Quote from: bdub on June 12, 2008, 05:53:03 PM
Winchester Va. June 27-28
www.ducpond.com

Good catch.  DucPond wasn't listed when I checked earlier, but now it is.  I'm moving to Winchester this summer.  So, I might be there on a house hunting trip around the time of the Duc Truck visit.  Thanks for the heads up.

Truck in Denver...

The Duc Truck does indeed make MidWest stops.  Just got off of a HyperMotard "S" with Termis this afternoon.  It was about a 20-ish minute ride, through city, curves, and a highway blast.  Very nice motor, that 1100.

Though the DS motor impresses the heck out of me (low end torque fan here), I couldn't get over how twitchy the front end felt.  It could have been the wide bars, and I'm sure it'd be easy to get used to.  Anyone else feel that way about the HM?  Felt like the front end would break traction out of some corners if you're not paying attention-the throttle was pretty touchy. 

Overall, though, I liked the HM.  Not any more than my S2R, since the HM feels like it'd be challenging for lengthy rides.  Seat comfort and riding position would be, um, uncomfortable.  But I could always hope for that lottery ticket. . . . . .

As someone said, there was zero pressure to buy, accessorize, or trade in for a Ducati.  That alone was very cool.  I support that dealer anyway, and the demo afternoon, DucTruck event was well worth going to.

Makes me really look forward to getting my S2R kitted with an exhaust and ECU after feeling the power from that HM.  Ohhhhh, yes. 

Ducati truck in Concord California a few weeks back:

They had an 848 available (which I rode), but no 1098.  The dealership added a 1098 of their own by the third ride.



Oh, and does your local Ducati dealership have anything like this assortment inside?

it's at cliff's ducati in danbury, ct this weekend.

June 20-22: Cliff's Cycle Revolutionâ€"Danbury, CT
June 27-28: Duc Pond Motosportsâ€"Winchester, VA

I will be at DucPond this Friday by around 10am. I will be on my black S2R800. Anyone else from here going?

I called Chicago Cycles to see if they had the truck coming, a few weeks ago.  i got their auto call back vm today, inviting me to come to the Demo... Today.  Way to give me notice. 

If any of you new englanders can make it to the one they do at the track in Loudon, that's the one to go to!!!!

They don't let you ride them on the track, but there is a road course set up behind the track.  It's a course that the NH State police use to practice driving techniques.  It's pretty close to a track day, though.  It's closed to other vehicles, and you get to go around the course a bunch of times so you get to know the lines and where you can push it.

Highly recomend.  I road the wheels off a number of models last year.   [moto]

The Ducati demo truck was at DucPond last Friday and Saturday. A great time, both at the demo and the 100mi each way ride on my S2R800. The Ducati folks were knowledgeable and fun to talk to. Donnie, Julia, and Jason and the other folks at DucPond were awesome, as usual. The truck had water and espresso, in addition to the demo bikes. DucPond had drinks and sandwiches, not to mention the bikes on the show room floor and tons of knowledge. Hopefully I will post pictures in the next couple of days.

I was there on Friday and there was a good crowd, but not to many folks that you couldn't ride what you wanted. I suspect they were hammered on Saturday. I got to ride the four bikes I wanted to: Hypermotard(s), 848, GT1000, MTS1000s. I've ridden the GT1000 and MTS before as I was considering those two before buying the S2R. The test ride was 9-10 miles and a good mix of turns, speed, and traffic. Overall, it was enough to get a feel for the bikes. A longer ride would have been better, but these were completely sufficient. All bikes held the road and turns wonderfully. Riders needed a full face helmet, gloves, jacket, long pants. It is a break it, you buy it deal. Apparently they used to have a 1098 on the truck but someone put it in the ditch a few truck stops ago. Tough way to buy a bike.

The Hyper is pure fun. Very comfortable to ride; I loved the ergos. Power came on fast but smooth. While the riding position is tall, it feels completely stable. Would like to have one. I'm not a fan about how the front looks, or the small gas tank, but riding is it is all fun. The 848 was my first ride on a true race bike. I was nearly done with the test ride by the time I finally got my weight off my hands. Even riding with too much of my weight on my hands, it was fun. Incredibly smooth on all fronts; suspension, power, etc. In traffic you could really feel the heat coming up from under the seat. Not comfortable for me, but I image it would it be great to have on a track. The GT1000 was comfortable with its seat, and ergos - the handlebar is high and sweeping. Sits in turns well. Doesn't drop into turns like the monster, but sits into and holds them well. I am a fan of the GT1000 stying and one of the GT1000s available had the termis. Amazing sound. Better than the termis on some of the other demo bikes. I slide up on the tank some, and that bothers me about the GT1000 but that would be easy to remedy. The MTS was very comfortable and rode great. If I was looking for a bike to tour with, it would be the MTS. I think the MTS does most things very well.

One aspect about testing these bikes is that I was looking to see if, a year later, I wanted replace the S2R800 for something else (I had a lot of trouble deciding between the GT1000 and S2R800 last year) or start putting money into my monster, to make it MY Monster. I think it is time to go forward with some of those mods...