I've Been Curious. (Motorcycle Content)

[CurtP]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

I've been curious about this motorcycle for a few years now so today I rode out to a local Ducati dealer and took one out.

This is a Ducati Diavel;

V4
1,158 cc
168 hp
465 lb.
MSRP $26,995

The black one was the demo bike, but they do have a red available. (It'd be red for me) This ain't no Harley.

Are you getting it? I've been considering a SuperSport 950, but I lust for the Panigale.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by CurtP

Are you getting it?

Here’s where I’m at with the whole deal. In about two weeks I’m going to be working 7 days a week, 10 hours a day until early December. I might get out for a short putt but my riding season here in MN effectively over. Getting a new motorcycle with only two weeks left in the season doesn’t make a great deal of sense.

That being the case this’ll wait until next spring when I can get it and ride it.

[LATB]

I’m going to be working 7 days a week, 10 hours a day until early December.

Ka-Ching

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by LATB

Ka-Ching

Always a good thing. It’s gonna be a f’d up fall but they always are.

[RedLS1GTO]

This thread got me thinking about my favorite bikes...

The white 1198 was an absolute beast. 200+ whp and absolutely violent. No traction control, no anything. An absolute death machine. But so damn fun.

The Aprilia is without a doubt the "best" bike I've ever been on. It is so indescribably fast that ... well... I can't describe it. No idea how much power it had, but with the exhaust, tune, etc it was certainly a few over the already insane 201hp factory number. Launch control, wheelie control, stability control, crazy ABS. In the exact opposite approach as the 1198, it makes it almost impossible to put it on the ground. I'm a skeptic of technology in general, but it was truly incredible.

But...

But.

None of them will ever top the 1 bike I wish I had back.

My 2001 748S.

It was far from the fastest. Not the most reliable. Uncomfortable. And still the most amazing motorcycle I have ever owned. That sound.

[sublime1996525]

I’m a fan. Do it.

[Yadkin]

Organ donor bikes.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

Organ donor bikes.

It must suck to live in fear.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

It must suck to live in fear.

Yes, it must.

YouTube

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

Yes, it must.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0XlfqmhTlQ

I feel bad for you. That's it? A couple dipshits in a bunny hill?

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by Giraffe (He/Him)

I feel bad for you. That's it? A couple dipshits in a bunny hill?

Post up yours.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

Organ donor bikes.

Out of pure bored curiosity, what in your mind defines an "organ donor bike"?

[Steve_R]

$27k for a bike? I'll pass.

I haven't owned a street bike in over 30 years since a good friend riding ahead of me died in my arms after a lady pulled out in front of him. It's a day that's burned into my brain forever. I had to quit motocross racing in my 50s after too many crashes, all my fault, screwed up my back.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Out of pure bored curiosity, what in your mind defines an "organ donor bike"?

Motorcycles are colloquially referred to as “donorcycles” among medical staff.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...22437520301122

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

https://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...22437520301122

So.... your answer is all of them.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

$27k for a bike? I'll pass.

I haven't owned a road bike in over 30 years since a good friend riding ahead of me died in my arms after a lady pulled out in front of him. It's a day that's burned into my brain forever. I had to quit motocross racing in my 50s after too many crashes, all my fault, screwed up my back.

When my son turned two, I looked at him, then at my Kawasaki, and said "One of you has got to go."

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

So.... your answer is all of them.

No, I think it's obvious which ones are more dangerous than others. Just look at HP/ weight ratios.

A lot of it depends on the rider. Less mature, less experience, equals more likelihood of an accident. And of course, higher speeds. Add in car/ truck drivers who don't see you, and hence, organ donation.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

No, I think it's obvious which ones are more dangerous than others. Just look at HP/ weight ratios.

A lot of it depends on the rider. Less mature, less experience, equals more likelihood of an accident. And of course, higher speeds. Add in car/ truck drivers who don't see you, and hence, organ donation.

Not sure I agree with that.

An idiot on a Honda Shadow is going to be dead just as fast as a good rider on that batshit crazy 1198 that I posted.

HP/Weight is pretty irrelevant to safety, especially on newer bikes. That Aprilia was the most powerful bike I've personally ever ridden and weighs half as much as a big Harley. With traction control, stability control, launch control, wheelie control, etc, etc, etc... it was also almost the easiest bike I've ever ridden. It would peel the skin off of your face when you launched it, but it was easy to control. It would stop on a dime in a panic stop, even with a panicked rider that grabs too much brake. It helps if you hit gravel or if a rider screws up and simply rides beyond their skill level into a corner.

Idiot riders are infinitely more dangerous than any type of bike. You can make the argument that there is a direct correlation between idiots and specific types of bikes and I will absolutely agree, but the bike itself being inherently "more dangerous"... not so much.

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

I spent 3 months in the hospital because of a motorcycle wreck. The minute I was able I bought another bike and kept riding.

This isn’t some ‘Get back on the horse’ feel good story. Speaking only for myself the risk will always be worth the reward and preserving my life at any cost isn’t in my makeup per se.

I know a guy who chocked on a ****in’ tortilla chip and DIED if such I thing can even be imagined. Hell my own father missed a step at his lake home, fell, hit his head and it killed him.

[Bruze]

Best chances to stay out of trouble on a motorcycle: You must be a 101% defensive driver. You must assume that nobody sees you, and every car at a crossroad or pulling out of a driveway will pull out in front of you. Be ready with the horn, high beam button, and/or brake.

I crashed twice in 1972, but no other vehicles were involved (but a lot of alcohol was ). Worst I got was a bruised kidney which healed 100%.

I finally sold my last bike in 2015 at age 65. Too paranoid to ride anymore. As I got older I realized how fragile our bodies are.

A 5 MPH crash in a parking lot, which if car-to-car would barely scrape a little paint, could throw you off the bike and if you landed wrong could break your neck or back (having major age-related neck surgery in 2011 didn't help with that scenario).

Having said all that, I had a lot of fun over 45 years of riding -- no regrets. Endless bar-hopping, late night racing, went to Florida and back and numerous lesser trips.