The missus' new 1000ss

I apologise right from the start, but this thread is all about me congratulating myself on the purchase of my .....erm wives 1000ss:biggrin:. I'll be honest and say I never had any intentions of buying an ss or any other bike for that matter. The problem, if you can call it a problem started last spring when I mentioned to Mrs M that I was thinking about swapping my 1098 for a Panigale. Now if you're a man you know that you have to test the water and drop hints and use words such as 'maybe' or 'perhaps' when considering such purchases as you don't want her to turn round and say a straight 'NO' you're not having a new bike because we need a new kitchen or we need the money to go on holiday to some god forsaken place to visit some long lost relatives, they need to be feathered into the idea. Now Mrs M quite likes bikes and enjoys a run out even on the back of a 1098, so she seemed interested in the idea. That was until she saw the pillion seating arrangement on the Panigale. Despite only being slim with a small bum she said it was too extreme and I was given the ultimatum that if an 1199 was bought she would not be riding on it!. But being a man I never heard the word 'No' used to the purchase which must mean 'Yes'. I thought once the Pani was here with pillion seat installed and the sun was shinning, the thought of ride out, stopping at few pubs for a drink and something to eat would change her mind. NO!. To cut an even longer story short she dug her heels in we had a lot of long faces last summer. The Panigale is a fantastic bike and there was no way I was parting with it. Being the kind and considerate man I am :biggrin:I don't like to see my other half missing out so I saw this 1000ss for sale and fell in love with it, so I forced myself to ......erm buy it for her and of course because she hasn't got a license I suppose I'll just have to ride it for her too whilst she rides shot gun.:biggrin:. She loves it too so I'm forgiven and I've got another bike......I meant to say she's got new bike:wink:. Can't wait for some sun and rides out!

 

You can't really compare a 1098 and an ss side by side as they are very different bikes and both excel in different situations. I wouldn't say I prefer one over the other really but wouldn't want to be without either. A 1098 is best for riding fast, the power is there instantly, the handling is more nimble but the ss is no slouch, it's not particularly high in bhp but is very torquey and definitely makes for a better two up bike as you can be quite lazy with it but if you wind it up performance is very pleasing. The handling of the ss will never compete with a 1098 but the brakes are good and this is a 2005 model so has the ohlins damper so the suspension is good. I'm not really answering the question but if I was going on a ride by myself the 1098, two up the ss.

 

Definitely the best colour scheme in my opinion. It really is a beautiful bike.....even if I do say so myself. People maybe mistaken in thinking that owning a Panigale aswell would mean the ss would always come second place but this isn't the case, the ss is a fantastic bike in it's own right. When I lay eyes on it, it makes me grin just the same as the Pani. The Pani is new, it's the latest in cutting edge bike technology but the ss has stood the test of time and will become a classic . It's like putting Lewis Hamilton and Stirling Moss on a track together, no one would expect Stirling Moss to win but which one would command the most respect?, the young arrogant driver who has the world at his feet but yet has to prove his longevity and success as a driver or the older man who has been there and is wiser for the experience and has nothing to prove?.

 

I am very lucky as she is very laid back and enjoys biking. Even let's me keep the Panigale in the house and runs over it with the duster from time to time!. She would probably get her own licence if I pushed her a bit but to be honest I'd only worry about her if she was on her own bike so I'm happy with her riding on the back on me. She makes a brilliant pillion, never moans and even though she's quite tall does tuck up and not get in my way, in fact sometimes I forget she's there!. We've not been together that long, less than five years. When I first met her I thought she looked like the most unlikely of biker babes and would consider bikes as dirty oily things but when I mention I had one she couldn't wait to go out it. It is great we share the enjoyment of biking and makes for some good trips out. However I won't be sharing her love of keeping fit and going to torturous keep fit classes, you also need separate interests as well! Lol!.