Ducati Monster Forum

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/ive-made-a-huge-mistake-the-bmw-hp4-1628581118/1628593384/+matthardigree (http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/ive-made-a-huge-mistake-the-bmw-hp4-1628581118/1628593384/+matthardigree)

Sucks to be you. ;D

Boo f'n hoo.  Same old story. Lots of people have the means to buy these things but not the skill or judgement to ride them. Wanker.

That'll be enough of that.

Read the rules.

 ;D Nice read! I enjoyed it.  [thumbsup]

Saw it on the front page on Jalopnik yesterday. Good read.

Sorry.

I'm actually pretty good at riding bikes. And like I said in the post, I rode an 1199 for a year with no problems on the street (except for once getting hit pretty hard by a truck) and pretty fast on the track as well. For some reason I just can't get properly dialed in on the Beemer and I don't exactly know why, but I don't think it's entirely due to lack of skill. It is fair to call my judgement into question, though, and I have been known to wank on occasion.

Good article man... haha surprised that they posted it with all the i's in lower case.

Maybe it's because it's a i4 vs a vtwin?  The way the power develops is totally diff and if you've only ever ridden vtwins then that might be what's throwing you for the loop... and for me, the a i4 makes me feel like I'm going a lost faster because of the sound and the amt of rev's needed for it.  With the generally lower rpm for a twin, even though I'm going just as fast, I feel like I'm going slower hence feel more in control.

I think you may be right and I'm shocked I hadn't thought of that!

I don't know why I wasn't making my I's capital -- mOst programs just do that for me, I guess, and oppositelock didn't. Funny how many people noticed that.

Most amusing, but please explain your comment about Hurley Haywood.  ???

I took it as blaming the bike. Sorry again but that is a bit harsh against the bike. I've spent a few years on the Ducs , a few hours on the RR and am currently horsing around on a !000R. They are easy to go stupid fast on. Maybe too easy. Just got to respect the machine and keep your head.

I like the wit of the commenters on your blog.

"A friend of mine got a Buell 1125R for his FIRST BIKE. After laying it down 4+ times in the first few months (it would have been 4+ in the first few weeks if it wasn't in for repairs so often), he sold it. And was still too proud to say he made a mistake or couldn't handle it, he just "preferred to drive his CAR to work".

We all know that guy, lol.

Porsche fanboys absolutely love haywood. Not only because of his racing history, but he is a rep for the company and also a driving instructor at the porsche school.

Hmmm... Sure... However..., if you happen to know his nickname...., your comment in the story is....  ;D

Can't say more as Painter might ban me!  8)

BTW, Peter Gregg who gave Haywood his start was a really nice guy...

I met Hurley Haywood once at the Los Angeles auto show.  Nice guy, yeah, and a bit of a legend with Porsche. 

The comment was not lost on me.  [thumbsup]

Super nice bro too, I've met him at the detroit and new York auto shows.

Obviously he's mellowed. Never short on self-promotion, that one. (Worked for an opposing Porsche agency / team.) Can't repeat stories here...

You still not in on the joke? SDRider got it!  8)

ummm... [Dolph] nope. i'm not understanding. could be the amount of weed i smoked as a kid?

 [laugh]

Haha great write up. I sat on one at a bike show. Sat on many bikes that day including the 899 but liked the HP4 the best. I'll begin the lowball offers on yours at $4k ;).

Was really hoping someone else would clue you by now. My original comment is the only hint you'll get out of ME!  8)

You "may" not find it in writing. Next time you're among other drivers / crew of his vintage........  ;)

So what's the story? There's a picture of you (?) with a broken leg, but no explanation.

Anyway, I'm not sure how you could ride an 1199 for a year without a problem, but couldn't handle the HP4. Power levels are pretty similar. I'm also guessing that power delivery of a twin vs. I4 might be the issue. Twins are easier to ride "slow", and they have a slightly more relaxed (or linear I guess) power delivery whereas I4s just take off when you get in the their sweet spot (so do twins, but it feels different).

That said, I have a couple friends that tried the S1000RR and didn't like the ergonomics at all.

I also don't know how anyone rides any SBK on the street. Even the "comfortable" ones are torture racks IMO. The track is where they belong.

for me the ergos of the HP4 just couldn't be fixed, and that was problem no. 1. the panigale for me is comfortable to ride, as long as you're going at a decent clip -- actually even if you're not. i always loved it.

why didn't i just get another one after i totaled my first one? i was hit by a truck that turned into my lane from oncoming traffic -- a crackhead, just out of prison. my first purchase, after i could walk again about three-four months later was a multistrada. i thought it would be safer, and indeed i do feel safer on it. (breaks are starting to suck though,after the first 3,000 miles, need to look into that.) but afterwards i wanted to get back on the track and remembered the wonderful track day i'd had a few years ago on a 2012 s1krr. somehow i didn't remember how cramped i was on the bike, and somehow i feel like i have little control over the power and steering compared to that weekend at NJMP.

after much discussion and contemplation, i think it really may be the ei4 vs. the v-twin. i start to feel terrified around 80 mph on the street with the bimmer, and that is probably right asd it's ready to make real power -- like instant-on.

hopefullly max buys it back from me. i'll take a hit but i'll stay alive and i'll go back to the italian stallions i love so much (picking up a new old-stock monster 1100 evo on saturday!)

Even better than that... if you're looking for something fun to ride around while also doing TD's, try out the 899 or the 675r.  I've heard nothing but good things about the 899 and the 675r is a really well sorted out bike.  Both are more street oriented than the literbikes and the 899 ergos should fit you if you liked the 1199.  The 675r is also pretty much perfect but doesnt have as much character as the vtwins but you gain in smoothness.  Triples have more torque then i4's so it's basically like splitting the diff btwn the two.  More torque, less high end, more smoothness.  No electronics cept ABS if you want that vs a full electonics package like the 899.

Personally I think the upright style bikes are way safer on the street than sportbikes, due to the larger frontal area.

I commuted for about 3 years in Seattle, in both dry and wet, night and day. Mostly on a Gen. 1 Multistrada and a KTM SMT. I only had a couple minor incidents of people puling out in front of me.

Meanwhile, on my Monsters and 848 it seemed to happen much more often. The 848 in particular was terrible...I think everytime I rode that thing someone pulled out in front of me (and I didn't ride it at warp speed on the street either).