The Hitcher

I had to drive a Model X into London last week for work, the M4 part was absolute bliss, I chickened out and turned off auto pilot when I got to the end of it though.

I want one!.

Spent several hours out on the bike today and went on some great roads in Surrey,Sussex and Hampshire, the new tyres feel great on it, I hate to say it but I think it might even be a sweeter handling bike than the Aprilia was!.

Pilot Power RS, I’ve not had a set of Michelins for ages, but they’ve got good reviews, were a decent price and I didn’t fancy Pirellis because they seem to pick up punctures really easily. Yeah I don't think super sticky tyres are necessary. 44 teeth just released their superbike shootout and shod the bikes in s22s - they were elbow down. I'm going less sticky next time. The RS are meant to be pretty sticky and designed to deal with faster road riding and the occasional track day while not wearing out a rear in 1000-1500 miles which suits me. I really liked the Supercorsas I had on the Ducati but they had their down sides on the road, they were rubbish if it rained,wore out quick and seemed to pick up punctures really easily!.

That looks really nice!.

Pilot Power RS, I’ve not had a set of Michelins for ages, but they’ve got good reviews, were a decent price and I didn’t fancy Pirellis because they seem to pick up punctures really easily.

Treated it to some new boots .

I’ve been thinking about getting a different make of phone when it’s time to change this one, not so much because of the anti Chinese thing but because Apple really are taking the piss with prices now!. Don’t know how I’d get on with an Android phone though.

If I were a JLR boffin I’d be more worried about building cars that don’t constantly have quality issues or break down than creating better engine noises, some of their cars sound great as is those SVRs sound amazing.

That’s great but could it they do one emulating a 750cc Honda V4 with gear driven cams bit with modern superbike power please.

Sorry but after owning a modern Ducati I can attest that they’re not quite myths, build quality is fine but not quite up there with a Japanese bike, servicing is more expensive but isn’t more often and they seem to be engineered not quite as well. If I was going Italian again I’d go for the Aprilia. I owned Ducati, Monster 620, got it immediately after they came on market. I was furious about it and sold it after just year and half. Dropping parts along the way, electric problems, all the time something. After I sold it I said never again. Than friend of mine got Multistrada pikes peak in 2012 Since then he covered 60000 miles. Regular service and nothing else, never ever any problem. Maybe is that particular bike, maybe he is lucky bast*rd, but I can here more and more satisfied Ducati owners. At the end Ducati is the premium brand where you pay that name Don’t get me wrong I’m not bashing Ducati, I loved mine!, it’s just some things like a lot of recalls and quality issues like the tft screen/clocks cracking I didn’t like so much, oh and the clutch and the heat!. Overall I’m glad I made the switch to an R1M, sure it doesn’t look quite as good but it’s much easier to live with and it sounds better .

I wouldn’t mind any modern day Ducati, those are modern myths about maintenance and quality. One nice Diavel I wouldn’t mind Sorry but after owning a modern Ducati I can attest that they’re not quite myths, build quality is fine but not quite up there with a Japanese bike, servicing is more expensive but isn’t more often and they seem to be engineered not quite as well. If I was going Italian again I’d go for the Aprilia.

For r1, 3 tanks are around 120 miles I think mine must be even worse it has a full system on it and pops and bangs and shoots flames out of the exhaust every time you close the throttle!.

Had another nice blast out with a couple of other people, got through 3 tanks of petrol!

720S?, those things are incredibly fast-until they break down anyway.

You’ve got a fuel gauge?!. Ha! Your r1 does. Mine has a 'miles to bingo' counter too which is nice. Where's the r1 thread BTW? Mine doesn’t have one it just has a fuel light, it does have a setting which tells you your MPG over the trip and amount of fuel used though. Thread incoming.

You’ve got a fuel gauge?!.

Oh no!, it’s so easy to do with a new bike, I hope it hasn’t done much damage and it’s an easy fix. If it makes you feel any better I broke the mirror on my last bike before I’d even got it home from picking it up, we’ve all done stuff like this. Just the hand guard and indicator glass so purely cosmetic thankfully. I’m glad it’s an easy fix

Oh no!, it’s so easy to do with a new bike, I hope it hasn’t done much damage and it’s an easy fix. If it makes you feel any better I broke the mirror on my last bike before I’d even got it home from picking it up, we’ve all done stuff like this.

I will take some more tonight if I go out on it, if not I will be out all weekend, love this bike!, wish I’d bought one instead of the Ducati in the first place. Ooh why? All of the insane performance and fun but without the running stupidly got in town/recalls/quality issues. Don’t get me wrong I loved the Panigale, it looks better than the R1 I won’t try and say it doesn’t but to actually live with, so far the R1 is much easier.

Thanks, I've had a look they don't have any reviews under 4 stars which is amazing. I'll give them a call. I really recommend them, always really competitive on tyres and just generally really helpful,decent guys .

Want a race? Also, post more pics please. This bike deserves its own thread. I will take some more tonight if I go out on it, if not I will be out all weekend, love this bike!, wish I’d bought one instead of the Ducati in the first place.

We both got a new bike on the same day , what did you get?, hope you’re enjoying it. Triumph tiger 800 That’s great, enjoy it .

We both got a new bike on the same day , what did you get?, hope you’re enjoying it.

Russel Motors in Battersea/Clapham, used them many times over the years.