Loud Clutches Save Lives

by **bennybmn** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:11 pm

And sound FREAKY too!!

Went to the Ducati Demo truck today. Turns out it was really the Hypermotard demo truck... So there they were. 12 hypermotards all ligned up. A few had different pipes, a steering damper, etc, mostly stock tho. I was really hoping it was a real demo truck with all the models there, love to ride me a Monster, but it was fun anyway. Nice long ride, almost a half hour, no real interesting roads, but a few nice fast on-ramps.

Nice bike overall. I'm not used to having to look down to see the guages. I don't mean glance down, I mean I couldn't see the speedo thru the chin bar of my helmet unless I tilted my head down. Definitely not used to that... Also I'm not used to skinny grips! I have retro football grips on my 1" bars, not shrink wrap on 7/8" bars... So my hands cramped a bit.

The ride was comfy. Nice seat. I'm sure I could have scooted my ass back a little, but the rear brake and shifter were positioned down enough that I had to point my toe WAY down to shift, so scooting back more would have meant ankle dislocation. I'm sure they are adjustable, and I'm sure if I owned one I wouldn't be wearing steel toe boots...

Nice motor too, altho nearly useless below 3K at speed. Kinda makes the bike shake a lot... So hey, quick downshift good to go. A louder pipe would have made it easier to know where I was in the revs, since the tach is out of view...

Some of the guys on the ride were all leaning off the seat in the corners etc. I was thinkin dude... it's the onramp to the the Southern State. Not a moto GP course. We're going 50. I just leaned more... nowhere near the limits anyway.

Anyway thought you guys might like the review.

Oh yeah, there was ONE other bike there.....

http://bp0.blogger.com/_oE3X0DuGApA/R6H ... ultra1.jpg

by **hankspeed3** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:28 am

Clearly you 've been on a cruiser way to long. This test ride just proves that.

See, now you know what the real riding postion should be.

Foot forward controls and the recumbant position is for your recliner at home while watching tv, and/or, that other brand that I won't mention here.

That photo is sweet. You would have no problem hearing that beast.

by **bennybmn** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:00 pm

Yeah but ya see Hank, I have long legs, so my "forward" feet are right below my knees, no outstretched position for me. And I moved the pegs forward an inch!! I've ridden plenty of different bikes at Demos, the whole Triumph line for instance, but I don't remember feeling like the bars/dash were so close to me. Like I think the gauge cluster on a speed tripple is higher up than on the Duc. Believe me, if I had my way I'd have a S3 in my stable... Hell I don't even consider one bike a stable!!

Overal the duc was a sweet ride, I just wish I had ridden other duc's to compare it to.

by **JEnfield** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:09 pm

I dont like the foot forward riding style myself but my S3 felt like a elaphant trying to fuck a football. The saddle position on a S3 is to high it feels like your about to go over the bars sitting still. I looked at a duc when Hedge and I walked around Carlisle I am not sure the model it was like a over sized dirt bike the mirrors folded up to make hand protectors and it was sweet and cheap.

Jimmy

by **bennybmn** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:15 pm

Yup that's the one. How come you didn't feel like you were gonna go over THOSE bars? At least with an S3 you could easily put taller bars on it. You're a big dude, me too, and I doubt a smaller bike like street tripple or something would fit me... The duc was a cool ride, and did have a flat seat, so you could scooch back if you needed to. I've always enjoyed every test ride on an S3 I've taken. I like Hedge's Bonnie too. The mods he's done make it super comfy. I lied tho, I've yet to ride the current Tiger. I hear nothin but good things about that too.

by **bennybmn** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:15 pm

PS one guy there DID have a loud clutches save lives shirt on!

by **JEnfield** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:28 pm

Benny the tiger is on the top of the list of all time great bikes. I have tossed around the idea of owning one but I had to buy Tina a new car and trying to pay the house off early to get ready for the college blues. Courtney has been excepted to Cornell and I will not be able to buy shit for several years now. I am content with my Bonne she will run well enough to get me locked up and I enjoy riding it.

Jimmy

by **bennybmn** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:16 pm

Yeah I'm fine with my bike too, just pipe dreams at this point. Too many expensive hobbies!! Cornell is a good school! Two words, financial aid! Sure I'm still paying it off, but it got me thru school... What's she going to study?

by **JEnfield** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:28 pm

Large animal Vet with a minor in eqiune oral surgery. 38k a year.

Jimmy

by **mark** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:38 am

Congrats, Jimmy! Cornell Class of '92 here...

Foot forward controls and the recumbant position is for your recliner at home while watching tv, and/or, that other brand that I won't mention here.

Couldn't agree more, Hank!

--mark

by **JEnfield** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:06 pm

Thats awsome Mark she is amped up about it we have to go up over winter break to tour the campus and meet the Dean of Students. As far as the bike thing goes I want another bonneville a FI model maybe a 2010 and hot rod the hell out of the one I have now 1147 stroker with juice about a 50 shot. I own a Ducati 916 and sold it when I bought my house and kick myself in the ass everyday.

Jimmy

by **Touko** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:24 pm

Jimmy, thats really great man! We just went through all that last year with our daughter and now she is back for her second year. It's definetely an exciting time and can actually be fun except for lugging all their stuff to the dorm room. The first year all we had to do was pull up to the curb and the student body took care of bringing all the stuff to the room. This year it was mostly dear old Dad playing furniture mover, but hey, I now have major hot water for showers again.
Wanted to let you know that all systems are go for riding down to Winchester on the 12th and meeting up with my brother and a couple of his friends. Hope you can make it. My computer has been on the fritz for a week or so but should get it back tomorrow. I'll send you and email when I'm sure of the hotel.

Todd

by **bennybmn** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:10 pm

mark wrote:Congrats, Jimmy! Cornell Class of '92 here...

Foot forward controls and the recumbant position is for your recliner at home while watching tv, and/or, that other brand that I won't mention here.

Couldn't agree more, Hank!

--mark

Hank's just pissed he can't actually reach the pegs on my bike

by **JEnfield** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:58 pm

I really like the look of the new 1600 might make my list for a good two up ride for wifey to be comfortable for events like BTB .

Jimmy

by **bennybmn** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:34 pm

It does look nice, not so friggin massive like the Rocket. Matt rode one yesterday at the demo, and he said his hip was killing him cause you have to spread em so much! Must be hell gettin old... I rode a Tiger and Scrambler. Tiger was REAL comfy. I wish I had 10 grand layin around... Scrambler was nice, mainly cause the drivetrain was so familiar, it made it easy to ride. I was the second to last bike, plus the tail gunner, and got stuck at a red light. Took off, and the guy on the rocket behind me goosed it. They said no passing, so I said fuck that and hit it. Aparently he didn't know how to shift, cause I went screamin by him.... Anyway it was a fun ride.

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