One year with my HS

Very nice! I hope it continues to be a problem-free ride for you.

I'm still amazed that you're able to pull off those speeds in the mexican highways.

You must be skinnier than me, I topped out at 135 or so on a country road chasing after my buddy on his multi 1200. He had a passenger and still managed to pull away, but then again. I didn't get this thing for top speed, I got it for carving up twisty rough back roads.

Demetrio said:

There are very good toll roads in Mexico, sometimes with no cops some Friends with sport bikes hit 180 plus in long straight.

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I believe it, I guess I just haven't been to your neck of the woods.

N4teTheGreat said:

... but then again. I didn't get this thing for top speed, I got it for carving up twisty rough back roads.

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My sentiments exactly; this is what paradise looks like for me:

I don't think I've seen more than 130 on my hyper

N4teTheGreat said:

You must be skinnier than me, I topped out at 135 or so on a country road chasing after my buddy on his multi 1200. He had a passenger and still managed to pull away, but then again. I didn't get this thing for top speed, I got it for carving up twisty rough back roads.

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+1 My exact situation in top speed but I stopped at 130, front end too light, even with leaning on it...promised myself to never do that again on this bike...

kuksul08 said:

I don't think I've seen more than 130 on my hyper

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Same here. But then again, when my gas light comes on and I fill up, it only takes like maybe three gallons of fuel and the specs say 4.3 gallon tank. So either the gas light comes on super early or this thing is thirsty.

Computer will say like 43mpg at fill up. But who knows.

In southern Italy, it's like Death Race 2000. There are no enforced traffic rules for bikes and the cagers typically just get the hell out of the way. I average 85-90 mph on all the hwy parts; faster if the lanes are clear. Downside is my gas light comes on at 85-90 miles (panniers on).

I did go flat out a couple months ago with the bags off. Sometimes the conditions are right and she feels pretty stable above 100 (normally the front end dances way too much for my liking). I got to 140 and it didn't go a tick higher. I'm 190 lbs.

BadToTheBown said:

+1 My exact situation in top speed but I stopped at 130, front end too light, even with leaning on it...promised myself to never do that again on this bike...

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Same for me too. I took mine to 130mph last weekend and the front got light and began to shake. I backed right off it. Mine will never see 148. lol.

Mine felt just as stable at 130 as I does at 90. When I got my suspension setup the triple was dropped maybe 1/4 or an inch down the forks, not sure if that contributed to the stability or if it was more with the setting for the rear shock but the bike has felt planted ever since.

March was my 1st year anniversary with my 2013 HS. Somewhere over 5000 miles. Good considering I ride my Suzuki half the time too. Mileage is usually 48-49 mpg according to the dashboard. I've been through 3 rear tires so far and it makes me wonder if Pennsylvania's roads are worse than in Mexico. It wouldn't surprise me if they are.
Been off-roading with it quite a bit including some fairly hair-raising adventures in the mountains. Nowadays though I tend to stick to a relatively narrow comfort zone of dirt roads without much rocks or mud. And these are few and far between.

I've done the clutch mod (best money spent so far), new air filter (PAIN IN THE BUTT JOB!), LED turn signals up front, hot glued a hand guard back together after dropping the bike in mud while crossing a stream, new timing belts at the shop, installed a higher windscreen, disconnected the exhaust flapper (twice since the shop reconnected it on me), new battery and changed the headlight bulb.
It's been a fairly costly year. By comparison I think my Suzuki has only needed an oil change , a turn signal bulb and a rear tire in the same time span with similar miles accumulated.

I love the bike and she's a great commuter now thanks to the clutch mod. And she's a pleasure for long distances compared to the Suzuki which I only ride locally anymore. But my biggest thrill riding her is opening up that throttle out on the open highway and feeling that rush of speed. But for the twisty backroads I actually prefer the Suzuki. It isn't better handling in fact it's the opposite. It handles much worse that the HS. And that's the reason I like it in twists - it's a real challenge to ride. The HS carves up twisties so effortlessly it becomes boring after awhile. On the tightest roads in my area my heart rate doesn't go up any more than if I was riding a straightway. But on the little Suzuki my *** is hanging out there in the wind and I am holding on for dear life. On those kinds of roads I just enjoy the crudity over the technical superiority - it's just more exciting.
Also I've only gotten my HS up to 110 - 115 because of the knobby tires which feel like grease on a hot griddle over 100.

So in short I like my combo of bikes. each has strengths and weaknesses I enjoy. The HS has so much personality too. I'm keeping her. And the lowly little S40.

5 years with my HS 821

Overall, if you're saying to yourself: "I'm never selling this bike!", well, she holds up pretty well.

I'm prepping for the 18K valve service (thank gawd labor is cheap in Italy). Approaching 15K, here's what's on my punch list, discounting normal wear items (tires, plastics, seats, grips, etc.):
- Clutch fix
- 14T front sprocket
- Chain (I'll ride this to just before valve service. I took good care of my chain and they can certainly last well over 15K miles)
- Starter (My weak 1st gen unit is finally shitting the bed)
*Planned to do all these just before valve service but starter might not last another week
- Got a strange fueling issue since arriving in Italy. When holding low, constant RPM in any gear, usually around 4-5K RPM, it stutters/ bogs at bit. Give a little juice and it runs fine. It's not all the time and usually only in my Touring mode (MED PWR). I ran a can of Sea Foam through it and haven't noticed it since. I did pinch my main fuel line when installing my RB Evo years ago, but that cut fuel at high RPM so don't think that's it. Chalking up to bad Euro gas for now.
- Steering Damper. These seemed way more de riguer on sport bikes but I think it's what I need to tighten up that loose front end at speed. The lightness is awesome flicking around town but scary when cruising fast.
- Seat is starting to feel flat. It was a great stock saddle IMO but I think my fat *** has finally broke it down. Bought Kuksul's race seat as I've read good things about it's comfort. Again, this is a normal wear item.
- Suspension: So, I just fitted the Andreani fork inserts and you must put upgrading the stock Strada suspension at the top of your list. I ride some really nasty roads and the before/ after was eye watering. Need to upgrade the rear but the fronts were definitely the priority.

So, couple warranty issues with the 821 line but I feel Ducati handled those well. The motor still feels as strong as week one and I've never grown bored of it's power delivery. I feel the Strada will be one of those "What's that?!" bikes 20 yrs from now and that is just so cool to me. I won't sell it but hope to have a Diavel sitting next to it in a couple years.

has anyone else came close to touching 200miles on a tank?

Too funny, with some discussing top speed and others fuel range.

Hyperchance said:

has anyone else came close to touching 200miles on a tank?

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Look here: http://hyperstrada.com/ducati-hyperstrada/4165-capacity-tank-186-miles.html

My best mileage (before gas light) was something like 130 on the 821. I was babying the bike as I was running in new tires. I started wondering if the gas light wasn't working. Pulled into a gas station and it came on at the same moment.