DeeKnow’s Grotto

Now that I've convinced myself I need to be shopping for a twin I thought I'd better get out and ride a recent model 2-valve Ducati, so have just been out one of the 750SS's that Hammy-Bikes have on the floor.

cosmetic details first: The machine I went out on had some after-market slip-on mufflers which sounded great idling out the back of the workshop, and continued sounding good easing out onto TeRapa straight. The bike was a half-faired model (the looks of which I'm warming to) and despite any reservations you might have about the Terblanche SuperSport designs, the new SS shape really does looks good in the flesh.

Fit-wise the chassis seemed familiar to my little 600, more space and definately more leg-room (sliding back on the seat) but still felt nice and connected. Basically it just felt right. Everything in its place, not pitced uncomfortably forward and plenty of covereage from the windscreen once you picked up speed.

As luck would have it the heavens opened and it pissed down on me just as I was leaving the shop, so I rode out to Te-Kowhai then south to Whatawhata to get onto some dry tarmac. It wasnt really till the run home in the dry that I relaxed and got a decent taste of the handling.

On the open road I was immediately impressed by the smoothness of the fuel-injection (its the first fuel-injected 2-valve Duke I've ridden) and extra HP. Was expecting the power/torque to feel not drmatically different to the 600, but it's definately delivered more evenly and there's a much broader bottom-end in it than the smaller sibling.

Handling wise I found it a little slower to initiate rolling into a corner (Kevin raised his eyebrow at this one) than my 600 (they are different geometrys) but once it was on a lean it felt a lot more stable, sure-footed I guess. Aso found it smoother cornering at a reasonable clip than when ambliing round the buggers.

Even against my modest expctations though, the motor seemed to run out of legs a little earlier than I thought it would. The 750 is a great machine, and I'm not interested in breaking land-speed records or anything, I'm looking for a fun but general-puspose-ish machine with some character.

I think though that I'll hold out for a recent used 900 for a little more tourque. My old headmaster had a word he used all the time in speeches, everyone used to mock it, the word was Zest and thats what I want a little more of ... outta my next bike.

5:16:09 PM