Bought myself a new toy...

[NikosSprocket]

No flip-flops?

What kind of squid are you? 

Revit jacket?

I love my MOTEC bags. German engineering and quality; You get what you pay!!

Btw, as everything these days runs on our phones, if you're going to mount the phone I highly recommend the QuadLock system. I used to have a RAMS and I almost lost my phone twice; actually it did fell off but found it!

I still use the RAMS ball and clamp, but the rest is QuadLock. If you're going this direction you should consider adding the "Vibration Dampener" as some phones use mechanical lens stabilization and vibrations kills them! On my bike with the Dampener:

 

[Penatr8tor]

1 hour ago, NikosSprocket said:

No flip-flops?

What kind of squid are you? 

A booted squid 

[Penatr8tor]

@NikosSprocket agree quad locks are nice. I'll steal the one from my bicycle for the new bike. I already have them on my other two bikes.

[Penatr8tor]

2 hours ago, PFarm said:

Love those boxes, well designed with that flexibility. After watching that video, you need to plan for what can go wrong, not like you can walk into town if you need something. We can tell this isn't your first rodeo, you know that you dress for the fall and nothing wrong with looking good either!

The aluminum boxes are cool but you drop the bike and they bend and then the top won't seal and you end up getting the plastic ones. So, I'm really just leap frogging the normal sequence of events. 

I won't be going out of cellphone range for the most part but the last thing I want is to be either stranded or injured to the extent I can't make it home on my own. So, safety and survival is a priority. 

[PFarm]

25 minutes ago, Penatr8tor said:

A booted squid 

Who really needs a front wheel, right? 

[Penatr8tor]

On 11/21/2025 at 4:31 PM, PFarm said:

Who really needs a front wheel, right? 

Exactly, Maybe in the turns.

[Penatr8tor]

So, I took out the new bike Saturday. It was a break in ride so a lot of throttle varying and pulls to get a good ring seal. Put a little over 60 miles on the clock which is a good start.

This Thanksgiving holiday I'll have some time go on some more substantial rides, who knows... I might even find a dirt road.

I'll take a few pics on the next ride and post them up and give you my second impression.

1st impression...

I love this bike, the ride was uneventful in that there were no issues with me, other drivers and the bike. I went from 1 mile on the odometer to ~60. Thumbing the start button and rolling down my street felt awesome. Lots of giggling in the helmet during the ride, loving every second of breaking in the new steed. 

1 TOTAL mile on the clock...

 

Had to make room in the garage.

View from the other side... The Yammy has to go unfortunately, the Goldwing... maybe. Haven't decided yet.

 

[NikosSprocket]

That's excellent news! Congrats again! 

You don't want your first ride to end up to the dealer!

Btw, I see you are new to motorcycles, so the right lever is the front brake and the left lever is for the clutch and not for the rear brake! 

[Penatr8tor]

4 hours ago, NikosSprocket said:

That's excellent news! Congrats again! 

You don't want your first ride to end up to the dealer!

Btw, I see you are new to motorcycles, so the right lever is the front brake and the left lever is for the clutch and not for the rear brake! 

Thanks,

It's the the Thanksgiving holiday weekend here in the US. Work is slowing down which gives me time to ride. After tomorrow I'm off until Monday. There will be an adventure or two very soon. Tomorrow and Wednesday I'm receiving my paniers and some new gear and a couple other items. I also want to replace the 90-10 tires with some 60-40s like the Dunlop Trailmax Raids

And yes... I saw the 1000RR you posted. You know, most of us here have fast cars and/or bikes etc. Goes with the personality type.

I'm enjoying the ride for as long as I can.

[NikosSprocket]

39 minutes ago, Penatr8tor said:

And yes... I saw the 1000RR you posted. You know, most of us here have fast cars and/or bikes etc. Goes with the personality type.

I'm enjoying the ride for as long as I can.

If you are talking about the picture with the QuadLock, that's a Panigale 1299 S.

.... of course! You own a few Voron's you NEED a few fast cars/bikes 

Edited November 25, 2025 by NikosSprocket

[Penatr8tor]

8 hours ago, NikosSprocket said:

If you are talking about the picture with the QuadLock, that's a Panigale 1299 S.

Even better. Ducati's are half bike/half art and all performance. I have a good friend that is a 110% died in the wool Ducatista. He's riding a V4 Multistrada these days. 

