M1100s test ride Beach part

[Dockstrada]

So after a quick squirt down the cost with the gang ,We arrived at the Beach Party just in time for our 11am test ride arranged by Matty ( thanks Mate  ) for Goldfish , Matty and I .First impressions ,Looks cool  modern and very monsterised  Yellow safety vests on  and a spank on the right wrist, we were told no wheelies or stoppies 

So down through cronulla we went heading towards Botany Bay National Park the landing place of Capitan James Cook in 1770 with his sailing Ship Endeavour .Well it may as well have been 1770 as the pace was at horse and cart speed  . Following The Ducati chaperone around was a complete waist of time I guess he was under instructions ; I know he rides better than that. To be honest I regretted going for the test ride, didn’t give me a good impression of the bike at all 

To his credit, He did invite me on a un official test ride when we came back, I guess he could see the disappointment in my eyes 

what do I think I aint gona buy one for sure, The seat sweeps to high at the back which locks your Jewels against the tank the breaks feel spongy , and the engine feels and sounds like a single piston .that just me and my opinion as a S4rs rider.

[Spider]

every review I've read has said the same thing about the family jewels being given a good battering...maybe the 1100 was designed by a female design team? (storage compartment for shoe purchases located under the rear cowl by any chance?)....how did this get overlooked?

Vincenzo, were you clamping the tank hard and in an aggressive hunch...did that alleviate pressure?

Spider

[Dockstrada]

every review I've read has said the same thing about the family jewels being given a good battering...maybe the 1100 was designed by a female design team? (storage compartment for shoe purchases located under the rear cowl by any chance?)....how did this get overlooked?

Vincenzo, were you clamping the tank hard and in an aggressive hunch...did that alleviate pressure?

Spider

Or you would have to be a Unick to ride this thing, Yeh was clamped on like a vice grip .Lucky there wasnt any heavy breaking involved  

[mattyvas]

Second opinion from someone who was/is/maybe/not consider purchase of the new M1100.
Even though the seat height has been raise 20-40mm depending on which Ducati sales person you speak too!
It still does lock you pretty tight into the seat/tank. I found I had too much weight on my wrists even on the short ride
with training wheels still attached.   

Also being that it was well into the mid 30's the slow pace also helped to roast the inside of the thighs making for some good 
I too never really like test rides offered in such a situation but as they called me to ask if I wanted a ride I thought I'd bring people with me.

Did sound like a bit of a singer and the tank scoops sucking in air sounded like they were straining with the heat of the day.
Can't say I really got to use the brakes, did try to throw it through a round about (only corner we hit) felt pretty nimble, certainly not much
heavier than the 620.

Also got a very decent offer for an hour long test ride down in Wollongong on many of the roads I know.
But I'm really thinking that the price point of $24k for the S model is pretty rich for a 2V engine, by the time you add full exhaust
ECU, airbox plus other bits of bling you're hitting $30k.

To me that's big bucks for what's on offer!

[G]

On a whim, I rode up from Melbourne for the Monster Beach Party. Upon registration, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring for a test ride. Afterall, I'd heard they'd hit the showroom floor in Melbourne, but not necessarily for test rides; yet.
I noted with interest the journalists (M Matho and J Bowdler) comment on an improvement in "tractability" in the new model. From what I understood that meant that you could ride it in the vicinity of 2000-3000 RPM and not have the bike feel snatchy. e.g. riding around the city in traffic. Generally, I'm inclined to ride in the 4000-7000RPM range, so I decided to check/test this out  during the test and it did seem to be a valid statement. It is true and for me would take some getting used to.

Goldfish mentioned the potential for testicular compression against the tank caused by an inclination of the seat towards the tank. I can see how this could become iriitating and experiment with shifting the derriere backwards with an active contraction of the adductor muscles and increasing pressure through the balls of the feet. It does require effort. It was then that I discovered the distance to the "bumpstop" had decreased giving rise to a very tight cockpit. Although this can be a useful thing when you're tucking in. It is also of benefit if you choose to shift your weight slightly backwards, gain purchase on the tank and hang off the side during a corner.

The suspension suited me well from the get-go ( I retro-fitted an Ohlin's rear with a spring weight specifically for me) and the Ohlins forks were very plush (compared to my Showa's with emulators).

