my695

And on the Seventh Day...

I rested! Had it really been 6 straight days of riding?! Some were jaunts, some were "sessions" but all were worth while. It is a Ducati after-all.

It was a beautiful Saturday (the 5th day) the kind that makes your imagination wander. The possibilities, the ability to finally go for a longer ride. Yes, it was the day when I found the sweet spot. The shifts, the controlled braking, some minor twists and dips all coming together for one sweet ride.

I had no expectations except to ride safe and within my abilities. I knew something good would happen, I just didn't know it would "16 miles" (3 times my average) of exhilaration tempered by an espresso stop. You'd think I was in Italy or something.

I knew I wanted to to go back to the light and cross that main boulevard again. I know I wanted to ride and ride as much as I could before my last day of the MSF course. What I didn't know is that I would go past the second major boulevard opening me up to another cool residential area. I made my way down a beautiful tree lined street and about 3/4 of mile to that next light. I felt "spot on" and decided to pull over just before the light. I idled a while, asking myself if I was ready to go little further out of my comfort zone. The answer was yes. The little voice said go for it. It wasn't bravado, it just felt natural, like a smooth roll on the throttle.

I pulled up to the red light and eyed a car easing up behind me. "checked my mirrors"
Nice, fluid acceleration - is all I wanted off the line and a smooth and a nice shift to second. I got it. I was going with the flow and I bet that car didn't even know I was newbie. I was so proud. Now back to riding.

I went down a few blocks and pulled over by a small park. I was so happy to be out there in real world.
Controlled fun at its best.

I made a small u-turn and headed up towards the old high school. At that point I had decided to ride on the wide open boulevard that wrapped around the high school and planned community in a half moon that flowed to a loose "S".

Best of all no cars! I accelerated smoothly past the high school shifting up to 3rd, then 4th, a small lean with the curves and just felt the road. It had all come together for this moment. Before I knew it I was at the next big intersection. Traffic was light as I approached. My downshifts paid off as the light turned green about 25 yards in front of me. I was in the perfect spot to be able to give it just a bit of throttle and continue up the boulevard. I kept scanning and could see are car pulling out from a side street. He saw me and I continued on.

Once I was alone again I picked a nice right by a church and rolled through and up towards some nice rolling hills of residential area. This was a day to remember and I was living every second of it.

2nd Ducati Day

Well when the MSF instructor said to practice, perhaps I had taken it too seriously. I had just ridden my first day on my 695 and I wanted to duplicate the thrill and keep improving. I wasn't really tied or fatigued but didn't feel as "spot on" as the first day. I still opted to ride and take it slow. My first throttle off the line was smooth. I was back in the saddle and it was finally starting to feel familiar. I made my way over to the large residential street and did my up and down loops, concentrating on smooth shifts and controlled braking.

For whatever reason by the 3rd or fourth loop my mind started to drift. I was hydrated. It wasn't too hot. I couldn't figure out what was up. I had to make a concerted effort to bring my self into the zone. After a few more loops I mad a left at the end of the street and a quick right and headed down to another large street. This one was even wider and the blocks about 30 yards longer, with very little traffic. I was branching out and spreading my wings. It felt great.

I continued in the same "looping" tradition, starting out into the turn using the friction zone to it's optimum and then getting the bike squared off, revving up shifting to 2nd, 3rd then back down as I came to a complete stop.

I would always pull off to the right at the end of the loop, signaling first. I drifted in and out of complete concentration and when I was off by shifts and control hurt. It wasn't really bad but just enough to remind me that I needed to be in the zone 100% of the time not 90%. This was a great place to learn such lessons in a semi-controlled environment.

I always double and triple "looked" before I took off from my starting position it paid off twice when a car turned left onto the street just in back of me, I was able to wait and let her pass. The other time it was a large white chevy pulling out from a parking position behind me. That extra look always gave me better judgement and time.

Well it was time to head back home. It had been a shorter jaunt today but I was satisfied. I didn't want to push it. It is like when you ski or snowboard and say to yourself just one more run at the end of the day, it usually is forced and does not feel safe or fun. I took that lesson and applied it here. It's better to have tomorrow's ride in the palm of your hand then your bike run up into a bush!

