So the good news from today is that both MotorMilt & I survived… It was that kind of day on the road. One of those unfortunate times when it seems like the world is out to get you and every car is out to hit anyone on a bike. Add to that the Malibu Cops, who were out in full force, and you’ve got quite a morning - let me tell you… I suspect that this is one of the reasons that I jones for a nice quiet life, living up the Pacific Coast Highway, along a wonderful stretch of road that barely anyone lives near.

Of course, this purly fantasy, but it’d be a nice fantasy at that isn’t it?

I digress… So MotorMilt & I did the usual jaunt up to the Agoura Deli. Very nice ride on the way up. I didn’t sleep very well, but even so I was able to pull it together enough to have a blast riding. It’s often struck me that one of the hardest parts about riding is deciding whether or not you’ve got the mental aptitude to do it during that relatively short window right after you get up in the morning. This is especially true with MotorMilt & I since essentially we’re only weekend riders. We get up, have a couple of cups of coffee and then have to make a judgement call on the rest of the morning based on how we feel at 8:15 or 8:30am.

Being rather cautious by nature - which of course stands in direct opposition to riding full out (and I realize the contradiction, trust me) I’m always left wondering as I get dressed in the leathers whether or not I’ll be able to be awake enough to do a controlled stop if someone pulls out in front of me or get out of the way of some nameless danger. It’s one of those riding issues that nobody can teach you, you just have to get used to it or feel it. And certainly there are days when I wake up on a crystal clear Saturday morning and say, ‘hey I can’t ride today’ - but usually it goes something like this;

MotorMilt: “do you still feel like riding?”
Me: “Yeah, let me get some more coffee”
MotorMilt: “Okay… (pause) we should hit the road soon if we want to ride”
Me: “Right, let me get some more coffee”
MotorMilt: “Nice day huh?, You walk the dog?”
Me: “Yes & No, let me get some more coffee.”

Eventually we get on the road - although as an aside, today after the ride we both agreed that with the Ducati’s built in seat heaters it might be a good idea during the summer months to get on the road a bit earlier when it’s cooler out. In any case, we did one of our usual routes - Topanga Canyon to the top of Stunt Road & down to the beginning of Mullhulland Highway and up and over ‘The Playground’ to Cornell Road & the Deli. A very nice, 35 mile jaunt that gives you curves, canyons, elevation drops and more.

My biggest complaint of the day is with the Ducati Electrical Systems. I suppose it would figure, seeing as how they’re not exactly the most technologically advanced motorcycle company in the world, but halfway through the morning ride MotorMilt’s ‘wrench’ light came on - and we just got the bikes services on Thursday for the 600 mile check up - clearly this isn’t supposed to happen. Now, if it had just been that, I’d let it all slide as funky Italian electronics, but on the way home my engine light came on. For no apparent reason. And then went out. Two blocks later. I have no idea what’s going on. Oh, and in case I didn’t mention it, my ‘wrench’ light is perminantly ‘on’. Del Amo, the dealership we took the bikes to, has no idea what’s going on and they’re talking about replacing my LCD unit. Under warrenty of course - so that makes me suspicious, but seriously folks how can two brand new Duc’s both have funky, if not bad, electrically LCD issues - on the same day? You’ve got me….

My other issue with the day - all these ‘Tour de France’ wantabes. There must have been a hundred of cyclists (i.e. no the none powered kind) out in force in Malibu today and I’ve got to say that these people are a real pain in the ass. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for them having a passion and going out and doing something they enjoy - but follow the rules of the road! How hard is it to stop at a traffic light? Or stay in your lane on the way up or down a mountain road. The groups we encountered today were all over the place and totally ignoring safety 101 lessons. And the Malbi Cops, who were pulling everyting that moved over this morning, did nothing about it. Why do these competition cyclists get off the hook for bad driving/riding behavior and I have to spend most of my time on the PCH looking over my shoulder to see if the cop we just passed is chasing me down for being 5 miles over the speed limit? I find it hard to believe that these cyclists can really stop when they’re flying down the mountain side at fifty miles per hour with their tiny brakes… Bottom line as far as I’m concerned is that I’m all for them enjoying their weekend, but ride responsibily… Everytime I see groups of cyclists I shake my head because apparently they’ve got a ‘hall pass’ for the California Roadways and that’s not fair, right or safe.

On the flipside - And perhaps this should have been the lead in today’s blog - but since MotorMilt & I got our 749’s back from Del Amo, I’ve been blown away by what getting a Ducati serviced means. Unlike so many other vehicles, the Ducati seems like a very, very different bike since we got them back. MotorMilt keeps saying it’s unlike any other bike or car he’s ever had - I’m not sure it’s quite that dramatic, but it certainly seems that street versions of race bikes react differently than BMW Sports-Tourers when they’re serviced. Everything on my Duc seems tighter and more responsive. The throttle is twitchier, if that’s possible and the brakes seems to engage quicker. Perhaps it was just how I was feeling today, but I swear that there’s something different about the bike. It’s just smoother and yet somehow more telling at the same time. More telling in that I feel like the bike is communicating with me at a different level than it was before the service. I’m more convinced than ever that Spectrum Motorsports in Irvine didn’t set the bike up properly - I don’t really have any data to back that up, but since being serviced there’s just a different level of confidence. MotorMilt even remarked that on “The Playground” on Mullhulland I almost got my knee down in a couple of corners. I attribute this completely to the service. I was leaning as I normally do, but somehow felt like the bike could go further… And it did… Amazing what happens to a Duc when it gets serviced!

Now that my rant is over, here are some picts from the day… You can see more in the photo gallery…