The steering feels quicker than mine and it probably due to a different geometry.

I tested the front brakes and the radial mount calipers are definitely superior to those on my DS.

Having seen the bike in the flesh, I am quite impressed, more so than I was from what I could see in magazines.

[heatherp]

On a whim, I rode up from Melbourne for the Monster Beach Party. Upon registration, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring for a test ride. Afterall, I'd heard they'd hit the showroom floor in Melbourne, but not necessarily for test rides; yet.
I noted with interest the journalists (M Matho and J Bowdler) comment on an improvement in "tractability" in the new model. From what I understood that meant that you could ride it in the vicinity of 2000-3000 RPM and not have the bike feel snatchy. e.g. riding around the city in traffic. Generally, I'm inclined to ride in the 4000-7000RPM range, so I decided to check/test this out  during the test and it did seem to be a valid statement. It is true and for me would take some getting used to.

Goldfish mentioned the potential for testicular compression against the tank caused by an inclination of the seat towards the tank. I can see how this could become iriitating and experiment with shifting the derriere backwards with an active contraction of the adductor muscles and increasing pressure through the balls of the feet. It does require effort. It was then that I discovered the distance to the "bumpstop" had decreased giving rise to a very tight cockpit. Although this can be a useful thing when you're tucking in. It is also of benefit if you choose to shift your weight slightly backwards, gain purchase on the tank and hang off the side during a corner.

The suspension suited me well from the get-go ( I retro-fitted an Ohlin's rear with a spring weight specifically for me) and the Ohlins forks were very plush (compared to my Showa's with emulators).

The steering feels quicker than mine and it probably due to a different geometry.

I tested the front brakes and the radial mount calipers are definitely superior to those on my DS.

Having seen the bike in the flesh, I am quite impressed, more so than I was from what I could see in magazines.

roflmao 

Thanks G.  you put it so well.

[goldFiSh]

All pretty well said. I'd sat on one at Frasers and immediately said its too small for a big fella like me.

So when matty booked me in, I thought this would be a good opportunity to find out.

Surprisingly it was more comfortable than first impression, tho the jewels crushing into the tank would need to be fixed by an aftermarket seat. It was a very compliant ride - didn't  really get to test anything too much, but the engine was well behaved though the rev range we used it was easy to ride, no question. I dunno about the brakes comment from Dock, perhaps he's getting used to the demso's anchors, I would think they'd be on par with the Rs. Certainly better than my goldlines.

Would I buy one, probably not. But that;s better than an abolute no which was what I was thinking before the ride.
 Maybe a real test ride will confirm one way or another. Tho, matty is right, it's a lotta coin for a 2V.

[G]

roflmao 

Thanks G.  you put it so well.

lol cheers, Heather.

I'm gonna put an article in the DOCV mag Desmoto about my adventures. I travelled with Steve, whom I think you may have met on Turismo, S.A....

[heatherp]

lol cheers, Heather.

I'm gonna put an article in the DOCV mag Desmoto about my adventures. I travelled with Steve, whom I think you may have met on Turismo, S.A....

Hi G.  Hey send me a copy of your input. I'm not a member of DOCV.  I met so many people on Turismo. There was one Steve I remember - Croc farmer from NT on a black S4R but I'm assuming your not referring to him.  I met a few DOCV members but can't remember them all by name -  does that to a person. 

[G]

Hi G.  Hey send me a copy of your input. I'm not a member of DOCV.  I met so many people on Turismo. There was one Steve I remember - Croc farmer from NT on a black S4R but I'm assuming your not referring to him.  I met a few DOCV members but can't remember them all by name -  does that to a person. 

Will do Heather.
No, not that Steve. Gee, a croc farmer: you meet people from all sorts of backgrounds on the Turismo...

[G]

Oh another change in design that I appreciate is the pathway of the exhaust pipe. It's a personal thing that I discovered at the NSW NDR back in 2004. I didn't like the way that the pipes protruded to the right on the S*R single sided swingarm. There is a heel protector located in that spot, but I don't like the way it kicks the right heel out. ( A friend melted the inner aspect of the heel of his Sidi's Vertebrae boot on a S2R)
The M1100S seems to have returned to the old style foot peg carriers that are bilateral and fairly symmetrical. With a greater surface area on the right, this means more purchase on the bike when cornering vigorously. I like it.