road in hills north of Lucca something clicked and and I was hooked. When I got home and jumped back on my 04 R1 it felt like a fizzy and I promised my self “one day” I would buy a Ducati. It took me three years but in 2012 I became the proud owner of an 848 Evo Corse SE which is a keeper. It’s exceeded all my expectations with great rides, track days and even a 2200mile road trip to the factory and back in 2015. Always dreaming and will buy a project Monster one day to bring back to its prime.
In the late 70's after passing my test on a Honda CB250K4, I bought a Suzuki GT750A Kettle which I had for a year, amazing engine but the frame etc. just weren't up to coping with the power and weight resulting in wayward handling. Before I got the chance to do something about it, such as a box section swing arm, some scrote stole it. During the time of waiting for the insurance money to come through I went to a bike show and saw the Ducati's there and was smitten. As soon as the insurance paid up, and borrowing the rest I bought a Red/White '78 900 Darmah. Owned it for about 4 years, fabulous engine and handling, but not the most reliable bike, dubious electrics and it ate clutch cables - it was my only transport at the time, and having broken the bank buying it I didn't have the money to care for it properly, but the bug had well and truly bitten. Unfortunately marriage and a family meant it had to go as I needed a car. Fast forward about 20 odd years, in 2005 after family grown up and a divorce, I was in a position to be able to afford a bike again, I was always taken by the Supersport models since seeing them at the NEC in the mid/late 90's. None of the Japanese bikes appealed at all, in fact I have only been a pillion on an inline four a couple of times and didn't feel any character to them. So managed to find a '96 carby 900SS, which over the next 8 years, during the winter layoffs I gradually went through with the usual improvements, starter cables, Oberon clutch cylinder, engine out for a repaint, lots of stainless fasteners etc. Absolutely loved that bike and had made it mine - until another scrote stole that one. Wasn't sure what to replace it with, didn't think I wanted to go for another SS as it wouldn't be the same as my bike. I remembered when I had been to the Isle of Man for the Manx TT in 2006, seeing a couple of Monsters which looked different from the standard original ones, but wasn't sure what they were. So I looked and found they were probably S2R's, so I started looking at them. Eventually I decided on a Monster S4R and bought a Blue/White '05 model which I have now owned for 4 years. I am afraid I am totally beyond all help when it comes to lusting after totally impractical Italian thoroughbreds, as I am also on my 5th Alfa Romeo, present one being a 2009 Red Spider.
Back in the early mid-seventies I was running BSA Gold Stars but was intrigued by the Ducati 750 that had just won Imola and when I saw the first 750 Sports I just had to have one. I couldn't afford one then though. However, 2 guys who were students at St. Andrews uni had a 450 Desmo and a 750 Sport but there was no local dealer and they had no money and no idea about looking after bikes so I helped them out a lot with servicing and maintaining their bikes and became all the more keen to have a Ducati of my own. At the end of 1976 I sold my precious DBD34 to David Dixon of Dixon Racing who bought it on behalf of a friend in Scandinavia and I put the cash to buying a brand new 860GTS from Jack Gow M/Cs in Dundee, I still couldn't afford an SS (and didn't buy another brand new bike until the Scrambler Classic in 2015). I had it supplied with Conti silencers and put nearly 23,000 miles on it before trading it in to Coburn & Hughes for an ex-demonstrator 900SS they were selling. It turned out to be the ex-road test bike that had gone round the magazines but served me well for another 12 years or so I've often wondered what happened to Mick and to Chris Palmer after they left St. Andrews. Chris moved to London and worked as a DR for a number of years and subsequently owned a 900 GTS a 900SS but I lost touch years ago.
A few years off bikes saw me back on an Sv 650. Great bike, and a twin. Next up a twin pipe Mille, great bike and reliable! 18 months in, fancied something else, knew it had to be A Ducati. Pearl white 848.
the GF bought a monster due too her being a midget, I rode it back 60 odd miles and loved it after loads of Yamaha's and a triumph so bought a 1098 SF soon after..
