|
Test bike reluctantly supplied by Eric Montanaro.
These bikes you will either love or hate.
My mate Eric really loves his one, so much he wasn't gunna let me ride it.
It has Termi pipes & fresh tyres, what more could I ask
Or better not to ask
aaa!
He came to my place to pick up parts & I couldn't resist the opportunity to take it for a spin.
I quietly put his Helmut & gloves on the ground as I went to turn the key, then his hand come on through & took the key before my very eyes.
I couldn't believe it & had to patronise him & tell him I'd revoke my friendship of 19 years if he didn't let me ride it & give me the key.
He said, "I know what ya gunna do on it"
I replied, "I'm gunna do what I'm gunna do" now "give,me,the,f-ing,keys!"
He reluctantly agreed, but not until making it quite clear he was taking my 996SPS if I crashed it.
As I rode down the drive, he couldn't bare to watch.
I first swerved it down my drive to feel how it steered, then clutched it straight to balance point & down the road out of site.
I could tell he was really pissed, & I felt so good about that, I gave it one trial shot on the front wheel & yep I think I have it sussed good enough to get him really flipping out.
While I turned around straight away, I had to make sure I was on the back wheel when I come back into sight.
It was all going to plan when I hit my brake marker & put it on it's nose, but whoe! I nearly went right over, almost needing to bail over the top of the bars & take a few steps to avoid the bike landing on me! but criky, it came back after a free-roll woble.
I really had no intentions letting him take the 996, not to say he hadn't notched up some of those 145,000K's over the years on this bike.
The brakes being gold Brembo's with steel lines work really great, even feeling better than most other Ducati's with the same fitment. (this is due to the higher centre of gravity, which makes it stoppie really easy.) The lever is very solid too, & how he had it, didn't come close to squashing my fingers.
For the 1000 metres or so I rode this bike, it felt to steer great, stopped really well, & that familiar torque of that 1000DS motor I got used to from my SS Ducatis I clocked more than 50,000k's.
The Ducati air cooled two valve is a great motor. They have more torque than many 4Valve twins, but soon run out of puff @ about 8000RPM. It makes you ride the torque curve & short shifting. While my SS 1000DS was effected by different fuels, it was also difficult starting in winter, being the most annoying aspect of the bike.
To some it up, I'd never fall in love with this bikes looks, although I'd have black, but I would have fun riding it, especially rough dirty roads.
|
