CBTand buying a Desmo
Discussion
So had some time today to take a few photo's and also head to the Ace Cafe for breakfast.
But first the deal & handover. Brought the bike from a great bloke called Andrew - someone who already has a stunning collection of bikes and had been riding the Desmo for a number of years. Was very much by chance that I brought it after putting up a post on Ducati.org asking if anyone had one for sale. I'd been to see a few and they really weren't up to my standards (or at least the standards of a bike that costs north of £40k!), so starting to loose faith, but Andrew came good. He'd posted up that he was thinking of selling and away we went.
I went to see it last weekend and given the weather was good, took the Macca (probably a bit daft if a deal was to be done..). Fair play to Andrew - he let me take the Desmo out for a spin, provided I take him for a spin in the macca. I was in jeans, trainers and a puffer jacket, with a borrowed scrambler helmet for my first ride - no pressure
What a machine though, very stiff compared to the Panigale and just wants to go, go, go!! Another thing (unsurprisingly) is the noise
As I pulled back into London on it on Saturday, had the comical scene of a child with his parents, turn around when I was about 400m away and then clasp his hands around his ears, with a total look of shock/excitement on his face - really is a sound to behold.
So pitched up to the Ace this morning and guess what parks next to me...
Chatted to the owner for some time (has had it from new) and gained even more knowledge on how to run/ride the bike. So a few photos/video:
The first ride:
Doing the deal
The ride back home - gives you an idea of what it sounds like at idle!:
https://youtu.be/vFPfykFV8Ik
Back home:
Aim to use the bike, so will be updating on its adventures as we go - let me know if you have any questions and will be happy to (try to) anser.
Still can't believe the 2 years or so journey into biking - love it
But first the deal & handover. Brought the bike from a great bloke called Andrew - someone who already has a stunning collection of bikes and had been riding the Desmo for a number of years. Was very much by chance that I brought it after putting up a post on Ducati.org asking if anyone had one for sale. I'd been to see a few and they really weren't up to my standards (or at least the standards of a bike that costs north of £40k!), so starting to loose faith, but Andrew came good. He'd posted up that he was thinking of selling and away we went.
I went to see it last weekend and given the weather was good, took the Macca (probably a bit daft if a deal was to be done..). Fair play to Andrew - he let me take the Desmo out for a spin, provided I take him for a spin in the macca. I was in jeans, trainers and a puffer jacket, with a borrowed scrambler helmet for my first ride - no pressure
What a machine though, very stiff compared to the Panigale and just wants to go, go, go!! Another thing (unsurprisingly) is the noise
As I pulled back into London on it on Saturday, had the comical scene of a child with his parents, turn around when I was about 400m away and then clasp his hands around his ears, with a total look of shock/excitement on his face - really is a sound to behold.So pitched up to the Ace this morning and guess what parks next to me...
Chatted to the owner for some time (has had it from new) and gained even more knowledge on how to run/ride the bike. So a few photos/video:
The first ride:
Doing the deal
The ride back home - gives you an idea of what it sounds like at idle
!:https://youtu.be/vFPfykFV8Ik
Back home:
Aim to use the bike, so will be updating on its adventures as we go - let me know if you have any questions and will be happy to (try to) anser.
Still can't believe the 2 years or so journey into biking - love it
No issues with the photo’s my end too – all standard Google Images from my account, so no idea what you are doing!
As for Insurance – it’s with Ducati and costs £2.5k a year for both bikes – considering I live in London (although the bikes are in the alarmed garage + other security + trackers on both) it’s not a bad price – conversely the Panigale with another insurance co was £800.
As for Insurance – it’s with Ducati and costs £2.5k a year for both bikes – considering I live in London (although the bikes are in the alarmed garage + other security + trackers on both) it’s not a bad price – conversely the Panigale with another insurance co was £800.
Ok - have no idea what went on with my Google account, but we are now fixed 
So a basic recap:
Nov 13 - Post up a Thread on PH asking about CBT's and buying tips on a Desmo - have piss remorselessly taken
Nov/Dec 13 - Take CBT, Theory and Mod I & II
Mar 14 - Buy a Ducati Panigale Tricolore S as first Bike
May 16 - Insurance now in some form of reality - Get Desmosedici
But first the deal & handover. Brought the bike from a great bloke called Andrew - someone who already has a stunning collection of bikes and had been riding the Desmo for a number of years. Was very much by chance that I brought it after putting up a post on Ducati.org asking if anyone had one for sale. I'd been to see a few and they really weren't up to my standards (or at least the standards of a bike that costs north of £40k!), so starting to loose faith, but Andrew came good. He'd posted up that he was thinking of selling and away we went.
