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If I were to get a 696, instead of say a Bonneville, my dealer is telling me that it would be better for the bike, to remove the stock pipes, and install either carbon fiber or titanium pipes by some italian company whose name starts with “T”. He claims that it is better for the health and longevity of the engine.

Is this nonsense?

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Someone is selling a “don’t be a jackass filter”. Wow. And it works most of the time? Where can I buy one. I’d pay good money for one that worked 50% of the time.

I am currently filter free;-)

Those were two nice posts.

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I thought you might like that bike. So powerful, and yet so incredibly comfortable. Sigh. Maybe in a few years. I doubt I’ll be there for asome time-no muscle memory-not many muscles either. Alas for age. I wish you luck in your racing career.

Remember, life is like a roll of toilet paper. The farther along you get, the faster it spins. OT, but I really like the image.

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31 hurts more than 30, n’est pas?

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Rab, thanks for the info. I will check the link.

Matt, your note on the origin of the word “crap” is correct. I think you were just sharing information on “crap” which is interesting. But I have strong feelings about those “sensitive” people who take offense at language. So, for them, the following OT thoughts.

What is a swear word? Basically, it is an offensive word, especially used as an expression of anger (thank you OED). The key word is “offensive”. Offensive to whom? Is that my problem if a word offends them if it is not directed at them? To me, a noun is a noun. If people don’t like talking about stool, manure, or fecal matter then “crap” is as much a swear word as “sh*t” which seems to “offend” some people. Why. Say the same about a certain four letter reference to sex. Or, if “Hell” is a place in some religious views, what is the problem. Why do I have to day “darn” because it may offend someone who thinks I shouldn’t say the other word? There free to be offended if I say “f**k you”, but not if I just say “oh f**k”. Saying “you are a worthless human being” is offensive when “oh my, how terrible” isn’t.

A swear can be any word, when used to indicate anger or frustration, that might not even have anything to do with the meaning of the word. Certainly, there is no real meaning in some of the words in the following: “Why the f-ing h-l do sh-ting people give a rat’s a*s about my go*da*ned word usage. Grow up, be an adult. A word is a word. If someone “swears” too much, it may be for emphasis (kind interpretation) or just because they have a limited vocabulary (unkind interpretation). But let’s not empower these people by actually caring whether a word is offensive, unless it is real hate speech, directed at a person or group of people. “You” as in “you people” has frequently been a far more offensive word than crap. End of OT rant.

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Speaking of feeling the pull, I saw one that I would buy in a second if I could handle it. I can’t. But perhaps you, megaspaz, could. Take a look at the Ducati motard. Beautiful. Comfortable to sit on. If only it wasn’t so powerful.

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It will certainly go 90 (120-130 top speed, but I am not going there). I’m more worried about stability, and comfort, in highway conditions. Wind? Trucks? It’s a light weight naked bike. Ok for a day trip of 100 miles each way?

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I think it was that book that said better to miss your turn than worry about going the wrong way. I’ve got a GPS, of sorts, on my iPhone, and will pull off the road to check it if necessary.

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Rode a 696 again today. Back roads, 30-50mph. Short stint on road with traffic. The demo had the gel seat, and aftermarket pipes (carbon fiber, Italian name). While not a sport bike, I noticed some weight on my hands, and that it was slightly more effort to raise my head to level (just something new to get used to I suppose). I liked having more power, especially in traffic, but can see that speed control and braking will be something to adjust to. Disk brakes are nice, but clearly deserve respect.

The bike felt very solid at suburban speeds. I had to give it more throttle, from a stop, than on my nighthawk, but the clutch was nice. Good thing that the hand controls fit my hand, as they cannot be adjusted. The instruments were OK, but sometimes seemed a little low. I liked having a button to push to turn off the turn signal. I would think about replacing the mirrors.

The bike felt more serious than the nighthawk. At 20mph, it is easier to throw the nighthawk around in a slalom, but i suspect that more than 10 minutes on the bike would change that. I liked it very much, and am considering buying one. The bike isn’t perfect, and I can always wait until spring to buy a second bike. But, I am impatient, and want to enjoy my last six weeks of decent weather. So I’m thinking about it.

While I think, I wanted to respond to some kind folks who responded to my questions, and ask other questions.

Matt: Yeah, you were completely right about the Tiger. I could barely get my feet down, and it is clearly too much for me now. As to the Versys or V-Strom I would consider either. The Versys is very comfortable, yet promises to be ridable on a highway (and I would like to take day trips). The V-Strom is available with ABS except I can’t find one, and the bigger V-Strom (?) wasn’t that comfortable (if my memory is correct).

