LowRyter

Considering Alex' win, I'll bet they'll be some at AF1 this week.

I see that the publication that published the MM hoax has formally apologized. That was really bad taste. I'm still on the fence for COTA. I think I only have a couple of days to sign for Ducati Island. Since it's a good ride, I'd like a riding partner but can't find one. I did ride to North Carolina once alone on the Greenie, that was a hardy trip with some great times. By comparison, the Ducati should be a piece of cake.

Not only winning but Alex is leading the points. Pretty good race for a guy that had never won on a bike that had never won.

hell freezes over

I'd say there is quite a difference speeding in traffic and around pedestrians vs the highway.

At least I have an advantage with my Corvette. I can change plugs and wires in about an hour.

OK, very bad tastes for April's Fools. Even worse when dated 2 April.

Here's the original article that was on my phone feed. https://www.motorcyclesports.net/articles/breaking-news-diplopia-wins-and-marc-marquez-ends-his-career

Didn't read like it. And it's not a funny subject. The risk of double vision is too serious. Expect an official announcement soon. Perhaps the press leak is an attempt to discourage MM from continuing?

Saw on my phone feed, that MM#93 is retiring.

uhm

OK, I got a follow up on the other board. Apparently Honda never said the crash was about mechanical failure. This came from another rider (Zarco?) based on rumor in the paddock. I think some of the Honda riders are blaming Michelin from what I've read elsewhere.

I think MotoGP is the best racing on the planet. But I have to agree that wings and ride height adjusters seem to muck it up a little. A lot of tech with little benefit to quality of the racing. Of course any team wants an edge allowed within the rules. Then the rules get reconsidered. So far as F1, I was skeptical of the DRS but it seems to have paid off the last couple of races (along with ground effects). I'd like to see them go back to steel suspension rods rather than carbon fiber after seeing Hamilton spear Verstoppen at Silverstone last year. I have no idea why each car can't have it's own pit, and those crazy drive between the lines rules need to be replaced with sand traps and barriers. Having written this, I actually watched a few races last year (not the entire durations) and seen some of both races this year. OTOH, there was real racing going on at the Texas Indycar race, I'm kicking myself for not going.

I was reading another board. One of the posters was listening to the GP press conference today. Best I could get was that Honda said that MM's bike crashed due to a failed ride height device. Makes me wonder if these things should be eliminated? Also one the transport planes on the way to Argentina got stuck in Kenya with mechanical failures. A couple of the Ducati teams don't have their bikes and garages.

So far as Desmo service as mentioned above, the adjustment interval is 15k miles on the V2 and 18k miles for the 11 Degree engine. If you're a DIY guy, there is a service that leases a Desmo maintenance kit, you can keep the kit for a few weeks, use that tools, purchase the consumables and get video instructions. I'll also share that the Duc branded parts, like timing belts and spark plugs are exorbitant but generic and discount parts are available- so shop around and you may find that a Duc isn't much more difficult than any 4 cyl sportbike to maintain with the same labor hours. I was told the biggest trick is making sure not drop the valve into the engine when making the adjustment. And each valve has two shim, closing & opening. So a Duc twin was the same number of adjustments as 4 cyl conventional bike In my case, Don's shop did the 18k service. Besides being a Guzzi dealer, he used to be the head wrench at the Duc shop here. Next time, I'll work with him for the service and get some hands-on training, just another 14k miles to go. The labor bill was something like $600, which was all the 18k mile maintenance list, including desmo, servicing the forks and additionally replacing the drive chain.

Best to your son and your family. Stay in touch more often too. We miss your wit and knowledge. And if you're cooped up in isolation and want to vent, this is the place. (I can't say that abut WG)

The Supersport is very comfortable but doesn't have the rocket engine like the V2, although it looks great. The SS has the torque-y engine (similar to the Indian -above-) while the V2 is a screamer. Also has a saddlebag package and is considered at Touring Sportbike.

Run up to AMS in Dallas and you may like it. They talk bikes, give test rides and won't pressure you buy. They also have very many classic Ducatis on display. I purchased my 939 Supersport from them. Despite looking like a Superbike, it's more comfortable than my V11 Sport.

my guess is about 525lb ready to ride with no bags or luggage. 115 hp is the new 120.

Phil, I have some pain in my thumb. I went to therapist, she told me that squeezing a ball was one of the worst thing a person could do. Of course hand pain doesn't equal wrist pain. Her therapy fixed it about 70% and it's no longer chronic. Personally, I prefer the feel of a cable clutch and I don't find a hydraulic clutch any easier to pull. I thought that I liked the simplicity of the cable too, until I snapped it on Supersport. I think I need a seal kit for my V11 Sport, Docc was mentioning it might be the spring. I have two bikes with cables and two Hydraulic. I like the feel and easy adjustment of the cable. I had never broken a cable until a couple of weeks ago. Oh well.

I've had good luck with a strap-on style bag on my Sport. I was able to get a factory bag from a former owner. The bag was ripped and I had to go to an upholsterer. That was maybe 8 years ago, since it's wearing, I need to get it redone. Anyway, just wanted to mention an alternative. I keep tankbags, magnetic and strap-on, on all my bikes all the time; however, I've never used one of those flange mounts.

both bikes have Superbike ergo's -quite a bit more extreme riding position vs the V11 series. The Triumph has a a retro look, lifted right from our V11 LeMans series. Both bikes have brutal power, the V2 being more track focused like the 675. IMO the Speed Triple RR sorta missed the mark, as it seems to combine the worst features of retro and sportbike. I suppose if I wanted a Sportbike, I'd go the GSXR route, they say the 750 was the perfect blend of performance and balance. I recently rode with a fellow that had one and I was on my Ducati 939 Supersport. The relaxed ergos gave be an advantage on the twistie roads but he was going faster than I wanted to go on the fast sweepers. I don't think he was going faster than my bike could've gone but faster than I wanted to go (I'll just admit that my vision/depth perception just isn't that great when going 130 and braking to 70 for a corner, I'm more a rhythm rider) (OTOH I did have to wait on him after a few miles on 40-80mph twisties).

I used to watch "Roller Derby" on Sunday mornings, right after the "Gospel Jubilee" and "Laurel & Hardy/Little Rascals". Classic stuff. Sometimes interrupted by having to go to church . Given a choice, I liked the TV. The afternoon was an AFL/NFL game followed by Walter Cronkite news reel "20th Century". Some of the best entertainment followed by first class education after a football game. All of it was grade A vs from what I can get on 300 channels right now.

I've found the Pilots take some time to warm up before they grip. Almost like a sports tire, not sure why. When the rear Pilot burned up on my Greenie at 4k miles, I was done with them. Not only do the Dunlops last longer and cost less, they need little warm up time. The Dunlop grip on my Ducati is nearly as good as the Rosso 3 and half the price and double the mileage. These might be hasty conclusions, since I only stick with what works. I dropped Dunlop previously many years ago due to a bad rear, they did give me credit on a replacement. I later bit the bullet and bought Michelins for a few sets but didn't see an improvement other than status of spending more money. After getting burned on the Sport, I'd had enough and went back to Dunlops after 5 years. I had one set of Bridgestones that wore out after about 5k on my new Bandit, so I've never purchased the brand again. I've only used Metzler 880 bias on my EV, 70k miles, they handle and grip well and wear like iron.

After my Sport ate up Pilot Roads after 4k miles, I've been a Dunlop guy ever since. I even have Roadsmarts on my Ducati.