Old guy's bike.

[Swift93]

Have gotten too old to ride anymore, but I still keep this original 898 mile Ducati. Contemporary Italian art.

[Bob_Defly]

That's a shame, should be ridden more.

[KTMsm]

Bob_Defly said:

That's a shame, should be ridden more.

I think the same when I see trophy wives with old men

[FezSpider]

So, how old are you?
https://www.visordown.com/news/general/85-year-old...

Edited by FezSpider on Wednesday 15th September 21:35

[Swift93]

FezSpider said:

So, how old are you?
https://www.visordown.com/news/general/85-year-old...

Edited by FezSpider on Wednesday 15th September 21:35

I admire the guy for his sense of adventure and living the dream. If I lived in a rural area I'd still ride, but the traffic is horrible with many older people who sometimes don't see bikes. I like to think that somewhere down the road someone will be thrilled to have a virtually new bike.

[57Ford]

Bob_Defly said:

That's a shame, should be ridden more.

Should have been ridden precisely 150 miles less.
Still a beautiful show-piece OP

[abw280]

By coincidence I've just completed my "old man" conversion on my 996......

Helibars fitted - this makes the biggest difference.
Corbin Seat - actually comfortable to sit on now
Oxford fat grips
New clutch slave

Bike has been changed from an instrument of torture to something verging on comfortable. I bought the bike from a guy who was 60 in standard trim, he could no longer ride. With my modifications I don't see why you couldn't ride well into your old age. Don't give up yet!

[_Neal_]

abw280 said:

By coincidence I've just completed my "old man" conversion on my 996......

Helibars fitted - this makes the biggest difference.
Corbin Seat - actually comfortable to sit on now
Oxford fat grips
New clutch slave

Bike has been changed from an instrument of torture to something verging on comfortable. I bought the bike from a guy who was 60 in standard trim, he could no longer ride. With my modifications I don't see why you couldn't ride well into your old age. Don't give up yet!

Excellent stuff, looks really good that - how different in the bike to ride in terms of handling/feel with your mods, versus standard?

[S2r]

My recently acquired 748/853 is quite hard on my wrists and back but so worth it once you get a move on.

I don't tend to ride much because of life getting in the way and having 2 bikes means my limited riding time is even less (per bike) than it was before but they need to be ridden

[abw280]

_Neal_ said:

Excellent stuff, looks really good that - how different in the bike to ride in terms of handling/feel with your mods, versus standard?

Feels much more "modern" to ride. The Helibars allow more leverage on the bars and far less weight on the wrists. So braking/turning feel less strenuous as a result. I was struggling to ride more than a few miles before the mods were done (I'm over 50/over 6 ft and over 13 stone - so not exactly ideal for this type of bike). Now I can ride 100 miles + without getting off in agony.

[_Neal_]

abw280 said:

Feels much more "modern" to ride. The Helibars allow more leverage on the bars and far less weight on the wrists. So braking/turning feel less strenuous as a result. I was struggling to ride more than a few miles before the mods were done (I'm over 50/over 6 ft and over 13 stone - so not exactly ideal for this type of bike). Now I can ride 100 miles + without getting off in agony.

Thanks for that, sounds really worthwhile - keep the look of the bike nice and tidy as well don't they? I'd love a 748 but the "ferret on a gate" riding position just seems crippling, so it's always put me off. Hmmm...

[_Neal_]

Swift93 said:

I admire the guy for his sense of adventure and living the dream. If I lived in a rural area I'd still ride, but the traffic is horrible with many older people who sometimes don't see bikes. I like to think that somewhere down the road someone will be thrilled to have a virtually new bike.

Meant to say, Swift93, that yours looks a stunning bike. Have you owned it from new, and what year is it?

[Swift93]

_Neal_ said:

Meant to say, Swift93, that yours looks a stunning bike. Have you owned it from new, and what year is it?

