ducati

[Geezer]

If I had the bucks, I'd find an early 80's Ducati Dharma and restore it to like new or better condition. These bikes are like a french woman, beautiful but high maintenance...

Tony

[XJfan1]

Howdy Aaron,

Don't under estimate the Duc's go power.
Do over estimate your ability to play "Walter Mitty goes to Isle of Man".
Taking care of a friends bike is a trust, and it should be given back in the same or better condition than it was recieved.
And has been noted, I-tallion bike parts are expensive.
Let us know your evaluation of the bike.

Have fun, carefully, CZ

i wouldn't ever abuse anybodys bike. i dont abuse my own, he will be getting it back in better shape than it was when i got it. it is a pretty clean bike. there a few small things that the po did that i plan on undoing. there is some wiring that needs cleaned up with the correct connectors. the battery hold down needs replaced with the correct type. the tach mount is super loose. i think the left hand control is off a different bike.

[XJfan1]

I took a quick video of the ducati today after the good ole boys dropped it off. Check it out tell me what you think. http://youtu.be/TqSnQ09OXLA

[CaptonZap]

Howdy Aaron,

Don't under estimate the Duc's go power.
Do over estimate your ability to play "Walter Mitty goes to Isle of Man".
Taking care of a friends bike is a trust, and it should be given back in the same or better condition than it was recieved.
And has been noted, I-tallion bike parts are expensive.
Let us know your evaluation of the bike.

Have fun, carefully, CZ

[fredintoon]

- - - i imagine parts are a tad sparse. ill post some pics when i get the bike in my hands.

Hi Aaron,
it's likely that parts can be flown in from Italy no problem.
Being able to afford them is another story.
I trust you will fit on the Duc without having to fold yourself up like a carpenter's ruler and that you don't fall off it.

[XJfan1]

Ducati

a good friend of mine lives in st.paul mn. i live in indiana his job has him traveling very close to me about ten days a month. so i agreed to do him a favor and store and keep running and riding his 1975 ducati 860 gte so that he can go riding with me when he is in town. he is shipping it to me in the next few weeks. he is going to pay for all the maintenance parts and such. only two conditions were i keep it covered up and im the only person that rides it. i can for sure live with that. im sure it wont be quite as fast as my xj but it sould handle the twisties a tad better. only problem i see is its quite a small bike and i'm 6'6" 280 lbs. i may look like a total moron on it but im sure nobody else will have that same bike. being there was only 839 made that year. and even less in black. on the other hand it would be a bummer to dump his bike. i imagine parts are a tad sparse. ill post some pics when i get the bike in my hands.

[MaximPhil]

My boy Eric has a 2004 Triumph and a 1980 XS650 sidecar rig but what with making mortgage payments, saving money to get married and such he don't even talk about how badly he wants a Ducati.
Closest he's come is to name his two cats Desmo and Dromic.

Hi Fred,
True or not that is FUNNY
Phil

[fredintoon]

My boy Eric has a 2004 Triumph and a 1980 XS650 sidecar rig but what with making mortgage payments, saving money to get married and such he don't even talk about how badly he wants a Ducati.
Closest he's come is to name his two cats Desmo and Dromic.

[T99Ford]

Agreed! My 1098s was an absolutely amazing machine! I can still remember the first time nailing third gear out of a corner and having the front wheel rise right off the ground...awesome machine--and totally unsuited to the street!

[ddragon63]

I owned a 748 Superbike for a year... and have ridden alot of Duc's. Nothing feels more glued to the road than a Duc. And nothing more uncomfortable than a Superbike. But if you ride one right you don't use much of the seat. The Valve adjustment and timing belt adventure leaves alot to be desired. But they are incredible machines. The torque of the L-twin out of a corner can not be duplicated by anything, and the weight distribution due to motor configuration is amazing in all their bikes.

[Shacknasty]

Back in '79 I bought a used Italian bike. It was uncomfortable, badly fitted together, there was a bunch of dirt and schmutz embedded in the fiberglass, and the motor needed constant fiddling. There wasn't a shop within five hundred miles that carried parts and all my friends asked me why I didn't buy a Harley or at least a Honda. I had my reasons.

I was living in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and had miles and miles of twisting, hairpin infested roads leading through the alpine passes as my playground. When that Eyetye bike was runnin' good it would devour the curves and inhale the straightaways like a supercharged Hoover. Above seventy miles per hour, the wind blast would lift my torso off the tank and my wrists and the magic began. Lemme tell ya, when it was runnin' good, it was a truly special feeling watching the trees flash past while heeling the machine over into a fast sweeper.

I sold it when I took off on my obligatory round-the-world expedition. I didn't wanna sell 'er, even with all her niggling faults, but I sure couldn't take her where I was planning on going.

I still miss my old Ducati...

[XJfan1]

I was able to ride a Diavel this past fall. If I had the money, I'd be in jail within a week. 465lbs, 164HP, and just plane FAST! Ducati makes some nice machines, but I'll stay with my XS and BMW for now. at least I can stay out of jail....

a close buddy of mine bought a diavel last summer. your not kidding its fast. fast is a monster understatement im not real keen on the styling kind of a odd looking front end. that thing has a insane amount of torque.

[daveyg]

Long vid, but definitely worth a watch! Valve system is ingenious!

[DiverRay]

I was able to ride a Diavel this past fall. If I had the money, I'd be in jail within a week. 465lbs, 164HP, and just plane FAST! Ducati makes some nice machines, but I'll stay with my XS and BMW for now. at least I can stay out of jail....

[JerseyJon]

interesting piece

After watching it, I went and read some reviews of the Multistrada. Sounds like Ducati has a winner that will appeal to us fans of the xs11 -- not the best at anything but very good at everything.

Of course, the technology they're using on the Multistrada puts it way ahead of our all-around workhorses. But that assumes that all the on-board computers, servos and electric motors remain operational all the time. Plus, who has a spare $20k laying around?