Group ride over Skaggs - my longest ride so far!

Group ride over Skaggs - Fianlly made it to HW1!
Originally uploaded by achung_123

It was a blast! Total of 280 miles of fun ride in the heat - the temperature around Lake Barryessa area was close to 105 degree. The heat drained everyone's energy quickly, and we needed to rest more then usual. Skaggs road was AMAZING - race tack quality road without kids, traffic, or LEO. The only draw back of Skaggs was the 'second half' of the road (west end to HW1). The road basically down-graded from class A track quality to class B twisty without much of the transition - I personally think it is a prefect test route for the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 - change from super bike to dual sport in a flip of a switch!

I felt very happy after the long ride - not only because I broke my personal record of local riding distance; but mainly I felt like I picked a right bike as my second bike, especially after the right upgrade (the DP racing seat and Oberon slave clutch slave cylinder - will do review soon!). I am looking forward to the next ride... =)

Puma GP1000 V3 and the frustration with Motorcycle Superstore

Puma GP1000 V3
Originally uploaded by achung_123

My new pair of Puma V3 boots has finally arrived... except it was late. I ordered it through Motorcycle Superstore, where I never have any problem for years. I paid extra for overnight delivery so I can ride with the new boots over the weekend; but it was late and I didn't get it until the Monday on the following week. Their excuse was the supplier shipped late, and they refuse to refund the extra shipping that I paid. Felt really bad about this since I could of save the extra shipping cost. Anyway... don't think I will do any business with them anymore.

The boot s itself was great! A lot better made than the older model. With the new boots, I finally able to do micro adjustment to the new rearsets too. Feels like finally things are slowing getting together...

Hopefully will be able to test ride with my new boots tomorrow afternoon!

Goodies! More on the way!

Goodies! More on the way!
Originally uploaded by achung_123

I have not post any update for some time... why? Because I am busy shopping! (just kidding...) Buying a Ducati is like buying a very good basic package... it means there are lot of rooms for personal customization. Just like my Sport 1000, the new SF-S will walk the same road. So... it is time to shop (oh yeah, feels like Christmas!)

Here is the list of parts that I already have put on order... or already on the bike:
- Akrapovic carbon fiber slip-on exhaust
- Carbon fiber heat shield
- Exhaust hunger from Shit-Tech
- 'Corse' rearsets from Motorwheels
- Rizoma Circuit 743 mirrors
- Rizoma bar ends
- Rizoma mirrors adopters
- Rizoma Star pressure plate
- Speedmoto 7 spoke clutch cover
- Speedmoto frame sliders
- Oberon 29mm slave clutch cylinder
- Oberon pegs (off along with original rearsets already)
- R&G tail tidy

And here is the 'wish list' items... yeah, it going to get costly...
- TuneBoy / MicroTech ECU / Custom ECU map ($600 to $1200)
- ASV / CRG / Evo III levers ($200 to $400)
- Rizoma reservoirs with clear tube ($200)
- Rizoma signals ($200)
- DP racing seat / DP tour seat ($200)
- Kriega US-5 Drypack ($60)
- HID headlight ($180)
- Keyless gas cap ($180)
- Scorpio Alarm SR-i900 ($350)
- Carbon fiber parts... huggers, key guard, side panels, tank pad, air intakes, radiator guard ($130 - $600..EACH)

This wish-list is like day dreaming... and it goes on-and-on. The worst part is, I usually find something better (or work better) along the way... so some parts may hit Ebay soon....

Will post progress and picture soon. Still waiting for my replacement boots to do some micro adjustments of the new rearsets. Stay tune!

Weekday later ride

Weekday later ride
Originally uploaded by achung_123

Feeling so lucky to live in Bay Area - all the fun twisty roads are just miles away. Today I got off work a bit early, and took my SF-S for a short local spin - love the roads and love my bike. I also took this ride to test and adjust all the new parts that I just added on. Recent (just few days ago LOL) list were Rizoma Circuit 743 mirrors, Rizoma bar-ends, and carbon fiber heat shield from DesmoPorsche. The quality and the design of the mirrors are very nice; however, due to the small and flat mirror area, they are pretty useless - my field of views are VERY limited. I will give it a few try and see if I can get used to it. If not, it will be on Ebay up for grab.
The carbon heat shield suffers similar problem - it looks nice and fit well; but it gives off more heat than my original heat shield. Even at mild and windy day like today - at 7pm!!! I won't complain if it is a hot day; but at 56F??? WTH? So you may see it on Ebay soon too....
At the meantime, enjoy the pictures!

