Ahoy.
I'm planning on "upgrading" next spring and thought I'd ask for a bit of advice. Here's the background:
6'2", 180#
20 years exp., but just back for 6 months riding now after a 10 year layoff.
Currently on a Kawak w650--great Bonneville retro. Torquey, no leaks, electrics work, no wrenching loose stuff every 2 rides. Great around town and fun (though a bit limited in the twisties) in the hills.
I have a short commute to work, don't want/need a freeway/long distance machine, and I love getting up in the foothills (I can be at Alice's in 12 minutes from my house (lucky me!).
So I'm thinking naked, liter. I tested a Tuono a while back. Awesome. Loved the bike, the build quality, and the "feel." Didn't like the price ($13.6k OTD + another $1k or so to pipe/chip/airbox it) or the feeling that I needed to be above 7k rpm to really feel "right" on it. You really had to work it and sometimes I just want to thug around....
I'm planning on checking out the M1000 and S4r next week. But, does Ducati even do demos? Locally (Palo Alto)?
One big issue for me is that I *love* a torquey bike...I really don't like something where "life begins at 7,000 rpm." So I'm thinking M1000 as the board consensus seems to be that the S4r outshoots the M1000 above 7,000 rpm and at higher speeds, but the 1000 is fatter at low rpms. I don't care what happens at 80+....I'm really concerned about what happens at 3 or 4k rpm and I wrist it.
The Tuono felt about right for my 6'2" frame...but barely. My knees just fit on the tank...so it was tight. From what I can surmise here, the Duc is set for a smaller rider? I really don't want to have that grasshopper feeling. Are lower/back rearsets available (that aren't unobtanium and $400+)?
Will I need to do the Tuono thing and add cans/chip/airbox just to get it up to snuff?
Again, this is for around town, short commutes, and mostly in the foothills. I'm not a wannabe racer or high revver--just wanna have more performance and fun.
Suggestions?
Thanks,
Tom
p.s. I've already checked out the Suzuki, Kawaks, and Yammie naked's...not for me. I'm hung on the Italian beauties.... and the Monster is calling....
I'm planning on "upgrading" next spring and thought I'd ask for a bit of advice. Here's the background:
6'2", 180#
20 years exp., but just back for 6 months riding now after a 10 year layoff.
Currently on a Kawak w650--great Bonneville retro. Torquey, no leaks, electrics work, no wrenching loose stuff every 2 rides. Great around town and fun (though a bit limited in the twisties) in the hills.
I have a short commute to work, don't want/need a freeway/long distance machine, and I love getting up in the foothills (I can be at Alice's in 12 minutes from my house (lucky me!).
So I'm thinking naked, liter. I tested a Tuono a while back. Awesome. Loved the bike, the build quality, and the "feel." Didn't like the price ($13.6k OTD + another $1k or so to pipe/chip/airbox it) or the feeling that I needed to be above 7k rpm to really feel "right" on it. You really had to work it and sometimes I just want to thug around....
I'm planning on checking out the M1000 and S4r next week. But, does Ducati even do demos? Locally (Palo Alto)?
One big issue for me is that I *love* a torquey bike...I really don't like something where "life begins at 7,000 rpm." So I'm thinking M1000 as the board consensus seems to be that the S4r outshoots the M1000 above 7,000 rpm and at higher speeds, but the 1000 is fatter at low rpms. I don't care what happens at 80+....I'm really concerned about what happens at 3 or 4k rpm and I wrist it.
The Tuono felt about right for my 6'2" frame...but barely. My knees just fit on the tank...so it was tight. From what I can surmise here, the Duc is set for a smaller rider? I really don't want to have that grasshopper feeling. Are lower/back rearsets available (that aren't unobtanium and $400+)?
Will I need to do the Tuono thing and add cans/chip/airbox just to get it up to snuff?
Again, this is for around town, short commutes, and mostly in the foothills. I'm not a wannabe racer or high revver--just wanna have more performance and fun.
Suggestions?
Thanks,
Tom
p.s. I've already checked out the Suzuki, Kawaks, and Yammie naked's...not for me. I'm hung on the Italian beauties.... and the Monster is calling....