You all know you're screwed now, right?

[Rogue]

Congrats on the new Ducati Robert!  Nice one.    This is a big change from the GS, no?

I am guessing the Power commander will most likely have O2 eliminators included for your Duc.  The O2 sensors are the ones making it surge.  Any time you go to maintenance throttle or small throttle openings, the ECM reads the O2 sensors and leans the fuel mixture.  This leaning brings your power down so the bike slows down.  You compensate slightly with more throttle, to bring speed up, then you maintain, ECM reads O2 sensor again, leans, slow the bike down, repeat.  Very annoying.  Same issue with my VFR800.  The PC III solved all that at the expense of slightly lower fuel mileage.  But what a difference in throttle response!

120-140 mile range was the same for my Firebolt.  It won't hold you back but you will be thinking of topping up at 100 miles if you are doing, say the Fast 400.  For example, the distance from Frazier Park to Ojai is about 100 miles so if you are at 75 miles then encounter a detour, then it becomes an issue if there are no nearby gas stations.  If you are pushing it (like keeping up with Miles or Vernon for example), chances are good your reserve light will go on at 115 or 120 miles.  It's only a minor concern occassionally.  

I would be interested to know your thoughts about wind protection on a naked bike later on after you've made long trips on it.  Maybe on a ride across the 101 when it's really windy.  I wanted to buy a Speed Triple but the windblast was always a concern in the back of my mind.  

[Sport-Touring]

[Lawn Dart]

Jordan,

I guess the only real answer is for us to ride together so you can try the Duc out!  

[Rogue]

Your generosity will be a problem for my wallet!  I have near-zero self control when it comes to new bike purchases.  

[jsanford]

wait till you start finding rubber "pucks" on your garage floor and start wondering "what the f...?"  
do they still put those in between the fins on the cylinders?

No kidding.  My '08 is still dropping pucks.

Really enjoyable read.  I, too, wanted a leather getup when I bought my Monster.  There are other effects you describe that have a familiar tone to me.

The engine should have smoother power delivery once you break it in and/or remap it around the Euro3 emissions.

[JonS]

No kidding.  My '08 is still dropping pucks.

Really enjoyable read.  I, too, wanted a leather getup when I bought my Monster.  There are other effects you describe that have a familiar tone to me.

The engine should have smoother power delivery once you break it in and/or remap it around the Euro3 emissions.

It just amazes me that Ducati just keeps sending bikes here, with the wrong sprocket and lean mixture. My 2004 had the same things that had to be changed. Once fixed, the bike became wonderful.

[R Doug]

Sorry to chime in so late.  But, congrats on a great ride.  

[Lawn Dart]

Farkle Farkle Farkle Farkle...  

Farkles should be useful, powerful, idealistic trinkets that actually make some difference in the quality of a ride.  It can be a cup holder, or it can be something else.  For me, it's GPS...and, invariably, lighting.  

First things first, let's strips the lovely gal down to her true nekkid self!



And then take a moment to strategically place a few desirable trinkets.



Strategically wire in a set of three fuses in a hidden and innocuous location...connect them all to a relay, run dual relay wires off the low and high beams (more on that later...)...



Test it all and then start running the wires in hidden locations.  Most importantly, set everything up on quick disconnects in a modular setup so that it can be removed rapidly with a minimum of fuss.



Button it all up...take a pic!



And here's a quality closeup.  



Welcome to the Office!




So, I've added the requisite GPS:  a Garmin Nuvi 500 in a Ram Mount.  And then I added a 2000 lumen quad Cree LED lamp...on a remote dimmer with dual triggers.  This setup rocks hard.  The LED Foggie has an adjustable output:  Low to obscenely high.  Moreover, I have it set to about 3/10 running in parallel to the low beam for added daytime visibility.  Flip the high beam and the Foggie goes into afterburner mode!  Full 2000 Lumens of power in blinding brilliance!  It's every bit as much light (and I think more!) than the hi-beam itself, with much, much better pattern and dispersion!

I'm super keen on the trigger!  It's adjustable power in 10 steps...via key fob remote!  And it's on a Ram Ball with a quick disconnect power attachment.  

I've also mounted in my USB recharger with IPhone connection and Gerbings heated vest plugs.  

