Ducati Monster Forum

CRRRRRAAAAp

it took a year to rebuild the bike and now I find myself questioning everything I'm doing.

am i looking through the corner
am i leaned
am i countersteering
am i on the right line

I'm nervous as hell
I'm gonna take it slow
no more riding this week
maybe this weekend

make the beast with two backs that. Get on the autobahn!!!

There is no shame in the parking lot game. Go practice without cage contact until you're feeling back in the groove. I stopped riding regularly for a few years and started again four years ago. I had an old AMF-era Sportster and frankly just got tired of fixing it. Coming back into the fold on a totally different bike after cooling off for all those years and it was back to basics for a while.

It will come back to you.
Having a one year break puts you back a bit, but you haven't forgotten.
You're already asking yourself the right questions.
Practising will be easier for you than a noob, but it will take a little work.

Don't forget, this is now a very different bike. Would have been difficult even without the break.

Patience [moto]

Don't do this.

Look at how crossed up this "pro" demo rider is??

2010 Ducati Streetfighter Motorcycle Crash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt6tvdYR4dA#normal)

A little at a time until you have your confidence back, staying within limits you are comfortable with.  You'll do just fine.

I got back into riding a few years ago after not riding for 20yrs.  I've missed turns, jumped curbs and still I'm a bit nervous about passing at high speed on the hwy.  I know that I don't have the balls like I did when I was younger but I think with age comes a cautiousness that could be good and bad.  I'll can relate with what howie posted.  A little at a time and know your limits.  I'm back to the point where I'm confident enough to go anywhere and just have to worry about the other retards who dont pay attention.  Good luck. Ride on. [moto]

Stop thinking so much and have some fun.

That is what it's supposed to be. [thumbsup]

I just like getting back on after a long winter. You have to be patient. I went down 2 months ago and I'm finally getting some confidence back.

P.S. that rider who crashed was crossed up and leaning back. There was no weight on the front. Almost like he expected to do that.

just take it easy [thumbsup]

thanks...

i thought i was just being stupid

btw i have been on the autobahn. hit triple digits... seems straighline I'm good.
it's freaking corners and guardrails.
oh and of course lately there's tons of construction so gravel, broken lines, etc...

i don't know... i want to take a break, but feel if i do, I'll start to ride less and less due to lack of confidence.
but due to the complex riding in the area (autobahn highspeeds, constructions, gravel runoff, complex curved roads) I don't want to get in over my head too soon.

From one friend to another, you know what you're doing, get on the bike and ride. You're not a beginner, you will be fine, once you learn the "new" bike's rhythm it'll all come back.

When I ran my quad into a tree at 45 miles an hour, woke up covered in blood and blind in one eye, I started riding (after a few weeks of rehabilitation) right after. I'm not recommending you run into any trees but I do think you should be on the bike as much as you can, just take it easy and be smart. Make sure your 6'th riders sense is still functioning properly.

it's not that I'm scared of riding... A friend picked me up on his bike FROM the hospital the day of the wreck.

it's the fact I'm not sure of my skills... Yes I've been riding awhile, but I feel awkward on the bike

maybe it's just the new riding position and new tires.

the clipons are a new thing for me. the tires are the Pilot Road 2CT so have a different profile than the BT016s.
I know the bike falls into a corner so much faster and easier than before, so that's part of it I think

go and ride some circuit days, with a trainer. You wil learn more then driving 5000 km on the road

This is good advice and is so true (for me, at least).  I have been riding for the last 15 years.  The first 10 were really just about riding and having fun.  The last 5 have been about improving my riding and my ride.  It got to the point this summer where I was riding a lot, but not having fun.  I enjoyed riding, but I would push myself to be better every time I rode.  When my wife would ask me how my ride was, I would start some diatribe about the nuances of body position, suspension settings, rpms vs. speed, etc.  It sounded very technical, but not very fun.
This summer my wife and I took the Monster out on a date.  We took the long way to the restaurant, taking one of my favorite twisty roads.  It was on this ride where I said to myself, "Wow, this road through the valley is really beautiful."  There were purple and white flowers in full bloom along the road side, horses in the pastures, etc.  I had been down that road a few dozen times before that and never noticed the scenery; I had been focused on the next turn.  During the first few turns on the road, I would put the ball of my foot on the peg and my heel would touch my wife's foot.  Bingo!  Just relax, slow down and have fun; there is no need to make time as there is plenty.  That ride was so much fun, that we taken the Monster out for every date this summer (we have two small kids so we have to plan "dates" in order for it to be just the two of us).

