I had an interesting chat with a riding buddy (actually a budette really) on Friday, she's also a rider and a very good one at that. She rides a '09 GSXR1000 and she's one of a group of us that upset (albeit unintentionally) the people who live around Arthur's Seat on the Mornington Peninsula with our "raucous motorcycle racing" on nice dry road days.

I've had my '10 Monster for about 8 months now and I'm very happy with it. I'm now used to the whole deal with the Ducati eccentricities, the L-Twin at low revs, the clutch, the riding position blah blah and it's what I have grown to love about my ride. But last Friday I had a full-on argument with my friend about why I would want to own a bike that was lumpy down low, vibrated badly (her words) had a ridiculous dry clutch and was expensive. Why wouldn't I go for a GSXR or a CBR or something that "was a riders bike" 

I tried to explain the whole Duc thing, but it came down to my emotive arguments against her facts and figures. Sure her bike was smoother and quicker around the hills, yes it was cheaper than mine and didn't "vibrate" and the riding possie was upright etc etc. I got a little short-termpered towards the end because although she was right on many of her points, the simple truth was that I didn't buy the bike because it was the fastest or smoothest or cheapest, I bought it because its the bike I fell in love with and "it's my f*king bike, period". This set her off even more and the others in our group were fast riding away as we argued on the side of the road like an old married couple (we aren't).

In the end I got all stubborn and John Malkovich-like in 'Dangerous Liaisons', "Its beyond my control", except mine was "but yours is a Jap bike" (rinse-repeat) so she went quiet, gave me a withering look and so we rode off. Later that day we stopped off for a coffee and there were about 5-6 other riders there that we didn't know. Too a man they came over and checked my bike out, asking questions, taking a photo or 2, too a man they all said they'd always loved Duc's and dreamed of owning one sometime and they all nodded when one said "Cool f*cking ride dude!".........Then they all rode off on their Jap bikes. 

She refused to talk to me for the rest of the day.

+1 to the Duc 

I'd say your last sentence answers it all really.
Can't tell you how many times in just 5 years or so that I've had Jap bike riders pull up beside me or  when they've seen it park.
Some people don't get it, to them riding it clinical and they choose the tool for the job.

Generally for us it's about passion and style, everything else comes last.
But in saying that, there has been many a Jap bike rider that was surprised to a naked Ducati sniffing their exhaust pipes.

Expensive?? Nup I dont reckon overall!! Belts arnt that dear and are a piece of piss to change!! And the aircooled clutches wear out a lot quicker than the oil bath type, so what else?? Bugger all! 

I used to be one who hung shit on Harleys and Ducatis, and I own? Nah, LIVE WITH 2 Monsters 
And have owned 2 Hardley's and appreciated them for what they are and what they did for me! 

I have also owned a VTR1000 and a Suzuki SV1000S and both were great bikes but, in the typically efficient Japanese fashion they started, stopped, and ran pretty well without fault and had absolutely NO SOUL whatsoever!! No character, nothing that grabbed me by the goolies and made me smile as much as the Duc.

Bottom line is the bike you've got your arse on suits what you want out of it is the BEST bike!! 

Now where are my keys? I'm going for a ride on my Monster!! Now, which one?? The old Putana that cough, farts, and runs like a dream when it feels like it! Or my DS that is Miss smooth and turns the heads of most who see her "Vibrate" by!! Love 'em!! 

You also might want to mention that the Monster was left relativiely unchanged in design (with the exception of motor capactiy and paint colour etc) for 17 years and they still manage to attract anyone who is or isn't a motorcycle enthusiast.
Let's see how a GSXR1000 fairs against time in 17 years, because a 1993 GSXR is as ugly a bucket of smashed crabs.

Sundog it seems that your budette is conflicted.

Bike riding for pleasure (as you have described it) does not follow logical thought processes - it is not a practical/rational decision. For her to become emotional in arguing clinical efficiency validates this point of view.

If you want to sleep easy at night, perhaps you could look at things this way:
She was trying to justify her own choices by arguing the short-comings of yours. When you failed to be persuaded she was angered by her own compromises.

Simply: buying a Ducati is an emotive decision, not an objective one ... not unlike the decision to ride a bike in the manner you have described.

I am not sure about this 'vibrate' issue as I don't ride a wide variety of bikes ... but if you want to get a true sense of what vibration can feel like on a bike - ride a Lambretta, the Ducatis are sooo smooth by comparison.

Hey Gixxers are really nice bikes.

One of my workmates has a VFR, and always gives me curry when I have trouble starting my Monster.  My standard reply is "but Honda is Japanese for without soul".

BTW, you know you can fix the awful handlebar position that Monsters have as stock, don't you?

What I like about my monster is that it's a little quirky, has reasonable torque, even low down, drops into corners enthusiastically, and doesn't blow my licence instantly.  It's not the fastest bike on the road but it's a whole lot of fun to ride.  If I rode a Gixxer or CBR, I'd fear for my points.

Quote from: Sundog on July 31, 2011, 05:26:22 PM
I had an interesting chat with a riding buddy (actually a budette really) on Friday, she's also a rider and a very good one at that. She rides a '09 GSXR1000 and she's one of a group of us that upset (albeit unintentionally) the people who live around Arthur's Seat on the Mornington Peninsula with our "raucous motorcycle racing" on nice dry road days.

