Brains vs actual Performance

So....

I've been hooning around on my little new Ducati Sports Classic, which is basically a Multistrada/Monster/Hypermotard disguised as a 1970s Cafe Racer with fairly decent suspenders and clip-ons.

Having convinced myself over the last few months that Superdukes are not "snatchy" with harsh fuelling, and that other bikers who struggle with the superior KTM are clearly ham-fisted gaylords, I jump off the 1000cc Desmo and back onto my black'n'orange pride and joy...

...and kangaroo off into the distance like some kinda learner!

After just five days on a Duc my return to the Duke has shown me just how harsh our SDRs are - (and mine is MUCH better than stock). No wonder we get so much grief from journos and potential KTM converts. It's not a bike that makes you look good in the first five minutes of ownership.

A few mins later and I've re-adjusted my senses, and the KTM is now suddenly "smooth" again, but it shows how much handling, performance, and the way a bike feels is goverened more by our brain's ability to adjust, than by the facts.

I also "learned" how to ride a bike with clip-ons this week. Having always wondered how the fook anyone with clip-ons can ride as well round corners as someone with handlebars, I'm now slightly converted to leaning over the front wheel and countersteering from the shoulders. It's different, but it really works.

S'funny how two bikes that seem to sit so well side by side in attitude can be chalk and cheese to ride, and amazing how quickly the brain adjusts.

I had the same feeling when i tested my SD. after filling out all the paperwork guy at brackens hands me the key and says enjoy yourself. i started her up, smiled and stall. again started with a bit of a tight turn in the yard and stall. at that point I thought he would come and take the key back, cos I would have. i went off for an hr ride and come back to the old honda. said I needed a few hrs to think. once yourve riden an SD your either hooked or hate them. but the old honda certainly felt nice compared to a hr on a SD. why did we buy them

whens the new bike going to be picked up then?

I think the SDR is an awesome machine, and it's legendary status reflects that fact that it's a bit of a handful and not a bike for someone who doesn't know what they're doing... but just sometimes it is a pain in the arse (wrist), and I'd love it to be fuelled like the Duc.

The main mods being done to the Duc now are just cosmetics; with lights, indies and plate holder bits, but they had to be custom made cos no one makes parts to fit (except in Oz & the US - and I didn't really like the choices on offer).

Should be finished tonight or tomorrow...

She'll go from red & white to black & gold in a couple of weeks too.

If you think the transition from a smooth twin to the SD was something imagine what it felt like after decades of nothing but Jap inline 4's!!

Can't think how I pursuaded myself to buy it now but I'm still happy that I did

I've been trying to get my SD to be smooth since I bought it, and feel that it is finally there. Getting rid of the flies and shafts was the finishing touch. It is actually smoother than my carb'd duc was on the bottom end and fuels better, just took a while to get it there.

A good transition for the Superduke is comming off a dirt bike. The whole feathering the clutch bit. This made the SD easy for me...