Author Topic: Open letter to the Ducati owner. (Read 3034 times)

Frankencake · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 11:14:14 AM »

Dear Sir or Madam,
You recently passed me while I was out for a Saturday ride on my old motorcycle. Please refrain from doing this any further in my presence. I find it personally dangerous and somewhat humiliating, not to mention a matter of public safety. Let me explain.
I had just passed a car in the climbing lane as I was going about 80 miles an hour. I saw my riding partner dip quickly in to the right lane and I only saw the black blur of your fairing and the bright pin point halogen in my left mirror before I was leaning fiercely to get out of your way. You then proceeded to fly past me and my vintage pile of Japanese parts at about 100+ miles and hour. It is not that I think that you don't have the ability to ride at these speeds or that they should not be attained on public streets. I can do it on a Ducati just like anyone else. It's just that when you pass me on your slick, black alfredo burner, I have to click a few gears down on my relic and proceeded to follow you as best I can. This is the dangerous part. What I am worried about is being on a machine that probably shouldn't do it and certainly doesn't do it as well. I consider you a menace to my ability to enjoy a nice Saturday cruise on my time machine when you fly by and dispose of my memory as I turn into a small fleck in your rear views; that is, if you actually were to ever use them.
I, too, yearn to feel the rush of the dotted yellow line. I crave the feeling and roar of a two cylinder Italian bike as it passes cars like they are billboards at Indy. I am a slave to the audible sexiness of the dry clutch. But since I am a family man, I refrain and choose to ride more tame vehicles while achieving less velocity. They are a mish-mosh of artifacts that this mechano-archaeologist has resurrected into a distinguishable form know as the Honda CB and let me tell you my two-wheeled brethren, if you can see me hanging in your mirrors for just a little while after you pass just know this: I am pouring sweat and screaming at the top of my lungs out of fear and excitement and having the time of my life because, as I chase you, your 100 miles per hour feels like the f**king speed of sound on my old girls. Just don't tell my wife.

Roach · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 12:36:55 PM »

hahah so true

i was out yesterday and i pulled up to a stop light and some guy on his hybusa blasts past me right as the light turns green. lets just say i boot it it took me a while to get to 90kph but when i got there it sure did feel great

MoMo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 12:40:34 PM »

Had I similar incident-only it was a Harley riding flying by on my left as I was getting ready to turn left

I actually felt the breeze of his bike

...Larry

754 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2011, 12:46:44 PM »

I ran (my 836)off a sort of rolling start against a buddy on a first or 2nd year Monster, we stayed about a length apart.. tried to get him to go off the line, but he (wisely) decined..

He told me his newer ones were much quicker.. That I do not doubt.. I did remind him though, that my motor had over 20 years on it, and that I weigh 100lbs more than him..

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2011, 05:21:15 PM »

Sounds safer than the Gixxer squid that passed me in the right lane at about 140 while I was doing about 80mph. I didn't even see him until he passed me IN THE RIGHT LANE (mind you, this is an eight-lane divided, elevated section of interstate highway) because I only posses a left side mirror. His squid-ass is lucky I didn't swerve a little to the right or else we both would have been ink spots on the highway.

Stev-o · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2011, 05:30:49 PM »

Well written...

Steve F · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:03:06 PM »

Yeah, I'm afraid we have all been there....riding along on a nice Sunday afternoon and all of a sudden they scare the $hi+ out of you as they pass at twice your cruising speed.
Friggin squids will eventually get what they have coming, and unfortunately, at the expense of some innocent.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2011, 06:20:43 PM »

Quote from: photolar on March 27, 2011, 12:40:34 PM

Had I similar incident-only it was a Harley riding flying by on my left as I was getting ready to turn left I actually felt the breeze of his bike ...Larry

I recently ran a 4 wheeled squid in a turbo skyline into the gutter doing exactly the same friggin thing, idiot was trying to pass me in the bicycle lane as i was turning left.......brain dead idiot.....I did see him but just though i would teach the moron a lesson in driver etiquette, it didn't work judging by his 4 letter vocabulary and interesting hand gestures .....

333 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2011, 08:47:54 PM »

Personally, I see it a little differently. I, for the most part, stick close to the speed limit. Don't get me wrong, I do get there quickly sometimes, but when I break the speed limits severely, I choose my moments carefully. I prefer to get my adrenalin rushes when some cage pulls out in front of me, causing me to slam on the brakes of a 38 year old bike, which has mediocre brakes when it was new, much less than at 38.

But there's more reasons. And I'm sure you've all heard it. You let it out at some social function( a non riders event) that you ride a motorcycle. Occasionally you are greeted by a "Hey, brother", but usually one of two things are the rule. You hear about a friend or family member who was killed or maimed riding a bike. Or you hear how ALL motorcyclists ride at 100+, and disregard any traffic law, because, after all, aren't they all outlaws? And the reason we, as riders, stand out is this. Only 3% of the U.S. rides. This includes off roaders and ATV riders, and may have grown to 4% in the last few years because of $4.00 a gal gas. And while a-hole drivers are a dime a dozen, when a bike is seen being an a-hole, it sticks out, because of our small numbers.

I'm not sayin' to not do it. Just pick your moment.

Raef · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:08:47 PM »

I got rid of my go fast bikes because the temptation is just to great, my actions often foolish, and the odds, they get shorter every day.

well put, I can relate

if there is anything else in this world like riding a bike that will 100+ in 3rd and pull the front wheel accelerating in 4th I haven't found it

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:09:14 PM »

Quote

I'm not sayin' to not do it. Just pick your moment.

