Some motorcycles leave a long-lasting impression, sometimes for the best, sometimes for the worst. I jumped on my first Ducati ever this summer and I wasn’t about to half-ass it: it was the Monster 1200R. At a ratio nearing 1 hp per kilo, this Italian rocket was rightfully named.
I had the motorcycle for three days that I thought were going to be the best fun of my life. Was I ever wrong. Only a few hours on the motorcycle turned me into something dangerous. Someone cocky. That bike could probably take flight if I wanted it to, so I started feeling invincible. But no matter what, not even a Ducati will save you from bad decisions.
The first bad decision was mine. In 10 years of riding, I made my first genuinely dumb and rookie mistake and had my very first near-miss with a car that ended up costing me a bike drop, barely 12 hours after picking up the Ducati. After stopping to check for directions, instead of doing a proper shoulder-check, I assumed the cars coming up behind me had stopped for a stop sign and took off. What could go wrong? I was on a Ducati.
It was a costly mistake that landed the tips of the left grip and foot peg into the side of a passing car that hadn’t actually stopped, scratching off some paint.
I took a 36-hour hiatus from the Monster out of respect and shame, and settled back in the saddle with a bruised leg and ego. The Monster had to go back home to Pickering. On the highway, I met with not one, but two incompetent drivers who almost ended up with a Ducati stamped in their rear bumpers. In both cases, there was uncalled-for braking and in both cases, the culprit was on the phone.
After the second near-miss of the day, the third of the weekend, I had a mind to give up, park the bike and have a tow truck take it back. I did finally make it to Pickering, and now I’m convinced the Ducati Monster 1200R is forever cursed for me.
“In both cases, there was uncalled-for braking and in both cases, the culprit was on the phone.”
Yes, and in both cases you were behind them… It makes no difference if it was a cell phone, or a child/dog/cat/squirrel running out into the street or the car ahead of you plowing into the car ahead them that caused the sudden deceleration. it is your responsibility the ride at a speed and following distance that allows you to stop safely.
Don’t blame the bike or the other drivers, it was you… you can’t spin it any other way.
By my estimation your “genuinely dumb and rookie mistake” tally is at 3…
[…] Sabrina and the Ducati Monster — a cursed bike in more than just name. […]