RE: Harris buys a Ducati: PH Blog

[wemorgan]

Djtemeka said:

Still don't understand how ducati manage to extract so little power out of a 1200.
Loads of torque but no rush of power. Reminds me of a diesel :P
Still a nice and very light bike to ride though and 100ponies will be enough for a couple years

The 100bhp mentioned is a low power engine mode the rider can select.
The Monster 1200 has 135 bhp 87 lbft and the 1200S 145 bhp 92 lbft

[Silver993tt]

MarJay said:

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

or a 125? I started on a 100cc bike, then 125, then 350, then 500 then 1000, then 1200, then 1400 now 1250. That was over a 30 year period.

[y2blade]

Hooli said:

EggsBenedict said:

That sounds dull? What sounds exciting then?

In bikes? Twins mostly.

Different people like different things.

[Agent Orange]

srob said:

Two front page bike articles about bikes:

A cracking custom builder in Japan has 11 replies.

Chap buys a Ducati has 110 replies.

I'd have bet it'd be the other way around

True though those of us interested in custom old school Jap bikes tend to consume that from elsewhere rather than PH.

http://www.pipeburn.com/ is one of many decent sites.

[spareparts]

Monster 1200 is a nice bike.
In a big bear warm and cuddly way.
There's a reason the Monster is bought by mostly women as their 1st bike

MTFU and grow some balls, Chris.
Get yourself an 1199 or better yet - an 1198 - and stop fannying about.

HTH

[y2blade]

Agent Orange said:

srob said:

Two front page bike articles about bikes:

A cracking custom builder in Japan has 11 replies.

Chap buys a Ducati has 110 replies.

I'd have bet it'd be the other way around

True though those of us interested in custom old school Jap bikes tend to consume that from elsewhere rather than PH.

http://www.pipeburn.com/ is one of many decent sites.

Simon do you have a link please? I don't look at the front page at all I come straight in on "What's new"...just looked but couldn't see it.

Thanks

[jackh707]

MarJay said:

Too much power for a first bike IMO. There are so many traps you can fall into when riding a bike with half the power, let alone 135bhp. Fifteen years ago the fastest of the fast sportsbikes barely had 135bhp...

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

I'd normally agree, but he's a motoring journalist, Has had more track/fast driving experience and car control ability than 99% of the folks on this forum. He does it for a living.

That and some of the cars he has driven would give the latest BMWS1000rr a run for it's money.
Some of the skill is transferable too.

It is a completely different ball game, but you still play with balls.

[spareparts]

MarJay said:

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

Bullst!

[moanthebairns]

spareparts said:

MarJay said:

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

Bullst!

to be fair ive heard much worse, on a Fiesta ST forum the amount of times I head "with great power comes great responsibility" was cringe worthy

[spareparts]

moanthebairns said:

spareparts said:

MarJay said:

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

Bullst!

to be fair ive heard much worse, on a Fiesta ST forum the amount of times I head "with great power comes great responsibility" was cringe worthy

The real question, is WTF were you doing on a Fiesta ST forum?

HTH

[moanthebairns]

spareparts said:

moanthebairns said:

spareparts said:

MarJay said:

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

Bullst!

to be fair ive heard much worse, on a Fiesta ST forum the amount of times I head "with great power comes great responsibility" was cringe worthy

The real question, is WTF were you doing on a Fiesta ST forum?

HTH

I even went to a few meets, after hearing K&N air filter for the 100th time I was like, "right that's enough, never again"

[spareparts]

moanthebairns said:

spareparts said:

moanthebairns said:

spareparts said:

MarJay said:

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

Bullst!

to be fair ive heard much worse, on a Fiesta ST forum the amount of times I head "with great power comes great responsibility" was cringe worthy

The real question, is WTF were you doing on a Fiesta ST forum?

HTH

I even went to a few meets, after hearing K&N air filter for the 100th time I was like, "right that's enough, never again"

Good man. Your credibility is being restored.

