Ducati Monster Forum

Since today's small gathering was a success, I thought I'd try to start something new here in the local boards again. And I think since this is out of the main monster area the back and forth discussion can be open? Mods correct me if I'm wrong though.

I'd be up for trying a once a month (or more frequent) meet up if anyone else is interested. The dealer in Bham was cool today and seemed somewhat central. might be fun to eventually make it a meet up and ride option too.

Any thoughts or interest?

-Matt

Yeah, today was cool.  Good to finally meet some other Monster owners.  The dealership would be fine as a meeting spot and we can ride from there.  I'll let a few of the other guys know about it.  We can keep an open invitation to any Ducati owners who want to join. 

I DID get caught in the pouring rain on my way home!  I was soaked.

Matt, PM me your cell, yours is the only one I don't have.

Hopefully we can get some group rides together!

Yeah, good meeting up for a bit yesterday.  DexterMorgan, u still want to meet up for a ride this evening?  Hopefully we can get a few others too on short notice  if you still are up for it  [bacon]

Did you guys get a ride in?

Matt, I forgot to ask you where you usually ride? I've been trying to hit Hines dr when I have a little free time. It's the only curvy road I've found that is realitvely close.

I didn't get a chance to ride today. Turned out to be pretty nice too.  I was actually going to ask you guys the same thing the other day about good roads that are fun to ride and I forgot.  Hopefully we can meet up and ride soon.

I was able to get out for a few hours today and road out to TT to see what they had. Nice S4rs there they just got in.

Also took m59 to woodward and stopped by they new shop to see how its coming. Charlie came out and introduced himself and gave me some info about dates and stuff. Seems like a good guy.

Yeah, that s4rs is awesome.

Charlie is a really good guy.  He introduces himself to ANY enthusiast who rides up.  I am going to enjoy working for him.

I just noticed.....this thread ALREADY has more replies than any other thread in the MCM section.   Look at us go.   [laugh]

The best roads I have found are near bloomfield hills area (~30 minutes from me) or else the best i have found is near pickney state park and ann arbor.  i haven't take the road near hell,mi, but i hear that is nice too.

If anyone is interested in heading out there sometime in the evening or an afternoon on the weekend i'd be interested. 

roggie - where is hines dr.?  i tried to map it out but didnt find anything

TT has some nice people and are really friendly/helpful usually, but I am definitely pumped to have another dealership closer to woodward area.  once the opening gets closer they should try and plan a large Duc gathering, that should also give some free advertisement

Hines starts somewhere around Telegraph and Joy rd(maybe a little further east) and heads west. Its fun but speed limit is 35-40 so not to enthusiastic. The road to Hell is good. The local duc club used to do Sunday rides and a few guys knew all the side roads in the area. It would get quite "spirited". I did a few Sundays but wouldn't be able to navigate the same roads since its been a few years.

Yeah I usually take Southfield south to 96w to Outer drive to Hines. There is a little road called Rouge Park Dr that splits off of Outer then hooks back up into it that can be fun. It's not the nicest area and you have to dodge a few road closed signs but its fun and I've never had any problems.
And yes Hines is slow, I think 45, and the curves aren't tight by any means but there are only a few stop lights so you can stay moving. If you are heading west I believe it turns into 7 mile in the northville area. Like Itsaduc said not very enthusiastic but better than the mile grids and its realitively close for me.

Ive heared AA has some better roads and I'd like to try this road to hell too! (No pun intended).
Maybe we can set something up...

Hines' speed limit is 40. It's patrolled by unmarked sheriffs. Unmarked and odd cars. like old Chevy Blazers and random sedans that aren't associated with Wayne County Sheriffs. I've heard several stories of folks getting pulled over for as little as 3 over the limit on Hines.

That being said, it's a great cruis on the way OUT to 7mi rd, which I take across to whitmore lake area then pinkney then you are in what passes for "good" roads in our area. Pinckney, Stockbridge, Hell area have some great twisties and not a whole lot of leo presence. Some local groups refer to this as the "west side loop" and you can chain some VERY interesting roads together when you get to know the area.

If you get a ride together on the weekends PM me, if you don't mind my Hinkley built machine riding with your Italian ladies :)

You can join us man!  You don't HAVE to have a Duc.  I am not one of those guys that is going to say you cant ride with us, that would be some childish BS lol.  PM me your name and cell and I will let you know if we plan something (off the boards).

Matt, (Roggie) We should plan something to hell and back!   [evil] [evil]

Thanks for chiming in Ahks. Good info about Hines, especially since I usually push it close to 60 mph for short bursts when I ride it.

And yeah you and your British bike are more than welcome. What are you riding? My good friend just picked up a street triple R a few months ago. Sweet ride indeed.

Weekends are good for me as long as I can squeeze in the time to ride around toddler duty!

Yeah Adam, sounds good to me!

Dexter, your earlier PM is replied to :)

I've got a 98 Daytona (the 3 cylinder song is a beautiful song when piped thru a big shortened carbon akrapovic can [evil] )
It's not exactly a standard Daytona tho :p Build thread with pictures and my issues can be seen here http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1274363#post1274363 (http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1274363#post1274363) It runs good (early efi fueling issues [roll] and I went thru it rather thoroughly over the winter :p It really looks rough now, I actually regret starting the body work and having to half ass it for this season, but if I own it for a few more seasons the bodywork will be sorted with something nice and tasteful. I'm hoping to teach myself how to layup CF [thumbsup]

Ahks, man that is a helluva project you've got there! nice work. is it all sorted out now? or are you still working on it? Looks pretty badass in the pics. hopefully we can see it in person.

was that the opening day of Triumph West? i was there for a bit earlier in the day, might have just missed you.

on a side note, has anyone gone over to Royal Oak on thursday nights? i rode up there a few weeks ago, but it was pretty jammed and i didnt look to hard for a spot to park. is it worth it? or just overrated?

