First ride report.....
After reassembling the fuel tank, new spark plugs, new Shorai battery, I started her up.
Bike ran good, ripped up my street a few times, about 1 mile.
Now I have been reading horror stories of all sorts about Ducati's leave their owners stranded.
So, for the first time in my life(I'm over 50 yrs old) I bought AAA Plus.
I consider my self an average wrench, over prepared, and I have never ran out of gas.
All my trips began with a thorough inspection. I have never needed or wanted AAA.
See where this is going>?
Back from the registry, attached the new plate, and off to my local Duc dealer for inspection.
Surprise! They are all out of inspection stickers!
So they send me down the road to the nearest inspection station, and...
sorry, your integrated tail light/directional ain't gonna fly!
I wish he told that before the inspection! So I have the stock directionals. He says put 'em on, come back with in 20 days and I'll give you tor sticker. Whatever. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, right?
On my home, no joy ride. I have Bruins tickets and I have to leave ASAP to get to Boston in time.
so, about 15 miles into my first ride, 1 mile from home, approaching a red light the bike shuts down!
I clutch it, pull into the breakdown lane, blow the red light to get into the nearest parking lot.
My friend who was riding with me had no idea what was going on. He continued to ride back to my house.
I call him, he returns with his truck and ramps.
We start looking the bike over and notice oil all over the front of the motor right under the water pump.
I don't see any cracks in the engine, but there is a blob of silicon right where two yellow leads enter the case cover.
The sight window indicates low oil. It was between the two lines before my ride.
The bike will not turn over. After a phone call to a local expert(thanks Nate) he says check out this and that, and if you want bring to me and I'll take a look at it.
After the bike cools, it turns over. Now, she wasn't overheating(according to my dash/temp gauge) at the time it quit. I know the fans work because I cycled them in my driveway. I now have lights and she wants to start, but just won't stay running.
I dumped in 2 gallons of fresh gas before leaving the house..
So rather than call AAA, I push the bike across two lanes of traffic to the nearest grassy knoll so we can push my bike up into my buddies monster truck.
So, now she is no sitting in competent hands(thanks again Nate) and I'm awaiting for the bad news.
Right now I am just too busy with work, don't have a garage, and this being my first Duc I decided to leave to a professional.
There was some other stuff I wanted done anyways, just later this summer after I get some trigger time.
So now I am hearing it. Should have bought a Honda....and.. "I told you Ducati's are expensive to own"
Either way, I am trying to be optimistic. Just praying the problems aren't catastrophic.
FWIW, is was a fun 15 miles.....