Left, right then left again back to that little, narrow residential street again, you know where I encountered that car turning into my side of the road and heading straight towards me. Yeah that one.
Well almost in the same place eat the same time - a large bread or milk truck turns into the street towards me! I slow down. There are two parked cars on either side and the space is SMALL I completely slow down. He sees me now. He slows. I almost stop but I feel more in control as I put along. I nod and pass him as he waits. Well done. I'd wipe the sweat off my brow but I've got my helmet on. I couldn't have finished up today a moment too soon. I couldn't wait to get back. All in all a lesson learned but not my favorite ride.

Miles Ridden - from 14-19. (5 )miles.

The first Ducati day!

The magic words from the MSF instructors were..." if you have access to a bike and have your permit already, practice, practice until next week".

Well I couldn't argue with that! I took one day off from riding and on the following day, decided to hop on the 695 in the late afternoon, when there was still good visibility, lighter traffic and little or no glare. I didn't have the luxury of practicing in a parking lot so my neighborhood streets would have to do.

I did my pre-ride inspection in the driveway with the motor off. I then pushed my bike down the driveway to the street and picked out as even part of pavement as I could find. The odometer was still at 9 miles, as it had been for month after delivery. My 695 was begging to be ridden.
I started the 695 and let it idle. There was no need to increase the idle as the day was warm and friendly.

As I anticipated my ride I tried to feel relaxed and confident about the lessons I had learned in the first MSF course day. I wouldn't go beyond my ability. I wouldn't speed and I would not let other vehicles, dogs or playing children throw me into a panic. Smooth , smooth smooth I repeated.

Then I stalled the bike. No problem, I pressed the clutch lever in and started the bike. I tried not to let myself think too much and just got back into the "feel" of the friction zone. The 695 definitely had more power then my Nighthawk 250 and required a bit more throttle off the line.

As I took off I could feel the sweet spot of the friction zone and the bike rolled forward effortlessly. My feet were right up on the pegs as I applied steady throttle as I turned left and pulled out into the road. I stayed in 1st gear for the remainder of the block clearing two speed bumps with steady throttle and easy up just a bit as I cam off each one. I came to a nice steady stop at the stop sign and realized I was on my bike and on my first ride, what a blast!

Ok concentrate, I told myself. Checked in all directions. CLEAR. I put my left signal on and power walked the bike beyond the painted lines. Still CLEAR. Steady throttle looked through the turn and went left. A short block and then signaled again and a quick right. That's when I reached the Oasis!

An open and wide residential street with little traffic. What a place to practice. I checked to make sure I was in first gear. I rolled on the throttle and could hear the bike revving up. It was time to gear up to second, clutch lever in rolled off the throttle and pushed up with my boot. It was just like the MSF but on the 695 I could really feel the thump of the gear engaging. I liked that allot.

This was an average size block so I needed to decelerate by the time I was comfortably in 2nd gear.
I applied steady braking trying to match both the front and rear brakes in application while down shifting as I came to a stop. My senses were buzzing now with all the information and physical application that I had applied in such a short time. I knew right then that without the MSF the whole experience would have been different, more intimidating and worst of all I would have been teaching myself. The MSF had given me a palette of practical tools that I could now apply. Cooooooool.

Back to riding. I continued going up and down the block about 8 times. Shifting. Applying the brakes in a steady controlled manner and just concentrating on the moment.

I decided it was time to branch out and change the scenery a bit. I also did not want to annoy the neighbors too much. My bike is not loud even for it's engine size but I felt it was better to move on.

I turned left at the bottom of the block and aggressively scanned the smaller more populous, tree-lined street. My first "would -be" obstacle was a a car pulling out of a driveway. I looked directly at the driver and we made eye contact. His car braked and stopped. I slowed, making sure he remained stopped and continued past accelerating just a bit as I passed his rear bumper.

Another left and another left and I was headed back home. This had been the first and best ride ever!
With a grin on my face I proceeded down another small, narrow, residential street on my way back home. At about half way down the block a car turned right onto my street and was heading towards me.
I slowed down instinctively and now could see he was drifting over to my side of the road! What's going on?! I slowed even more and now could see he was pulling over to my side of the road facing me. Once I could see he was completely pulled over I picked up the pace from my near idle speed and passed by him with generous distance. Here again I was confronted with a strange challenge. I feel without the MSF training I would not have been as comfortable staying steady and straight ahead at such low speeds.

