I'm not old, and by lots of Ducati owners, I'd imagine I'm mid range, maybe even considered "young" but something I am noticing is the lack of the want to use WOT on the road on the 1299. The pace is certainly a contributing factor, use 3rd or 4th and it savagely propels you with the trademark noise, but sport bikes for me were always about wringing its neck, even for short bursts. Now I have used WOT, but I find I'm leaning towards a more sedate riding style. Whats the issue and others any similar feeling? For the avoidance of doubt, every ride I'm smiling. Cheshire cat smiling.
I'm assuming its Wide Open Throttle. Theres a select few entries onto the M25 near me where WOT is used aplenty. Then I throttle back. A21 onto M25 is a prime example. As is M23 onto M25 going east. But these are short and sweet and only when conditions allow. You simply cannot go WOT on a 1299 and expect to live.
Not even the slowest bike I own do I ride WOT unless it’s accelerating up through the box there are no roads long enough nor safe enough to even consider it. But then I don’t frequent roads with straights long enough, Mid Wales doesn’t really have any. Maybe the A5 in places but there is just too much traffic. My lads SX50 on the other hand……
When I was a lad on Lambrettas, they were ran WOT 24/7. When I wasnt pushing the fucking thing of course.
its not your age its the fact you've grown up and fear points in the license in my twenties i did not give a fuck, it was WOT every oppurtunity, but also the bikes were way less powerful,(GSX750) even on an 899 its very hard to do WOT for long, way way over the speed limit in seconds, overtaking cars at 130 is just not done, i saw old bill in an old volvo recently, passing them at 130 would be a whole world of hell as you now, the bike doesn't make sense til you get rolling and revs up, but its nice to ride knowing its there whenever
maybe I am getting old(er). You are spot on about the Volvo. I no longer overtake cars I'm not 90%+ sure I've made an educated guess they are plod. Oh and it might have something to do with the fact a 3rd gear overtake is a tad illegal
I haven't WOT my V4 Pani and don't have any desire to, i'm 48, i'm so much more chilled out in everyway at this age. i enjoy just plodding/cruising along although i 100% don't want a cruiser m/c. if the road/traffic conditions were suitable maybe at some point in the future i'll find out what she can do acceleration wise out of curiousity but i won't go anywhere near top speed. crashing hurts, points suck.
the bike isn't giving you 100% throttle anyway, often as low as 60% for a 100% opening of the throttle grip until it is up to a speed where wheel slip isn't an issue. The solution is probably to have a little 400/RS660 type thing you can go out and properly rag
Yeah WOT is for the track these days - the odd occasion I want to overtake on a mile long empty road I can see maybe, but as said in almost any gear "WOT = over speed limit = No more track time" But, 10 years ago if it wasnt WOT I was bored! I also stopped the group rides last year, too many wannabe racers in the group and one day I didnt go about 7 of them got a ticket!
Christ! I keep WOT for emergencies on the Panigale R. I doubt whether, at my geriatric age, I’d be quick enough to either change up, or catch the damn thing before it broke the sound barrier. Plus there’s always that ‘Safety Camera Van’…
Considering (now I know what wot is..) ..My 2008 R1 would do 100mph in 1st gear, giving modern sports bikes the full beans in higher gears is only for the track, or the N240 in Spain
That's what I did. Was wide open on the 1098 way too often with a number of close calls. So swapped it for the baby Tuono, which is still quick but not 100+ everytime you get on it quick. I couldn't consistently change my behaviour so i changed the bike.
You know you are getting really old when you start worrying about the weight of the bike and seat height, believe me I have got to this sad stage.
I have only ever heard of it in relation to dyno testing engines. I believe they run at wideopen throttle and then use the dyno brake/load system to regulate the engine revs.