It was on that ride where I decided to take my passion for improvement to the track.  I signed up for my first track day shortly after.  It turned out to be absolutely awesome.  So much, that I did it again a month later.  Those two track sessions improved my riding more than the previous five years did.  There is no traffic, no sand, no gravel, no guard rails, etc.  You can focus on improving your riding, gaining confidence and really getting to know your motorcycle in a controlled environment.  I am already planning on two track days next summer!

Just take it slow.  You'll speed up again in little time.   Don't worry about lines or body position or anything like that for now.  Just focus on looking through the corners.  It'll slow everything down for you, and make it feel more comfy. 

What he said.

And try to enjoy it :)

thanks all

i think i'm over it. i'll take the bike next sunny day

I think a BIG part of what you're feeling is the tire change.  I experienced exactly the opposite immediately after changing from the stock Bridgestones to my Pirellis.  Just gained much more confidence in riding.  And I'm sure that going from a tire you got comfortable with to a VERY aggressive performing tire will definitely require a riding adjustment.  I've been told the same thing about the Michelins.  I would suggest, like everyone else, get used to the new aspects of the bike.  In my opinion, it'll probably be the tires that require getting used to the most.

yeah i noticed even with my trepidation that the bike has been leaned even more than i did for awhile with the old setup and tires. chicken stripes are very small. i was surprised when i went back and looked at that. i had no idea i was that deep.

ok spent a good 4 hrs on the bike today

stayed off the Autobahn. Lots of curves, low speed, high speed, switchbacks. some traffic areas.

Feeling a lot better.
Tires are a definite change from the BT 016.
The Pilot Road 2CTs are like triangles compared to them. and they follow road lines easily. But once you get into the curves you appreciate how easily they turn.

Was playing with the bars in low speed areas to see how easily countersteering is. I think I changed the geometry a bit on the bike cause it was easier than with the bars. So my steering angle must be steeper. It's good though, but now I'm thinking damper.

All in all, I was exhausted and fulfilled. I feel the bike now. but changes may come from it on the build...
back to the build thread.

The light steering might be a result of the clip-on forward position?
On the older Monsters, getting more weight forward improves steering, but my (limited) experience with the new Monsters is that they are much much quicker to turn, even in stock upright form.

Can you raise the front on the forks?

I want to see your SBK front finished - it's such a great idea, so please
stick with your clip ons and adjust to the riding position. ;)

oh and the 1198 forks .. freaking awesome. i still need to reduce the preload I think, but wow, they handle the bumps on the roads soo incredibly well.

these aren't stockers either. they have new valves and ohlins springs that are softer than the stock.

i mean just awesome on the bumps.

i also have my preload UP on the rear with softer rebound setting. the combination has been great. it stops the jarring and bucking i had before. yet remains firm on braking and acceleration.

this might be a lame question but i dont remember reading anywhere in your rebuild process if the suspension has been dialed in for your weight by a suspension guru. with the geometry changed and riding position shifted that might be something to look at. Buddy on his hyper 1100s was having shit day on the track until suspension was dialed in.
all i can add to some really good advice already posted.

yeah that's on my list of things to do.

my humble opinion that should be at the top of the list. Even if its a minor tweak on the suspension the difference will be dramatically noticable and sure fire boost in confidence.

I'm certain.

The local Ducati dealer has a race team. That's going to be my shop for this work. The one... person... that works there has 2 MV Agusta F4 and other crazy bikes. He/she's pretty good and their shop owner was a racer. Their prices are crazy, but I'm hoping to get just some tweaks to the setup since I've done a good job mating the 1198 forks with the softer springs and new valving.

i do know that the rear spring/damping is WAY better this way, so I think I'm on the right track there. For the front I suspect reducing preload and some minor changed to damping and rebound.

Why does this sound like the beginning of a Penthouse letter to me [thumbsup]

another ride today.

a quick push on the inside bar and the bike falls into the corner sooo easily. Having to start my turns later which is good to get those proper lines.

I'm loving it more and more.
Core strength is coming up as now I find myself barely putting any weight on the bars.

but damn I need to lose weight, my leathers are way tighter than last year.

Not your fault, leathers shrink [bang]

I'm glad you're feeling better on the bike [thumbsup]

keep telling yourself that  [thumbsup]