Post up a photo of the bike, it would be awesome to see it!

[TitusADuxass]

More Italian art

 

and some Italian brutality. 

[NikosSprocket]

4 hours ago, TitusADuxass said:

More Italian art

and some Italian brutality. 

OMG!

Air cooled 750 SF around 1970?

Btw, Aprilia are the 2nd favorite moto after Ducati!

[NikosSprocket]

 

[NikosSprocket]

[TitusADuxass]

9 hours ago, NikosSprocket said:

OMG!

Air cooled 750 SF around 1970?

Btw, Aprilia are the 2nd favorite moto after Ducati!

Not quite!

It was a 1982 Jota, the last of the 180 crank 981cc triple engine.

[TitusADuxass]

9 hours ago, NikosSprocket said:

I was very close to buying a Duke, but I had a budget.

The Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory came with all the toys and under my budget.

[NikosSprocket]

... and the Tuono 660 Factory is more "nice" to the rider! 

[NikosSprocket]

Btw, the Panigale without the faring is my older 1199 S which has 35K+ miles (used to commute with it!), and it becomes my track bike until I low sided on the track; mostly cosmetic damage. If I am going to the track again, I will get some non-Ducati faring 

[Penatr8tor]

7 hours ago, NikosSprocket said:

Btw, the Panigale without the faring is my older 1199 S which has 35K+ miles (used to commute with it!), and it becomes my track bike until I low sided on the track; mostly cosmetic damage. If I am going to the track again, I will get some non-Ducati faring 

Super nice bikes @NikosSprocket

I hear ya on the fairings... I did a lot of track days on my last true sportbike and a set of race fairings was way cheaper than replacing a factory unit.

 

[NikosSprocket]

12 hours ago, Penatr8tor said:

Super nice bikes @NikosSprocket

I hear ya on the fairings... I did a lot of track days on my last true sportbike and a set of race fairings was way cheaper than replacing a factory unit.

 

Thank you!

[NikosSprocket]

Thank you @Penatr8tor!

Agree 100%! The Ducati fairings have great finish, but because some finishing steps are handmade, that increases the cost dramatically!

Also, the complex LED headlight is soooo expensive; luckily it survived with only a tab broken!!!

Many people will say "you bought a Ducati what do you expect?". Well, honestly it still a motorcycle, just the materials and finishes are better and more expensive. Besides any recalls, just one for the 1199, both bikes have not seen the dealer, except the demo days lol! I have the Shop/Service manuals and that's all is needed to do any service. From desmo valve checking and adjusting (which is actually easier than regular spring valve as you don't have to fight the springs!), to OLIN rebuilds!

I have the TEXA Evolution (OEM of the DDS) diagnostics and can do everything the dealer can do except flashing new firmware, as I do not have the dealer code to "allow" me to install them. Also, the TEXA will work on most brands as long as I make the correct cable harness.

Edited November 27, 2025 by NikosSprocket

[Penatr8tor]

Went on my first real shakedown ride last Saturday. I didn't drag along any luggage, and all of the roads were paved, although that could be debated as some stretches were a bit rough. Still nothing the bike couldn't handle with ease.

I stopped for a burger at the general store in Bend (7)

 

In between rides I'm adding to the bike to get it a bit more dirt and long journey capable.

I swapped the stock Bridgestone Battleaxe Adventure tires with some Dunlop Trailmax Missions. The Missions are considered to be 50/50 (on-off road) where the Bridgestones are 90/10s

 

The hard luggage is acquired and installed. I went with SW-Motech. They're a German company so I can depend on the components being well thought out and overpriced. I might buy another hard case for the top rack but currently I'm waiting on a soft roll-top drybag style tail bag to arrive.

I invested in some survival aids as well. I got a nice bike specific tool roll, tow rope and tire repair kits from Tusk. Additionally, I recently bought a mini tire inflator, and I'll take the first aid kit I have in my Goldwing and use it for both bikes.

Kits are very well thought out.

And are compact when stored.

 

I also got a new helmet. I went with an HJC i80 and installed a Sena 60S

 

I already have a good amount of riding gear, I picked up some Gaerne boots and some pants etc.

That's it for this update...

I have some more stuff coming and I'll keep you posted as parts arrive and get installed.

 

[NikosSprocket]

Great Journeys!

Edited December 10, 2025 by NikosSprocket

[PFarm]

Great first ride, looking forward to seeing more!