Ducati Monster Forum

Well, as some of you would know I started working this week for the local Ducati dealer as the Spare parts manager, so far the learning curve has been really steep, learning all the paperwork and procedures, plus trying to learn about Sea Doo Jet Ski's (The biggest part of the Company, They sell 15 - 20 Jet Ski's to every Ducati)

Well as part of the job, I get the privilege of taking home the Demo bikes (it's a tough job, but somebody has to do it!)

So what's the Bike of choice this week?

The Ducati GT1000
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/SpankyMK/DSC01394.jpg?t=1237070042)

Not my first choice, but hey, a free ride is a free ride, brand new with only 1 KM on it when I wheeled it out of the Showroom yesterday, So I am following the book procedure for the run in, (It's not my bike after all, So I am treating it with respect, and making sure I do the right thing by it's eventual new owner)
If it was mine I would be doing a lot work on the suspension though, I have read a few reviews and the suspension has been panned, the front is very soft and spongy, and the rear is way to hard and bouncy.

As I get something else to ride, I'll take a photo and let you know.

Tough job, huh?  [bang] ;)

In a balanced and fair universe there had to be a flip side to your job - keeping every bike at lower revs all the time must be a pain [evil]

Just kidding, I'm sure it's sweet [thumbsup] Keep them coming!

hey, keep the thread going as a diary.....and at the end of each week give a review of the product, what you like, what you don't etc.

cool!  [thumbsup]

CairnsDuc - our resident Ducati test rider and reviewer.

I hope you'll be taking all these bikes up the Gillies [moto]



 [popcorn]

Well this week it's something new, A bit of a Dark horse, I never liked this bike from the moment I laid eyes on it a few years ago, but it has grown on me and know I have to say I really like this Bike.
I had been riding the Store S4R most of the week, but I decided to take the MultiStrada 1100 for a run, and I have to say I like it, I would change the seat (I've sat on pieces of Timber that were softer) and change the brake pads front and rear to give the brakes some better feel, and fit the Termi Kit. 
But over all a very impressive machine, I've always liked the Idea of an all rounder, something to take on a dirt road, then jump on the highway again. It's not a hardcore dirt bike or a canyon carver, but not a bad all rounder  [thumbsup]
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg286/SpankyMK/DSC01396.jpg?t=1237709659)

Oh no!

Not another one singing the praises of the 'Stroodle. Wait until Dock reads this ... more public lusting I am sure ... it could get graphic, best to look away now.

I'm pretty sure we're safe until tomorrow - he's currently sharing a PC with his 2 boys, and I think he's lost the battle (until they go to sleep!)

Well that's good, would be very poor form for Vince ... naked, in front of the computer lusting over a 'Stroodle under those circumstances.

Sorry for the jacking (oh shit, Vince again  :-[). Have heard that the Multi is a good all-rounder ... a good thing considering that was the design intent. Was it something like the equal or better than 85% of any bike in any class? That sounds like a decent all-rounder ... aesthetically challenged though, it must be said.

It looks OK when parked with the front wheel facing straight, but turn that wheel off to the left or right and the windscreen assembly half hanging off the side of the front fairing, and watch people look away in disgust.

Having the windscreen/top fairing assembly moving separate to the rest of the fairing.... what were they thinking!?!?

But if that's the worst thing about the bike... I'd still own it  :)

Maybe, so you could see around the corners   ;D  ;D

 :-[

and a 'end of week' review as well....so we know how she went after you got some k's under your belt. so first, quick review then a longer review after the week!

thanks mate!

this needs to be a blog I think!

Hey Cairns,Your hooked you just don't know it yet wait until you get your butt on something ells, you will never forget your fling with the Multi ,Just reading this post gives me a mungrel, not to mention what happened when I used to ride one .

I miss my Multi  :'(

if they sold enough of them....someone (smart) would have come up with a better face!

rear end is cool...especially with carbon cans....or carbon cans with LEDS integrated into the rear exhaust surround (that was hot - I was ready to join the Dock Mongrel Club (DMC))

Well sadly, my limited MultiStrada fling comes to an end tomorrow, being a new bike, they have priced it to clear ($17000 on road I think, They have had a lot of Interest in it at that price!) They only want to put about 200 km's on it, and with the ride back to work tomorrow, it will click over the 200 km mark, so back on the showroom floor she goes.
It's been fun though  ;D
But being a new bike being run in, I was taking it easy on it, I have to look after it for it's new owner, but it will be a shame to hand the keys back.

And lane splitting on the stroodle has been awesome, you sit so much higher, you can see so much better.
So it's back on the GT1000 to finish getting it up to it's 200km's then I may be back on the S4R or the Hypermotard or the 848 or the......  ;D

glad to see are enjoying the work, or is it the riding of the bikes i should say [thumbsup] [moto]

bloody bastard!  :)

well, it's  been a while, but I am back on the HyperMotard and the S4R, The limited amount of 09 Stock is causing some minor headaches (as in we can't enough to fill customer orders let alone demo stock) and just as I was getting ready to start taking the 848, they bloody well sold it on me (No consideration!)  ;D

Having now run around on the S4R for a couple of weeks now, I have to say, as much as they are a truly awesome bike (power wheelies anyone?) I still prefer my S2R, The S4R does not seem happy doing the commuting thing, It'll do it well enough, but you can tell it's not truly happy doing it (Plus the Clutch pull is not good in traffic), where for me the S2R is a little bit better as the all rounder, I can commute all week, cruise the highways and have an absolute hoot scraping the pegs on the Gillies range.
But I still wouldn't say no, if someone gave me one  [thumbsup]

Rode a customers new M1100 this week, now that's an impressive animal, never did like the 696, but the 1100 is most impressive, not much of a run. only a couple of K's, and the customer was following me at the time (When we ride a customers bike for the first time, we get the customer to follow on a store demo bike while we check there bike and bed the brakes in, then they can see we are not thrashing there new toy) and considering the bike was stock, it even had a nice exhaust note from factory, I will be interested to see what the bike is like when it's run in.

Isn't that, more or less, what your employer is doing?


+1  ;D

Cairns, your s4r that you've 'borrowed' is it the 03-06 996cc mill version?

great report.

no good to hear about the lack of 848 for you....

anyone bringing in any trade in's?? Don't forget your bikeless buddy down here!

The only 2nd handy we have at the moment is a Kawasaki KLR650 in rather poor shape, it leaves little pools of assorted colours of liquid all over the place, and the guy that owns it thinks it's worth a shit load, so it will never sell.

The S4R is an 07 model (I think) I will have a look when I'm back in on Tuesday, I have the HyperMotard this weekend. 

It's a struggle to ride all these bikes, but someone has to do it!  ;D

Oh, I bet. Let us know if you need a hand.  [thumbsup]...

jokes asside, well done though. This is a bit of a dream job for some of us. - Chris