Ducati Monster Forum

Well, it's time to start shopping around for gear and test driving a bike or two. Since I'll be off Friday for a long memorial day weekend I'm thinking of heading up to Moto Liberty to try on helmets and jackets and probably over to AMS for a spin.

No decision yet on exact times but if anyone's off and wants to do a little shopping alongside the newbie, you're welcome to come with.

You might consider also stopping in at Cycle Gear up in Plano.  They have a selection of helmets ( brands ) that Moto Liberty doesn't carry, but for the rest of your gear, Moto Liberty is a better shop.

+1 on Cycle Gear for helmet shopping.

I'm kind of off on Friday, but I'll be at my Studio 2 blocks from AMS, & they always like it when I pop in, so holler at me!

Stopped by to look at jackets/helmets at AMS today on the way home from work and ended up talking with Scott for a bit. Looks like I'm going to aim to be out there around 11 on Friday for a spin on 2 or 3 bikes.

Anyone wanting to come make fun of the newbie may do so.

hehehehe   [evil]

maybe you can take my place....i think that's what people do when i'm around...   :-\

no but really.

I was just at Motoliberty this afternoon. They are remerchandising the whole store. It looks very different and crowded. I think they have the best selection of jackets and apparel around. The new Rev'it jackets look great!  [thumbsup]

As for helmets, Cycle Gear is great, but they have better deals on their tires.  ;D

WilzGarage in Plano (Southwest side of 75 and Parker where the old Plano Honda used to be) is very good too. Chad, the owner is really cool and is always willing to cut a great deal. He does most of his business online. Let's just say that Audry at Motoliberty has been trying to put him out of business because she knows he is a huge threat to her business. He really cuts some great deals on top knotch gear.

http://www.wilzgarage.com/

If you pass by Wils Garage and tell Chad that Barry sent you. He'll hook you up. He carries Arai, Shoe, KBC, Shark, HJC.....Hmmmm...I think he has more.

Good luck on your bike and gear shopping. It's like Christmas all over again in Summer.  [moto]

Ryan,

Don't want to shoot the local shops in the foot but I would suggest that you try on whatever helmets you want, find the style, size and manufacturer
and once you have made your choice order it over the internet from an accessory warehouse. I am a huge Arai helmet fan, have several of them, they banned internet sales a while back but have changed their sales strategy back to internet sales, maybe due to market sales pressure. I could forward you a few sites that have really good internet sales prices on top of the line helmets. You could save a whole lot of money on helmets, gloves, jackets, etc... AMS is not the place to buy a helmet, no matter how many Ducati stickers are on it! Just my usual worthless two cents.

fastwin

Hey Fastwin.... Wilzgarge is one of the top Arai dealers around and on the internet. That is why Motoliberty wants him cut off. Arai is very strict about internet pricing, so he has to put what they say. But if you go to talk to him personally, he'll be able to deal with you. Just a little insight. :) He was the guy that was "hiding" my bikes while my in-laws were here. Believe me, this guy has great deals.......and that is comming from someone from the Philippines. We are really frugal with spending. Ask Cdc. ;D

+1, got my Shoei X-Eleven there...

oh and I got 2morrow off as well!

I like the last three words.   [thumbsup]

I hear what Brian's saying, but I'm on the other side of the fence on this one. There are SO many advantages of buying locally...
Like Cheers, it's nice to go to a store where they know you're name. You can try stuff on, look at your options in person, & if there's a problem talk to an actual human being!
Plus, if you're into instant gratification like I am (and, really, who's not?!?), you can drive a few miles & buy something NOW! These online places aren't having crawfish boils for their customers, organizing rides, or doing ANYTHING to support our local economy.
Please, think globally, buy locally [thumbsup]

[thumbsup] I have heard good things about him, I'll have to check it out. And yes, jweave, I am filled with worthless things... I do not limit my worthlessness to just ideas, opinions and money. :P

or short stories, novels or essay's...

I'll look around at all the local places, but I think i might have my heart set on a really cool Ducati branded helmet I saw at AMS. It actually matches a sweet old school looking jacket that they don't make anymore. All black with the ducati wing on the front and cream colored sleeves. Sooooo freakin' cool. I think I'm ruined now. I'll end up spending way too much on that jacket and helmet, I know, but damn they look good.

I say go for it  [thumbsup]

AMS is so darn expensive. But if it makes you look good...and you can afford it, why not?  ;D

fit before paint. If it doesnt fit well you won't enjoy wearing it

I'm with Scott on this one. When I was just a little baby greenhorn not 7 months ago, I had lots of questions and I knew absolutely "f~ck all" about equipment. I went in to Moto Liberty, told them my situation and they hooked me up with what I needed. Nothing was a hard sell (no pressure) and Mike was even willing to drive across town to a supplier on his own time to pick up a helmet I had ordered. You can't get that experience online and I'm willing to pay the premium to support that.  [thumbsup]

I'm all about supporting local business. I've bought most gear at shops local to me. It just depends on how comfy you are dealing with fitting charts from Internet vendors.

