The flashing error light? Or, is that the no start light? Or, the light from one side of the cylinder to the other? Not my kind of light.Has Chuck seen the light?
Sorry, the door was WIDE open there.
Have a good one.
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Hey Everyone! May's Bike of the Month challenge is now open for entries!
Insult to Injury
So I'm at my "local" dealership this morning, same place I bought my bike new in 2005, buying oil and fuel filters and the sales guy tells me they're coming out with a touring version of.........................................the Diavel.
I look at the models on his floor, and he has like 4 new Diavels sitting there, 2 AMGs. (which I like ) And now, they're bringing out a *touring* version of a slow selling, expensive muscle bike as opposed to a real ST? :think:
Ducati's effed.
I look at the models on his floor, and he has like 4 new Diavels sitting there, 2 AMGs. (which I like ) And now, they're bringing out a *touring* version of a slow selling, expensive muscle bike as opposed to a real ST? :think:
Ducati's effed.
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Assuming many things, I might ask: And how much time have you spent in the saddle of a Harley Davidson?
You still have an opinion about those bikes don't you? What's your point? We don't know what we like or dislike if we haven't tried it? You like Harleys? No?! Why not? Can't imagine yourself on one? You believe they won't give you what you desire? How, if you haven't spent some meaningful time in the saddle? I have said many times, that for me, and IMO, if you can't get a "feel" for any bike by looking at the dimensions and specs, you're not a well informed and experienced motorcyclist. I have lots of experience riding upright bikes; bikes with bad aerodynamics, bikes with more power than what's needed, to know I'm not interested, and I don't need to talk about styling, or extraneous electronic aids to pile on even more reasons why I decided that bike is not for me.
It was and continues to be a huge let down for me, because it is Ducati's "official" S-touring bike. It's a fancy motard with side cases IMO, not an ST. But I am in a minority, and I know that. Those who have them, *love* them, *most* but not all times, and that's a great testimony given the "teething problems" the bike has had in each of its production years so far, 2013's issues yet to be determined. It gets great reviews in just about all the magazines. But sadly, that's still not enough to excite me.
Bring out a ST that looks like a sexy d-16 with side cases and has a nice Ducati exhaust growl, decent suspenders and binders, no or low electronic aids, and you've got my attention. No time in the saddle needed.
LOL!!
So...the answer is no, then? Neither of you have ridden one? Even briefly?
Hmm...interesting... :think:
So...the answer is no, then? Neither of you have ridden one? Even briefly?
Hmm...interesting... :think:
I'm currently testing the 2015 Multistrada prototype. I can't say much now but I can say it fixes all the problems of the current model.
You miss the point: "Don't need to; I know what I want/like.; test/meaningful ride won't change my mind." Just like looking at an obese chick, just plain not interested, no need to spend any "meaningful time" with her.LOL!!
So...the answer is no, then? Neither of you have ridden one? Even briefly?
Hmm...interesting... :think:
Sure she may be nice, and competent and successful in many ways, but not in the ways that interest me. 
I stay away from auto and m/c dealerships as I tend to buy things I truly don't want esp after a test ride as the sales person sort of has a captive audience (I have trouble saying no and meaning it). If I didn't have someone with me, I would have bought an FZ1 instead of finding my much better ST (lucky for you guys, right?). So, I typically get test rides on friend's machines. No one that I know well has one.LOL!!
So...the answer is no, then? Neither of you have ridden one? Even briefly?
Hmm...interesting... :think:
I'd be happy to take one around the block, but I know I won't like it. I'll reference what I said here about the 990:
http://www.ducati.ms/forums/17-chit-chat/148724-im-love-again-2.html#post1447216
Within the next 10yrs, nothing with a long travel suspension and an upright seating position will suit my purposes/needs/desires as a SPORTtouring / primary motorcycle. All the other issues of price, looks, and gizmos just pile on.
The MTS doesn't turn my wheels for even more reasons when thinking about a second bike in the garage. There are many, many bikes far above it on the 'potentials' list (for example the CCW Misfit, a Ural, an R1, an SM or enduro, a road-legal dirt bike, a Duc SS or Monster, an S3, etc.).
I just do not understand how riding something you don't like is going to make anything different. I have a feel for the genre, more power and some Ohlins won't fix it.
Why are you riding a KLR instead of an MTS? Due note that a KLR is above an MTS on my second bike list.
Just in case you're wondering, I've never ridden an ST3, an SS or SC, a side car rig, or an H-D. I can tell you that I could easily see myself buying all but the H-D and being happy. I've always wondered what an H-D would feel like, but as I said above, I stay away from dealers and no one I know well has one.
Have a good one.
You know Bill I always thought the same. And I still do a little. But it's getting harder and harder to lean over as the years go by.
Ha! I just spent the last 9 years and 90K miles on an '03 FZ1.
It was a fantastically capable bike that could do most everything very well. Lots of HP, comfortable ergos, and with some suspension mods it could flat-out rail. But, it has the sex appeal of a brick (especially the Gen I's) and other than a relatively small group of deeply disturbed fans it didn't really sell very well. Frankly, I'm surprised that Yamaha is still selling the model.
