zippy49
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2013
- Messages
- 1,068
- Location
- Inland SoCal
Hi all,
I've been riding for 48 years. Had a couple of Ducati singles back in the 1960's; the 160 Monza Junior was fairly reliable but the 350 Sebring was the worst bike I've ever owned, then or since. So it has taken me a few decades to get over that!
Last December I went to the bike show in Long Beach. They had a special display of the new Hypers, and I was quite impressed. I've had poor-to-awful experiences with two local dealers (one is now an ex-dealer), but when I met the manager of Newport Beach Ducati at a local hangout he offered me a test ride. Thanks, Mike!
They put me on a demo 'motard, set to Sport, and I rode out into heavy city traffic. Not the best place for a test ride. Plus the throttle was so touchy that I could not ride it smoothly. When I got back they showed me how to turn the power setting down, and then it was no problem. But the seating position was not acceptable, so I was ready to leave when I spotted a white 'Strada in the showroom. Sat on it and fell in love. Bought it the next day.
It's several months later and the bike has 3000 very fun miles on it. Did a long ride in the Sierras two-up last July; rode it on back roads to Santa Cruz in September (an epic ride), sold my '09 YZF-R6 when I got back from that one. No need for it now.
The bike is not perfect. It has not nearly enough splash protection and the passenger portion of the seat is about two inches too short. My knees hit the bodywork if I slide all the way forward. The low fuel light is way too eager. The handguards don't keep the cold air off the back of my hands. And I still can't get a service manual.
But I'm keeping her. No regrets.
I've been riding for 48 years. Had a couple of Ducati singles back in the 1960's; the 160 Monza Junior was fairly reliable but the 350 Sebring was the worst bike I've ever owned, then or since. So it has taken me a few decades to get over that!
Last December I went to the bike show in Long Beach. They had a special display of the new Hypers, and I was quite impressed. I've had poor-to-awful experiences with two local dealers (one is now an ex-dealer), but when I met the manager of Newport Beach Ducati at a local hangout he offered me a test ride. Thanks, Mike!
They put me on a demo 'motard, set to Sport, and I rode out into heavy city traffic. Not the best place for a test ride. Plus the throttle was so touchy that I could not ride it smoothly. When I got back they showed me how to turn the power setting down, and then it was no problem. But the seating position was not acceptable, so I was ready to leave when I spotted a white 'Strada in the showroom. Sat on it and fell in love. Bought it the next day.
It's several months later and the bike has 3000 very fun miles on it. Did a long ride in the Sierras two-up last July; rode it on back roads to Santa Cruz in September (an epic ride), sold my '09 YZF-R6 when I got back from that one. No need for it now.
The bike is not perfect. It has not nearly enough splash protection and the passenger portion of the seat is about two inches too short. My knees hit the bodywork if I slide all the way forward. The low fuel light is way too eager. The handguards don't keep the cold air off the back of my hands. And I still can't get a service manual.
But I'm keeping her. No regrets.
It was an '09 with 200 miles on it! You know the story...young Marine buys it, deploys a couple of times. When he got back he traded it in on a four wheeler. Probably along with a bunch of his buds. I ended up with a like-new bike for less than Kelley Blue Book, and they did all the paperwork. Plus an extra hun or so for renewing the expired reg, all included.
