Probably gone ...

[Ross Dean]

A trip in April and early May on my BMW R1100GS trip went well and I reached France, Italy and Switzerland, travelling around 3,500 miles in four weeks. It was my first time on a bike in the Alps and it was a wonderful experience with T-shirt soaking temperatures in the Italian valleys and snow-blocked roads on the Italian/Swiss border! The bike did me proud and was impeccible throughout but I confess to being slightly influenced by the Italian way ...

... yesterday I took my GS on its last ride with me across the Quantocks to Bridgwater and came back on a brand new Ducati S4R S Tricolore (stock picture attached). I am a very happy man! The GS was a sound bike and carried me over 17,000 miles in just 11 months but the Monster is a grin-inducing, completely different riding experience. The down side? My luggage capacity is now down to a toothbrush and a credit card

Thanks to all on this forum - the BMW experience was excellent.

 

[Navy Boy]

Ross

Enjoy!

I'm lucky enough to be in the position where I can have more than one bike. Last December I acquired a 2004 999s with 3, yes 3, miles on the clock.

I love it - I very nearly bought a lightly used Monster S4RS for the same money.

There's something about Ducatis. It was the same with the 748E I had back in 2000. As for luggage capacity, well who needs loads of stuff anyway!

Show us some pics when you can.

 

[Keith Chapman]

Ross, you will be wanting This forum now Not as lively as here but they are a reasonable bunch.

 

[Keith Chapman]

There's something about Ducatis. As for luggage capacity,

SWMBO just slings her luggage on my 1150 when she is out and about on her 750 Monster. She says that as I have a bike capable of carrying why should she.

 

[GS TRV]

Dude - did u really need to sell the 1100? I love my GS and although realise it's never gonna light the road up like my Busa, it's still indispensable for those long-distance hols like you described.

 

[Ross Dean]

Dude - did u really need to sell the 1100? I love my GS and although realise it's never gonna light the road up like my Busa, it's still indispensable for those long-distance hols like you described.

Yes (sorry!). I had planned on keeping it but the trade-in price was very fair. The GS is king of long-distance (that new Stelvio may prove a good rival) but I was looking for something different. Also, I can squeeze a change of clothing, a small tent and a sleeping bag onto myself and the Ducati and have found that is all I really need for the travels I have made so far. As for long distances, I found I was getting off the GS every 100 miles or so for a break and I discovered yesterday that I can achieve the same distance on the Ducati ... mind you I have to stop as the fuel light is on by then

The next trip is planned for this time next year and I hope to go France, Italy, north Africa, Spain, Portugal, Spain and back through France over some three months and keeping off motorways/serious main roads as much as possible ... on my Ducati

 

[Ross Dean]

... definately back!

Nine months later ... just part-exchanged the Ducati for a F800GS which will arrive in early March. The Ducati was great fun, fast with superb handling but plans for long touring on rough roads are beginning to take serious shape and that means a different bike. Cannot wait