I've had my '10 Monster for about 8 months now and I'm very happy with it. I'm now used to the whole deal with the Ducati eccentricities, the L-Twin at low revs, the clutch, the riding position blah blah and it's what I have grown to love about my ride. But last Friday I had a full-on argument with my friend about why I would want to own a bike that was lumpy down low, vibrated badly (her words) had a ridiculous dry clutch and was expensive. Why wouldn't I go for a GSXR or a CBR or something that "was a riders bike" 

I tried to explain the whole Duc thing, but it came down to my emotive arguments against her facts and figures. Sure her bike was smoother and quicker around the hills, yes it was cheaper than mine and didn't "vibrate" and the riding possie was upright etc etc. I got a little short-termpered towards the end because although she was right on many of her points, the simple truth was that I didn't buy the bike because it was the fastest or smoothest or cheapest, I bought it because its the bike I fell in love with and "it's my f*king bike, period". This set her off even more and the others in our group were fast riding away as we argued on the side of the road like an old married couple (we aren't).

In the end I got all stubborn and John Malkovich-like in 'Dangerous Liaisons', "Its beyond my control", except mine was "but yours is a Jap bike" (rinse-repeat) so she went quiet, gave me a withering look and so we rode off. Later that day we stopped off for a coffee and there were about 5-6 other riders there that we didn't know. Too a man they came over and checked my bike out, asking questions, taking a photo or 2, too a man they all said they'd always loved Duc's and dreamed of owning one sometime and they all nodded when one said "Cool f*cking ride dude!".........Then they all rode off on their Jap bikes. 

She refused to talk to me for the rest of the day.

+1 to the Duc 

Give her a ride on it ! it"ll vibrate that much , get her so excited she wont want to get off till she orgasms !

Quote from: suzyj on July 31, 2011, 08:27:42 PM


BTW, you know you can fix the awful handlebar position that Monsters have as stock, don't you?

I assume you mean rotating the stock bars a bit? I thought of that a while ago but dismissed it on Ducati's recommendation due to the reduced turn angle because the lever brackets would hit the tank rather than the breather holes in it. However, I don't think I've ever turned the bars that much unless I was parking the bike in a tight spot back and forth. hmmmm I wonder.

Quote from: Sundog on July 31, 2011, 05:26:22 PM
the simple truth was that I didn't buy the bike because it was the fastest or smoothest or cheapest, I bought it because its the bike I fell in love with and "it's my f*king bike, period".

that's all it comes down to mate, it would be a boring old world if we all liked the same things. her GSXR might be technically better but if the rider can't actually use the benefit it's a bit pointless, ok for skyteing down the pub about how much HP it has etc. but if you can round her up on your vibrating pointless wog box you will have proved your point with an exclamation mark.

paul.

Forum members,

It is with a little sadness that I post this reply as I have just sold my Ducati S4R Monster.  But I was compelled to write a comment about how people ( the Suzuki GSXR rider in this instance) do try to justify their own purchases by comparing them to others.

I loved my S4R and remember there reason why I bought it.  As the salesman said to me... It is a Ducati.... 

Late last year I bought myself a Harley XR1200X and have had so many people ask me what I like about it.  Well it does nothing great.  It is slow, loud, vibrates, and is heavy, BUT, it looks cool and it is so much fun to ride.  It has buckets of torque and when you get wet from the rain the heat from the engine dries you out quick.  I bought it because I loved the look of it.  Nothing more.

I also own a BMW K1300R and have that because it is almost the perfect cross between a naked bike and a tourer.  It has good fuel capacity, and some of the luxury items like ABS, ride control and heated grips etc.  And I bought that because I loved the look of it.

So I suppose come Saturday when the S4R is picked up and goes to its new home I will no longer be a legitimate member of this forum....

But I can feel the need for a new Ducati being bought for the spare space in the shed........ Just not sure which one.

Anyway this is a great forum....

Cheers


Bret

What she is really trying to say is, that she can't afford a Ducati nor its service costs.....trust me here.......

Quote from: Sundog on July 31, 2011, 10:10:06 PM
I assume you mean rotating the stock bars a bit? I thought of that a while ago but dismissed it on Ducati's recommendation due to the reduced turn angle because the lever brackets would hit the tank rather than the breather holes in it. However, I don't think I've ever turned the bars that much unless I was parking the bike in a tight spot back and forth. hmmmm I wonder.

No, my solution was to remove the bars altogether and put clipons on.

  I used to have EXACTLY the same arguments 35years ago. Be patient, I was the first of 5 or 6 riding mates to go Ducati and within a few years all of us had one.
  But so many popular bikes, they are just damn ugly and some people, well you are right, they just don't get it.


   

really i think its great that people like different things.....and for me , riding is about how you feel when you are in motion on the bike ......and on the road i feel best on the Monster ....but i still get great enjoyment out of riding other bikes as well ...in fact i would rather ride a postie than drive on a nice day  ....so is there such a thing as the best bike??.....because its personal i dont think so ....im always happy to discuss other bikes for hours ...but only to chat and learn not to convince the rider that one bike is better than another .
oh ....and when u walk past your bike ...if u dont feel like sneaking out for a ride every time u see it ......then its time for a change

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlUUtxai33U&feature=player_embedded#at=11


When I was asked why a Ducati (as I struggled to start it, it coughed and burp'ed until warm, clutch rattle would attract attention to say the least).....all I say....

"It's a Life Style thing"
...and I loved it so much... I brought another one