Actually, I've had bikes all my life starting with a BSA Hornet...long ago and far away. I'm the second owner of this 2001 748S. Having searched for four years to find the right bike specifically for the purpose of display. I've had it for five years and still think it is one of the most beautiful designs by Massimo Tamburini...the 916 model was featured at the Guggenheim Museum's The Art of the Motorcycle in 1998/9.

As for the future, my son-in-law wants if for a grandson and a nephew just wants it, so it is unlikely to ever be sold. But then, as long as I'm breathing, it will remain in our home as an unusual object of conversation and beauty.

[Swift93]

abw280 said:

By coincidence I've just completed my "old man" conversion on my 996......

Helibars fitted - this makes the biggest difference.
Corbin Seat - actually comfortable to sit on now
Oxford fat grips
New clutch slave

Bike has been changed from an instrument of torture to something verging on comfortable. I bought the bike from a guy who was 60 in standard trim, he could no longer ride. With my modifications I don't see why you couldn't ride well into your old age. Don't give up yet!

I had Helibars and Corbin on a VFR years back and it made a huge difference in comfort.

[Michael_B]

Here is my MY2000 748R, now with 15'000km on the clock, having bought it 10 years ago with just 3'500km when I was a young and sprightly 45 year old



I've used it mostly for day trips around the Jura/Alps. The last long ride I did was in July 2019, 1200km from Burgundy to Provence and back with a visiting UK-based mate, over three days with minimal luggage in a small rucksack. For 2-up and longer trips I currently have a Tiger 1200, after years of KTM adventure bikes.

Although the weight on the wrists riding the Ducati doesn't aggravate my chronic stenosing tenosynovitis, (now in both thumb joints due to years of computer/piano keyboards and rock-climbing), it certainly doesn't help. Two cortisone injections so far in the past three years, the most the hand surgeon is happy to do, so the next flare-up will mean operations with 4-6 weeks recovery period each time

However, although it's not concourse condition and is meant to be ridden, I am somehow a bit reluctant to modify it too much from standard. Though I probably should, if only to extend the time I am able to ride it. And before it becomes a work of art hanging on the living room wall!

[svracers]

This is my piece of art ive doubled its mileage in the 12 months ive had it now at 5500 miles!

[_Neal_]

Swift93 said:

_Neal_ said:

Meant to say, Swift93, that yours looks a stunning bike. Have you owned it from new, and what year is it?

Actually, I've had bikes all my life starting with a BSA Hornet...long ago and far away. I'm the second owner of this 2001 748S. Having searched for four years to find the right bike specifically for the purpose of display. I've had it for five years and still think it is one of the most beautiful designs by Massimo Tamburini...the 916 model was featured at the Guggenheim Museum's The Art of the Motorcycle in 1998/9.

As for the future, my son-in-law wants if for a grandson and a nephew just wants it, so it is unlikely to ever be sold. But then, as long as I'm breathing, it will remain in our home as an unusual object of conversation and beauty.

Great stuff - it's a stunning object as you say.

[Neal H]

Nothing wrong with having that as a piece of art in the house, as it clearly qualifies as such and looks fantastic.

I’m curious what you had to do to prep it for display. Have you emptied it of all fluids and does the house smell of petrol vapour?

[Oceanrower]

Swift93 said:

As for the future, my son-in-law wants if for a grandson...

Seems a fair swap…

[Swift93]

Neal H said:

Nothing wrong with having that as a piece of art in the house, as it clearly qualifies as such and looks fantastic.

I’m curious what you had to do to prep it for display. Have you emptied it of all fluids and does the house smell of petrol vapour?

The original owner kept it inside his home and only rode it occasionally so the bike was very clean. I stripped the body off to do a detailing, drained the fuel, flushed the brakes/clutch with fresh fluid and removed the battery. It had fresh oil and filter. Last thing to do was ceramic coating and a weekly dusting!

No smells.

Edited by Swift93 on Sunday 19th September 14:01