1974 Dragon Rally. I was there on my CB500 Honda. I was an engineering student and had recently learned of the magic afforded by two big cylinders at 90 deg. Walking down to the pub on the sat evening, two late arrivals thundered past us .. a 750S and a 750GT. I was smitten from that moment but price, reliability, dealer scarcity etc along with young family stuff all conspired to make it 30yrs before I could scratch the itch. I've had my 750 monster for about 12yrs now and it is without question a lifetime keeper.
What brought me to Ducati? Leg length! The 749, for those interested, had the lowest seat height in the range at the time.
My Ducati journey started when the 916 came out, I just loved the looks and I managed to buy one in 1996. Previously had only owned Japanese bikes and was a little worried that I would not like the sound of a twin vs inline 4. Needn't have worried there!!
When I first saw a Monster back in the 90's it was love at first sight. I loved the naked style but couldn't afford it. I was in school full time (for motorcycle repair) and with two small kids to raise settled on a more affordable Yamaha TW200 instead. Actually the TW was a lot of fun for the money. It also drew a lot of attention because of the fat rear tire and it was a great bike to take to the track and ride around the grounds or just do some local ditch riding. It only took 20+ years before finally getting my 2003 Monster and now my heart goes pitter patter everytime I look at it in the garage. My husband suggested I store it in our barn for the winter...Absolutely not! It stays right where I can see it everyday.
Definitely Carl fogartys fault . Just loved watching him race in world superbikes at brands hatch where I took this photo of my SP
Past my test, bought an evo848, fliipin brilliant bike. Looking at having to trade the 959 this year, I think, need to check, but I can't see me being able to afford another new one, hopefully pick up a good used bike.
Dad called me a feckin wanker. Thought one day dad I will prove you wrong. So when I grew up & got old & crinkly like him I bought a multistrada with the cash I nicked from his bank account. Then I ran him over. After I had also nicked the ballbearings from his iron lung. Arggg.
Lol , nothing as interesting as the previous poster. Always loved the 748 / 916 shape and bought one in November when they were at the bottom of the market. Makes me smile every time I look at it . Puddy
I wanted something with character, a bike that stirred the soul, that when you walk away from it you always turn around, stop and look at it with a smile. Not a boring Honda, BWW type of thing.
What got me started - simply looking at my big brothers brand new Ducati 175 Sport back in the mid 50's. Red and Gold, polished alloy everywhere, clip-on's as standard and what a beautiful shaped tank with lugs to strap something soft for a chin-rest! Forbidden to touch it or sit on it and light years away in design from the British Iron he went through, all I could do was dream; the seed had been sown. Fast forward to early 80's with Ariel Leader, Honda CB72, early Gold Star, Honda FT500 in between, '83 I think, and riding a 400/4 went to the Island with a mate (Laverda 1000RGS) and to the Italian Owners Meet and it was there the seed germinated. Instant love affair with big Guzzi's and Duke's with their huge V Twin engines (well I was on a 400/4...) and the noise , charisma and hadn't Mike just shown the world how to do it. Back home and our next trip was to 3X Wimbourne, the reason why escapes me, maybe something for the RGS but for me it turned out to be the dream coming true - the 400/4 went in PX for a 2yr old 1 owner SD900 Darmah. I have been a died in the wool Ducatisti ever since. Tooling it around the mountain in '84 and '85 confirmed I had "my" dream bike which was personalised with a MHR style fairing and clip-on's . The Darmah went to a new home in 1999. A neighbour and subsequent friend let me ride his 1098 after being bike-less for many which was streets ahead in every respect from the Darmah, I knew I had to have another Duke. I was looking for a cheaper means of travel to/from UK/France for family reasons so the time came to buy another bike after being without one for 20 odd yrs. This time in '16 it was an ST3S which with it's fitted panniers fitted the bill perfectly. All the performance I will ever need, a bit of luggage space and it's a big RED V-twin. (I refuse to refer to it as an L, tossers. Damned PC everywhere). Now for the ooh's and ahhh's and maybe a tear or two . Just before Christmas I returned from UK with my old Darmah, having bought it back, making me the 2nd and 4th owner. My two Dukes share the garage with my Guzzi Norge 1200 on which my partner and I did Lombardy Lakes last year. Anyone trying to calculate my age, stop. This aging juvenile will be 76 in a few weeks . Off topic. Another Monty contributed to this thread, "Hi, not many of us around"
