MOTO-Guys!!! (call-out to DUCeditor)

[maytag]

Yo DUCeditor!!!

Hey, so I didn't want to hijack that other thread with too much talk of bikes, but I noticed your user name and had to shout-out at ya.....
but I'm thinking there are enough bike guys here that we oughtta go ahead and throw this up and let others chime-in.

So tell me what "DUCeditor" comes from? I see in your profile that you're a Duc-dood. Me too.

some of my favorite pics (of ME, of course! ) to help the salivation:

[thechadzone]

I love bikes, but mostly old school bikes. 'Got nothin' against the new ones at all, but it's the '50'-'70's bikes that catch my eye. I mentioned in another thread that I have a '71 Honda CB750 that I've made a pretty decent cafe bike out of. I lowered down its front end about an inch & 3/8 by bringing its forks through the triple trees after giving it old school clip-on handlebars.

* I chopped up its front fender ala'cafe style
* I deleted the handlebar brackets on its upper triple tree to make a smooth & solid piece without holes in it
* I replaced its seat with a cafe seat pan/boat-tail fairing combo that I used Spider vinyl to upholster
* I chopped its rear sub-frame right behind its rear forks to allow for the seat pan, and to expose a bunch of rear tire
* I removed its rear fender, chain guard, factory turn signals, side covers, and other odds & ends for a "naked" look
* I painted it a British Racing Green color

It's on loan to a friend, and I have no current pics of it. It's bitchin', but I have a hard time keeping its four single barrel carbs from fighting against each other. Still, it'll do 0-60 in 6.1 seconds just as it did as new. I know that's nothing by today's standards, but that made it the world's fastest production bike in 1971... It's more than fast enough for me.

It was the first motorized vehicle I got after sobering up for a couple years prior. I was SO glad to have motorized transportation again! I'll keep it forever just for its sentimental value.

[maytag]

Honda's CB - series has always been a very cool bike. I love the old school stuff too, so you'll have to
Post up some pics when you're able! I'm not old enough to know the '71 as well as I oughtta,
But many years ago, I DID have an '82 CB900F, Freddie Spencer Replica. I sold it to buy a
CBX (remember them?). Boy was that a mistake!

Its amazing how fast something becomes OLD, and even ancient when you're at the racetrack
Seeing all the new stuff every year.

I actually quit riding bikes on the street about 12 years ago. Not 'cuz I'm one of those safety paranoid guys.
But when you add in my stupidity, and how much I love to twist the throttle....... It was a recipe for disaster.

My last street bike was a 185HP V-Max that was just sick in so many ways....... But frankly, I'm irresponsible and even a menace on a bike.

[DUCeditor]

Uh oh, my cover's blown.

Well... "Duceditor"... Duh! what should I have expected?

OK, the name comes from my being the instigating force behind the international Ducati enthusiast group Ducatis Unlimited Connection. That was a big part of my life 'round the last years of the last century. (Wow, doesn't that sound OLD? I love it!) Then, in 2001 I was approached by the company in Bologna to write a regular column for their website entitled "Back Road Musings" and to be their on-line answer man with a 2nd column entitled "As You Were Saying."

Fun stuff all! Anyhow, once I took up the pen for the company I sort of let DUC go fallow although I keep the site on line because people find portions of it a good reference. (It can be found here http://www.duc.bz, and an index for re-postings of some of my articles written for Ducati here http://www.duc.bz/BACKROAD.HTM (With permission, of course)

I still have my `93 900SS which was the test mule (Can you say "freebies"?) for DUC Tests but my track days are largely over and my everyday ride is now a 2007 Ducati GT1000 SportClassic - a modern version of the bike that first put Ducati on the map.

Italian cars, Italian bikes, and an Italian wife (OK, she's actually Sicilian) Not too bad I guess for a jewish kid raised in New Yawk.

Here is one more link - a favorite of mine - entitled "Our Italian Adventure." http://www.duc.bz/duck_crossing_ItalianAdventure.htm

Its nice to see so many fellow motorcyclists also into Spiders. I love mine and am thrilled to be getting it back on the road after a several year long hiatus.

-don

[engineerted]

Since we are talking about Italian bikes, I realy like what these guys are doing to the old HD-sprints (Aermacchi)
http://www.aermacchi-racing.com/ I grew up on a Baja 100 and 350 sprint, My dad still has all of them, a 250 sprint, 350, the Baja, and a ice racer.


Ted

[DUCeditor]

I have a special love for Aermacchis as well. My first ride was on the back of one belonging to my older sister's boyfriend - I was about 14 - and it started a life-long addiction.

Another tidbit that makes me have an attachment to the marque is its connection to Ducati. in 1978 Aermacchi was bought by the Castiglioni brothers with plans to sell the motorcycles under the Cagiva banner. When a newer motor was needed they purchased these from Ducati and eventually bought that company too. So in a real sense they are cousins. Or "descendants by purchase" in G&S speak.



-don

[kmac33]

I'm currently "bikeless". The ex-wife made me give up the motorcycles a number of years ago and I haven't taken the plunge again (after getting divorced) since all of my spare cash and time for the past 2 years have gone into my Spider. I did come very close a few months ago to pulling the trigger on a Buell CR1125 when they were practically giving them away after the company went belly up, but bought my new wife an engagement ring instead.
Just like lots of the cars I've sold through the years, I wish I still had these former bikes:
1975 Yamaha GT80 - My very first bike. Got it for Christmas just before turning 9. This is the bike I learned to ride on.
1976 Kawasaki KH250 - got this 3 cylinder, 2 stroke when I turned 15 (back then you could get a motorcycle license in Georgia at 15!). Was a bit difficult keeping all 3 carbs in synch, but for a 250, this little bike would scream.
1982 Moto Guzzi V50 III - had this bike for 3 years in college - perfect college transportation, great sound and no one else in town had one.
1985 Kawasaki "GPZ" 750 Turbo - got this just before my senior year in college from a next door neighbor that put less than 1000 miles on it in 4 years because he was afraid to ride it after the turbo spooled up on him in the middle of a curve. This bike was WAY to much fun - first sub 11 second quarter mile production bike. This bike was "responsible" for the most expensive ticket I have ever gotten and almost got me thrown in jail by a very upset Sheriff's Deputy.
1992 Yamaha FZR 600 - my first "race" bike. Having this bike custom painted, and racing it resulted in my meeting the 2 best friends I've ever had.
Even though I've had a number of other bikes, these are the ones I'll never forget.

[Foster48x]

Can my "Poor Mans Ducati" be a member of the club?



Rick

[maytag]

NO!!!
'cuz that's a SWEET SV! No need to pretend it's a DUC!

I love the SV. What a great little bike.

[Foster48x]

NO!!!
'cuz that's a SWEET SV! No need to pretend it's a DUC!

I love the SV. What a great little bike.

NO!!! I guess I'm going to have to go out and buy a Ducati Monster then . Just gotta find a place in the garage to hide it so my wife doesn't find out .

The SV is a great bike. It's kind of my Fiat Spider of motorcycles. ALLOT of love has gone into it!

Rick

[DUCeditor]

Its a beautiful bike Rick.

-don

[Foster48x]

Thanks Don.

Rick

[SLOSpider]

I like taking a quick look at those Ducks when Im passing by