Just...

[Agent Orange]

MarJay said:

Too much power for a first bike IMO. There are so many traps you can fall into when riding a bike with half the power, let alone 135bhp. Fifteen years ago the fastest of the fast sportsbikes barely had 135bhp...

I don't want to sound like a nay sayer, but this isn't the best example to make to new motorcyclists... I've noticed that a lot of 'car people' seem to believe that their skills behind the wheel will simply transfer to two wheels. It doesn't (generally) work like that.

For heavens sake take it easy on that Chris, you might have been better off with a 796 or even a 696.

True except the bike is being ridden in "urban" mode and restricted to 100bhp. Granted I'm also going on a previous article where Chris stated he would ride in urban mode until he had more experience.

"It's a harder bike to ride than the Gladius, even in 100hp 'Urban' mode."

I know what you mean though about older sports bikes but power delivery seems to be a lot less savage on modern bikes in my experience - though I've only ridden a couple of bikes in the last 5 years.

20+ years ago a 100bhp bike with flat slide carbs and their on/off nature was a widow maker. Ham fisted throttle control would see you spat off. 15 years ago 100bhp with CV carbs and a monkey could operate the throttle.

Now you've got ABS, traction control and variable engine modes.

I bet if I sat astride a 1985 Suzuki GSX-1100 EFE I'd still shat myself at the first corner. A Monster tuned down to 100bhp I suspect wouldn't feel anywhere near as intimidating.

If you are sensible and ride within your limits it shouldn't be a problem. You need to be able to mentally moderate the power you have available. Having a bike you are slightly fearful of probably isn't a bad thing as opposed to an easy to ride that you can wring the neck of in every gear.

[moanthebairns]

Gladius has to be the gayest name for a bike ever, ive always thought that, I know they are meant to be ok, but really I wouldn't buy one just because of the name.

[Agent Orange]

moanthebairns said:

Gladius has to be the gayest name for a bike ever, ive always thought that, I know they are meant to be ok, but really I wouldn't buy one just because of the name.

They were certainly more respectable when called the SV650!

[MC Bodge]

moanthebairns said:

Gladius has to be the gayest name for a bike ever, ive always thought that, I know they are meant to be ok, but really I wouldn't buy one just because of the name.

That possibly says more about you than about the Gladius...

Ps. What's your take on the Suzuki Intruder?

Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 24th July 11:17

[Deranged Granny]

Interesting first bike. However, can't help but think you'll miss out on some of the satisfaction of ragging a smaller CC bike.

[pcn1]

Im a Ducati man myself, having owned a ST2 and now a 2007 Multistrada 1100S.

Owning a Ducati is a passion, unlike a commuter type bike I guess. If all you want to do is ride from A to B, put it in the garage and forget about it, there not for you.

Ive never ridden a new generation Ducati like this new Monster, but the older ones like mine dont ride great in stock tune. They run a bit lean at low rpm (for emmisions I guess ?)and to many they seem over geared as well which does make them "lumpy" at the low revs.

Both my bikes got a performance ECU, KN Air filter & Termi exhausts. The throttle bodies need a very good balance and CO trim set. Finally lower the gearing slightly and you will have a very smooth running V twin

[Vocal Minority]

btdk5 said:

tenpenceshort said:

btdk5 said:

Why in gods name would you wear leathers if your popping out to a country pub?

Jeans and a t-shirt man.

Possibly because the tarmac that eats through your skin down to the bone won't discriminate between a 200 mile commute or half a mile down the road to the pub, so neither should you when choosing your safety gear.

Get a grip health and safety.

How about doing something called riding to the conditions.

See the stories about accidents outside of people's control. Meh, your skin to do what you wish with.

Wouldn't get me on a bike without leathers

[dibblecorse]

Wow, who are all these people in BB ???

The Harris bandwagon has well and truly rolled into town.

Nice choice of bike Chris, stay safe fella.