I went to see it last weekend and given the weather was good, took the Macca (probably a bit daft if a deal was to be done..). Fair play to Andrew - he let me take the Desmo out for a spin, provided I take him for a spin in the macca. I was in jeans, trainers and a puffer jacket, with a borrowed scrambler helmet for my first ride - no pressure
What a machine though, very stiff compared to the Panigale and just wants to go, go, go!! Another thing (unsurprisingly) is the noise As I pulled back into London on it on Saturday, had the comical scene of a child with his parents, turn around when I was about 400m away and then clasp his hands around his ears, with a total look of shock/excitement on his face - really is a sound to behold.
So pitched up to the Ace this morning and guess what parks next to me...
Chatted to the owner for some time (has had it from new) and gained even more knowledge on how to run/ride the bike. So a few photos/video:
The first ride:
Doing the deal
The ride back home - gives you an idea of what it sounds like at idle!:
https://youtu.be/vFPfykFV8Ik
Back home:
Aim to use the bike, so will be updating on its adventures as we go - let me know if you have any questions and will be happy to (try to) answer.
Still can't believe the 2 years or so journey into biking - love it
So a basic recap:
Nov 13 - Post up a Thread on PH asking about CBT's and buying tips on a Desmo - have piss remorselessly taken
Nov/Dec 13 - Take CBT, Theory and Mod I & II
Mar 14 - Buy a Ducati Panigale Tricolore S as first Bike
May 16 - Insurance now in some form of reality - Get Desmosedici
But first the deal & handover. Brought the bike from a great bloke called Andrew - someone who already has a stunning collection of bikes and had been riding the Desmo for a number of years. Was very much by chance that I brought it after putting up a post on Ducati.org asking if anyone had one for sale. I'd been to see a few and they really weren't up to my standards (or at least the standards of a bike that costs north of £40k!), so starting to loose faith, but Andrew came good. He'd posted up that he was thinking of selling and away we went.
I went to see it last weekend and given the weather was good, took the Macca (probably a bit daft if a deal was to be done..). Fair play to Andrew - he let me take the Desmo out for a spin, provided I take him for a spin in the macca. I was in jeans, trainers and a puffer jacket, with a borrowed scrambler helmet for my first ride - no pressure
What a machine though, very stiff compared to the Panigale and just wants to go, go, go!! Another thing (unsurprisingly) is the noise
As I pulled back into London on it on Saturday, had the comical scene of a child with his parents, turn around when I was about 400m away and then clasp his hands around his ears, with a total look of shock/excitement on his face - really is a sound to behold.So pitched up to the Ace this morning and guess what parks next to me...
Chatted to the owner for some time (has had it from new) and gained even more knowledge on how to run/ride the bike. So a few photos/video:
The first ride:
Doing the deal
The ride back home - gives you an idea of what it sounds like at idle
!:https://youtu.be/vFPfykFV8Ik
Back home:
Aim to use the bike, so will be updating on its adventures as we go - let me know if you have any questions and will be happy to (try to) answer.
Still can't believe the 2 years or so journey into biking - love it
Thanks all - I love ol'PH as for me it's always something that pushes me to achieve goals - I remember back in the early noughties when I went to a Virginia Waters for the early incarnation of PH Sunday Services and someone pitched up in a Lamborghini and I literally ran over to have a look at it - only hope I can do the same with the Desmosedici with trips this year and get it out so people can see the machine that most people wrap up in cotton wool.
