[DUCeditor]

I've been active on Ducati.ms forums for quite a few years, mostly on Sport Classics, Chit Chat and the like, but am none the less new to the Supersport forum so I thought I'd introduce myself and my bike here.

New to the Supersport forum doesn't mean new to Supersports. I've owned my `93 SS, "La Bella Rossa," since she was new way back in, well, 1993. Here she is:

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La Bella Rossa has about 45,000 miles on her. For the last several years she has sat unridden next to my daily rider -- a 2007 GT1000 -- which I am currently selling.

The reason La Bella Rossa has been largely unridden is that as comfortable as that era's SSs were, her peg position was putting painful stress on my aging hips (They're as old as the rest of me dammit! -- nearly 66). But that was mostly on longer, all-day, rides - something I rarely do these days living as I now do in the heart of the Monadnocks (NH) where fun, 2 lane, winding roads are everywhere.

La Bella Rosa is far from stock. I owned her during my active period as editor of Ducatis Unlimited Connection and I willingly used her as a "test mule" (Sorry La Bella!) for all the freebee goodies the site received to be reviewed. Thus she has many of the more popular mods of the period -- Fast By Farracci high compression pistons, lightened flywheel, Nichol's motor mounts etc., blah blah blah. Has some other less common ones too such as "The Sucher Sachel" - a moniker Sargent Saddles put on a saddle design idea I created for her that they at one time sold...

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And Vitaloni Mirror Extensions, made for the "Baby Turbo" mirrors that Ducati bought from their catalog and put on the SS...

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In any case, with my GT1000 about to leave my garage the SS is about to become again my 'daily ride.' But only after she gets some work done, likely over this coming winter season.

So I'll be hanging around here, gathering and sharing ideas and enthusiasm.

See ya 'round!

-don

 

[DUCeditor]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. We'll all learn and gain enthusiasm from one-another!

-don

 

[DUCeditor]

OK - first question - Your lightened flywheel - what do you think of it? I bought one for mine, back when I did the rest of the goodies (listed in my sig), but never fitted it, as on further reading/research saw that most said it made the engine a bit too 'snatchy'.

Steve, let me share with you my observations from the time:

Duck

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Give that a read and if further questions remain I'll be happy to discuss them

-don

 

[DUCeditor]

Brilliant! Thanks for that - your article pretty much agrees with what I'd decided - to leave it (the flywheel) 'as is', until I retire it to the race track (for 'post-classic') - in another 5-10 years, when the class gets to it's 'years' here in NZ. THEN I'll put it on!

Sounds like a wise approach.

I am wondering how I will feel about it when I get back on the bike after years on the GT1000. And years getting older and, yes, mellower. I enjoyed the zip -especially during track days - but I rarely ride wih that, uh... "level of enthusiasm" now.

In any case it'll be fun to 'rediscover' it!

-don

 

[DUCeditor]

I for one can attest to the amazingly beautiful roads in the Modadnock region. Currently stationed in San Diego but originally from southern NH. Wecome fellow New Hampshirite!

Thanks Cryptotech!

For those that are not familiar with the joys of NH back roads, here is a piece on the subject I wrote for Ducati.com some years back...

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-don

 

[DUCeditor]

DucEditor - nice bike, why selling your GT?

Certainly not dissatisfaction - it is everything I'd hoped it to be. Totally reliable too. But I am at a transitory point in my life and thus making choices based on the changes that have taken place and that will as I go into retirement and all that comes with it.

When I lived in Boston I'd ride for an entire day -- several hours to get to the "good stuff" -- the roads worth riding. Now living in The Monadnocks I am surrounded by them and my rides are much shorter. That makes the advantages of the GT1000 less essential. Add the fact that I can't as easily justify having multiple bikes and that the `93 900SS was what got me into Ducati ownership (and that it was a 25th anniversary gift from my dear one) and that was the choice I made. Not, albeit, in every respect an easy one.

Will I be glad that I made it? Sometimes undoubtedly no. Especially since I truly think the GT1000 is destined to be a very valuable and desirableness "classic" in its own right.

I do love my SuperSport though. Always have. Always will!

-don