Hey, I have an idea, a rather brilliant one, it could make a lot of money... How much do you charge to pimp? Is it a flat fee, or a percentage??

If your serious, it depends on the deliverables. My partner and i can work out pretty much anything. Websites, print, t-shirts. And I'm usually willing to work for trade.

If you're making a joke and referring to pimping Huggy Bear style, then I should probably let you know sarcasm doesn't often translate well into text.  ;D

Hey, it's your screen name, I'm just askin'  [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

What time tomorrow at AMS?

I've got some "work" to do in the morning, but I'm hoping to meet you there...

Word. I'll be the one with curly blue hair and a beard.

No, I'm not kidding.

Scott, please take pictures of huggy bear for those of us who may not be able to get there and see the blue hair/beard.

also, I demand that you change your screen name to huggy bear. 

cheers,
no one of consequence

it really works for you, though, man.  you really pull it off.  me...i would like that kid from the SLC punks movie, but worse.  i'm just meant to have short hair and no facial hair.  i can only pull off the 2-day stubble look.

have fun on those bikes, man!  i have yet to ride anything but a monster and now the SS... i'm sure at the end of the day you'll be faced with a hard decision.  g'luck!   [thumbsup]

well, as much as i want to support local places, especially good people like motoliberty (since i owe them for a few mountain dews, a cookie, and some grub), i haven't been very good about it.  it just becomes hard when you can find things online (gloves for $15 instead of $60 at http://www.newenough.com/closeouts/gloves/power_trip_us_army_branded_gear/abrams_motorcycle_gloves.html for example) for so much less.  but when it comes down to it, if i can find a killer deal online for something, i have to go with that; my budget pretty much dictates it.  all the gear i wear combined, including knee pads, cost me $300, shipped.  and it all performed perfect when i crashed the monster.  believe me, i would like nothing better than to be wearing all ducati-branded stuff...i don't necessarily enjoy a "budget" ducati persona, but hey, it is what it is.

I guess that groups you with me... the worthless two cent group. [thumbsup]

Fixed it. It should have been understood in context, but oh well...

I am assuming that the 900SS "style" has affected your fashion sense or at least desire for such.  I remember a conversation about how the 900SS will now change your riding persona.  ...upturned collars to follow soon?

How's the SS, Rich?  has the high temp running gone down a bit?

cdc

Well. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to Scott and Lisa who swung by to say hi and took the demo ride around with me.

I started on the 695, but just couldn't get into it. Something about the upright riding position and yet the pegs felt too far back or something. Just didn't seem to fit me right. I couldn't get comfy shifting.

I was much more comfortable on the Sport 1000. Something just felt "right" about it. Hard to explain. Figures that I'd pick the more expensive of the two.

After I left, I went up to MotoLiberty and walked out with the Dainese Leguna Sec (sp?) jacket in white. Really sharp. Seems like a good all around jacket for a while at least.

Next steps? Well, gotta figure out what I can afford every month. Insurance comes into play as well, of course. Then, I might be back there next week buying that black '08 sport 1000 or I might muddle around looking for a good used one. So, everyone keep their eyes peeled.

Oh, and I think the wife and I will be out at Lee Harvey's tomorrow to meet everyone. So, hope to see you soon.

I really like the Dainese line of gear.  It's a bit pricey but so far has been the best fit for me.  The Laguna Seca jackets are really nice and not too flashy.  1 piece of gear down a few more to go. 

i was only able to get it up to 270 or so the other day in some stop and go...i'm feeling confident.  still, though, this plastic thing can be a real pregnant dog at stop lights....holy crap.  it's like huge heaters just cooking my thighs.

glad to hear you may have narrowed down the field a bit...hope to see you out at LH's tomorrow.   [thumbsup]    [drink]

Glad you rode a couple of bikes.  Get whats comfortable to you!!

Good job on the Dainese Laguna Seca jacket  [thumbsup]

Dainese makes some very nice quality riding gear; you pay more for their stuff but it is obviously worth it when you put similar jackets (or pants or gloves) side by side with other expensive brands. 

The superbikes do that so you ar in good company.  I wear leather pants when on an SBK.  It seems to help keep the heat off.  Ask the others (Lisa, Patrick, RonR. RichD, Bryant8, Scott (but he uses his for trackdays onlt for the most part)and others what they do to keep themselves cool-er.

