Ducati Diavel first ride

The more I read and see about the new Ducati Diavel the more impressed I become with Borgo Panigale's latest creation. This motorcycle has the potential to blow the street cruiser class wide open.  I love my Harley Davidson VRod but Ducati has come up with something truly unique in the class.

Ducati Desmosedici vs Ferrari 430 Scuderia

Here's an earlier test between the Desmosedici RR and the Ferrari 430 Scuderia. Different bikes and cars but the result is much like the post below. When it comes to who wins does it REALLY matter? Either two or four wheels these vehicles are truly special.

Motorcycling In the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park

I had the opportunity to take a "mini" vacation last week and spent the time with good friends motorcycling through majestic California scenery. The plan was to camp for two days in the heart of Yosemite Valley and then spend another few nights at a campground in the northwest section of the National Park. The rest of the time was spent on motorcycles traveling through the park and especially Route 120 to Tuolumne Meadows and down the awesome Tioga Pass and out to the small town of Lee Vining on the shore of Mono Lake. Another longer motorcycle ride went through the same area but we then headed north to Bridgeport, California and on up and over the Sonora Pass, one of four crossing points across the Sierra Nevada between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. From there it was on remote and sometimes barely paved backroads to the town of Twain Harte and then back to the National Park.

Riding and traveling by motorcycle is a wonderful experience that is different in subtle and not so subtle ways to the experience of driving in a car. You always have a sense that you are somehow just that bit closer to the surroundings you are traveling through and your senses are heightened as a result. You feel the subtle temperature differences when going up and down elevation, can literally have a better sense of smell as you ride with an open face helmet or with your shield open, and just generally feel more connected to your immediate surroundings because you are more exposed than you would be in a 4 wheel vehicle. We were on the constant vigil for wildlife especially along the lightly traveled backroads but the riding was absolutely wonderful and the scenery did not disappoint. We did see some of the effects of the wildfires and we greeted the firemen who passed by and also saw some of the basecamps that were utilised by the crews fighting the fires.

All in all a great time with longtime friends: motorcycling by day, camping and telling tall tales at night... makes for good times!

With the Ducati Paul Smart 1000 Limited Edition at Olmstead Point, Yosemite National Park. Notice Half Dome in the background.

Setting up our campsite in Yosemite Valley

Unloading a Ducati 900 Supersport CR

Hanging out at Olmstead Point. Honda CBR 1000 in the foreground and Ducatis in the background.

One more picture of Olmstead Point

Gas pitstop at Bridgeport, California with snow on the Sierra Nevada in the background.

Rest stop somewhere northwest of Yosemite National Park

Using a GPS unit to figure out where we are!

Up around 9000 ft. MSL just below the Sonora Pass.

Rainy February and the MCN Video Review of the Ducati 1098R

Outdoor fun has been fleeting during the month of February... plenty of rain and the flu had me down and out. The Ferrari finally got on the road after basically being in storage for the last three months. Besides a perfect Sunday drive out to Malibu in the F355 on 10 February

Amanda's birthday drive in the F355 on the best Sunday in February

and a motorcycle ride down to Lake Elsinore and over Ortega Highway to the Orange County coastline on the Harley-Davidson V-Rod, I haven't gotten out much. The MINI's oil pressure gauge is acting up again so I might need to head over to Steve's Auto Clinic to have that issue sorted out. We'll see. I still need to get the Nurburgring sticker on the car!

I came across Britain's MCN (Motorcycle News) Magazine's video review about the Ducati 1098R. What a bike! Truly an awesome machine and backs up my conclusions about the beast.

Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

Video courtesy of MCN

Finally, today is Academy Awards day a couple of miles from my place. But back in the summer of 2006 I headed to Hollywood Boulevard to see the stars of MotoGP and the awesome Ducati race bike strut its stuff in front of the Kodak Theater. Here is a picture of that day that shows future world champion Nicky Hayden riding his Honda on the boulevard. Down the line (just past the outstretched hands and wearing sunglasses) you might find a familiar face (mine!) enjoying the event. I had returned from Italy and the Italian Grand Prix a month earlier and it was interesting to see the racebikes on the streets of L.A. instead of the rolling hills of Tuscany!

Nicky Hayden (not on his MotoGP bike) on Hollywood Boulevard

Picture from MotoGP.com, the official website of the MotoGP World Championship

Possible New Love?

What am I talking about? Well with me it is usually something mechanical and yes folks, a new motorcycle has caught my eye. The Ducati 1098R is quite a beast. 186 hp with the racing exhaust, traction control (the first for a production motorcycle), MotoGP and World Superbike technology aplenty, this is one serious machine. Expensive...yes. I've heard that it's going to run about $40,000.00 in the US. No small change but nevertheless I keep mulling the possibilities and keep checking the piggy bank. Hey, at least it costs less than the $72,000.00 Desmosedici and I think it is a helluva lot sexier looking too! Beauty, brains, brawn, and exclusivity (hmmm... where can I find a woman like that?): what's not to like? Dealers are taking orders now...