They are very reliable too. Well, except for mine I guess. After a 1500 mile trip last August where the bike ran as strong as ever, I got home and parked it in the garage and took off for Michigan for a family wedding. When I wheeled it out of the garage a week later it wouldn't start, and after some diagnostics it turns out that it had 50-60psi in all four cylinders. Regardless of the root cause, a fugly 9 year old bike with 90K miles isn't worth pouring money into.
Fortunately, I ended up coming across my ST3s ABS and I'm loving it. I've put on 2.5K miles in the last 6 weeks and the grin hasn't left my face (although I sometimes miss the rush of about 130 hp at the wheel
). I looked at the Multistrada as well, but to be honest I wasn't about to spend the kind of coin required to get one. I do like them though!Randy
I had an 2003 FJR and can relate. I'm much happier with my ST3, and yes, there are times when I miss that 99 lbs ft torque and 145 hp, but mostly on the highway, when passing. As I spend so little time on the highway, I don't miss it that much. And the trade off is not being pummeled to death on the highway by the FJR's atrocious areodynamics.Ha! I just spent the last 9 years and 90K miles on an '03 FZ1.
It was a fantastically capable bike that could do most everything very well. Lots of HP, comfortable ergos, and with some suspension mods it could flat-out rail. But, it has the sex appeal of a brick (especially the Gen I's) and other than a relatively small group of deeply disturbed fans it didn't really sell very well. Frankly, I'm surprised that Yamaha is still selling the model.
They are very reliable too. Well, except for mine I guess. After a 1500 mile trip last August where the bike ran as strong as ever, I got home and parked it in the garage and took off for Michigan for a family wedding. When I wheeled it out of the garage a week later it wouldn't start, and after some diagnostics it turns out that it had 50-60psi in all four cylinders. Regardless of the root cause, a fugly 9 year old bike with 90K miles isn't worth pouring money into.
Fortunately, I ended up coming across my ST3s ABS and I'm loving it. I've put on 2.5K miles in the last 6 weeks and the grin hasn't left my face (although I sometimes miss the rush of about 130 hp at the wheel
Randy
My FJR started "ticking" ie bad valve guides at around 3K kilometers, and ran hotter than hell some summer days. People who complain about removing the fairing and accessing the battery on their ST bikes, have never owned a FJR. The Ducati is simply a better bike, it's even more comfortable. I noticed small but still, IMO, significant diffences between the big yammie and my lil' Ducati. When I took the farings off the FJR, what was revealed was ugly, and industrial, with no care given to appearance or small touches as the bike has full fairings, lead by a gawd awful aluminum spar frame. When I took the Ducati's farings off, I saw little touches here and there that spoke to quality of design; like a fuel tank prop, like an airbox fabric cover, and..... "Desmotre" stamped into the head covers, where no casual eye would ever see them. For some reason, that made a big difference for me. Nobody "loved" that FJR, it was just built, not crafted...if that even makes sense.
The next ST4S: an 1198S engine with saddle bags, I'd be in heaven!
I also think that is absolutely beautiful
that's why it'd be so easy to do a proper ST; even as a "parts-bin special"...there are some pretty nice parts in the Ducati bins! Touring fairings on a 1098 Streetfighter, the MTS/Diavel engine (those who haven't ridden these...trust me, the punchy nature of the 1098 SF is no fun when you actually want to do some real riding and not just do wheelies in the streets), and saddlebags, just as it's done above.The next ST4S: an 1198S engine with saddle bags, I'd be in heaven!![]()
I also think that is absolutely beautiful
the only truly lightweight ST I can think of (under 200kg) is the BMW F800ST. Surely Ducati can do better, with more sport and yet more luggage capacity.
But from existing choices - the Granturismo really checks all the boxes. It has the power, the comfort, the L-twin sound and feel, it has the linked brake system that the Panigale and the BMW S1000RR uses (and it is EXCELLENT)...I have little doubt that I'll be disappointed by the bike; the Touring S is a great bike to ride, and while the MTS1200 isn't that pretty, neither is the alien cyclops-head of my ST4.
One can be easily changed by contacting Paul at Ducati Designs, the other.....Paul can only do so much.
That bike (put together by Ducati Canada) looks great but those a/c Multistrada cases are fuel/gasoline bladders for very long distance touring, otherwise it'd need a much bigger fuel tank, better wind screen, and probably stronger subframe and perhaps conventionally routed exhaust to keep the heat down to work.The next ST4S: an 1198S engine with saddle bags, I'd be in heaven!![]()
I also think that is absolutely beautiful
My dream ST. I'm in total argreement, but . . .The next ST4S: an 1198S engine with saddle bags, I'd be in heaven!![]()
I also think that is absolutely beautiful
^^^^ this. Need moar fuel! With a 6gal or so tank to offset the SBK MPGs to get to a 200mi range, I would not complain. The 1098s was very comfortable for the short ride I had on one.That bike (put together by Ducati Canada) looks great but those a/c Multistrada cases are fuel/gasoline bladders for very long distance touring, otherwise it'd need a much bigger fuel tank, better wind screen, and probably stronger subframe and perhaps conventionally routed exhaust to keep the heat down to work.
Being sligthly nit-picky, I like the ST cases over the Multi1100 cases.
I'll take the heat. The existing subframe would even work for me as a solo-only rider. I'd just have a top case mount in place of the pillion pad like that one dude did with his 999 ST.
The missing bit is the center stand, but I could also make do without. Somehow. =P
Have a good one.
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