It seems 270 is about right for those riding conditions.

cdc

+1 for dainese, that's who ducati goes through for all their leathers.

Yep, sorry to say the next thing to suck the life out of your budget will have to be leather pants - motorcycle leather pants, people  [cheeky]

I've tried Draggin' jeans, textile pants, and mesh.  None of them offer any of the thermal protection like leather.  Counter-intuitive but it's really the only way I can ride the 999 without slow-roasting my thighs when its hotter than about 85  :o

Now, go spend more money  :P

With all this spending, he may single-handedly turn this economy around!   [thumbsup]

Another thing to consider is the zip up attachment between jackets and pants. If you ever slide on asphalt it'll keep your midsection protection in its place.

i agree with alan. ride 'em all. hell i rode all the japenese 600's but none grabbed me until a friend told me there was a ducati shop on my way home. went out there on a sat. rode the 695 and loved it. sat on the SC1000 and said nope. as much as i loved the SC i think i made the right choice because at 5'7" 200lbs it just wasn't comfortable. i know a guy at work that bought his bike in 2005 and he only has 1500 miles on it. he says it gets uncomfortable after about an hour so he won't go on any day long rides. waste of 10g's to me.

Good advice Chris. If you don't ride it because it's not comfortable, why own it? I am taking a serious look at my scooters due to broken neck issues and the fact that some of my bikes, Heli Bars or not, are just not even semi-comfy. Ducatis are the first on the list to go. Forget the Tambuini bikes, they cannot be helped. It's like asking an astronaut if they were comfortable on their space  trip. :P The Heli Bars really didn't do a whole lot on the Honda RC51 either but they sure did help on the Suzuki GSXRs. I'm thinking of going all Suzuki and forgetting Euro bikes because of the comfort reason. Again, why have them if you don't want to ride them and the only place you want to take them for service charges $100/hour for service work???? Maybe a super high end Porsche dealer might ask top dollar but a bike shop? $100 an hour? OUCH! No wonder Stuart left. Go figure? Anyone have Stuart's phone number??? My 916 needs help and he's the one to fix it given the few options I have.

ps  I didn't think the Sport Classic bikes were available in 2005, only 2006+.

  :o

Not to jump the gun, but there would a place in my garage for a monster or a BinB

+1 to that... just shoot me a PM, thx

I'm pretty sure I have "first dibs".  [laugh]

well brian i don't believe you will have to go far to sell. i may be looking for something but mostly in the 600cc range i like the smaller bikes and couldn't tell you why.THE DUC IS GOING NOWHERE!!!! she's staying with daddy!!

All I read was RC51.  Damn I want need that bike...

I am unhappy that your back issues have left you with these sorts of decisions to make.  Very sorry to hear that, Brian.

I'm just happy that you can ride at all, & that you have bikes that are comfy for you  [thumbsup]

Yeah, It's not like it used to be. Unless I can fix the back problem (and obviously I'm not getting any younger...) I have to be realistic and cull the herd. I am extremely unhappy with the 916SPS for all sorts of reasons that are not back related. The RC as stated before was not transformed as hoped. The Monster and BiB are safe but the 999 is a close second to the RC and Tamburinis. If the SPS doesn't get better it's toast. I'll take a HUGE beating on that one. But I refuse to throw $100/hour at AMS for no damn reason. Had I known about all the hot rod motor work when I bought it my name wouldn't be on the title. >:( Go figure. But hey, I am damn glad that I can ride at all and that I have bikes that I can ride (semi) comfortably. Even Lisa complained on Thursday that her neck hurt fighting the wind on the Muenster ride... heck, I thought that was normal! [laugh] Once again, end of piss and moan.

Much more importantly, Ryan glad you walked away from AMS with some direction as far as the bike goes. Those Sport 1000s are nice scooters for sure. Did they have a S2R Monster to ride? 800 or 1000? That would give you the bigger motor and the two up capabilty you want and they are slightly different from the 695.

Yep, felt like that headwind musta been crankin' in at about 100mph  :P  It was work just trying to stay on the bike... Wind blast off 18 wheelers went beyond sporting.  No fun for sure on I-35 south...

Yeah, so much for weather forecast predictions. I would like to have had Pete Delkus from Channel 8 strapped to my bike to block the wind. 15-20mph wind my ass! [evil]

ps... sorry about the thread jack. :-X

It's been really windy out at Cresson the last coupla track days. My neck has been stiff & sore after both  :P

... sorry, more minor thread jacking... I can't imagine you guys hustling full faired bikes around Cresson at warp speed in the kind of wind Lisa and I rode in! Jeez, shades of the January Casino Run ride. 35-40mph gusts! :P

I'm runnin' nekkid, man [thumbsup] I just got photos this a.m., will post up soon ;)