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Picked bike up yesterday having been on a my14 1200 S Touring for two years. Loved it, and decided I could only replace it for another one.

Pete1950 met me at WM Snells (great dealer) and kindly took a few pics before we headed off to Loomies to meet a friend. Before we had even got out of Alton, I felt at home and with 8 miles on the clock I pinged it into the roundabout on A31 and all the way around...wow it felt so easy I didnt worry about the fact it had new rubber

Simply put, its as smooth as Swiss Tony and gathers speed like Usain Bolt out the blocks. The skyhook is a step forward, soft like a GS at low speed (std touring mode) but when the pace picks up taught and precise. It feels slower, bit its not, its simply smoother. And the induction roar...no need to bother with another can thanks.

By Loomies (about 12 miles) I had a tiny strip of unused rubber on the edge left and right. By fuel time at 50 miles that was gone.

I see what people mean, it pitches...

Well had my '14 abs for a year now and thought I'd give you my list of woes....
Bugger all as it happens, happy days!

Heading down to Snells Sat to pick up the new bike, looking like 4 trains (! I hate trains) as I want to ride back not take the van. Anyone around, give me a shout, may drop down to see a mate back in Gosport then back to the Cotswolds via the twistiest roads I can find!

http://ducatiforum.co.uk/donate/
Get donating you lot!

Well she's here...picked her up Saturday from Manchester and have just done over 100 frustrated miles.... she's such a tease! I can hardly believe I'm riding sensible and keeping it to around 5000rpm when all she seems to want to do is go go go ! It's like having the devil on your shoulder saying ..go on do it ! 500 miles to go then another 1000 ? I don't think I can contain myself for that long!
Compared to my skyhook 63 plate multi she feels a lot more agile, lighter, smoother as we've all said, sits lower me lower for me, feet flat to the floor as apposed to the balls of my feet previously. Hardened up the suspension a tad when I got back home as when I took off from Manchester felt very soft (default I assume) and did another 30 which felt better. The sound is so much better too... the carb gives a roar from low revs that reminds me of the Amal Carbs that I fitted to Lambretta's many years ago (sorry chaps)
Dash is just great...but I thought there would be a bit more...

Ducati UK sets records with year to date sales up by 36%
Best ever first half sales for Ducati UK

Ducati UK continues to set records with year to date sales in the UK up 36% versus 2014 at nearly 2,200 motorcycles – the best ever first half sales for the company in the UK. The second quarter was also a best ever, up 50% at over 1500 sales and June itself was confirmed as the best month for sales in the history of Ducati in the UK with more than 550 registrations.
Sales records continue to topple in 2015 with March and May being the second and third best sales months ever in the UK and follow an unprecedented level of new model introductions. First to arrive this year was the new Scrambler family, followed quickly by the new 1299 Panigale and the all-new Multistrada 1200 DVT. The limited edition Diavel Titanium and Monster Stripe versions have also contributed to this result.

Tim Maccabee, Managing Director, explained “it’s very pleasing to see our Dealerships deliver such strong...

There you go @Tobytyke ... I got it washed properly this time

The old bike in need of tlc.
Bike is based on a 1957 Norton Wideline frame with a 1959 Triumph 6T Thunderbird engine.
i can give more nerdy details of how the bike came to be and some techy details if wanted.

Just picked up my new DVT today, its the standard version as I prefer the standard suspension having never got on with the skyhook version I previously had.

Love it, trips aren't resetting which is good, just pissed off with the silver panniers and top box, specially now as they are coming off production line colour coded. Ah well, will either have to buy the panels when available or get them sprayed. Too early to report on anything else but rides nicely, just got to run it in over the next few days.

One think of note, I had the OEM radiator guard fitted so they told me that Italy have advised that if this is fitted the front mud guard extension has to be removed as it can hit the radiator guard under heavy braking, anyone else heard this??

Ducati UK launch modified Ducati competition
Finals to be held at Silverstone round of British Superbikes
Winner receives specially designed trophy, £1000 worth of Ducati Performance vouchers and season pass for Ducati hospitality
Ducati UK is pleased to announce the launch of the 2015 Ducati ‘Speciale’ Challenge, a competition to find the best modified Ducati in the UK.

Ducati has always been synonymous with performance and design and most Ducati customers modify their bike in some way using the extensive array of Ducati Performance accessories available. To celebrate some of the best examples of self-expression by UK Ducatisti, Ducati UK will invite six finalists to display their bikes at the Silverstone round of the British Superbikes Championship on the 3rd and 4th October. Here a panel of judges led by Tim Maccabee, Managing Director of Ducati UK will jointly select the winner and runner up before awarding the trophies at the hospitality unit.

The winner of the Challenge...

The competition awards the best idea for a motorcycle vacation, accompanied by great music
The winner and two friends will receive an exclusive experience riding the new Multistrada 1200
Ducati is the first motorcycle brand to open a Spotify account and "play" with songs on the streaming music platform

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 10 July 2015 – Ducati launches its Ride a Song contest and asks competition participants to propose the ideal motorcycle vacation paired with great music. The best “road trip” wins a Multistrada Experience, an exclusive opportunity to ride the new Multistrada 1200, and the chance to share this exciting experience with two friends.

The Ride a Song contest arises from the partnership between Ducati and Spotify, the on-demand music streaming service, where the Italian manufacturer is the first motorcycle brand to open an account. On-air from July to the end of September 2015, Ride a Song asks participants to choose the perfect song for their dream...

