dont ride it at all in the winter. Thats when i get my projects done on it.
even in the summer i dont take it out if it looks like rain.
but that hasn't just been with the Ducati i have been like that with all of my bikes.
for me the enjoyment is having a mint and spotless example of a bike and riding it on blue sky sunny days :sing:

I never use my Ducati when there is salt on the roads.
If I need to get to work through winter I get a cheap commuter, but at the moment my wife passes my workplace on the way to hers, so I get chauffeured there and back:sing:

Mmmm.... I have to say I'm with Henners on this one.... bikes away for winter, and fettling, and a nice warm, soothing breeze washes over me in the car each day.

Since leaving the Jap days, my riding has got less and less, and the miles have dropped considerably now :(

The main factors are time, and having the fleet about 20 mins away from me, so not easy to get up and jump straight on the bike, and also having to travel to clean and prep the bike is a bind too...

I'm with Dickie - unless it's a nice day I'm not that bothered. I like to go out without worrying about keeping it 100% smooth over the wet leaves and avoiding bits of tree that have blown off into the road. I don't ride when there's salt on the road either unless it's completely dry. My 749S is for fun, and I don't see the fun in riding in cr@p weather.

I would like to ride mine more, but I just dont seem to have the time.

The time it takes to get to my bike, make it road legal (ish) then find somewhere to meet up with Fred to ride it just seems to take too long.

Add to that the fact that I dont like riding in the wet it all just seems too much of a pain. Often by the time i have got to the bike the blue sky has gone and its tipping down :(

I need a house with a garage in the sunshine!!

I'm with antonye on this one, haven't spent much time with my bike this summer, would have liked to take it out more and gone for more rides with my DSC mates but family comes first everytime. Don't like asking my mother in law to look after my 5year old at the weekends as she looks after him during the week and I don't think it's fair. Wife works to many weekends and when she isn't working I want to spend the time as a family.
Still get out and enjoy the bike though and would never be without it ;).
Used to commute on it but now use 2 wheels with pedals as it's only 7 miles each way and better for me :D

Darren

[Edited on 6-10-2004 by LesPaul]

Not possible for me to commute to work on a bike.I need a van to carry all the tools,drills,steps,etc,I need.Little or no chance for me to get out on a week day evening either,so its saturdays and sundays only.:(
The good news is that I recently checked my car mileage for the year and have done more miles(6k) on my 999.Add on the 5k miles Ive done on the Multistuka,and that aint too shabby!:D
A little while ago,I had 6 months work on a RAF Station and could leave my kit on site.It gave me a great 25mile each way blast across South Lincs every day.:D
Oh,and I try not to ride the 999 through rain and salt too much,thats what the MS is for!;):D

These days I ride a bike when I want to ride a bike rather than the first 10 years of my biking life when I rode every day, - it is now something special. It is a juggle between family responsibilities and fun, but I am more than happy with my 5 years of born again riding.

Having the mutistrada has meant I have ridden on a few occasions when there would have been no way I would have taken the 916 which is why I swapped really. Last week I had to go for an X-ray, it was great to get on the numpty with jeans and leather jacket and head into the hospital, park by the front door, - sorted. I also last Friday had to go into the office - 70 miles away around the M25 and up the M1, - laptop in rucksack I choose the numpty and left the car at home. Not a great journey but much quicker on the way back and I chose to go across London, - great getting the restaurant smells as you come into Swiss Cottage.

Cause i work 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off on the rigs i try and ride as much as possible.

The wife is at work and the wee man is at school Monday to Friday so once i have dropped him off i have from 9 until 3 to go out and have a blast....after i have done the house work to keep the domestic chief of staff happy of course;)

Weekends she "lets" me out but i can tell she ain't too happy about it as it is the only time we have together so i have been trying to keep it to a minimum.

Weather does not bother me too much, if the heavens open while i am out then so be it i finish my blat and head home as normal.

1022 miles since i got the dark in July which ain't too bad considering it spent 20 days in Duke glasgow for repair. and i have been away at work for the other half of the time.

I considered using it to go up to Aberdeen to go offshore and leave it at a mates house in the garage but to be honest the A9 up to Aberdeen is heavily policed and not worth the hassle, and on second thought it is a nice feeling sat on the train with a cold beer after 2 weeks graft of 12 hour days on the way home.:D