Good advice

Frankencake · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:48:51 PM »

Quote from: raef on March 27, 2011, 09:08:47 PM

if there is anything else in this world like riding a bike that will 100+ in 3rd and pull the front wheel accelerating in 4th I haven't found it

----Better than having sex with Madonna from the late 80'----

Accolay · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2011, 10:26:04 PM »

Yeah...but can they fix it? Didn't think so...

Raef · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2011, 05:23:38 AM »

Quote from: Dustreel Revlooshun Cupcake on March 27, 2011, 09:48:51 PM

Quote from: raef on March 27, 2011, 09:08:47 PM
if there is anything else in this world like riding a bike that will 100+ in 3rd and pull the front wheel accelerating in 4th I haven't found it
----Better than having sex with Madonna from the late 80'----

Well, as I said I haven't found it. given the opportunity I would have tried that and for an extra flair invited GF.

I think Madonna would have been on the list, the list of "acceptable celebrities" you could sleep with, given the opportunity, and be exempt from cheating.

Radam · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2011, 06:10:18 AM »

This is my friends old Ducati. I'd be impressed if it flew by me.

Frankencake · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:09:01 AM »

Quote from: Radam on March 28, 2011, 06:10:18 AM

This is my friends old Ducati. I'd be impressed if it flew by me.

Beautiful

754 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:58:24 AM »

My old Ducati was from the same era as the one shown, and would do an honest 100mph. and it was the same motor type.. a 250.. so some of the smaller or badly running fours on here, could get passed by one..

.. it would easily pass some of our 4s in a corner..

back to topic..
Dear Duckowner;
When you passed me on Mulholland, yes you did get to the Rock store 2 minutes before me. I threw off my half helmet, about the time you finished taking off your gear.. That 800.00 helmet sure requires serious babying, dont it, I noticed the nervous glance everytime someone walked near it..

I sure had a lot of folks looking at my slammed stretched Weber carbed old sohc.. .. I did notice that few looked at yours as well, but not as many..

At least we all had fun out on our bikes, and are out riding them...

OneWheelDrive · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2011, 10:23:51 AM »

Dear S4RS Tricolor Owner,

I know that the matchy matchy full racing leathers you were wearing to leisurely cruise the coast hwy 101 were certainly worth more than my bike, but when you lifted your visor at a stoplight to check out my rattle can paint job on my gently purring CB550 and ultimately give me the nod, I know you were jealous that I'll never need to have a dealer perform a $1000 yearly valve adjustment. All the tools I need to disassemble, fix, and reassemble by entire bike are stored in a little pouch under my seat....and that's the way I like it.

Sincerely,

OWD

333 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2011, 12:11:07 PM »

Actually, on the slightly older ones, it's not yearly, but 3k miles. So really, you shouldn't ride coast to coast without planning a stop at a Ducati dealer.

ColinMc · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:00:58 PM »

Why not have BOTH?! A nice Ducati in the stable, and a cb750...

EDIT: I'm so familiar with the 748/916/996 motors now that I can do a valve check in my sleep...just like anything the first time is the hardest. I'd check the valves on my 996 motor and do a clutch job in the time it takes to just check the valves on a SOHC4. But that might just mean I need more practice on the CB750.

754 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:14:42 PM »

Clutch job?..you mean change or ceck freeplay?

Takes all of 10 or 12 minutes to check the valves on a 754..

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:16:57 PM »

Quote from: ColinMc on March 28, 2011, 09:00:58 PM

Why not have BOTH?! A nice Ducati in the stable, and a cb750...

EDIT: I'm so familiar with the 748/916/996 motors now that I can do a valve check in my sleep...just like anything the first time is the hardest. I'd check the valves on my 996 motor and do a clutch job in the time it takes to just check the valves on a SOHC4. But that might just mean I need more practice on the CB750.

ok...can I borrow some money?

ColinMc · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:20:14 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on March 28, 2011, 09:16:57 PM

Quote from: ColinMc on March 28, 2011, 09:00:58 PM
Why not have BOTH?! A nice Ducati in the stable, and a cb750...

EDIT: I'm so familiar with the 748/916/996 motors now that I can do a valve check in my sleep...just like anything the first time is the hardest. I'd check the valves on my 996 motor and do a clutch job in the time it takes to just check the valves on a SOHC4. But that might just mean I need more practice on the CB750.
ok...can I borrow some money?

Nope, But you can borrow...my poor financial choices for the past 10 years...also known as "Investments" to my Fiance lol.

ColinMc · « **Reply #23 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:22:05 PM »

Quote from: 754 on March 28, 2011, 09:14:42 PM

Clutch job?..you mean change or ceck freeplay?

Takes all of 10 or 12 minutes to check the valves on a 754..

Sure, or do a full clutch service, new plates, check the stack height..make sure the little ball bearings for the slipper are still seated properly...etc.

Again, I need more practice on the CB750

Trevor from Warragul · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2011, 12:08:16 AM »

Last year I was riding along the Kew Boulevard (a popular winding road in Melbourne, Australia) when I passed a guy on a modern Ducati. Flew by on his outside around a corner. A mate who was behind me thought it was hilarious - he was on a Morini 500 & I was on my drum brake Kawasaki H1A..

Trevor

News:

Author Topic: Open letter to the Ducati owner. (Read 3034 times)