MotorCycle Mania

Ducati Monster Review S4R

Well, I bought me one. So you could conclude I liked it after I test rode it? But after the adrenaline subsides and the grin slowly drops out your face and you see the HOLE in the bank balance, what do you really think? You see, I’m not a Journo who gets a bike given to him on the proviso he says nice things and has the bike for a couple of days! I PAID the money!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s what I think:

I review this bike in this podcast and look at………….

Comfort: and some changes I made to improve.

Performance: and some changes I made to improve.

Looks: and some changes I made to improve.    

Handling: and some changes I made to improve.

It really is a sexy beast and after fitting the FULL race system, sounds an absolute treat. It goes a tad better too!!!

It’s probably a funny addition to my garage coming from a long term Harley Wide Glide and Current BMW R1200GS you’d reckon something a bit more along the granny line might fit in better. But I love the little devil.

I recently did a 4,000k trip with a mate on our Beemers through NSW and Victoria and they couldn’t be faulted and performed and handled like a chook chaser shouldn’t. We even tried to pick faults over a few beers each night but couldn’t really find anything worth penalising them for.

However…………

As perfect a touring bike the BMW R1200GS is, I couldn’t wait to get home and take the Little Duke for a blast.

In fact almost as soon as I unpacked the BM I threw the Monster in the van and headed for a few days in Adelaide and the HILLS!

It was nagging into my subconcious almost the whole trip. The Duke’s wildness gene was gnawing at me and needed to be scratched. It always has that effect when I enter the shed. Drawing my eye and begging to be started just to hear the growl.

The Ducati’s not perfect! I tell it warts and all here. If your thinking of buying one I hope my review can help you.

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Tell me what you think! Leave a comment.

Australian Road Rider Gets David (Davo) Jones To Ride Across Australia and Back! In Under 6 Days!!!

How does 10,367 km in 5 days, 21 hours, and 17 minutes sound for a quick ride? Peter (The Bear) Thoeming asked David (Davo) Jones to take the Kawasaki 1400 GTR description of  ”Transcontinental Tourer” literally and be the first to cross Australia and return on this brand new bike to validate the term.

A couple of months ago I interviewed Davo and he let out the bag he had just completed this ride and was waiting for the publishing treadmill to roll around to getting it in print. It’s a great read in the Jan/Feb issue of Australian Road Rider where Davo tells all about the trip and the bike.

If long distance riding is your bag and this article gets you sweating to jump on your bike for days on end? Have a listen to Davo’s interview and get the tips and lowdown you’ll need to know make it real.

You can also learn more about Davo and Long Distance Motorcycle Riding. here 

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Ducati Motorcycles Are A Blast, I’ve Discovered.

I did a poker run the other weekend around the Flinders Ranges on Wilma the Wideglide. After spending over $11,000 on rebuilds and replacement parts in the last three years and having her running like a potent swiss clock you’d reckon I’d be happy.

She runs smoother than ever with way more power yet something just didn’t feel right.

I wasn’t getting the grin I used to. I’d been in the Harley scene for 14 years and done a ton of rallies, had the badges to prove it, even run out of room on my jacket for the yearly rockers from H.O.G. and somehow came to realise as I was powering home from Port Germain, I’m over it, I’m ready for a change. And yet I thought I’d keep Wilma the faithfull Wideglide forever.

I guess the BMW R1200GS sitting in the garage spoiled me for a bike that handled, stopped and went well, and got me hankering for a taste of a little bit of exotica.

So I put Wilma up for sale and within my Harley group one mate had a mate looking for just my typre of well loved and cared for ride. So it seems she is gone from my life. The memories I get to keep and I had a real ball with Wilma travelling 120,000 k’s around this country.

So what to replace her with? I mean I could put the money on the house payment but where’s the fun in that. Besides the Beemer has gotten used to a stablemate and might get lonely.

And something else was calling me. I had a short list of ,V-Twin, semi upright position, loads of tourque, character, noise and cred. I rode a Buell Lightening Long and was very impressed. It surprised me how well it went and handled. The riding position was good for me and I did’nt feel overly cramped. I rated it pretty highly.

But, I was booked in to ride a Ducati Hypermotard last Friday, so I did.

This was the maddest thing I could imagine on two wheels. In fact I can only describe it verbally and do so in this podcast. On the same day I also rode the Ducati Monster S4R and if I describe the Hypermotard as absolutely insane this has gotta be described as insanity in a suit.

VERSUS

Suffice to say when I got back from both rides I described each one to the Sales guy Sam. I said the Hypermotard was like riding a wild boar in the bush, never quite in control and almost allowed to be on board rather than the boss, and the Monster was like riding a circus Tiger, you think you’ve got it all under control, until one snap and your back in the jungle at the beasts mercy. If none of this makes any sense to you? Better listen in as I describe it better, I think?

Not a technical review, with no horsepower figures quoted but plenty of seat of the pants feedback.

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Leave a comment below and tell me what you think of the bikes?