Spokey

Merry Christmas All, well, those of you who celebrate it anyway. I decided on a quiet day of introspection in the Kamanassie, Prince Alfred Pass Diepwalle and Gouna Forests……Actually the Missus turfed me out so she could get on with her art stuff!

Jeepers, I think I would benefit with all this on my 1190R!

Yeah, the MT01, but riding home today I figure the RC8 is the way forward! I am a huge fan of the LC8 engine…….as I sure you are aware!

So…….here I am in Cape Town having ridden across from George to check out and test ride the big Yam MT01. What an interesting though off the wall bike. Rides really well and handles way better than that engine configuration would suggest. Bit of a tractor, revving to just 5000rpm but at 2500/3000 it pulls like a train…….no panniers for touring…..take the caravan!! Anyway……..to screw all my plans up a KTM RC8 has become available. This is a dream bike of mine, I am a huge fan of the LC4 and LC8 engines. Perhaps my plans will change!This bike is in the colours of my 1190R……..would be a great addition to the stable. The Laverda I posted earlier has perhaps gone the hard way…….I think there will be more drama than fun in that ownership experience. Right now I am between the RSV Aprillia 1000 and the MT01……..until this…..

Photo from advertisers page. This is a little beauty……

I have just been thrown a curve ball…. I am in Joburg heading home tomorrow and have been to see a really interesting little Laverda 750 S Formula in bright red. I expect that is even more rare but in all honesty it is unlikely I would ride it much. Very pretty Italian exotica though.

Been far too long away from my bike, had a couple of rides recently up behind Witfontein in George. Was great getting back into it though the 60 year old body did take some strain!

I am unable to get the info I require before dropping Randellas on the Ducati 748 that I was looking at. There is no service history, no books and no info on the last belt service. There are no spare keys. The bike was on display in a house. Anyways a rather interesting Yamaha MT01 has come up at a good price. I have bought from this seller before and have trust. Just wondering what you enthusiasts may think of this as collectible potential. Rare and quirky springs to mind. However a nice addition to a collection of early 2000 V twins. photo is of the bike by the seller.

Those R models will have a premium price. I do like a 999 too. I saw your XT advertised…I like it. The 748 I have been looking at does not have the Ducati books nor a spare key. No idea on the last belt service so I would feel the need to get that done. I may make an adjusted lower offer with this in mind.

Funny guy hey

Yeah, that yellow 748 would look lekker in this short line up.

Don’t be jealous, I just bought her a Giant Trance as she struggles with the little Titan hard tail. I am trying to get her into this MTB malarkey with some comfort, my old Titan was an interesting buy. I had a Soma steel hard tail frame and bought a complete Titan with Shimano XT so I could remove that to my Soma and swapped out marginally lessor components to the Titan frame. The Giant full susser will be her Christmas pressie……………the Ducati will be for me ha ha!

Only if you run off the tar………

I have several bikes that I am keen to add to my perhaps less than modest collection. I would welcome comments from you guys as to what you may think. I am totally out of the market for things like Honda CB 1100 RC/D etc and Aprilia RS250. I delayed on a Yamaha RD350 recently and now it is gone…….perhaps my moment has past. Currently enquiries are in for a Ducati 748 in the striking yellow paint job to sit alongside the 749 Dark and gorgeous red 1098. Beyond that I am after a small Ducati Monster, 600 perhaps, perfectly formed and pretty. A KTM 950/990 as not small and still perfectly formed. A Yamaha XT from 500 to 600 and even better a 750 twin. An Aprilia RSV 1000 twin as not small, still perfectly formed and a gorgeous addition alongside the 1098 Ducati for modest cost. Anyways, here is a pic of what may well be the Christmas present to my long suffering wife……..after all…….she did say the next bike must be a yellow Ducati…..this is the best I can do.

I really like the look of these bikes.