Another newbie

Originally Posted by slob

Congrats. I think that might be the first one in the club.
It's Italian day at the Ace Cafe this Sunday and Italian night the Thursday after, why not take a run up.

Not only, but apparently the first on the road in the UK!

No deal whatsoever, as they had reserved it for me for 10d before I came to test ride and buy it, with not even a deposit. They knew I wanted the bike, and they could have sold it ten times had I not reserved it. So, I paid the full £4,995 and the only thing they did say they'd do was to charge just £70 for the crash bungs and the fly screen (crash bungs retail at £70). They could have done the Datatool 4 for £350 but as a mate of mine fits them for a living and is offering to do it at £280, I didn't take them up on that offer.

I'm in downtown London, in Chelsea. Quite a few Ducatis here, including a friend of mine on his 620. I'm worried that one day I go to the bike and he's substituted his for mine, thinking I wouldn't notice.

It's my first Ducati and first big bike, so can't really do a write-up as have nothing to compare it to but I'll get this 620-riding mate to try it for size and see what he thinks. He loves the looks and was the one to convince me to go for the 695 instead of the 620 because everything would have been improved. One thing I will say: I'm supposed to take each gear up to 6,000 revs, and the only way I can get this on second gear is to take her up to 60mph. I've yet to try the fifth gear, just hasn't been necessary even on 70mph. All of Central London is strictly first or second, what joy!

I'll see you guys at the Ace on Sunday. Look out for the two Monsters huddled together. Mine answers to the name 'Duchess' by the way, or 'Your Grace'.

A couple of my mates are IAM observers so am getting some training from them. Give it a couple of months and I'll be brave enough to head out of London on my own, especially once I get a TomTom. (Since I moved to the UK in 1992, I've hardly left London, so am a bit lost even in the wilderness of Bucks.

A pic taken yesterday at the Ace. Spot the damage I did by dropping it...

http://londonbikers.com/forums/attachments/Ducati1.jpg

Hi Paivi,


Welcome to the UKMOC!


The bike looks absolutely gorgeous! Roll on some warm sunny days.

Originally Posted by Paivi

A pic taken yesterday at the Ace. Spot the damage I did by dropping it...

Handlebar end weight ?
Looks sweet by the way - love the red frame.
Chelsea... which means it lives 'on-road'? I'd HATE to see your insurance premium Nice place to live, but a bugger to get to anywhere else.

Originally Posted by Paivi

I'll see you guys at the Ace on Sunday. Look out for the two Monsters huddled together. Mine answers to the name 'Duchess' by the way, or 'Your Grace'.

You'll notice the Kent Lot... we got the t-shirt wiv our logo on it!! If you see us... introduce yourself.

P.S mine answers to ..... "s@ddin' disc brake... damn that's a ANOTHER new lever to buy .... you b itch! "

Welcome to the club.

If the bike's a bit high for you, Ducati do a lowered seat for the Monster. I don't know how much they are but the part number is 59520204C. It's 20mm lower. Give your dealer a ring and they should be able to let you know how much they are.

Hope this helps and see you at the Ace on Sunday.

Originally Posted by Bob

mine answers to ..... "s@ddin' disc brake... damn that's a ANOTHER new lever to buy .... you b itch! "

Bob, glad I missed you trying to outdo Chris' endo in the car park on Monday. Hope there wasn't any damage to your or your monnie?

Phil

Originally Posted by MilesB

Handlebar end weight ?
Looks sweet by the way - love the red frame.
Chelsea... which means it lives 'on-road'? I'd HATE to see your insurance premium Nice place to live, but a bugger to get to anywhere else.

Yep, bar end and brake lever. Bar ends I can get done for about a fiver, the brake lever's a bit more, so that'll wait, as I just spent a huge amount on security & TomTom.

Insurance premium for parking on the street, £202 fully comp, unlimited milage . Something to do with my age, sex, chain, alarm, a mob hitman sitting on Her Grace at all time... (OK, so I lied about the mob hitman, he gets called in once the alarm goes off...)

£202 fully comp - WOW that's amazing.

Originally Posted by Paivi

Insurance premium for parking on the street, £202 fully comp, unlimited milage . Something to do with my age, sex, chain, alarm, a mob hitman sitting on Her Grace at all time... (OK, so I lied about the mob hitman, he gets called in once the alarm goes off...)

Huh!? I hate my premium...
Are you by any chance a retired and very old dominatrix woman, with all the chains and locks in the world? Us 'young' blokes get ripped off - paying 50% more than that on a 9 y/o garaged bike for TPFT...and I'm not in London.

Originally Posted by Pugi

Huh!? I hate my premium...
Are you by any chance a retired and very old dominatrix woman?

Do we know each other?

30-odd female, full mc licence for 18 years, Almax Immobiliser III, Datatool 4, insured through Ebike. Sometimes it's good to be a woman!

Originally Posted by Paivi

Do we know each other?

30-odd female, full mc licence for 18 years, Almax Immobiliser III, Datatool 4, insured through Ebike. Sometimes it's good to be a woman!

Guess the 18 years make a difference. I only have a veto evo, but have been told I don't need more security for cheaper quote. These Ebike people seem to be popular, I can see why. Will give them a try in July when I'm up for renewal. The sexual discrimination i can't do anything about though.

I can commiserate with you on the damage, I dropped my 620 weekend before last on the gravel track at a rally, now need new bar end and brake lever too! Upside is my other half has sorted a lowering kit for me, to be fitted as soon as poss, but preferably before the BMF show.
My insurance is about £120 fully comp, so there is definitely something to be said for being a thirty something woman!

[gary tompkins]

Welcome to the club Paivi & congrats on blagging the new 695.

Unusual name too

Nice !!!
Welcome to the club
I look forward to seeing your bike at the Ace on Sunday

[marchesini]

Originally Posted by gary tompkins

Welcome to the club Paivi & congrats on blagging the new 695.

Unusual name too

Welcome Paivi and taking a wild stab in the dark, I would guess you are Finnish - the country where everything sounds unnusual. I know a lot of Paivi's along with kiti, anu, marja, birit, ritva and lots of minna's. Lots of unusual names but they don't half know how to drink .... especially on Mayday!!

Laters

simon

Well done, Simon! Here, have a cookie! I am, indeed, Finnish and have been in the UK way too long: I now consider anything above 15C warm and if it's not raining, it's positively a nice day! And, sadly, I can't drink, as I ride every day.

I'll be at the Ace with my 695 and a friend of mine on his 620, both red (I hear it's the fastest colour... ) He's shy and retiring, so will be looking for a parking place somewhere near the tube station, but if I get there first, I'll try to lead him into the normal park.

I'm visiting Dave Robinson (?) in Wandsworth on Saturday, who can hopefully fit some R&G bar ends, as well as a new brake lever. Will also want side impact bars, and a roof in case it rains, and another two wheels for balance. Basically, I'm a Volvo driver in a Ducati rider disguise...