Did you forget and decide to sleep in? The Ducati Austin Test ride was today. And well, you blew it. Waited for you at Cafe Mundi for at least 15 mins past ten. Then said up yours I’m going to ride a Streetfighter. Missed the first demo on the Streetfighter but went out anyway on a way too tall for me Aprilia Dorsoduro. I could barely get it off the side stand and only one foot could touch the ground. One of the Ducati Austin guys told me I couldn’t take it out for a ride, said he didn’t think I could handle it and he didn’t know me or my riding skills, blah.. blah.. blah. To paraphrase, “Well, I might be a customer if you weren’t such a dick.” So he let me take the bike out. It was zippy and had a good upright comfortable riding position, brakes a little touchy. The Monster 1100, not so much fun. What a POS. Shifting was clunky, throttle response not so good and the back tire kept slipping out on me in the turns. The Ducati Streetfighter is like CRACK! I’d steal from my grandmother to buy one. But she’s dead. This bike was just right. Excellent throttle response, excellent riding position, I could get both tip toes on the ground, good braking and turning, very sexy. Now if I only had enough money for a mid-life crisis, I’d trade my beloved Monster in for the Streetfighter. You will be hearing about it for days. - Pinto
