Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > How often do you ride your duke, if at all....

[Redsps]

Took the beasty out again early this evening and upon returning the following passed through the grey cells.
how often do I take the duke out.
Now that summer has ended and the better wether has departed, how often do you take your duke out, once or more a week, month or not at all now until next spring/summer.

Personally I have allways been a great believer in using a bike as much as possible, except in snow/ice or really crappy wether.
Just because it's a duke makes no real difference.
If you've got a nice bike, why not ride it as much as possible.
Live for today not sometime tommorow or next week, within reason that is.
in the last few weeks I've been out on the 851 everyday (when I was not messing about with it)or early evenings for a good blast, and really enjoyed it.

Something that I have'nt done for a long time, and it was well overdue. I have decided to get out on it as much as possible , and forget the milage/service cost etc, and if it gets dirty or wet etc thats life with a bike, it was made to ride and give pleasure to it's owner, not sit in the garage for weeks or months even doing zip.
To hell with resale values and parts availabilty, just get on the bike a ride peeps.

all you bods with 74x and 9xx bikes will not have to much problem with parts if the worst happened and something wore out etc. Parts for older dukes are harder, if not impossible to get, but that should'nt mean you can't use the bike as much as you like.
Just my thoughts peeps.

So what are your thoughts peeps, are you real all year round riders, or just fair wether occasional seasonal bodds.

Have good night all.
Robin

[kwikbitch]

Do you know.....? I really dont care...I love it and it's MY bike and it's meant for riding.
I will go out in any weather...It all depends on time and where I wanna go. Obviously if it's poor weather it takes longer so it depends on my childcare. I tend to lose all track of time which can lead me into trouble...'specially with the ma in law!

[fatduke11111]

..go to work on it everyday matey....the ST that is - 'cept when icy....that tends to be a pant-filling exercise...Still with a fair wind and bit of global warming we might just get more wet winters insteady of icy ones!

[Edited on 5-10-2004 by fatduke11111]

[AK]

I ride mine just about every chance I can have, excepting in the dark - as I'm not allowed to.
This means I dont ride during the week from about now, until the spring, when the evenings are lighter after work again.

I'm out most w/ends, often both days, unless its slinging it down or very icy - when I choose to do other things instead.

Having commuted in the late 70's & early 80's in all weathers on 2 wheels, my bike is purely for fun
My last monster did 15,500 miles in 17 months, this one has only done 4500 in 8 months - but none of my mileage on a bike is done commuting, just 'leisure time'

C

AK is still commuting on his bikes - which are at present the Monster & the viffer399 on alternate days, as the Lawson is at the back of the garage (and its horrid to throw about in heavy traffic) & the turbo is in bits, awaiting a total rebuild. He does have the choice of 4 wheels if he wishes tho

[Edited on 5-10-2004 by CK and AK]

[Redsps]

nice to see you have the same approach as myself, enjoy.


Robin

[Jools]

I don't ride every day, but certainly two or three times a week, all year round. I ride every weekend if I can, although occasionally get thwarted by the inevitable DIY/Shopping trip/Visit to the in-laws etc.

Having said that, my poor old ST has just done it's 3rd year of stirling service chasing 996's, 749's, 999's and other assorted superbikes...I've managed to keep up, but the poor old bike is feeling it, and is looking a bit tatty and tired. So, I've just taken it off the road for some TLC.

It won't wait until next years "season" though, as soon as I've done everything I need to do to get it nicely fettled again, it's back on the road come rain or shine

[scully]

I agree you should make the effort and ride whatever if for nothing else to get some variety!
To give you an example I went to Magny Cours this weekend leaving Thursday night from Portsmouth and arrived Cherbourg at 0430, it was bloomin freezing and very foggy. Anyway 1350 miles and 4 days later I returned home after experiencing extremes of weather and conditios and have learnt one thing - whatever the weather etc I still grin from ear to ear when Im riding, end of story. Last night I rode home from Portsmouth to Peterboghorror in the freezing cold after 2 hours of getting soaked in France, I nearly died of hypothermia. Did I have a good time? Oh yes! And would I do it again? Oh yes!
Certainly has taught me that riding is essential irrespective of weather etc etc its just that good.

[Glyn]

twice a day
nice and regular like

[JasonBoswell]

not as often as i would like nowadays, but never "weather-permitting" :P

[GsxrAge]

I try to ride it once a week dont go out in wet but if i get caught out in it don't worry about it just go home and wash it
usualy do 200+ miles a week good long ride to get in rythm