New to this area and need a recommendation

[BoogieDuc]

I'm still in the middle of moving or at least unpacking and ran into a problem with a new tire on my S4RS. I now live in Auburn and will probably need a place to have a tire remounted if not replaced. Any recommendation are greatly appreciated.

http://www.ducatimonster.org/smf/ind...011#msg1406011

[Grio]

Welcome!
For purchasing tires:
Motowheels will give you a great deal on Pilot Powers. Suicycle Extreme will sell most other tires at cost. There is a shop down the street from Suicycle that will mount and balance for $20 a tire. Both these places are in the Sacramento area though.

Don't know of any places in Auburn off hand. Pm me if you want additional info.

[CromoMann]

Welcome Boogie.
When you say Auburn area - are you talking about up further into the hills, or are you talking near Auburn Blvd?
If you are in the hills (I suspect from your earlier post) - congrats - you're very close to several of my favorite riding destinations. If you are near Auburn (it's a long road that essentially takes NE from Sacramento to Auburn or used to), I know there are many motorcycle shops in that area, unfortunately, I don't have much "Good" to say about them.

I also highly recommend Motowheels, their shop is near Sunrise and Hwy 50 (DML Sponsor to boot!) and worth the extra effort in my opinion.

Once again, welcome and hope you can join us for a meet up sometime this year (soon!).
-Mike

[BoogieDuc]

By Auburn, I mean the city of Auburn, a few miles north/east of Sac on 49 off of 80; more specifically about 1/2 mile from Hidden Falls Park on Mears Dr. Regarding shops close to me, are you referring to A&S Powersports? I found them from a Vespa site and some old broken link showed them as Ducati-Vespa. Many times a caution about a shop is even more valuable than a referral. Sometimes saying nothing at all speaks volumes, and I know that your experience doesn't have to be mine, but I do, and would, appreciate any heads-up on places to avoid. Please PM me if you would prefer to keep those discussions less public. Really once I get my garage cleared of boxes I will have my "shop" setup and can at least do a proper investigation of my situation. I suppose I could take it to one of the many tractor/atv shops in the area to try and locate the source of the leak, then carry on in an informed manor from there. Thanks for the tip re: Motowheels, I'm always glad to patron a DML sponsor. I have a few friends in Coloma (eat at Marco's) and know the I50 side of Placer County well enough.

A bit about me:
My wife and I just got a small ranch in Auburn for our horses and the rest of our animal collection. I tend to prefer my horse power to be man made and have only two wheels but I love our horses and work with them daily. My bike stable consists of a pair of Ducati’s, both 07’s, a white S4Rs,
[img width=600 height=450]http://www.ducatimonster.org/gallery/albums/userpics/32438/S4Rs.jpg[/img]
and a black and tan Sport Classic GT 1000.
[img width=600 height=450]http://www.ducatimonster.org/gallery/albums/userpics/32438/GT1000.jpg[/img]
[img width=600 height=450]http://www.ducatimonster.org/gallery/albums/userpics/32438/Piaggio.JPG[/img]
We also have a Piaggio MP3 which my wife thinks I bought and had custom painted for her ;D but on which I’ve logged most of its miles (scooters are a blast) [thumbsup]
[img width=600 height=450]http://www.ducatimonster.org/gallery/albums/userpics/32438/Trio.jpg[/img]

Born and raised in LA, I’ve been riding most of my life, starting out on a XR75 when I was around 10, had an YZ80 then YZ125. In high school I went through a Honda Cub 50, a couple of RD400 before I got an RZ350 along with some skills at Willow Springs and Buttonwillow. I’ve worn out a couple of KZ550 a GPz550 and GPz1000 while racing in collage before I settled down to my trusty old 72 CB750 for many years and miles. It was my sole transportation through collage and beyond and on which I rode to Sitka AK after my third year ('83) and down the Pan-American Highway to Panama after my sixth ('86).

In the last 5 years I’ve had several major medical issues which are now resolved. [clap] As I am going to live and have full use of my arms and legs again, I picked up my Duc’s and the scooter last summer. My wife and I have been river guides on both the north and south forks of the American river (and a few others) and my parents retired to Penn Valley some years ago, so I am not completely unfamiliar with the area and am looking forward to exploring the local roads this year. I hope to meet you and everyone else here out riding real soon.

Many thanks again for the suggestions, both of you.
Take care and be well.

[Grio]

Thanks for such a proper introduction...nice rides...never seen that three wheeled thing before.

Now to nag...68 veiws for this thread and 3 responses. What's up with this place?
And Cromo...I hope you can take some kidding. When was the last time you made it out to one of your favorite roads?

I think it is time for this place to have a meet and greet ride...just as soon as I get my bike back!

[Heath]

WELCOME!!
(better Nina?)

You're around some great riding. Keep an eye open I am sure sometime in march we are going to have a group ride. There are some new people around we have to meet.
+1 for Motowheels Martin and the gang are great people.

[Grio]

Originally Posted by Heath

(better Nina?)

It will be all better when I get my bike back. Then I can post up for rides and such...

[Heath]

Is that the same one that wasn't ready for La Ducati Day?

[CromoMann]

Boogie,
Nice bikes - I'm glad to hear you're also mended up and riding.

My one and only bad experience with a shop in Sacramento was at the dealer. I wrote about it a long time ago, but the short version of the story is that I took my new-to-me monster into Goodtimes because it would bog and stall out and they charged me about $700 to clean my carbs. Well, my problem was that my tank was rusting, but Goottimes had simply cleaned the carbs and put it back together with an extra in-line fuel-filter I never asked for - didn't you always want a big old amber fish-bobber on the side of your bike?

Had I not pursued why the float bowls had filled with grit, they would've given it back to me only to have the same thing happen just a few months later.

Once we deduced that rust was the origin of the problem, their only response to fix the tank was a new tank to replace it (The Cromo tanks cost ~$3500)

I was less than thrilled with them as an option. However, silver lining is that I found this site along with Ducati Suite and have fixed the tank, taken the carbs off several times to fine-tune the jetting and do my own fluid changes on the bike - but I'm still not much of a mechanic.

I feel strongly enough, that if I ever buy a new bike, I will drive to the Bay area to avoid returning there.

Nina [cheeky]

-m

[BoogieDuc]

Many thanks all. I finally got settled and "connected". Getting internet service was the longest to get done. (as if the work on the ranch or in my garage will ever be done) [laugh]

I sorted out my tire issue, it was a sticky valve. Glad that was all.

I started out riding the areas I already knew which meant mostly around the Coloma area and such which also allowed me to visit friends. I've ventured out Forrest Hills lately and found a few nice loops. Many of roads around Auburn are very nice and the weather has been beautiful lately, although the bug splatter can get to be a problem now and again. The map I have is garbage as it doesn't denote dirt/gravel roads. I need a dual sport if I ever take Yankee Jim road again or maybe a rally car. > I'm glad the GT was up to the task, but man is it ever dirty now.

+1 on finding this site, it has been a wealth of information for me. I still feel lucky to have been directed here from a monster rider I meet when I first had my S4Rs.

I don't feel like I know the area well enough to organize a ride, but maybe our small place might serve as a midway resting point/BBQ spot if Auburn is on the route.