Visceral Experience

Steve T

Well-Known Member
As those that kinda know me, I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes the modern electronics. Not just on bikes either but in daily life generally - mobile phones/hand held computing/tracking device is one example

So you can imagine my reactions when I started turning the loud handle on this beauty . . .

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Not mine, I might add. It's eldest sons new ride, and seeing as he's a bit "busy" today, I thought I'd give it a try, having never even thrown a leg over one before.

This red beaut has electronic everything, so after ingesting as much as I could of the owners manual, I fired the beast up and set it in Urban mode, cos that just has 100 ponies thrusting it along.

Springy bits are set soft on urban, so my experience of the Skyhook suspension was a little muted, but still noticable in the way it seems to smooth everything on the road out.

The 100 ponies felt plenty for me, having a similar amount available from the Stroms V-Twin lump. The Dukes delivery is very different from the Stroms, being very highly geared in all gears.

So after a brief introduction to the Italians ways, I selected Touring. This frees up another 50% in the pony paddock and feck me, does it make a difference. I swear I was laughing out loud inside my lid as the beast literally leaped forward with SOOOOO much thrust.

Don't think I'd want to own one of the 1200/1260 breed, but the 950 version . . . . that has got me thinking :rolleyes:

Just thought I'd share my thoughts, after my giggle fest had settled down ;) :D

Steve T

:cool:
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Andy - I have ridden one - the one in the picture :whistle:

'14 plated 1200S with full Duke luggage.

Neil brought the bike home on Tuesday afternoon, got woken a little after 2am yesterday (Wednesday) morning with a call from the transplant team in Edinburgh.
Went into theatre at 10pm last night, out after 7+ hr operation. He is now the grateful recipient of a replacement kidney and pancreas.
He's doing fine in the ICU - still sedated as I type, cos he tried ripping out the tubes as he was regaining consciousness :rolleyes:

Off down to Edinburgh as soon as our dog sitter gets here.

TTFN,

Steve T

:cool:
 
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Philwhiskeydrinker

Well-Known Member
Best wishes to your eldest Steve, that sounds quite an op.

Duke's seem to have come on a long way of late, I can't imagine flicking the switch on a modern 150hp bike (a v twin at that), no doubt waaay too much for me!

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk
 

Hamster

Active Member
Best wishes for your son Steve and the transplant takes well.
As for electronics, bikes are pretty cool now. I remember when electronic ignition
was jaw dropping ;) and if something does go wrong these always No2 hammer.
 

outrunner

Well-Known Member
Sorry Steve, I misread your post and having driven the one my son had up to Glasgow and back I know just how great they are, only problem with them is if you open a packet of salted crisps near them they start to corrode. ;)
Hope all goes well for the boy. :)


Andy.
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Well, eldest is out of ICU and on the high dependence ward.
He’s looking really well and all the very early signs, according to the medicos, are very good.
2 weeks here in Edinburgh then up to Aberdeen hospital for some more time under observation.

Many thanks for your kind words and wishes - I will pass them onto Neil.

Steve T

:cool:
 

austin

Well-Known Member
Best wishes to him from us too.☀️☀️

Brave decision to buy a Ducati although I suspect a well sorted one is a truly great bike. Gotta to be better than that GS he was looking at.
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Seeing as eldest is still in Edinburgh, thought I'd take his bike out for a spin ;) after checking it over and fitting a few bits . . .
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Had the machine on full power for this ride out and OMG does it lift it's skirts at the mearest whiff of the throttle :confused: :thumbsupanim:

Eldest has had all of the tubes that were sticking out of him removed and is now on a general ward. Not sure I'm happy about that, given that it's only been 3 full days since they did his Op :eek:, but they, the medico's, know best. This piccy shows him tucking into a baked tatty - his 1st in the 2 years since he suffered total kidney failure - the picture taken just 80hrs after the operation :eek:

Neil baked tatty.jpg


Might have to re-think my mode of transport on Tuesday when I go back down - was going to take the bike, but if he is ready to be shipped to Aberdeen hospital, then the car might be needed.

Onwards & upwards.

Steve T

:cool:
 
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Lowflyer

Well-Known Member
Nice one Steve,good to see him on the mend and plan "C" wasn't required ;)

Have to say though, from the pic, that is one serious amount of blood to be spitting out :D:D
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
The car it is then tomorrow.

Seems he's been such a model patient that he is likely to be discharged into Aberdeens care sometime on Wednesday. His stay in Aberdeen may well be very short, so he could be home well before the weekend.

Seems like a wheel chair visit to Aviemore & Thunder in the Glens is on the cards for the weekend :whistle:

And theres me dumping his Multi into the workshop in Aberdeen just this morning for a double front disc change :D. Still, keeps temptation out of his way for a week or so ;)

Steve T

:cool:
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
He's up north now, spending the night and tomorrow in ARI for the team there to make themselves happy with the way he and the new bits are getting on.

All good so far - heres hoping it continues in that vein :thumbsup:

Steve T

:cool:
 
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