She just followed me home, what was I supposed to do?

[texasmoto]

Previous owner runs a shop and added adjustable Showa front suspension, rear suspension, new mags, tires, brakes redone, the lot. The logo is hand-painted and is apparently Ducati's logo from the 1920s. I can't believe I wasted so many years riding 70s Hondas when these incredible machines existed all along.  It makes me feel like a total noob rider again.

Now I don't expect the same performance or feel from a Moto Guzzi, but I know a tiny bit of what a Guzzi is like and that's its own thing. I'm thinking of taking this Duke to COTA in July...

[bigbikerrick]

Oh Man, That is gonna be so much fun!   
Rick.

[kballowe]

What you need is another one to keep that one company !

 

 

[TDF]

Though Ducati existed as a radio company in the 20's they were not known as Ducati Meccanica until the early 50's when the motorcycle division split from the radio division. 

Awesome monster.  I have wanted one for some time.

TDF

[lazlokovacs]

awesome!!!

what year/model is that?

[texasmoto]

awesome!!!

what year/model is that?

It's an '05 Monster but has some upgrades unique to it. The front end, rear shocks and mags all come from other ducatis. The logo on the tank is hand-painted on both sides and is one of their old logos.

[Xander]

She just followed me home

Ah, yes - that is a thing, and no, one cannot be expected to withstand such temptation.
She's beautiful!   

But wait, do I detect a plain white van there, maybe down by the river?  Are we sure you didn't offer her candy or a puppy?

My latest bike (first in 20 yearrs) called to me from across cyberspace and turned out to be at an MG dealer right around the corner - it's fate!  I couldn't just let her sit there thinking she's unloved.

[texasmoto]

But wait, do I detect a plain white van there, maybe down by the river?  Are we sure you didn't offer her candy or a puppy?

Ah man, I wish I could afford to live in a van down by the river! Those sprinters are like $80k+  This is just a 95 Chevy with the short wheel base. I really want to add some vinyl stripes to make it less uh...you know...hahaha

[Xander]

Story Time
Right after boot camp in Orlando, I was transferred to Great Lakes for tech school and immediately took just enough leave to fly home to Tampa Bay and retrieve my baby, a 1979 Honda CX500 Custom.

It was February when I packed her into my "big blue van", a very old Dodge with no heat and broken windows, and made the freezing drive in 24 hours so as not to be AWOL.    The arrangement of the bike in the van looked exactly like your pic.

At nearly every available exit, I'd stop to check the gas and fill the oil (blown main seal).  Even wearing so many layers of uniforms and civilian clothes including a snow suit, I was a meat pop-sickle when I arrived.  I stood under a hot shower at the barracks for and hour to thaw my brain out.

That was my favorite bike ever, and after all that effort I foolishly sold her for a song when I left school, to avoid shipping her or some such hooey.  The moral of this story is:  If you fall in love, do whatever you can to get her and keep her.  Don't let the trappings of "practicality" make you do something you'll regret forever.

[texasmoto]

I thought the CX500 was called 'the poor man's moto guzzi' :) I used to have one, kind of, it was wrapped in the "Silverwing" package lol

[Xander]

I thought the CX500 was called 'the poor man's moto guzzi' :) I used to have one, kind of, it was wrapped in the "Silverwing" package lol

Ha!  I've never heard that reference, but it does fit.   

The Silverwing was a CX500C with a full fairing and bags.  I still want one to this day.  The best year/model IMO was the 1983 GL650i Interstate Silverwing.

[texasmoto]

Ha!  I've never heard that reference, but it does fit.   

The Silverwing was a CX500C with a full fairing and bags.  I still want one to this day.  The best year/model IMO was the 1983 GL650i Interstate Silverwing.

Yeah man, the 650s had a turbo, too! https://www.audrainautomuseum.org/jdm-beyond-the-worldwide-influence-of-japanese-automobiles/1983-honda-cx-650-turbo-motorcycle

[Xander]

Yeah man, the 650s had a turbo, too! https://www.audrainautomuseum.org/jdm-beyond-the-worldwide-influence-of-japanese-automobiles/1983-honda-cx-650-turbo-motorcycle

Oh, yeah!  I remember that bike, but forgot it's relation to mine.  Very cool machine.

Sorry, texasmoto, for hijacking your thread.