Ducati 1098R

The stock clutch cover would last about 5 seconds on my bike before I put something better looking on!

Image courtesy of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

Ducati Desmosedici unveiled!

I received an invitation to attend the unveiling of the Ducati Desmosedici on 2 February. This bike is THE closest thing to a race specific machine available for the street. It's like owning a Mclaren F1 car with turn signals. Very expensive and very rare, the bike will surely see more "museum" time than street time. 200+ horsepower, MotoGP tech aplenty, the Desmosedici is like nothing else on the road. About 1500 will be built and they are all spoken for.

Pro Italia Motors in Glendale, California, a longtime and respected Ducati dealer, unveiled the first U.S. customer bike. Rumors have it that Tom Cruise has also taken delivery...

Update 24 February 2008

Here is the official Pro Italia video of the Desmosedici unveiling (you get a glimpse of me in my Ducati MotoGP Race Team shirt ogling the bike):

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Anyway, I got a few grainy pictures and a short video on my phone:

CNN Does Extensive Ducati Coverage

CNN did a lengthy piece about Ducati and the 2007 MotoGP World Championship winner Ducati rider Casey Stoner on a segment of the show "Art of Life" hosted by anchor Monita Rajpal. Monita speaks with Livio Lodi, the director of the Museo Ducati and a gentleman that I met on one of my previous visits to Ducati.

Have a look at CNN's "Art of Life" by clicking on the link:

CNN's Art of Life: Ducati

Hansen Dam British Bike Meet

On November 4th the Hansen Dam British Bike Meet took place in the San Fernando Valley. This is a great event which focuses on vintage bikes from the United Kingdom. There were a few modern and classic Italians in attendance, including my Paul Smart 1000 LE.

Here are a few photos:

My #16 waving the Italian flag in a sea of British machinery

If Nortons, Triumphs, Vincents, Royal Enfields, and BSAs are your passion then this was definitely the event to attend.

Ducati: Campioni del Mondo!

2007 has been a great year to be a Ducati owner/fan! A little over a week ago Ducati clinched the MotoGP World Championship at Motegi Raceway in Japan with Australian rider Casey Stoner. All Stoner had to do was finish ahead of the great Valentino Rossi and the title was his. Loris Capirossi, the other accomplished Ducati factory rider, managed to take home the win and Ducati had reached the pinnacle of motorcycling motorsport! Bravo!



I've been to the factory several times, the most recent being this past summer with the MINI. I found this video of the early morning title race event that took place at the gates to the factory. Definitely more crowded than when I was there! It must have been a great day to be in Bologna, especially with all those Ducs on the streets making that wonderful v-twin desmo sound. Have a peek at the day's events:



I feel like gettin' on the bike now...

Top photo and video courtesy of Ducati

Superbikes, Supercars, and On to the Alps

JCW MCS at the famous entrance to the Ferrari Factory

Video Impressions of northern Italy

Today we completed our visit to Italy by visiting the Emilia-Romagna region. This area is pretty dear to me as it is the home of Italian automotive engineering art: Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Pagani, and Ducati. The food isn't bad either as the region has given the world such Italian staples as prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan Cheese, ravioli, and more.

Jennifer with our Ducati factory tour guide Natascia

The day began with a tour of the Ducati factory at Borgo Panigale, Bologna. This is my third visit to the factory and Jennifer's first. She was quite excited to see bikes being built and learned quite a bit.

With the original Paul Smart 1972 race bike. Scroll down the blog to see my modern interpretation of this bike.

My MINI does wear a Ducati logo. Here we are parked near the factory.

With a Ducati Factory worker's MINI

Autovanti BMW/MINI in Bologna

I stopped by Autovanti BMW/MINI in Bologna to have a diagnostic test carried out because my "Service Engine Soon" light has come on again. No fault codes were present and that gave me comfort as I had a drive through the Alps ahead. Autovanti did not charge me for the diagnostic test and even gave me a printout (in Italian). Nice dealership.

From Borgo Panigale we drove up the A1 to Maranello, the home of Ferrari. Driving around supercar alley is always a treat and we did spot several new Ferraris being road-tested. Cars were being tested at the Fiorano test track as well.

At the Fiorano Test Track Gate

One big highlight of the day was that our car managed to turn the heads of supercar weary Ferrari factory workers. Another memorable moment from this trip!

After Ferrari we drove up towards Verona and on into the Alps, crossing the Brenner Pass and passing through Innsbruck and on to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for the musical "The Sound of Music."

More to come!

Sundown in the Austrian Alps

Motorcycle Art

La bella macchina Ducati

An impromptu get-together of Ducatis in front of the house on a gorgeous Southern California Father's Day, 18 June 2007.

Relaxation After a Stressful Day

After a long stressful day I really needed to get away for a little bit. Luckily my buddy Mike had the same idea after his day at work so we decided to get on the bikes and ride. Just what I needed...

Retro Looks...

modern power!