A right another left and over those speed bumps and then a quick right with easy throttle right up my driveway. At the driveway plateau I came to a smooth stop in front of the garage. I cut the the engine. Put the bike in neutral, kick-stand up and dismounted the bike.

A grandmother sitting on her porch across our street waved. I gave her the thumbs up. "Very nice", she said. A fitting end to a great day. My first ride on the 695.

Miles Ridden 9-14 (5 miles)

The Wait is Over

Well the wait is finally over! I finally taken my 695 out for a spin...well not quite yet. What I have done is taken the first 'hands on" class of the MSF Riders Course. All the anticipation and 4 weeks of waiting have finally paid off. I was able to find an opening at the Cerritos course and hopped right in.

The anticipation the questions all answered with the first turn of the throttle. Although it was on a Honda 250 Nighthawk, I will take it with a grain of salt a perfect step to a dream bike.

The class members made it really enjoyable also. They came from all walks of life and had one defining trait that united everybody - that gleam in their eye. The one that says, "I want to ride" or I'm a rider. The instructors were top notch. The pace is fast and from the moment the class starts it is time "to swim". It looked liked everybody had studied their manuals and now it was time to ride.

It started with a walk around the bike. We went over our pre-ride inspection and the main instructor went over the basics of riding. soon after we were walking our bikes over 100 yards to the staging area. It was a good way of getting used to the weight of the bike.

We were broken down into 3 groups and started with power-walking the bikes and getting familiar with the "friction zone". Our next lesson consisted of slow throttle with feet up on the pegs. We were really riding! After each lesson the instructors asked what we were doing out there? what we were feeling? and what we could have done better? I tried to participate as much as possible, keeping me in the zone of listening and enjoying the ride.

When the instructors exclaimed that we would be shifting to second in our next lesson, a glazed and color draining look washed over our group. This is when it was going to get serious. This is when we would become true riders.

Up, up and away we went, hearing the revs, heart pounding, ease on the throttle, clutch lever in, then the press up with the left foot, click, ease out the clutch lever and applied steady throttle. WHOA I was second gear. Now I'd have to stop, just when things were getting good.

Break time. All that adrenaline had gone to our heads and we were trying to process just what we had done. It was complex yet so easy in the hands of the MSF. Helmet off and a steady breeze under an exceptionally cloudy sky helped to sooth me as I walked back to the car.

My 1st course day eats consisted of coffee(Kona of course), a bowl of cereal and half a piece of toast before I arrived. I followed up with a mix of Kirkland trail mix from Costco at the course - walnuts(brain food), banana, Gingko drink, white ice tea, a small glass of OJ and just snacked and alternated as our breaks permitted. I also grabbed a PEPSI for that extra zing about 3/4 of way though the training time.

Now back at the course we were going shift to 3rd! We would start out, shift to second by the two cone marker and then shift to third by the tree cone marker. Seemed easy enough. What I realized after this exercise is that we had shifted to third in what was not exactly a turn but a gradual arc to the right. Had the instructors pointed out the angle before hand we all would have been pretty scared. As it stood, the tactic paid off. We simply followed the instruction and our skill level grew evermore faster then would have given ourselves credit for.

Before I knew it, we were calling it a day. Wait I wanted more! The second half of the Pepsi was kicking in and I could smell the asphalt, feel the lean, imagine the throttle. Yes it was over, at least for now. My first experience on a motorcycle(excluding scooters etc.) had come to and end. The smile and utter bliss of the day lived on well into the night and the next few days. Thanks MSF!

Welcome to my695!

This is the place where it all starts. The butterflies, the thrill, the realization you own one of the world's best motorcycles. I've started this weblog to let people into the process of owning a Ducati and learning to ride.
It's for "newbies" it's for the Ducatisti, it's for all.

I'll let you know about the "realization" that I need a Ducati, my first ride and gear, et. all.

The journey of owning a Ducati starts right here!