Daytripper 5

Spent a day out with a fellow scrambler rider and respective partners!

My wife has not ridden pillion for over 10yrs and never was the best at the job! along with she has always had a backrest on the customs I have built!
I bought her one of those Oxford pillion belts where I wear it she has a couple of hand grips to use. she didn't take it lightly ha ha but having used the "love handles" for the day she now appreciates them!
Did about 70 miles in all via Bishops Waltham - Loomies Cafe -Alton - a pub near Borden for lunch then back to Southampton for a Sprinkles ice cream and waffles!

SO the Bike!

It is a different beast with a pillion and me being a little rusty not having had a pillion for years was a little disconcerting!

Gear changes were different
Braking was interesting!
The seat is still rubbish

The gears needed to be changed more frequently and the upchange was at least lumpy and jerky. I have spent the last 20 yrs riding a Harley where solo, with pillion, or both with luggage did not make any difference what so ever to the bike! So I needed to adjust by riding style.

Brakes are OK but I am now convinced its the forks that should prioritised when it comes to upgrading. The dive is worse much worse!

I will be changing the front sprocket to a 16T infact ordered it this morning. this should sort the excessive gear changing needed two up and be less buzzy around 70-80 mph.
Seat will be next I'v just received the gel inserts so a winter project there
The front suspension will probably next.

But then I need a Dart screen oh well plenty to get on with this winter!

Daytripper 4

Another 50 odd mile's leaves me 60 till first service.

Went the scenic route to Waterlooville ending up in Petersfield slightly passed W'ville as there was a diversion, so quick blast up the dual carriage way was all that was needed!
Met my wife as she was at work swift pint then scenic route home again!
Definitely better to not blip the throttle on the down changes, I just wish I could remember I've 6 gears lol ! Pulling away in second is possible but not desirable!

More people are changing the front sprocket to a 16T one saying life is easier at 70 plus riding. And once I've taken my wife out pillion I'll be able to make my mind up. She is putting it off. How do I know? I say we could go for a ride...............silence ha ha.

Daytripper 3

Saturday
Loomies cafe
Ducati Dealers Snells Alton
Ducati Dealers Motorapido Winchester
Home
Total so far 492 miles bikes a month old 24/08/2015 

No problems that couldn't be sorted finally got around to checking the tyre pressures ( should've done it earlier) Book says 2.5 bar they had 3.5 bar! Helped fellow scrambler owner re tension his final drive chain easy job for once.

Still can't make my mind up about higher original bars, getting neck ache next day lower bars are better riding position but not helping physical health! 

If I swapped them back I'll get the bars powder coated black first ! 

Mpg 54

Daytripper 2

09/08/2015

On a whim went for a ride along an old road I know between Alton and Basingstoke via Lasham. I was a little surprised as I rode further down the roads more and more "Biker Think" posters were on a lot of lamp posts and telegraph poles. Along with surreptitiously placed police speed trap vans! Obviously the road has become more popular since my last visit a few years ago. Along with most of the way daubed with double white lines (no overtaking if your reading this somewhere other than England!)
Still it was a sunny day and no real hurry to get to my destination and the roads are still fun at legal speeds!
On arrival in Basingstoke I decided to go to Hartley Wintney the birth place of my father and my childhood haunt as a lad until I was around 9 yrs old when my fathers mother died. Its surprising that when your that young a village cricket green and surrounding houses seemed enormous, but know it was small and quaint!
Still I parked up took a few photos for the family archive and watch a cricket match whilst eating my way through a double 99 cone!

The Scrambler:
Coped well with the twisty roads as expected.
No problem with tightening bends.
A few false neutrals 6 to 5th gear and one or two 3-2nd I still am inclined to believe it was rider error not really paying proper attention and the newness of the bike.

Not so well coped!
The seat is horrible, uncomfortable to extreme (I've ridden hard tailed chops with solid seats that were more comfortable)
I would go to the point of saying it was the only thing that ruined the day and I was grateful to get home.
Ok I did best part of a 100 miles on the day before and 96 today but 200 miles over two days is not good enough! I am convinced I will be adding gel pads to mine and the pillion seat this winter!
The suspension not that much of a problem and as yet have not tried two up riding. I know its built to a price, but adding the new fangled (to me) cassette dampers (?) to only one fork is just pure penny pinching! An after market company can sort that by adding a matching cassette to the other fork for a couple of hundred pounds fitted seems like a good idea to me. The back, its got suspension my last bike didn't so win win lol. although maybe that will get upgraded as well later on.

plus point
Having to stick to speed to limits gave me 56 mpg!

Daytripper

100 odd mile round trip to Verwood today.
Still getting a few false neutrals, but not convinced it's the bike more me not taking notice!
Throttle Tamer is a resounding yes!
Seat a mild ouch
Boring sticking to max 80 mph!

Throttle Tamer

This refers to Ducati Scrambler dunno why it's posted here! Can't change it

"Tamer" arrived today took only 20 minutes to fit most of that was taking off the grip from old throttle and putting on the new one!
Fired up to check movement and adjust noticed the difference even then. Will be using the bike tomorrow for work, heavy rush hour traffic should tell me and show the difference easily.

Didn't have a part number but just

Ducati G2 Ergonomic Throttle Tamer

Fitting:

To remove

Two crosshead screws
Two 8mm bolts
Barend plug Allen bolt

Seperate the casing carefully release the cable from old throttle slide old one off.
Replace with the new noting how it fits into the casing.
Refit the casing loosely with the 8mm bolts first .
Taking care to correctly align the cable in the cover before screwing it back on.
Then have fun putting the grip on!
If you need pictures get someone else to do it!
Seriously it's not rocket science it's about making sure it rolls on and off smoothly no snagging or roughness in movement. YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!
If you are in anyway worried get a professional to fit it.
You Tube has several videos on it as well.

Town Work. (ish)

Ride around local area along the sea front, some C roads and the like. So had holiday traffic. Tractors, cyclists and the like.
I'd adjusted the gear lever and brake lever up a little, less missed gears ( not false neutrals) my wrong doing!
It has lifted them slightly but gear change is more positive , now need to try with boots on.
Also topped up with fuel and at a guess about 50 mpg. Not Being skinflint but better mpg means I'm riding the bike better as far as I'm concerned!
Suspension adjusted up to forth setting front end diving less didn't notice any difference elsewise.