Riding on Redwood road caught in action!

Riding on Redwood road caught in action!
Originally uploaded by achung_123

Thank's for your pict Daniel! It was nice of you to take all these action shots and share to the local riding community. It was a nice day to ride, and a lot local riders out there...

Flat spot at 3500rpm

I guess it is nothing new to the Ducati fighter's owners out there - but today I finally got a taste of it. This morning I was riding on some of my local back roads, and things were going really well with my SF-S. Generally I tried to keep my engine speed above 4000 rpm to avoid the less-than-perfect engine performance; partly I want to listen to my newly installed pipes also (it was awesome btw).  On the way back home, I was on Pinehurst road with a series of tight S turns and hair-pin curves traveling steep up hill. I had to put my bike at 2nd and lean pretty low at about 25mph to make it through. By the time I made it to the exit, rolled my throttle, and guess what - nothing happened - right at around 3500 rpm! Felt like hitting a wall. It happened when I was in mid-to-late turn, the sudden lost of power even at a split second affected my exit line. I was traveling uphill, meaning the side-effect of the lost of power really taking a toll on me - to make the matter worse, there were 3 cars traveling on the opposition direction! I was getting REALLY close to the double yellow - not exactly a close call yet; but for sure I don't feel comfortable at all.

So the lesson to learn: Use first gear as much as I can! Keep the rpm up... and smooth the bike by even lighter throttle input. I guess it is time to do more research on how flashing the stock ECU and put on some custom map... Tuneboy here I come!

For more discussion, check out the helpful posts on Ducati MS.

New Akrapovic carbon slip-on exhaust installed!!!

New Akrapovic exhaust installed
Originally uploaded by achung_123

It finally arrived on Sat early afternoon - prefect timing. The first impression just by holding the box was...it's so light! Took me good 20 mins to take the old stock out, and it weights a ton compare with Akrapovic pipes. Installation was smooth without any problem. Compare with my Sport Classic, the finishes and fitment on Streetfighter is far better - as the result, there isn't much room of error. So far everything turn out nicely, and I can't wait to ride her down to the coast line tomorrow.

A long with the new pipes, I installed Shift-Tech tail tidy and Oberon foot pegs from Monsterparts. Tail tidy give my Streefighter a very clean look (I am still waiting for my new plate; so it is even cleaner now! LOL). To address the slippy stock pegs, I got a pair of Oberon pegs as temporary cheap solution until I find a right rearsets. I have not ride with this set of pegs yet - will see how it goes in tomorrow ride!

My first twisty ride - and I want more!

Ready for second round! Fun fun fun!
Originally uploaded by achung_123

Finally I was able to spend some quality time with my new bike. I headed down from Redwood road to Palomares, turned around, took Pinehurst Road and Bear Creek Road home - total of 100 miles of local back roads (about 20% freeway, 10% city, and 70% twisty). On the freeway, the Streetfighter came alive - smooth engine with great power. Once it is on twisty, the main thing I notice was the engine respond. It got a bit rough every time it drop close or below 4500 RPM. Typical Ducati 2V engine has 3000RPM 'limit', and the SF is much higher. In exchange of smooth engine respond, I tried to keep it at 4k to 6k RPM - end up I used 2nd gear for most of the backroads. A bit different from my Sport Classic; but it was actually really fun for this big bike on tight twisty turns -a lot of engine brake at entry point, and a lot of torque on exit - I just need to be really easy on the throttle input. The only complain is the foot pegs - they are new and way too smooth and slippy. Also since I was used to Woodcraft's crazy high racing rearsets position on the Sport 1000, I felt like my toe will get stuck at mid aggressive turn. It is still a new bike to me, so I didn't really pushing it hard; but it was enough to cut the chicken strips down from 1.5" to less than 1/4" in just single twisty run. Can't wait to do few more round this weekend.

BTW, I have just ordered a few key after-market parts. They should all arrive sometime next week. Stay tune for mod update!

2010 Streetfighter S - she's home!

My new girl... 2010 Streetfighter S
Originally uploaded by achung_123

After long search, long wait , researches, considerations, and drooling, finally I bought her home from Hatter Motorsports. She is not exactly new; but with only 1100 mile on, I consider she is new - new enough for me. I was very happy with the Hatter's dealership experience - they handled paper work quickly with professional manner. LOVE the bike very much! It is a huge improvement of riding ergo and power delivery compare my beloved Sport 1000. She is just simply a blast to ride.

Time to shop for after market parts! Yeah!