Newbie seeking wisdom......

[Gatornapper]

Greetings folks, glad to find this great 'brain trust' of expertise.  I know I'll be needing it.

While I've been riding motorcycles and turning wrenches on them for 46 years, Ducati's are new to me as my 21 yr. old Navy son just got his dream bike (that I found for him), a like-new, pristine '03 Monster 800 Dark i.e. with only 2,000 miles on it, kept in a heated garage by the original owner.   Three of my 5 sons have their own bikes and we ride together;  the other two will probably get their MC licenses this year.

Now please don't flame me, but my 3 bikes are two old Triumph's that I have restored that run like new - a '71 T100C Trophy 500, and a '72 T120V Bonneville 650 5-speed;  and my cruiser is a sweet '97 Harley FXDWG Wide Glide Stage II that I've pretty much built myself, customized radically and just gorgeous.  No flames please, I'm an old f**t.  It's all in what we grew up with, and my first bike was a '59 Harley in '64.  But my "first love" was my friend's Triumph Bonnie that I rode almost as much as my Harley.

While I'm not a sportbike guy, Ducati's are an exception.  I'm really impressed with the engineering behind this Monster 800, and Ducati's are in a league by themselves for sure (clearly shown by their parts prices).  This is some incredible bike, and it's only their mid-range bike.

As I will be maintaining my son's Monster, and I'm new to Ducati's, I'll need all the help here I can get.

Gatornapper

PS:  My name is not self-imposed, but given by a large city newspaper in '65.  Too long a story to tell her, but it made it to Walter Cronkite and Huntley-Brinkley evening news.       Real name is richard hanes.

PSS:  My thread on finding and restoring my '72 Bonnie has over 20,000 views on the triumphrat.net forum and is the largest thread on the website - so be careful on getting things started with me - my questions and thoughts are endless.......   

[Slow Guy]

Welcome to the family to you and your son!!! The amount of knowledge that is given freely and often is amazing on this forum.  No matter how trivial or silly you may think your question may be you will most likely receive quality advise and or guidance...and maybe a little friendly razing.




but..um..it ain't real without pics!!!!  


that is all
nothing follows

[somegirl]

Welcome to the DMF!

No flaming here, sounds like a nice collection of bikes you have.   Care to share some pictures and/or a link to your Bonnie thread?

You'll find lots of helpful info on maintenance here, mostly in the Tech and Tutorials sections. 

Have fun riding with your son! [moto]

[Gatornapper]

Welcome to the family to you and your son!!! The amount of knowledge that is given freely and often is amazing on this forum.  No matter how trivial or silly you make thin your question may be you will most likely receive quality advise and or guidance...and maybe a little friendly razing.

but..um..it ain't real without pics!!!! 


that is all
nothing follows

Thanks to all for the great welcome!  But you should beware of asking me for pics - I'll have you O.D.ing on pics....."Ask and you shall receive.."

My "first love", bike-wise (not competing with my wonderful, beautiful wife of 38 years):

http://s890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/rahanes/72%20Triumph%20Bonneville%20T120V%205-speed/72%20Bonneville%20AFTER/

My #2:

http://s890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/rahanes/My%2097%20FXDWG%20Harley%20Wide%20Glide/

My #3:

http://s890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/rahanes/71%20Triumph%20Trophy%20500%20Restoration/Trophy%20500%20AFTER/

My son's Monster 800:


[img]http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/rahanes/IMG_20101002_154155.jpg/img]

Here's the thread on my '72 Bonnie restoration:

http://www.triumphrat.net/classic-vintage-and-veteran/131945-72-bonnie-from-finding-to-buying-to-fixing-up-to-riding.html

Hope this isn't TOO much!   

gn

[Gatornapper]

Hmmmm.....insert image function doesn't seem to be working, or I'm doing something wrong.....

More likely the latter.....

gn

[stopintime]

Hmmmm.....insert image function doesn't seem to be working, or I'm doing something wrong.....

More likely the latter.....

gn

Welcome here. You're going to have a great time and remember it's never too late to join the Ducati magic world

Picture posting - when you touch the picture, it's the second choice you need to copy.

[Gatornapper]

Thanks, Crazy bike girl.  Kinda doubt you are really crazy tho.....you just like riding for the same reason we all do.  I really love women/girls who love to ride as they always are very special.  My bride of 38 years is one of them, as is one of our 3 daughters.  I can blame myself for the other two not being interested.....when they - and I - were much younger, I scared them on a ride when I should have pampered them.

I suspect you'll love the BEST THING EVER WRITTEN IMHO - "Why We Ride" by an unknown author.

It is here:    http://www.ncrider.com/Why-We-Ride-Poem.htm

I encourage everyone to pass this link on to others as it truly describes our wonderful, healthy addition to having the wind in our face and all of our senses working at their max at one time - well, almost all of them!

gatornapper

Welcome to the DMF!

No flaming here, sounds like a nice collection of bikes you have.   Care to share some pictures and/or a link to your Bonnie thread?

You'll find lots of helpful info on maintenance here, mostly in the Tech and Tutorials sections. 

Have fun riding with your son! [moto]

[somegirl]

Thanks, Crazy bike girl.  Kinda doubt you are really crazy tho.....you just like riding for the same reason we all do.  I really love women/girls who love to ride as they always are very special.  My bride of 38 years is one of them, as is one of our 3 daughters.  I can blame myself for the other two not being interested.....when they - and I - were much younger, I scared them on a ride when I should have pampered them.

I suspect you'll love the BEST THING EVER WRITTEN IMHO - "Why We Ride" by an unknown author.

It is here:    http://www.ncrider.com/Why-We-Ride-Poem.htm

I encourage everyone to pass this link on to others as it truly describes our wonderful, healthy addition to having the wind in our face and all of our senses working at their max at one time - well, almost all of them!

gatornapper

Great article, thanks for sharing!

Actually, "crazy bike girl" refers to my other obsession, riding bicycles.   I did a solo tour in Ireland where I rode 60 miles every day on a mountain bike in pouring rain and gale-force winds, I crossed the border (and got into trouble with immigration) between Singapore and Malaysia on a bicycle, and I live in the Santa Cruz mountains and love climbing them as much as I can, in all kinds of weather, etc.  However my time on a bike (both kinds) has been limited lately due to a new baby at home.

I think as far as my motorcycle obsession is concerned I fit in pretty well around here. [moto]

[swampduc]

Gatornapper, why would anyone flame you for having some badass Triumphs?!
Welcome, and I'm sure you'll find all the info you need here.

[stopintime]

You have 5 sons and 3 daughters 
.... and still have found time to ride and keep motorcycles? 

Gatornapper, why would anyone flame you for having some badass Triumphs?!
Welcome, and I'm sure you'll find all the info you need here.

The flaming would be for the Harley  , but I think this guy deserves a break 

Enjoy!