This is, without a doubt, the cleanest install I've done to date.  I'm super proud of it!

Next up?  Heated Grips and Wireless Heat-Troller!   (*straight up pug and play into the existing setup by only removing the seat!)  

[squeezer]

Totally sweet. Nice job! 

[Justin]

Neat mounting idea for the LED   - I have mine mounted on my mirror stalks. Being able to swivel it and use it as a spot light is pretty cool.

[Lawn Dart]

Neat mounting idea for the LED   - I have mine mounted on my mirror stalks. Being able to swivel it and use it as a spot light is pretty cool.

Thanks!  I went with the Ram option mostly because both the GPS and Light are interchangeable to my WR250R.  But I did want to have a LOT of flexibility in how I aimed the light.

[Justin]

Thanks!  I went with the Ram option mostly because both the GPS and Light are interchangeable to my WR250R.  But I did want to have a LOT of flexibility in how I aimed the light.

Do you have a dimmer on both bikes as well, so you you can just switch the light back and forth?

[Lawn Dart]

Do you have a dimmer on both bikes as well, so you you can just switch the light back and forth?

For now it's just dimmer on the one bike (Monster).  I haven't quite reached that point on the WR yet, so I'm just going to slave it 100% to the high beam and call it good on the WR.  My goal on the WR is to use that light at 100% mostly for off-road conditions.  

[Justin]

Robert, can you give the exact model of that light? That looks like exactly the setup I've been envisioning. Thanks.

I am not Robert - but I know where you can get them

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/StoreFront.bok

I got mine from 24x7diy which is the supplier (at least according to them) - it seems ADVmonster just resells their stuff and bumps up the price and specs.

http://24x7diy.com/index.php/cPath/33

[Lawn Dart]

I am not Robert - but I know where you can get them

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/StoreFront.bok

I got mine from 24x7diy which is the supplier (at least according to them) - it seems ADVmonster just resells their stuff and bumps up the price and specs.

http://24x7diy.com/index.php/cPath/33

Yep.  

Had I known about 24x7 I probably would have ordered from them.  Regardless, I paid $80 for the M44.

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-2/Black-Model-44-LED/Detail.bok

And here's the dimmer.  It doesn't appear that 24x7 has the dimmer...

http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-QualiRegResou/-strse-22/Waterproof-Wireless-LED-Dimmer/Detail.bok

In the end, I think I paid about $10 more going through ADVMonster.  Not that it really matters.    FWIW, ADVMonster has the M60 Quad 3000 (3600 lumen) for $120 vs. $190 at 24x7.  

[Justin]

In the end, I think I paid about $10 more going through ADVMonster.  Not that it really matters.    FWIW, ADVMonster has the M60 Quad 3000 (3600 lumen) for $120 vs. $190 at 24x7.  

24x7 is priced by the pair  

My shipment came directly from China   - just cutting out the middle man.

[Lawn Dart]

24x7 is priced by the pair  

My shipment came directly from China   - just cutting out the middle man.

No arguments from me, Justin.  You certainly found the better deal!  

PS:  heated grips are in.  I'm calling this farkling madness done...  Except maybe for that radar detector... and a suspension rebuild... and carbon fiber cans... and a power commander with auto-tune... and a DucEE eliminator... and a...  Oh hell.  It never ends!

[Justin]

No arguments from me, Justin.  You certainly found the better deal!  

Oh, I did not mean to rub it in - just not sure if you caught the pricing was by the pair. Hopefully will save you and other money down the road  

[Rincewind]

Why RAM mount the LED vs hard-mount?  

[Lawn Dart]

Why RAM mount the LED vs hard-mount?  

Mobility.  I have one light and two bikes to use it on.  Ditto the GPS.  

I have dual ram-ball setups on both bikes so both items can swap from one bike to the other in under 5 minutes.

[Rincewind]

Thanks.  Sorry for being a little slow on the uptake!  It's a new idea for me.  Pretty fascinating stuff.

I have done a Zumo mount, accessory socket, heated grips, and Widder outlet, but no lighting yet on my current bike. I can see this could come in handy at times.  22-watts is a lot less wattage than the old Motolight setup I have sitting around.