It’s also been great to read the comments over the last two years on my journey into biking (and certainly wasn’t expecting my accident to come up, but I guess it’s probably relevant to why I’d decided to “go for it” - its something that has really pushed me to get the licence, buck convention, be sensible (only just) and go after the bikes I love - thank-you all 
So Desmosedici vs. Panigale Tricolore (from a non-journalist/non-biking-god etc):
Looks:
Subjective, but I’ve always liked the look of the Panigale and how it moves to an “arrow” at the back and has a very tapered look to the whole bike, but the Desmo (hopefully I can use the shortened version of the name without sounding like a know-it-all) really is a sight to behold. To start with, when looking at them after an age spent looking on-line at pictures, the back just looks too big - kinda like a 90’s look, but after time you just realise how beautifully proportioned the bike is - a true classic
Finish:
Ok a Panigale is not a cheap bike and the finishing is wonderful…..but the Desmo is on a different level - everything has a totally bespoke look about it. All of the hangers/pegs etc are machine milled from solids, the wheels are magnesium, the shocks are space age (for the time) and the carbon fibre is proper motorsport (I dropped the McLaren in for a service at Ascot and they had one of Sienna’s F1’s in there - same look on the Desmo) - just amazing
Handling:
So, as is well established, I have little experience on a bike (just over 2 years now), but I do have the experience of someone who thinks “I’ve seen a nice bike - I’ve no idea how to ride them - what next?” and also being fortunate enough to get some nice bikes with relatively little experience. The Desmo is a strange thing - it’s massively stiffer than the Panigale and has none of the electronic aids (traction, braking and suspension), but it just feels so pure. When I mentioned that it just wants to Go! Go! Go! I meant it, it loves travelling fast and seems to love it. There really is nothing like bombing along with that sound and limited flex in the bike at speed - wonderful feeling and something I hope I can convey in words over the summer. On the downside there are two things that aren’t as good as the Panigale: Heat and Fuel Consumption. The bike is an absolute fire-pit if not driven at over 50mph The trip to the Ace is a little boring now as there’s average speed cameras round the North Circular, but at that speed the bike is around 95-100 degrees and starting to get a little toasty. Stop in traffic forget the bike cooking - you’ll be cooking Then there is the fuel - it drinks it - call it 70 (tops) miles to the tank
Cajones
Yes I have them - took me two years to get the insurance down to a level that felt right and to be fair to the early posters on this thread, I concur that a “CBT and buying a Desmo” was probably a step too far for my first bike
One thing though, I went out in the garage earlier and still had to pinch myself that I have one - feel very, very lucky! I can’t believe me, as a car and bike anorak, has one!
Spin out from the Ace:
https://youtu.be/39GwkDjtHNs
and my wonderful wife adding her bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM5IZNbfxbA&fe...
It’s also been great to read the comments over the last two years on my journey into biking (and certainly wasn’t expecting my accident to come up, but I guess it’s probably relevant to why I’d decided to “go for it”
- its something that has really pushed me to get the licence, buck convention, be sensible (only just) and go after the bikes I love - thank-you all So Desmosedici vs. Panigale Tricolore (from a non-journalist/non-biking-god etc):
Looks:
Subjective, but I’ve always liked the look of the Panigale and how it moves to an “arrow” at the back and has a very tapered look to the whole bike, but the Desmo (hopefully I can use the shortened version of the name without sounding like a know-it-all) really is a sight to behold. To start with, when looking at them after an age spent looking on-line at pictures, the back just looks too big - kinda like a 90’s look, but after time you just realise how beautifully proportioned the bike is - a true classic
Finish:
Ok a Panigale is not a cheap bike and the finishing is wonderful…..but the Desmo is on a different level - everything has a totally bespoke look about it. All of the hangers/pegs etc are machine milled from solids, the wheels are magnesium, the shocks are space age (for the time) and the carbon fibre is proper motorsport (I dropped the McLaren in for a service at Ascot and they had one of Sienna’s F1’s in there - same look on the Desmo) - just amazing
Handling:
So, as is well established, I have little experience on a bike (just over 2 years now), but I do have the experience of someone who thinks “I’ve seen a nice bike - I’ve no idea how to ride them - what next?” and also being fortunate enough to get some nice bikes with relatively little experience. The Desmo is a strange thing - it’s massively stiffer than the Panigale and has none of the electronic aids (traction, braking and suspension), but it just feels so pure. When I mentioned that it just wants to Go! Go! Go! I meant it, it loves travelling fast and seems to love it. There really is nothing like bombing along with that sound and limited flex in the bike at speed - wonderful feeling and something I hope I can convey in words over the summer. On the downside there are two things that aren’t as good as the Panigale: Heat and Fuel Consumption. The bike is an absolute fire-pit if not driven at over 50mph
The trip to the Ace is a little boring now as there’s average speed cameras round the North Circular, but at that speed the bike is around 95-100 degrees and starting to get a little toasty. Stop in traffic forget the bike cooking - you’ll be cooking Then there is the fuel - it drinks it - call it 70 (tops) miles to the tankCajones
Yes I have them - took me two years to get the insurance down to a level that felt right and to be fair to the early posters on this thread, I concur that a “CBT and buying a Desmo” was probably a step too far for my first bike
One thing though, I went out in the garage earlier and still had to pinch myself that I have one - feel very, very lucky! I can’t believe me, as a car and bike anorak, has one!
