SHADOWCHASER
03-26-2007 01:55 AM
Temptation Thou Name Art Rob!
Well It all started out innocent enough..........
I get a phone call from SilentBob and we manage to finagle a halfway reasonable price with my employer to ship his buddy Jake's 00' M900 from Minneapolis to LA.
Part of the agreement is that I'll ride the Monster from Ontario down to Rob's place in Coronado to avoid deadheading the Semi from LA to San Diego and back. Sounds innocent enough right?
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Well I park the rig in Ontario unload Jake's Duc and top off his oil level, (1/4 qt low) and inflate both his Pilot Powers to 32/35 respectively (Front was 20psi, and Rear was worse at only 19psi.) squirt a little chain lube on her, adjust the clutch and front brake levers and we're off.
Other than a rain shower on the way down the ride is fairly uneventful with the exception that the Monster has been laid down on the right side pretty hard judging from the rashed foot pegs and the tell tale tank dent.
What is becoming more apparent is the slightly tweaked handle bars (Apx bent backwards 1" on the right side.). This gives the sensation of constantly counter steering for a left turn even though you're traveling straight ahead.
The suspension is in desperate need of attention. At over 25K hard miles on the clock the poor thing wallows like a pig, and is in desperate need of attention. Smooth throttle and brake application reduce some of the sloppiness, but the chattering front on rain slick roads is quite unnerving. At least the air cooled L-twin is still strong as ever and the transmission shifts smoothly, it makes the proposition of lane splitting somewhat doable.
I arrive at Rob's place the Monster and myself a little damp, but none the worse for wear. I'm very glad to be off the beast after only 123 miles off heavy traffic, rain and the constant jarring of the worn-out suspension bottoming on anything that even resembles an expansion joint or seam in the concrete that makes up the majority of the I-15.
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The Temptation starts when the first thing I see as I walk into the living room of La Casa Barry is his gorgeous New 1098!
Rob and I pour over all of her details and her newly ceramic coated full 70mm Termis.
This is a beautiful machine, and Rob is absolutely beaming with pride as he well should be. >
Rob treats me to a wonderful Italian dinner as the temptation continues..............
Rob: "I was thinking we would ride Mt Palomar tomarrow.?." "Thought you might enjoy sampling the Husky Supermoto?"
Steve: "Palomar? isn't that where all the magazine writers do their rides and subsequent ride reports in Southern Cal?"
Rob: [Grinning like a monkey] "Yep the very one! Awesome roads and scenery! A hell of a nice ride!" "So have you ever ridden a Supermoto?"
Steve: "Never a purposely built one." "The last thing I'd been on even resembiling a Supermoto was a buddies YZF 450 he had put some street tires on, and that was quite a long time ago."
Rob: "Well its either that or the S4R, but I think you'll really enjoy the Husky!" "Take her out around the Island tomarrow morning then decide."
Steve: "Fair enough, I'm game for just about anything."
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Rob's 6yr old son Shawn wakes me bright and early Saturday morning, and he teaches me the fine points of playing StarWars on the PS2.
We light off the Husky I mount up and take off absolutely oblivious to just how addictive this little 97hp machine was going to be, and unprepared for how it would transform my casual usually reserved riding into a hooliganistic adventure.
Stoppies, wheelies, hacking it into and out of the corners. Jumping curbs and in general making a total nucence of myself. >
I get back and Rob asks if I had gotten lost? Nope just having too much fun to come back right away.
The decision made we mount up Rob on his new 1098, and I on the borrowed Supermoto. Another friend and his pillion on a Yamaha Warrior that Rob sold him.
The 1098 Growls unlike anything I've ever heard before, and can be heard even over the rapidy rap of the Thumper's race pipe.
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Folks if you've never ridden Palomar you REALLY NEED TO!!!
Absolutely everything you could ever ask for in a road. Very challenging and entertaining! Corners and corners, and more corners. It seems to never end.
Elevation changes multiple off camber curves with only a few sections of sand or gravel washed across the roadway. Hairpins, Switchbacks, highspeed sweepers and delightfully flowing esses! THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST ROADS I'VE EVER BEEN ON!!! >
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I was having an absolute BLAST ripping it up on the ultralight and torquey Husky! The racing rain tires Rob had on her are the equivalent of super glue!
Kicking my leg out at waist height and chucking her into corners sideways was the norm. Who'd have thought you could scape pegs that are that high up off the ground LOL!!!
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Her 6 speed gear box and one tooth larger front sprocket (Good for only about 100mph tucked in on top) was absolutely perfect gearing for this road. Rob was surprised that I was keeping up with him on the 1098 going down the east face where he admittedly was hitting triple digits on the Duc.
Damn you Rob for adding yet another temptation to my life. >
Watching Rob accelerate like a bullet and effortlessly stream through the esses the whole time I'm wringing the piss outta his Supermoto was truly amazing!
The 1098 aside from being drop dead gorgeous in person, and sounding unlike any Ducati I've ever heard aside from a full on race bike was definitely in its element. Robs only gripe was that the toe of his walking cast kept getting hung under the rear brake lever in a few of the transitions. It was apparent in the wear on his rear tire also that he was punishing the right side much harder than the left due to not being able to weight the right peg on the hard left turns.
Upon our return to San Diego Rob takes a small detour to GP's supposedly to schedule his 600 mile service on the 1098, but I know he was furthering my corruption with all the eye-candy that was available at the shop.
First thing we see is a beautiful vintage Goose.
Followed by one of the New Aprilia Supermotos.........
...............Now I know why he wanted me to ride the Husky. LOL! He was setting me up to drool over the Aprilia.
There were lots of other COOL toys inside too....
If that wasn't enough he tosses the key to the 1098 to me to ride back to Coronado! >
Holly Shit what a bike!!!
It feels like its carved from solid billet absolutely no perceivable flex to the frame. You simply pick your line and it goes 0 effort transitions while flicking from left to right! TOTALLY COMPOSED AT ALL TIMES!!! >
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The Testastretta Evoluzione is everything you've read and more!!! More bottom end torque than any other production Ducati that smoothly and effortlessly transforms to a top end rush that leaves an S4Rs feeling a bit wheezy.
The MOST amazing aspect of this motor is the low end where it lugs without complaint below 4k! Incredible!!!
It REALLY is the best of the 996 Desmoquattro's midrange punch blended with the high output top end rush of the Testastretta but with Tons more HP, and it does it all with a smoothness that is beyond rival!!!
WOW WHAT A SPREAD OF USEABLE POWER!!!
Damn it >
whether I want to admit it or not it IS VERY comfortable for a Super Bike.
Much more comfortable than a 996 or 748. You sit more down into the bike, and the clip-ons are much higher and a shorter reach to the seat with only a slightly noticeable increase of weight on your wrists which I was able to eliminate by sliding up on the tank. The foot peg to seat distance just covers us larger fellas with a 34" inseam, although longer legged riders will probably be a bit cramped.
I can't even begin to describe the sound........I'm speechless in that regard. >
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My corruption complete Rob and family treated me to the only Sushi I've ever eaten and actually enjoyed LOL!
Gave me a ride back to the truck in Ontario, where we all promised to do it again very soon.
Rob I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and your whole family! Thanks for an incredible day of riding and for your gracious hospitality.
I consider myself very lucky to have made yet another good friend all due to our mutual interests and the DML!
If you're ever in the San Diego area you should definitely hook up with SilentBob! A very accomplished (read: smooth and fast) rider. >
Ducatisti extraordinaire! :angel:
You'll have a blast dicing it up with him in SOCAL!
