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.

New Parts Rock

There is nothing like a new part to get a motorcyclist's heart purring.



And if you take that part and customize it to match your bike, well all the better.

I can't stand to half-ass a job and I honestly like to making things like a factory would or better. I mean the cheap looking stuff is for others. I want strength and reliability.

Do it once and do it right!!

Repairs / Maintenace SUCKS!

I've had issues with my Honda and with my Buell. My Honda has spent a good 3 months in the shop at different times, basically sitting waiting for someone to decide something. My Buell about 3 weeks for the same thing.

Only once did I actually get something fixed that I did not have to do myself, but I thought I would post up why this happens.



I recently posted this response to a guy who is having an issue with a chaffed wire on his wiring harness. The quick and proper solution would be to replace the harness. Of course that would mean that someone would have to cover the cost and admit it was not perfect to start with....here is why.

The high level of seeming incompetence is in reality a mixture of indifference and our wonderful legal system.



Dealers want to sell bikes, do regular service and not deal with issues that require any thought. They think that any issues with design (even though they put bikes together) should be dealt with by the manufacturer. And if they didn't put the bike together or sell it to you, their attitude is one of a hurt child, who has to do their siblings chores while they are sick.

This attitude comes from years of consumers demanding cheaper prices, which has stripped a lot of profitability away from shops. That profitability used to pay for a couple extra techs, or allowed the salary of a really good one. That money is gone, and it paid for the time it takes to troubleshoot. Now, a bike that needs a few hours of looking at to isolate an issue has to wait, because without other work being done, the shop will not exist. That and what tech wants to work for free?

On the legal side we have the manufacturer.

They set up a repair guide and offer suggestions and a path for troubleshooting. If they vary from that, they must document it, and follow up to make sure it is not a widespread problem. IF it is a widespread problem, they must then issue a recall.

The bottom line is, if they replace your harness, they are admitting (or would appear to be admitting in a court of law) to a widespread problem and would be liable for that repair on ALL ST1300s, not just yours.

In the long run, your potential lawsuit for death or injury would cost less....(Sad, but true fact or the US legal system today.)

It is not about doing the morally correct thing, it is about doing the proper thing to remain a business that supports hundreds of thousands of employees.

Thanksgiving Day Morning Ride

Nothing like a nice Holiday Morning for a beautiful ride.

Getting It Right

Today I continued working with Race Tech to get the Forks on the ST just right. I had been experiencing some pogoing and some instability in corners at speed. Lenny Albin the guru made some modifications after we fought with some of the Honda design shortcomings.



After a long day and rebuilding the forks about 5 times we think we are closer.


I did not get to do a full shake down ride as the day ran to night, but will give her a try tomorrow.






Can't wait!!

Tech Day Live

Raven is the first to show!

Coffee is on!

Mark and Chris arrive.

Dan (danyon_canyon) and Tom (Dr. Tom) arrive.

More stuff to buy!

Disasembly begins.

Start of throttle body sync.

Clutch fluid change.

Beginning of Valve check.

Valve covers off. Dace says the timing hole cover is a 6mm and the crankshaft is a 10mm.

Ready to troubleshoot idle issue.

Full house.

Drazil checks his TB starter sync.

Mark explains radiator flushing.

After the last photo I had to start getting my hands dirty. I put the camera down and help to balance Dace's throttle bodies and then we got to the task of putting the bike together.

All buttoned up somewhere around 7 p.m. Dace (the first to arrive) was the last to leave with Damion (DZSV) and Drazil. A full day of activity and lots of fun.

Everything is back to normal, so it is probably time to rest for a while.

See ya soon!!