Ducati Sporting Club UK > Users Introductions > New User Introductions > Ducatista making new international friends

[John]

Thanks everyone. CHiPs came out at the same time I was attending the California Highway Patrol Motorcycle Academy. I recall seeing the first episode after class. Yeah, it was cheesy, really cheesy but thats what happens when you mix Hollywood with reality. I never watched the show that much, I was too busy working my new assignment, night motors. Our department serviced a city of 100,000 population, but we had a high ratio of police motorcycles per capita, 11 motors and thats a lot. The city was located smack dab in the middle of "silicon valley" so the industrial tax base was very healthy and the department was never short of money. We had the best equipment and were the highest paid or at least in the top 10 nationwide. Today, officers retire from the force at 50 years old and make well over $100,000 a year in retirement benefits. In fact a buddy of mine retired as a Lt. and because $130,000 wasn't enough to support his college aged kids, he went to work for another Department (University)as a lateral Lt. making $120,000 a year. I left the department for medical reasons over 23 years ago, at a time when the police weren't paid that well and their retirement packages no where close to what it is now. Many nowadays feel the pendulum has swung too far in favor of the Police Union compensation packages, I for one have to agree. Especially when you compare it to private industry which for the most part do not have pension programs, your on your own when it comes to that.

Enough of that, my motives here have to do with the motorcycle lifestyle and in particular the Ducati brand. Looking forward to sharing information there. In fact, I'm stepping out right now to go look at some open clutch covers for my 999R. I just installed a Palimoto pressure plate after taking off the stock cover. I know one thing is true worldwide, it never ends when it comes to upgrading the Ducati.