Well the Sport 1000 is new in Aus, only a few months. I first saw one while reading a magazine on the bog. Saw it, fell in love with it and decided that if I was to have one, then I must first try one. after all, I bought the 600SS without ever riding a modern road bike, let alone a Ducati! I phoned the guy in Penrith Ducati, where I bought the SS and talked about it. Hes a racer and loves the 4 valve testrasetta for it's pure race breeding. He said he'd sold a few and had ridden it, wasn't much moe uncomfortable than mine. Did he have one to test? No. I phoned Frasers in Syd and talked to them. Me. I'd like to try a Sport 1000 Droid. The Sports only come in 883 and 1200 Me. Ducati, not Harley. Droid. Transferring you now. NewDroid. No mate, only one we have to test is in Woolongong. Me. I'll be in Sydney on Thursday, Can you organise to get it to Homebush,Penrith,Artarmon,Newcastle or Coffs Harbour as I'll be driving past all those dealers. Droid. No, you'll have to go to Woolongong. Now the 'Gong is 90 minutes each way out of my way, but hey it might be worth it. Anyhow* I rang the importer and asked if there was anyway I could get a ride at any of the other stores. They didn't ring back for a few days. Comes Tuesday and I decide to call Woolongong and book a ride, make sure it's free if I'm going that far out of my way. Mate, nah..... put it on a truck today. It's been sent to Newcastle! Luck is in! Rang the Novacastrian and booked the ride. Droid said he didn't know how long they'd have it for, so I explained that I was flying 1000 miles then driving another 3 hours, might be nice if he could see what he could do. Showed up on Thursday at lunchtime and there it was, parked out front. Blokes going for test rides in all directions. Company policy for this mob is to send a mechanic out with you on another bike, to show you the way and make sure you come back :) Eventually the spanner man comes out and starts the Sport which soon settles down to a silent idle. Bloody thing wouldn't run cold. Waited a while and eventually I said I'd be OK with it stalling, lets go. So he goes to get on his ride, a Yellow 749 thats on the lot. Bloody thing had a flat battery. They seem to die in June as it's the first day of winter. Poor bugger gave up and had to take another bike, a shiny black 999! Poor bastard. Off we go, out to the street. Gap in the traffic and I pull out gently, feathering the cutch as teh gearing is way high. Hmm, this thing is a bit gutless, open the throttle a bit and she seems to get going. Left at the lights and a run up to 80kph. This is better. Nice seat, good peg placement, all the controls in just the right places. Front twin Brembo discs have no trouble hauling it to a stop. Rear brake is absolute crap! Off from the next lights and all cage drivers eyes are on this wild yellow retrobike. Feels good running up to teh roundabout, right turn for a run up a twisty hill with bushland on either side. Feels good, but still gutless! Left turn and down a long straight to a U turn at the bottoma and a run back up a few K's of freeway. Open her up and try to catch the 999. Gutless. Pull up at the lights and it stalls. Down a few backstreets and back to the dealer with me thinking this is a nice ride except for the rear brake and the engine. Off teh bike and I chat to teh spanner. Mate this thing is running like a dog. No rear brake, but apart from that it's fahn great!. Have you got a Monster I can try, to get a feel for the engine and compare the ergonomincs. Sure thing, off he goes to get the one from out back. On I get and he jumps on the Sport for just a quick squirt around the block. I can pretty much tell straight away if I like it or not. Hmm, front brake lever not adjusted to good and the foot controls don't fit my feet as well as teh sport but I'll get by. Out on teh street and I wind on the same amount of throttle as I did on the Sport. Well fcuk me, up comes the front wheel and off we go!!!!!! Now THAT'S what a 1000cc L Twin should go like. Rear brake works a treat. I much prefer the Sport for the fact it looks so good. Raise the bars maybe 1.5 inch (there is a riser kit available) and it'd be the perfect hoon bike. When we got back the spanner man confirmed that it's not running right and took it out to the workshop to sort it's woes out. Got a call from teh local dealer the next day. Offering me a test ride if I'm interested. Seems teh Importer rang him and sorted it. I'll go check it out and take it for a longer run this month. Bit more trusting here, they let you take it away for a quiet coffee alone. (Typos left in for croks and MB)