Ducati sells 32,600 bikes in first six months of 2015 to achieve 22% increase
New monthly peak in June with 7,400 bikes delivered to customers (+ 60%)
9,000 Ducati Scramblers sold worldwide from January through June, highlighting the extraordinary success given to the new Ducati brand

Ducati Motor Holding has accelerated growth in 2015. The Bologna-based bike manufacturer managed to improve even further on the positive trend seen these last 5 years, with motorcycle sales increasing. The first half-year saw a huge 22% increase in volume with respect to the first half of 2014, leading to all-time record sales of 32,600 bikes worldwide.

Growth was observed in all countries. Performance during the first six months of 2015 confirms the USA as Ducati’s leading market with sales rising about 10%. The biggest percentage increase was recorded in Italy (+51%), followed by Spain (+38%), the UK (+36%), Germany (+24%) and France (+23%).

The results for June set a new monthly record (the...

20-point lead for Morris after second win of 2015
Guiver steals last-gasp victory in second race
Egan powers forward in National Superstock 1000
Leon Morris has extended his lead in the 2015 Ducati TriOptions Cup with a victory and a third place at Knockhill in Fife this weekend (4/5 July). Despite some extreme weather over the three days, the UK’s top one-make series provided some thrilling action, while Ducati racer in the National Superstock 1000 class James Egan equalled his best result of the season.

In dry conditions on Friday it was the P&H/Carl Cox Motorsport pairing of Morris and Dennis Hobbs leading the way, and following a delayed start on Saturday due to fog and overnight track damage it was Hobbs who secured pole position. Robbie Brown and Greg Gilfillan completed the front row for Boast Plumbing and G5G Racing respectively, with Morris heading up the second row.

When the lights went out in race one Morris blasted through and into second place, but in the early...

So, picked up the new bike yesterday and now the running in begins!

I've only done 50 miles and the things i noticed immediately which are different from the 1199 -

The seat "is" more comfortable when comparing it to the standard 1199 seat and the DP Race Seat.
The foot pegs are slightly higher and it feels like they are set back a little further too. I did get a little case of pins and needles in my right foot.
The 20mm increase in the screen height does make a difference and has reduced the wind on the body.
The mirrors are fine, no worse than the 1199 IMO.

and I don't like running bikes in!

More to come once I get out and about on it a bit more.

A couple of pics of a build that is coming to an end.
I bought a 851 and a ST4S to use the 996 engine, loom and ecu among other parts.
Just a few more parts to buy and a MOT and it will be ready to take out in the sun..

A brief spec,
Full Carbon bodywork
Ohlins R&T
Ohlins rear shock
IMA yokes
Radial m/cyl's
Brembo full billet one piece calipers
New floating discs
ST4S Marchesini wheels
Projector headlight conversion
High level 50mm spaghetti system

Doc john hinds crashed at skerries last night, appears he is in a critical condition....he's the flying doctor you see at all the Irish road races. Update....it's now confirmed Dr John Hinds has passed away.

Courtesy of Motorcycle News

Ducati have sold 32,600 motorcycles in the first six months of 2015 - an increase of 22% - leading to an all-time sales record for the Italian manufacturer.

The biggest percentage insreases were recorded in Italy (+51%), followed by Spain (+38%), the UK (+36%), Germany (+24%) and France (+23%). The USA is Ducati's leading market, with sales rising by 10%.

9000 Ducati Scramblers have been sold so far this year, alongside 4700 Multistradas, 3700 Monster 821s and 3000 Panigales.

Ducati seals an exclusive agreement with IMG, the leading multinational in the licensing sector
Ducati Motor Holding and IMG sign a 4-year contract
IMG is now handling the licensing activities of all Ducati products worldwide

Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy) - 2 July 2015 - Ducati Motor Holding appoints IMG as its exclusive global licensing representative, in a deal based on 4 years to work across all Ducati licensed products.

Ducati has developed a significant and well-established licensing programme covering a range of lifestyle products that includes clothing, accessories, toys, perfume and the Ducati Caffè. IMG will be tasked with optimising the management of that programme and to take it to the next level.

“The Ducati brand's licensing activities have long been successful,” states Diego Sgorbati, Director of Motorcycle Related Products at Ducati Motor Holding. “Now however, the time has come to make use of specialised skills to increase our efforts and create a global...

I had a 996s which I was "encouraged" to sell about 11 years ago and have always wanted another one. Here's my old one.
I've searched extensively for one but there has always been something not quite right with the ones I've found but finally MCN classifieds came up trumps last week and I picked the bike up from Central London last night, interesting and very tourist inspired test ride !

It's a 1 owner from new bike supplied from CHris Clarke for those that remember them, with 9,900 miles and has a mountain of supporting docs including an eye watering £1746 service from Pro Twins in July last year with clutch, valve clearances, belts, rockers etc etc all done. It's got Ducati Performance front guard, v piece, hugger and chain guard and 50 mm termis. All supplied by main dealers and all with receipts in the pack.

The only downside is he'd had baffles put in the Termi's due to complaints from his neighbours ! They'd been in for about 8 years but they came out with a bit of...

I'm currently making a carbon airbox. Took a mould of the original and adapted it slightly. At present it should weigh in at under 800g. I used reinforcement carbon, unidirectional which is much stronger than a weave lay up. Of course it will have a final weave as in plain or twill and has Kevlar mounting points.

Now in the process of sanding, as can be seen in the last picture. I believe EVR are approx 1.2kg so will be well under and stronger. Then repeat it all again for the bottom section.