My 01 m900ie has been my all-purpose bike for 6 years and over 50k miles now. It's been my commuter, canyon carver, 2-up Sunday cruiser and cross country tourer.  Last summer I thought it was time to give my little monster a break and pick up a "proper" sport touring bike. To that end I bought an 01 Triumph sprint RS (955), put some high bars on it along with a sargent seat, top box and soft bags. The GF and I did some weekend long trips and really found the bike sharp looking, comfortable, fast and a more than adequate touring mount.
  About a month ago I took off from just outside Toronto for a trip to Las Vegas and back with some back road riding through Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Arizona. Although the breaks and suspension were a little mushy on the sprint, it did a great job with many of 12-15 hour days in record breaking heat. It's really hard for me to say anything negative at all about the bike......however..... the entire time I kept thinking about past trips out west on the ducati and wishing I was riding my little monster instead of the Triumph.  Even my GF prefers riding pillion on the monster over the much roomier sprint.

So, today, the Triumph goes up for sale and when it sells the money will be used to upgrade suspension on the monster along with a few other goodies to make it a better tourer.

I've ridden just about everything in test rides over the last few years and nothing stirs my soul like my little 78hp monster.

awwwww 

Quote from: pitbull on May 31, 2008, 07:21:33 PM
   Even my GF prefers riding pillion on the monster over the much roomier sprint.

How come??    I honestly am curious....usually it's the other way around....

Quote from: pitbull on May 31, 2008, 07:21:33 PM
I've ridden just about everything in test rides over the last few years and nothing stirs my soul like my little 78hp monster.

Your bike loves you too.

Quote from: Johnster on May 31, 2008, 07:27:37 PM
How come??    I honestly am curious....usually it's the other way around....

She sits much closer to me on the monster which makes for a more intimate riding experience for the two of us. With the corbin seat she can actually ride for long trips and do long days, the issue was always more about the lack of  luggage capacity and wind protection. I think the answer will be an ugly touring screen and to take less stuff with us. 

she can also ride the monster on her own as she got her license a few years ago and it's the only bike she's ever ridden. We might try and pick up a another used monster for her.

I evny people who can find a bike that suits their riding needs well. I have too many moods and different styles of riding. I think I'd go insane if I only had one bike......or maybe I just have "BH" syndrome...."Bike Whore".   

Quote from: pitbull on May 31, 2008, 07:52:51 PM
She sits much closer to me on the monster which makes for a more intimate riding experience for the two of us. With the corbin seat she can actually ride for long trips and do long days, the issue was always more about the lack of  luggage capacity and wind protection. I think the answer will be an ugly touring screen and to take less stuff with us. 

she can also ride the monster on her own as she got her license a few years ago and it's the only bike she's ever ridden. We might try and pick up a another used monster for her.

my GF gets a sore bum after a couple of hours (sargent seat) but i can do 10-12 easily enough... thinking about toronto - la - toronto this year or next...

this windscreen has been a godsend. and the poorducrider supports...


right-click for full-size

So, you've tried a British mistress, and an Italian mistress.

...are you really surprised at your conclusion?

Quote from: eyeboy on June 03, 2008, 09:37:51 AM
my GF gets a sore bum after a couple of hours (sargent seat) but i can do 10-12 easily enough... thinking about toronto - la - toronto this year or next...

this windscreen has been a godsend. and the poorducrider supports...


right-click for full-size

that windscreen looks like it would work very well....... where did you get it?

as for the sargent seat, I have one aswell which I love, but it sucks for the pillion. I don't care much for my corbin, but the GF loves it as a passenger.

Quote from: Desmo Demon on June 03, 2008, 06:13:01 AM
I evny people who can find a bike that suits their riding needs well. I have too many moods and different styles of riding. I think I'd go insane if I only had one bike......or maybe I just have "BH" syndrome...."Bike Whore".   

the truth be told, two bikes is stretching me a little with insurance and maintenance costs. If I could afford it I would have a few bikes for different jobs, but I'm certain they would all be ducatis.

Quote from: pitbull on June 03, 2008, 02:08:14 PM
that windscreen looks like it would work very well....... where did you get it?

as for the sargent seat, I have one aswell which I love, but it sucks for the pillion. I don't care much for my corbin, but the GF loves it as a passenger.

i ordered it from zero gravity, it's the 'touring windscreen' i recall it being not too expensive.

Quote from: eyeboy on June 03, 2008, 04:20:27 PM
i ordered it from zero gravity, it's the 'touring windscreen' i recall it being not too expensive.

thanks.....awesome

Great post!

I love my '01 M900Sie, too. But my GF isn't in the same camp.

She prefers riding solo (on her Harley). I bought her a 98 M900 that I have to lower for her.

Maybe I can make a Monster rider out of her, yet.

Quote from: pitbull on May 31, 2008, 07:21:33 PM
So, today, the Triumph goes up for sale and when it sells the money will be used to upgrade suspension on the monster along with a few other goodies to make it a better tourer.

Smart move.  It's always more fun and exciting to spend the money on that special little Italian mistress you are so passionate about (instead of your girlfriend!).  You definitely quality as a Ducatista then!    (and you need to buy your mistress new accessories to make her happy after ignoring her as long as you did...)

Quote from: pitbull on June 03, 2008, 02:10:23 PM
the truth be told, two bikes is stretching me a little with insurance and maintenance costs. If I could afford it I would have a few bikes for different jobs, but I'm certain they would all be ducatis.

My insurance isn't too bad. I've got a car and three bikes with full-coverage, and a car, truck, and four more bikes with just liability, house insurance and a life insurance policy and its just a hair north of $300 a month. To add a bike with only liability, is generally only $17-$22 per month. That's a case of beer a month.   

I can relate on the maintenance costs, which is why I generally do all of my own. I even bought a tire changer last year. I've done valve adjustments and belt changes on the Pantah, Desmodue, Desmoquattro, and Testastretta engines. I just don't really mess with synchronizing multiple carbs, but I'll do just about anything else. As a tribute to the maintenance punishment I put myself through, I took a non-running $900 Ducati Paso and made it street-worthy, again. I even rode it into work today...

http://www.desmodemon.com/vicks_paso.html