Rab, I am also thinking about a Bonneville (although I’d probably be less authentic and more liquid). I sat on a Scrambler today and next to the Ducati, the Bonneville is heavy. Maybe that’s a good thing. I love the way the Bonnie looks, but then I always loved the Great Escape.

I confess to being torn. For trips around my area (30-50mph roads) the ducati would be fun. The question is, if I want to ride 90 miles, up into New Hampshire, to visit my daughter at school and return, will the Ducati be OK? The trip might include some miles on US93 (although I see motorcycles regularly on 93, mostly cruisers many doing 90, I wonder if I’ll ever be comfortable there on anything-and don’t plant to rush). I guess I need one bike to travel (panniers and more weight-when I am ready-not yet), and one for local fun. In the meantime, is the Ducati just wrong for the highway as was suggested above? Would the Bonnie be better? Sorry, but I just am not a cruiser person–standard or slightly forward.

This is certainly a mumble, and a long one. I like the Ducati and realize that no one motorcycle can do everything i want. So, given that I want a next step bike, I’ll listen to any comments either pro or con on the Duc-or anything else.

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Thanks to everyone who responded so far.

Rab, I wasn’t criticizing anyone passing on advice, nor do I disagree about passing on received wisdom. In fact, new enthusiasts are probably more likely to do their homework, and gather information, than more experienced comfortable people. I have received very good advice on this site. Rab, three years makes you pretty senior, experience wise, around here.

MegaSpaz, got to tell you: You have consistently given me good advice, but I was shocked to find out that you have been riding three months longer than I have. Oh yeah, I was born in CA, and envy you your location.

This site has provided better information to a new rider than any other. I wish I could find one that does as much for the next step up from a Nighthawk.

Nevertheless, I think it is very useful to have as much information about the experience of the person giving advice as possible. I find the above answers really helpful. I hope other people will too.

Just for the record, I have been riding since June. I bought a Nighthawk 250CB on advice I received here. I will probably keep it even when I get a next step bike, which may be soon (so I can ride it before winter sets in).

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WeaponZero is answering my specific question. It doesn’t seem to me that you can use your feet for control on a cruiser. Of course, my thoughts on motorcycle control are of limited use, given my inexperience.

I am 6′ even, 190 lbs. My knees are sufficiently high that when I am seated, i have to raise up a little to put weight on my feet. I can shift my seat just fine, but I was wondering if control would be easier with less knee bend. Standard or a little back would do this. It seems to me that it would help.
I will probably sit on a Ducati 696 and a couple of Triumphs tomorrow. I’ll see if my leg length seems more comfortable.

Sorry Elwood, if I need to lean, I really wouldn’t want floorboards. Not really my style, anyway.

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Ben, take this one off if you want to, but I need a little comic relief from financial market disaster.

All the arguments for starting with a car are good. Also, just like bikes, get a small underpowered car to start. It can be good at crash tests, but shouldn’t encourage you to think that you can avoid trouble by hitting the throttle.

Still, if some new driver can’t wait to go fast, I suppose I’d rather see him/her on a bike than in an SUV. So maybe there is a an argument for not putting the new driver in something that is better at hurting other people? Think of this as “bike as self sacrifice for the greater good”. ?

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Elwood, thanks for the input. I did not mean to imply that the nighthawk doesn’t turn–it turns fine. I just wondered if having a longer distance to the pegs would give me one more option. Also, as you say, I might me happier if my legs weren’t “balled up so much”. But maybe I’b be better accomplishing that with a taller bike, or pegs a little farther back.

My remark about cruisers was intended to be a question. Can you raise your seat (stand) easily on a cruiser? Doesn’t much of the force go forward rather than down? You can probably tell that I wasn’t a physics major.

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Once you learn to drive a manual transmission, it is easier to use a manual on another vehicle. It is true that if you make a mistake with a Bike, there is no cage. You need to practice with either, especially uphill starts as if there is real traffic behind you. Even better, find an older car with a non-synchronized gear box. Hell, if you can heel and toe a double clutch downshift, you can shift anything.

Seriously though, you can start on either. If I had the option, I would have learned to bike on a dirt bike first. Lots of practice with no crazy car drivers on cellphones.

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As there was no Street Triple, I test rode a Speed Triple. It certainly had way more power than I was used to, but I didn’t feel out of control. My lack of confidence was actually lower at no speed or low speed when the bike was heavier than I am used to.

Is the wheelie comment more directed at the larger engine size or at the Triumphs especially. Would the Street Triple at 675cc me more likely to cause problems than, say, a Ducati 696?

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