Well, it's been almost a year to the day since I passed my CBT and bought a Vespa 125 for commuting to work and back in London.

Initially it was all about convenience, however I soon grew to just enjoy being on the bike. I never planned to get a 'proper' bike, I've always been a car person.

Then I got fed up of struggling to get away at the lights, and wanted that little bit more power. I planned to get a 250 vespa, but decided to do a full license as I knew the test was getting harder next year.

2 days on geared bikes, I passed with 2 minors, and fell in love with the feeling and freedom on a 'proper' bike (albeit a 500 Suzuki GS!)

I began looking at a 748 Ducati, which I've always loved, hated the riding position, nearly bough a NC30 VFR400, but then a move slightly further out of London meant the need (;)) for a better commuter bike, and after a hot tip off from NathanL my heart and head found the Ducati Monster 900.

But not just any Monster 900.

This one is a 93, yet has only covered 3500 miles, having been dry stored by a female owner for over 11 years!

I picked her up today, and she is utterly mint, starts in a hearbeat and runs like a dream.

I was worried getting on it having not ridden since passing my test, but it was super light, low seat, great riding position for my build, and remarkably easy to ride (except the obscene turning circle!). I was expecting, well, a monster!

On the open road, the 90degree twin takes some getting used to, needing a slightly open throttle at all times where possible, but when you get a chance to open her up, it rearranged my definition of quick, and I drive an M5!

Despite riding 60 miles back to London, I didnt dare open it to the stops in anything below third for fear my hands were going to come off the bars! Bear in mind this is my first proper bike and my first above 500cc. And the sound!!!

Anyway, as you can tell I am smitten, and its hard to fathom looking at her that its a 15 year old design!!

Anyway, judge for yourself.

Thanks again to Nathan :thumb:

http://i7.tinypic.com/538i360.jpg

http://i16.tinypic.com/503xjs4.jpg

http://i15.tinypic.com/63sbwna.jpg

Also, I must have got nearly 20 nods from bikers coming the other way. Never experienced that before, made me smile every time :)

Cars, eh? :rolleyes:

;)

Also, I must have got nearly 20 nods from bikers coming the other way. Never experienced that before, made me smile every time :)

Cars, eh? :rolleyes:

;)

I'm definitely thinking the same way and I'm still tooling around on a CG125 post CBT :)

Nice Bike!! :thumb:

Welcome to the fold!

I've owned/driven a lot of fast cars but nothing comes close to the feeling of liberation you get from riding a bike.

Cheers
Kav

welcome to the big bike club:lol1: http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r174/mgyg159/bike/bike.gif

Get the drinks in newbie ;)

Good work big fella.

I just need to beef up my weedy arms now so I can hold on better :lol1:

Nice one Ed, looks nice and clean, i'm sure you'll be looking at some termis for it soon.
Give me a call if your down this way.
Simon

Si - my plan is to keep it standard as it's so mint.

But.......you know me. :rolleyes:

Down in a few weeks to Malvern for the big chill with the other half, give you a shout nearer the time may pop in for a coffee and a quick ogle of your Duc :thumb:

BTW what do people think about the tyres. They are the original tyres, naturally given its only done 3.5k, but its been stored for over a decade!

They look 100%, no flatspots, seem to feel okay on the road, but naturally not pushed them remotely yet. Thoughts?

Si - my plan is to keep it standard as it's so mint.

But.......you know me. :rolleyes:

Down in a few weeks to Malvern for the big chill with the other half, give you a shout nearer the time may pop in for a coffee and a quick ogle of your Duc :thumb:

Numbers still the same Ed - 07796 992992 look forward to hearing from you.
Ref. the tyres, i would be a bit wary but i'm no expert.
Simon

Nice one Ed, they`re a great bike to ride, so much fun. See My Scooby ;)

As for the tyres, I`d be tempted to change them, but that`s just me, so I`d feel I could push on without thinking "what if".

Enjoy it :cool:



Neil.

:D congratulations :D

thats whats riding is all about, having fun

was national ride to work day today so a few more bikes than usual :)

Change the tyres immediately. Im sure they are great to look at and seem fine but rubber goes hard and brittle over time and not much time to boot.
I bought my 96 blade 3 years ago and it had <7k miles and BT56s (bridgestones). The tyres felt like glass and just dangerous- fine to ride to the tyre shop but not good enough in times of need. Ive never skimped on tyres or brakes and dont ever plan to- they are the things that make the difference between a 'nearly' and pain.

A big welcome to the Bike community by the way:)

No worries Ed :thumb:

Change tyres, engine oil, fork oil and brake fluid as all these will go off. Having not ridden another one you might not notice the difference but if you have it done you should notice an improvement! Plus it is best to be safe for a few hundred notes.

Might want to make sure that engine service parts - i think these have a cam chain are ok because it can be expensive if not!

Happy motoring!

5t.

Lovely bike Ed :)

How does it compare to the M5, lovely motor by the way? Obviously the Duke is quicker accelerating, but which are you quicker in on your favorite stretch of road?

The oil, battery, brakes, belts, chain etc. all done very recently, it's only the tyres I have any concern about. I may run them for a little while just while I am getting used to her and then get some Corsa III's. Mind you, with the £40 off offer this month maybe I should just do them now?

ak47 - car still wins for me but that's because I can exploit it to a high degree safely, whereas the bike is new to me. I just literally last week did hundreds of miles in the french, swiss and italian alps in the car, and its just amazing, especially now I have the AP brakes.

The bike - well just ridden it to work in clerkenwell and I imagine I would have been quicker on my vespa! It feels like overkill riding it in town! But I just want to spend as much time on her as possible getting familiar :)

Nice bike Ed :cool: As for the tyres get them changed asap. After a couple of years of dry storage tyres degrade and basically 'go off'. The amount of time that has been stored those tyres are well past their use by date.

good excuse for a burnout then :D

I would check the fork oil though. It's £80 and likely to be like emulsion now. Often over looked. Bike looks smart though.

5t.

good excuse for a burnout then :D

LOL :D

Anyone recommend anywhere in London for supply and fitting of Corsa III's?

cheers
Ed

FWR LTD Britain's Cheapest Tyres!. (http://www.fwr.co.uk/)

Very nice mate...enjoy....you sound like your well and truly hooked now...

Nice bike :)

I always wanted one until I lost a close friend recently due to a doddering fool hitting him head on the wrong way on a dual carriageway. Couldn't even bring myself to consider one now. RIP Mick :(

Ride safely, stay aware and enjoy :)

Dude change the tyres NOW..
11 years old and you are putting your life in there hands so to speak.

I think I may swap the 170x60 rear for a 180x55, it will fit under the hugger. What tyres do people recommend for mostly commuting with the occassional weekend ride-out? I note Pirelli have a £40 cashback offer in July...

wider tyres slow down the turn in

wider tyres slow down the turn in

What he said.

nice bike, well done.