CHARLIE DUCATI MONSTER 1200 R
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN…
Eight months in and it’s over. The 1200 R has been cleaned, rolled into the back of a van and returned to Ducati. The Monster is yet another prime example of world class two-wheeled machinery that has served its time at Fast Bikes towers, impressed the natives and has been returned to its rightful owners. Now the bike is to be serviced, primed and released into the dealership market and, I hate to say, she may have been used, but has been hardly abused. She presents a bargain to the willing buyer.
The saying ‘you don’t know what you have got ‘til it’s gone’ has never resonated more fully with me. When I say hardly abused, I mean it, having not even achieved the 4,000 mile mark for the first time ever with a staffer. My time on the Ducati has been far too functional. I can’t help but think there was more fun to be had, but so be it – the eager bursts it had with Roots and Beej I'm sure relieved the Monsters boredom. Returning home to me for some adoring TLC having been out with my colleagues on a rampage, you could liken it to an affair.
We had some good times for sure, I can rarely think of track time I have enjoyed more. Giving the throttle a handful out of the corners at Silverstone was the highlight, braking later than I have ever tried using the full bite of the Brembo Monoblocks and dragging my knee to the point that the stand, gear shifter and covers have begun to grind. But what I didn’t do was really use the torque that flung the front wheel skyward, the braking capacity to roll out a stoppie at the lights, or really let the Monster rip as it is certainty capable of. These are missed opportunities that I can only sit back and think about whilst looking at the empty space in my garage.
As the temperature has dropped and the roads have got even more greasy it may not be the worst time to say goodbye. My final few journeys have been aided by a set of battery operated heated-grips from Cream Carbon. A case of slipping on a set of elasticated grips that bond surprisingly well; Velcro on the battery case, tidy the wires and set your temperature. It’s a well thought-out system that plays to my Ducati sentimentality of not wanting to slice the OE grips off and fit it with a fat set. There’s no need to play about with the bike’s battery or loom either. Just a simple charge; plug and play that gives enough heat to be more comfortable with a drop in temp' when wearing your summer or autumn gloves. Once done, you whip them off and put them on your off-roader, mountain bike, pram, whatever. I need more time to test these to be fair, as I fear they won’t get as hot as you may need them in the dead of winter, but do look out for a full review on fastbikesmag.com soon.
So Ducati ownership, what can you say? It’s a very different experience to other bikes I’ve run, there is such a history, an enthusiasm and love for the brand demanding you look at your reflection in shop windows. You feel the passion from the eyes of people in the know who look at your bike and love what they see, hear and experience as you ride past. If you’re not ready for the attention and adoration then don’t buy one, but if you are and you do the Monster 1200 R is a great place to start – just make sure that alongside the dutiful ownership side you give her a damn good spanking from time to time – I think she likes it that way...