I haven't gone in a year or two but the Ducs Unlimited club would always park on the side street right next to the Starbucks. Not sure how many still go since I didn't rejoin the club this year due to lack of attendance and not much in the way of club sponsored events. Its ok but can get pretty packed. Try to get down there a littler earlier and grab a bite to eat like before 6ish

Thanks :) I don't think my bike will ever be "sorted" but it's "finished for this season" :) I still have rather grandiose plans for the Triumph, but, while I love the linear power delivery of the 3cylinder, I still want to feel the torque difference of a big light twin. The monster of this vintage (98) came in a carb'd 900cc with a dry clutch. I think I'd like to have one of those in my garage for a long term comparison :P So I may hold off on any more significant mods, other than light cosmetic work, till I can get some pasta next to my fish n' chips.

Yep I was there mid-dayish for a few hours. Besides the gamut of Triumphs I saw a couple older cafe's of various makes, an old Bimmer, Buell XB-s', a Diavel and a gal on a Brutale as well... Good looking bike and owner :P

I definitely want to plan a Thursday out there.  Have not been out there for a bike night.

yeah, the classic 900 would be sweet! Matt (baz) has a badass yellow one that we got to see last weekend.

but the triples are very smooth indeed. when i rode my friends street triple, i couldnt believe the night and day difference. especially throttle control, crazy how easy it was to roll off compared to my S4Rs' light switch, on/off throttle!

and i think ive met that Brutale owner you saw too!  [thumbsup]

Heh, the streetie is a much more refined machine than my old 955cc mill. Fuelings way better, the 675 spins up almost like a small i-4 but delivers the power in a different way.

My bike's throttle is sort of light switch, and the low rpm/5-30% throttle fueling is pretty rough, but above 4k it feels right at home and I think I can hear the exhaust hit a nice harmonic that makes me think it likes it there... I really need to get her to a dyno tuner that can use TuneECU. It needs a custom mapping. But if I go thru all that I'd really like to consider swapping in a newer motor that has few potential catastrophic failures than mine :P

The new shop is coming along really quick now.  Stopped in yesterday and there were around 15-20 people busting their a$$.  Hopefully it will be done soon.  I'm getting antsy!  It looked SO sweet in there!   8)

Very cool Adam. Keep us posted, maybe we can all meet up there again soon.

I'm thinking this Sunday if the weather holds up? You guys in?

What time are you thinking Adam?

Whenever, I am free all day Sunday.  Anyone else in?

I'm on call at work till Monday so cant guarantee anything. But I can tentatively say "in" :) As long as it's not too early. I'm not a morning person :p

Noon worked well for me last time. Should we try for noon or 1 this Sunday?

Of course as I suggest this I'm still not 100% sure I can make it. I can just try to show up for whatever is decided...

Unfortunately I am busy this weekend and will be for the next few weekends... :(

Anyone up for stopping by RO bike night tonight?  Weather should be good for once

Noon is cool for me on Sunday Matt.  I will try to ride out to R.O. tonight Baz, can't promise though.

What time tonight? I might be able to sneak out after the kids are in bed.

I work until 7:30 so I am not sure.

later works better for me too.  there might be less bikes by then, but it will also be less crowded which is good.

roggie - ill PM you my cell.

Meeting at the Birmingham dealer around 8:15 then riding into RO. Meet us at either place if you can make it.

Dang, sorry I missed you guys.  Got caught up with relatives here from Florida. 

Did you guys take a peek inside the shop?   ;D

No worries Adam. Well have to try another bike night or two before the season ends.

Yes, took a peek inside. A few bikes jammed into the Lotus side and walls and displays going up in the main area. Can't wait to see it finished.

Adam was this weekend at the dealer considered the "soft opening"?

If so is there a date for the official? Maybe we can make that the next time to meet up?

How did Sunday go for the motogp viewing?

Sunday went well and yes, Saturday was considered the soft open.  I will find out from Charlie tomorrow (Tuesday) when the grand opening is.  We are still waiting on the rest of our parts to come in. 

Adam, sorry we couldnt stick around longer to chat at the shop on saturday. timing was tight since my friend was in town.

Anybody planning on going to Royal Oak this thursday night?

Id be down for royal oak this week, let me know if you are interested. 

Also, anyone going to be around this weekend?  Looking to do some riding and would be cool to get a decent group of monsters.

I'm up for something this weekend. I'm out of town on vaca this week but will be home sunday/monday. Need to scrub a new tire in a little first though, forgot how squirrly they can be. Had a pucker moment the other day.

Matt, I'm pretty sure I can make it tonight. Want to meet at the dealer again around 8 and ride in? I will text you if anything changes.

And this weekend is busy for me but if you guys come up with a time and place just post it here and ill let you know if I can join you.

sounds good - ill shoot you a text when i get out of work. 

anyone else interested on meeting up tonight send me a pm