For several years I worked for Harley-Davidson. Many H-D riders never ride their bikes. For the last several years I have been riding a BMW R1100S. Most BMW riders ride the heck out of their bikes. I am about to take delivery of a SportClassic 1000- and I can't help but notice that on Ebay anyway many of the Ducatis for sale have very low mileage.
Why is this?
Speaking for myself, I don't put a whole lot of miles on any of my bikes. There are several reasons for this:
First of all, I own quite a few bikes, so the mileage gets spread around. I suspect there are many other Ducati owners who fall into this category.
Secondly, I don't consider things like commuting to work every day on your bike, running errands around town, and cruising down the freeway to be "riding". I use my bikes for fun. To me, "fun" is purposely going out to twisty roads and flogging the thing. So most of the miles on my bikes' odometers are what I consider "quality miles". I appreciate those hardcore guys who spend their lives in the saddle, riding rain or shine, and getting on the bike to do anything and everything and racking up the miles. That's great, and I'm glad you enjoy it. But it's just not me.
Lastly, as you get older you get more involved with other responsibilities. Work, kids, home maintenance, and all kinds of other crap take up more and more of your time, and hopping on the bike to go out for a ride whenever you want becomes less of an option.
I'm not trying to make excuses here. I'm just explaining that what you see isn't always what you think it is. If you spot a 5-year-old Ducati superbike with a couple thousand miles on the clock, don't assume that the owner is some rich poser who doesn't really ride. It may just be someone who has ridden for 25 years, raced in AMA Superbike, still does track days, and has several other cool bikes at home...
ducati owners vary in their riding habits ... some mh900e owners have zero miles on their bikes, wishing to keep them pristine for "collector" status. other mh900e owners have over 20,000 miles on their bikes.
i put over 30,000 miles on my 2001 ss900ie before i sold it to purchase my current mh900e, which has just under 7,000 miles on it. just like az scott says, the older i get, the less time i have to ride, and i don't like commuting on my bike ... mostly weekend riding time for me these days.
ciao,
johnc
Quote:
Originally Posted by The T Man
For several years I worked for Harley-Davidson. Many H-D riders never ride their bikes. For the last several years I have been riding a BMW R1100S. Most BMW riders ride the heck out of their bikes. I am about to take delivery of a SportClassic 1000- and I can't help but notice that on Ebay anyway many of the Ducatis for sale have very low mileage.
Why is this?
Harleys and Ducatis have a higher status factor than jap bikes for sure, and probably BMWs too (BMW motorcycles have a fair amount of geek factor attached to them- sorry, but it's true). So people with money (who have less time cuz they're making money) go for the status bikes. Some of them actually ride, but many do not except maybe once a month. But it's great to tell all your friends you've got a Harley.
Harleys and Ducatis have a higher status factor than jap bikes for sure, and probably BMWs too (BMW motorcycles have a fair amount of geek factor attached to them- sorry, but it's true). So people with money (who have less time cuz they're making money) go for the status bikes. Some of them actually ride, but many do not except maybe once a month. But it's great to tell all your friends you've got a Harley.
I must admit to being very suspicious about the low mileage Ducati's around. I did meet one guy who had disconnected his speedo and had mounted a bicycle one in it's place. I also know a few owners who remove the original fairings and fit after-market items. A lot of people fall for these scams as they are almost always mesmerized by numbers. Funny that. Whenever I've bought a new bike, 749R was the latest, I almost can't bear to get a fly smudge on that glorious paintwork, but I do and I just keep going. I don't ever bother talking to non-bike owners about bikes. Why? I do this for me.
...... Most BMW riders ride the heck out of their bikes......
Glad you added "most" I picked up a 10 year old R100R Mystic with just under 5,000 miles last year, added 4,000 in 2 weeks, another 1,000 in the next 8 months and sold her this weekend.
I now spread my miles over my MH900e (ca 2,500 per year) and my R100R Classic (ca 3,500 per year) No commuting on the bike for me anymore pure suicide in the Houston area.
Have to agree with Scott, JohnC and others about getting older, added responsibilities and ...... well, excuse my French, ..... crap.
I (wish I) could ride my bike(s) all day everyday.
harley riders suck. that's probably why they don't ride. i plan to put a lot of mileage on my sport 1000. i've had it a week and i'm already at 300km.
Hey Hawk, I'm not sure quite how to respond to the "Harley Riders Suck" thang. I guess the best way to respond is this: The people that suck the most, are those that make blanket statements about broad cross-sections of people from any walk, and those that worry about/or disdain what others ride!
There sure are allot a buttholes on Harleys, but it sounds as though there may be one or two on Ducati's too. I would go as far as to say there's likely a butthole or two riding all brands on machines. I have personally ridden probably 200,000 (not kilometers) miles on the back of a Harley, and probably at least another 100 grand (or so) on the back of Triumphs, a Guzzi' and 2 Ducati's.
Just remember before you speak: You don't have to own a Harley to be a Butthole...-Capt
Thanks for the replies.
Those of you who find it difficult to commute or just go for a ride made me grateful to live in the Midwest- where a 50 mile round trip commute is made much more enjoyable on two wheels.
And hawc- it takes large one's to admit when one has perhaps overstated one's feelings. We all enjoy the sense of community that comes from being loyal to one brand of bike. And lord only knows I have been guilty of the smugness that can sneak up on one when one becomes blinded by loyalty.
However, I now try to acknowledge every person I see on a bike. No matter the brand.
I am impatiently waiting for my SportClassic to arrive. I added a different exhaust system that apparently is coming from Italy by rowboat.
As for the mh900e. I think that it is the most beautiful motorcycle I have ever seen.
........As for the mh900e. I think that it is the most beautiful motorcycle I have ever seen.......
Amen to that, brother. I will admit that I'm biased, but I do agree 101% I've been drooling over Ducati's for many, many years, but my wife was never in favor of me buying one. Untill the day she saw the MH900e up close and personal .... she even wrote the check for it while I was away on business They are both keepers
Not to offend anyone: the MV Agusta F4 was my top pick for several years (never had one, though), but I like the looks of the MH900e much better. It's just the essentials, extremely well executed. That swingarm ........
On a completely different note: a few of my best friends and riding buddies own Harley's - TB has a Dyna Low Rider with ca 105K miles, RB has a FLH, a Springer, a Road King and an Ultra with a collective mileage over 200K. The majority of sportbike(r)s can't keep up with them on the twisties and only can show them their tails when the road straightens ......
Not to offend anyone: the MV Agusta F4 was my top pick for several years (never had one, though), but I like the looks of the MH900e much better. It's just the essentials, extremely well executed. That swingarm
well imo the MV Agusta F4 was the bike the redesigned 996 should have been. but we all know it's because the designer switched over.
well imo the MV Agusta F4 was the bike the redesigned 996 should have been. but we all know it's because the designer switched over.
you are correct ... when massimo tamburini designed the bike that became the F4, it was going to be the new ducati superbike. when tamburini split from ducati and went to mv, he took the design with him.
... when Massimo Tamburini designed the bike that became the F4, it was going to be the new Ducati superbike. When Tamburini split from Ducati and went to MV, he took the design with him.....
Thanks, John. I didn't know that. One can learn something every day. Now the question is: did MV just get lucky, or did they lure MT away from Ducati? L'histoire ce repete: Gilera's chief engine designer switched camps and landed a string of 17 consecutive "MotoGP" championships for MV Agusta with pilots Giacomo Agostini (7x), John Surtees (3x), Phil Read (2x), Gary Hocking and ...... yep, Mike Hailwood (4x)
RonB
Low Mileage And Ducatis
pure suicide in the Houston area.
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