Everyone Dreams, Yes?

Ah, the perfect garage.....it is a core dream we all have and trust me no matter what you have you always seem to want the next level. I mean when the owner of Barber Motorsports Museam talks about his next step you know everyone dreams.

Well, for me there has always been a balance better 2 bikes. And just recently I arrived at what I thought was the perfect balance and then.....well, a Redhead came along.

First, I wasn't looking for another bike, I just happened to ask for a display bike for the SWR Awards Event from Ducati Superstore. Since the event was an Italian Potluck I thought it would be cool to have a spunky Italian attend. I asked Steve Walker of Ducati Superstore if we could use one at the event and he said yes. All I had to do was pick it up the day of the event and return it on Tuesday when they opened again. What an EVIL plan!!!! (His, not mine.)

So, I pick the bike up ride it to my house and then I had a few questions for Steve...they were #1 - Can I wash i? #2 What type of gas does it take? #3 Can I take it on a ride?

I got my answers, Yes - HiTest - Yes.

Step one was washing the bike. For me nothing helps me bond and understand a vehicle better than detailing it. Not understanding how it performs, but how it is designed and how air will flow around it. If you have not figured it out, It is a Ducati Hypermotard and this bike has a very hidden beauty. I washed her very quickly and water flows off this bike in an almost magical manner. Being a naked small bike it was clean and dried quickly.

Well, the event went well and the next day I was anxious to discover this bike. I'll write a review of that experience a little later, but I'm currently looking at financing plans. LOL

BTW, the bike even fits in my garage almost like it was made to live there.

The lure is incredible and I think I've found the perfect mix of bikes. An American V-Twin with a German designed engine, A Japanese sport-sport touring bike and an Italian standard that rides like a sport bike.

Additionally, I think I have found the one and only one bike that makes me think that dealing with a chain wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Time will tell.

Living On The Dark Side

I've owned tons of vehicles over the years and a few of my own motorcycles, but for the last two purchases I was drawn to the dark side. Yes, a black motorcycle!

The newest bike for me is a 2008 Night Rod Special, which takes black a few steps further and even has a matte, or denim as Harley calls it, finish.

I've owned a chrome Harley before, in fact I laugh when I see people say "everything chrome you can get" about their bikes and I notice about 10 parts right off the bat (including brakes) that are not chrome. Chrome can be an addiction, but black tastes just about the same.

And the end of the day black parts do cost less, well until I get to the forks, but that is a story for later. As I said, black parts cost less but it all comes with a price elsewhere.....and that is cleaning the beast!

If anyone ever tells you that chrome is hard to clean, they have never owned a truly chrome bike. Nothing is as easy to clean as a chrome bike and nothing is as hard to clean as a black bike.

In the end I'm finding that both have their appeal and regardless of which way you go, you'll always have a conversation or two at gas stops.

First Ride Complete!

Getting to know any new bike takes a little time and there is nothing like running it for a few hundred miles to figure out what's what.

After today's ride with a few friends I'm now starting to tweak the bike to me and adjust myself to it. I'm probably looking at at the least a handlebar change and I've already adjusted the suspension after finding I had a little bit too much sag.

All in all I'm happy with the return of a V-Rod to my garage and I might even wash her for the first time tonight!