Today I found myself riding past Ducati Seattle about 10am. Overcast but roads were dry so I dropped in, chatted up my mate Jared and he sent me out on a 1098 demo. It looked like a red 1098, but I know that it doesn't exist on STN without pics so here it is.
Her ass would distract you from whatever you were doing or thinking. But she was high maintenance.I'd forgotten how committed a riding position an Italian sportbike has. Or at least a Ducati; the bars don't seem quite as low on ejh's Mille.
Funny thing was, though. About twenty minutes into the ride the thought came into my head, "There's not one thing about this bike that I like better than my Tuono."
Of course that's a little strong. Upon further reflection:
*The 1098 is beautiful. Especially when you get it out of a showroom full of motoporn. In the sea of Sentras and Accords the bike sticks out like a prince's dagger in a drawer full of butter knives. Every little nut and gubbin has been designed and shaped and it works beautifully together.
*The brakes were disappointing. No, that's not right. They don't suck; they're radial everything monoblock calipers hell for strong. But I don't know if it was just the particular bike or what but the four-pad radials on my Tuono are perceptibly stronger and gave better feedback.
*The motor is a peach. Just a little glitchy off throttle but then off you go like a round from a battleship's cannon.
*Does anything in this world sound better than a Ducati? Maybe that time, about midnight, when my old girlfriend from LA wanted to try...oh, right, that's a story for another time.
*You feel special riding it. The red paint, the booming sound, the tradition.
Bottom line for me, though, is that the Tuono is a better bike. Better handling, "less" engine (yeah, I know, still 125 hp or so) but there's no danger of traffic catching up, better brakes, waaaaaaaaaaaaay more comfortable to ride. Rarer. More reliable, I bet.
Battered Helds prove that Smoothie was here.
1098 hangs at ejh's; wide angle lens would have caught him in his jammies. Just as well, then, eh?
