Tag Archives: Ducati 999

Back at the Track… The 999 Returns

21 Apr Filed under Rides.

And it’s back… The 999 returned to life at Buttonwillow Raceway, after many months of hard work by a number of individuals, and it was absolutely magnificent to ride! At the moment I’m soooo fried it’s not even funny, certainly a bit sore, and well, … Read More →

Back In The Saddle

17 Jan Filed under Rides.

The suit feels stiff. The zipper determined not to budge. The protective pads feel awkward. The plastic part of a junior prom gone bad. Yet as I snap the last buckle on the boot and listen to the loud pop which suggests that the strap running across the top of my foot is now locked into place, I can't help but wish that the rocket scientists who developed thermoplastic had something for a bruised ego. But they don't, so instead I'm left to my own devices. Left to battle my own demons.

Walking into the garage, it's hard to imagine that its been just six days since I laid the 999 down for the very first time.

999 Rebuild at Motorcycle Performance by Alex White

The Rebuild Begins

15 Jan Filed under Wrenching.

And so it begins — A mere six days after laying the 999 down, it is time to officially tackle its reincarnation… What that means exactly is still up in the air, however where it will take place is not… Ideally of course if time, … Read More →

The Inevitable Happened – My First ‘Get Off’

10 Jan Filed under Headline.

For the first time in ages I woke to sunny skies and a free day. With the flick of a switch, the coffee pot stirs. My eyes open up. I see so much more then just light. Quickly the pot percolates with fresh, dark, liquid freedom and a sip later it isn’t simply a cup of awakening but rather a cauldron of possibility that’s brewing. Twelve cups of warm virtue that smells and tastes of escapism.

Moments later I feel a twinge of freedom, a sense that after months of hard work, deadlines and stress, today I can finally unwind. Finally I can let go. Nothing looms over head. Nothing has to happen immediately. There is no sense of urgency nor dread. No obligation to attend to. No cloudy mental facility born from lots of late nights and far to early mornings. Instead there is simply nothing at all. The calendar is finally clean… But then.. Then it all goes wrong – Because today is my day of reckoning -- Today is the day that I finally had my first ‘get off’…

Reaching For The Keys

27 Aug Filed under Headline, Rides.

Equal parts of trepidation and excitement are crossing inside my head as I desperately try to distance myself from the workweek. Lethargically the mind sends the message. But the body does nothing with it. At first seconds go by, then what feels like minutes. It … Read More →

A Gear Up

2 Jun Filed under Rides.

The exhaust is bellowing with deathly, evil notes of noise – big throaty gasps that come and go with increasing frequency – as the engine continues to blast away. The nearby canyon walls letting each breath live just a tad past their prime on exit, … Read More →

The Puzzle Comes Together

22 Apr Filed under Rides.

The bike is running at a wicked pace through a pristine slice of California Wine Country, which sits on the edge of a desert that’s exploding with change, when all the pieces start to finally connect again. Suddenly. Effortlessly. Easily. It all makes sense, as … Read More →

Alternate Perspectives: De Luz Road, The 2nd Time

12 Nov Filed under Noteworthy, Rides.

The last several weeks have been as strange a collection of days as I’ve had in quite some time. While they’ve been exciting and enjoyable, it certainly feels like I’ve been all over the place – and physically speaking I have. So it goes when … Read More →

An Ortega Introduction

13 Aug Filed under Noteworthy, Rides.

After nearly a month and a half at the new digs, this morning I finally got a chance to check out my first ‘new’ local road – The famed Ortega Highway. Without a doubt the road is a fast, fast track when it’s clear. It … Read More →

Hunting Corners

6 Jun Filed under Rides.

The language of visual content is based on a number well proven tenants. One of the most basic of which is the classic construction of building sequences where you start with an establishing wide-shot and then proceed to move in closer and closer to the … Read More →

Product of Your Environment

5 Jun Filed under Rides.

If humanity is truly the product of ones’ environment then the sensation of relaxation that I’m feeling tonight can be directly attributed to three consecutive days of absolutely stellar riding which ultimately culminated this morning with a trip to California State Road-2, better known as … Read More →

Early Morning Fantasy

3 Jun Filed under Rides.

It was already 71º outside and it was only 7:20 in the morning when I found myself scoring Schueren Road east to west. In minutes – which felt like fractions of a second – I had intersected Saddlepeak Road and swung inland. Beneath me was … Read More →

The Soundtrack of Nature

2 Jun Filed under Rides.

Perhaps the reason that so many folks associate the word ‘freedom’ with riding is because the vast majority of motorcycles don’t have radios. The lack of these rather commonplace devices tends to force us as riders to not only witness what’s going on but also … Read More →

Memorial Aches

28 May Filed under Rides.

Warm air was filtering down the coast as I was making my way towards the canyons this morning. The sounds and smells of the ocean hanging in the air. It was a rich, almost magical, environment. And when the sun started to break I found … Read More →

Memorial Rejuvenation

27 May Filed under Headline, Noteworthy, Rides, Rumors.

The sword, the sea and reincarnation are three fairly basic components of Celtic Mythology that Arthurian legend later weaved together into the notion of rebirth or rejuvenation. Anyone who’s ever seen a modern day retelling of King Arthur or The Knights of the Round Table … Read More →

Weekday Solitude

17 May Filed under Rides.

It starts small. A mere tread of a thought. An idea that floats through your mind amid a day that’s filled with miscellaneous events that need attention. At first you push it aside. You tell yourself that it’s not the responsible thing to do. It’s … Read More →

Fluidity

14 May Filed under Rides.

I woke up Sunday in a bit of a haze which oddly was exactly how I felt on Saturday morning. Emotionally I have felt drained lately. Given everything that’s been going on, it’s little wonder that my batteries need a fair amount of re-charging these … Read More →

Welcoming The Unexpected

6 May Filed under Rides.

I suppose I’ve been procrastinating over the last few days while trying to get my head around Saturday’s ride. To say that it’s been rather tumultuous in my life as of late would be a massive understatement. It seems I currently reside in a state … Read More →

Blindspots

24 Apr Filed under Rides.

Sunday was one of those days when lots of little things added up to a less than stellar ride. I had hoped that the ride would be the culmination of a great weekend worth of riding. But unfortunately it wasn’t. The bad vibe started right … Read More →

Salt & Pepper Ride (w/ Video)