Spin out from the Ace:
https://youtu.be/39GwkDjtHNs
and my wonderful wife adding her bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM5IZNbfxbA&fe...
Edited by duggan on Friday 13th May 20:10
Can't wait for the long weekend now - toy-box this morning
Will post up some pic's over the weekend of any adventures - think the Panigale might be gathering dust for another weekend!
Not sure about the track yet with the Desmo - am going to do one of the track-day schools and then maybe look at a cheaper bike to be the track-hack until I get skilled - just can't imagine dropping the Desmo!
Will post up some pic's over the weekend of any adventures - think the Panigale might be gathering dust for another weekend!
obscene said:
graeme4130 said:
A bike like that needs a race track. Are you planning on tracking it ?
Exactly what I'm wondering!jonboy996 said:
@Duggan
That was me yesterday afternoon (Sunday) on M25 (White 899)
I've been following this thread from the start so was great to see the bike in the flesh, looked and sounded absolutely awesome.
Congrats
Small word eh!That was me yesterday afternoon (Sunday) on M25 (White 899)
I've been following this thread from the start so was great to see the bike in the flesh, looked and sounded absolutely awesome.
Congrats
Thanks - that 899 is a stunning bike too - especially in white as you don't tend to see many of them.
I was on my way back from visiting my parents in Bucks and a very early morning ride down to Goodwood for the "Full Throttle" breakfast. Very early morning (5am) + Desmosedici + quiet road do not mix! Had to push the bike up to the main road before starting it
Did about 250 miles on the Desmo on Sunday and can only say I'm totally smitten by it - will post up a few pics and a write up when I get a chance this week.
Fired up for the first time this year - had ringing in my ears for 20 mins
https://youtu.be/xxh_DfI4S3w
https://youtu.be/xxh_DfI4S3w
Early morning start - the neighbours get to enjoy the wonderful sound of a Desmosedici
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwtGahW9Ahk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwtGahW9Ahk
Edited by duggan on Saturday 25th March 19:42
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/TcThkh42.jpg[/img]|https://thumbsnap.com/TcThkh42[/url] <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/UpyLw7RM" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/UpyLw7RM.jpg)
trickywoo said:
I'm a PB subscriber and immediately thought that was you when I saw it.
Enjoy the final 1299 when it arrives.
The PB guys seem genuinely interested in people with a passion for bikes. I'm sure they would be interested in a more detailed feature if you are. I'd certainly like to see it in the magazine.
Yep - Chris (the Editor) is after a 1299 FE for a feature as the Ducati Press bike is track only, so has asked if he can borrow mine for a photo shoot / road test - just got to get it from Ducati (July delivery promised Enjoy the final 1299 when it arrives.
The PB guys seem genuinely interested in people with a passion for bikes. I'm sure they would be interested in a more detailed feature if you are. I'd certainly like to see it in the magazine.
)Great mag Performance Bike - just seems to encapsulate my passion for bikes perfectly
Motorsport3 said:
OP, how does the riding compare between the desmo and the pani? Noticeable in road riding particularly. Interested given the next gen pani, or whatever name, is expected to be 4c. Is it more linear, less vibrations?
Obviously the Desmo has four/five year older technology on it vs. the Panigale and the whole design basis of it was based on the MotoGP bike, so the handling is completely different between the two bikes. At lower speeds the Panigale is just so easy to ride (I’ve never understood why there is always criticism that its difficult at low speed), whereas the opposite is true on the Desmo. Low speed riding (<50mph) on a Desmo is no fun compounded by the amount of heat the bikes gives off – to enjoy the handling of the bike you need to be out on an open stretch of road and then it is just sublime.From an engine perspective, the V4 is just a masterpiece of engineering. Firstly there is the sound – you can’t get away from one of the best sounding engines ever made. Secondly is how it loves to rev through the range – on the move it just picks ups revs so quickly. Finally there’s the low down grunt it produces – pulling away in first, even at low rev’s it just wants to go – much more than the Panigale.
Not sure how Ducati will move with the new V4, or indeed what price they’ll have it in (and hence how trick it will be), but I’ll be looking to get one as soon as the Tricolore/R version comes out – interesting times at Ducati!
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