Ageing biker goes left field

**Blackbird** · 7th March 2019, 17:46

Originally Posted by MD

Congrats Blackbird on your new steed. Always exciting picking up a new bike. Looking forward to hearing your long term impressions.

Also bloody well done that man still riding at 72 and by the sounds of it as immature as you must have been when you first started riding. I mean that as a compliment! Keep laughing in your helmet and stay safe.

Cheers
Mark

Thanks Mark, can't wait to go for a run this weekend with some mates. That bike is bloody mental! In the meantime, I'm just strolling into the shed on a regular basis to sit on it (wife had a hip replacement a month ago, so I'm chief cook and house cleaner most of the time

).

Taken in the spirit it was intended thanks! My wife says it's like living with a 5 year old. My riding mates (all younger) might add 10 years to that

**Navy Boy** · 9th March 2019, 08:27

It sounds like Lola has passed the 'I give it a pat when I walk past it' test Geoff. Good stuff. Don't forget some photos of the first ride out this weekend.

**Blackbird** · 9th March 2019, 09:36

Originally Posted by Navy Boy

It sounds like Lola has passed the 'I give it a pat when I walk past it' test Geoff. Good stuff. Don't forget some photos of the first ride out this weekend.

Yup, it gets a pat Lee! Forecast is good for the Sunday social ride. Tony called it an "antisocial ride" on the Duke

**Blackbird** · 20th March 2019, 10:05

Just thought I'd do a quick update on the Duke 790 ownership. Only covered 500 km so far due to visitors coming to stay but should be able to address that soon.

Since buying it, I've added the usual farkles - crash protectors, front guard extender, flyscreen with some more odds and ends yet to be delivered. Out on a social ride the weekend before last on Waikato back roads, the handling was exemplary. Very quick steering as you might expect from a bike which has a dry weight of 169 kg. Range will probably be 250-300 km when run in - handy enough. However, if one thing stands out, it's the instant torque from the 435 degree "big bang" motor. Coupled with the light weight, she really picks up her skirts and accelerates, even with a tight motor. If further proof was actually needed, it does go to show that we don't need to own willy-waving litre plus bikes to "make progress" on public highways.

The sound from the engine firing order is pretty cool. Sounds like a Ducati with Termignonis up the rev range but like a big single at other times. The whole LCD display flashes orange when approaching the max revs warning which is clearly reduced under 1000 km. Haven't even tried sport or track modes yet as street mode is just fine! The quick-shifter is really nice to use. Downshifts are a dream but upshifts need a reasonable amount of throttle for a seamless shift. Pretty much how you'd use it anyway. Lots more to discover yet and being a typical bloke, I haven't read all of the comprehensive manual yet.

Do I still think I've made the right choice? (over the 765 Street Triple R). Yes I do. Both would be perfectly fit for purpose but the Duke is a bit more lairy and different, the dodgy tart as opposed to the sophisticated chick. It encourages laughter, fun and immoderate behaviour - need to watch that! Go find a dealer with a demonstrator and have a good laugh!

**george formby** · 20th March 2019, 12:04

Welcome to the world of P-twins!

Don't let that noise get you into trouble.

**Blackbird** · 20th March 2019, 13:11

Originally Posted by george formby

Welcome to the world of P-twins!

Don't let that noise get you into trouble.

Thanks GF! Funny how some bikes just wrap you round their finger!

**Owl** · 21st March 2019, 05:48

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Range will probably be 250-300 km when run in - handy enough.

Pretty good from a 14ltr tank.

**Blackbird** · 21st March 2019, 06:28

Originally Posted by Owl

Pretty good from a 14ltr tank.

Yep, I was impressed. I wasn't pinning the throttle for obvious reasons but was still allowing it to rev fairly freely. The twisty route we covered on our social ride didn't mean much constant throttle either. As I mentioned on my blog, 6th gear is a bit too high for it at present without making it lug at moderate revs so most of the riding has been in 4th and 5th. Given those circumstances, it did a lot better than I was expecting.

Cheers,

Geoff

**george formby** · 21st March 2019, 10:17

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Yep, I was impressed. I wasn't pinning the throttle for obvious reasons but was still allowing it to rev fairly freely. The twisty route we covered on our social ride didn't mean much constant throttle either. As I mentioned on my blog, 6th gear is a bit too high for it at present without making it lug at moderate revs so most of the riding has been in 4th and 5th. Given those circumstances, it did a lot better than I was expecting.

Cheers,

Geoff

I'm looking forward to your impressions after run in. The TDM is so tractable I'm usually in 3rd / 4th on our twisties. 3rd is good for 20kmh - 100kmh+. Roll on, roll off. Repeat.

Nowhere near that fuel economy, though.

**Blackbird** · 21st March 2019, 10:35

Originally Posted by george formby

I'm looking forward to your impressions after run in. The TDM is so tractable I'm usually in 3rd / 4th on our twisties. 3rd is good for 20kmh - 100kmh+. Roll on, roll off. Repeat.

Nowhere near that fuel economy, though.

I'll do another review when it's through its 1000 k service. The TDM never had anything less than outstanding reviews so I'm not really surprised with the tractability. Modern lightweight rotating components don't help in that respect but the "big bang" concept and supporting electronics must help enormously. Likewise with tyre grip due to the uneven power pulses. I'm sure that the light weight and torque of the Duke must assist with its economy and at 72kg in my socks, I'm hardly a lardarse either

**Blackbird** · 2nd April 2019, 06:57

Well, I've racked up around 1500km on the Duke now and love it to bits - absolutely the right choice for me. Here's what is hopefully an objective look at how it's gone over that time: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2019/...0-km-down.html .

**caspernz** · 2nd April 2019, 14:59

Good to see you grinning from ear to ear on Sunday Geoff. Hope the love affair with the new bike continues as time and mileage sneaks past.

We'll forgive the gushing report you've put together as new love

Enjoy

**Blackbird** · 2nd April 2019, 15:16

Originally Posted by caspernz

Good to see you grinning from ear to ear on Sunday Geoff. Hope the love affair with the new bike continues as time and mileage sneaks past.

We'll forgive the gushing report you've put together as new love

Enjoy

Hahaha - thanks Rob - you know how it is when your hormones runneth over

. Even in wet conditions on Sunday down the coast road, I was still grinning like a loon. Forget Viagra for this old fella.....