Itchy Boots

Scarce said:

Ducati day. She tests three different models.
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Trying to ride a Ducati in Holland is tough. As Noraly says, she cannot get into sixth gear without loosing her license. The only place to accelerate is on the on-ramps, but you have to brake hard when you hit the motorway or snap, the photo radar has your license!
 
That Panigale sounds just like my RC51, did Ducati rip of Honda's engine after Honda beat them at their own game in the 2000 world superbikes!
 
I bet Dhanno doesn't stay long in the fleet after IB's foray into Ducatis. Even Ronin has to be a serious step up, and once you get used to that...
 
Ducatis don't seem to fit her style of traveling....or her personality. Bright red, loud bikes attract attention....which she seems to shun. Her trips are about where she goes, what she sees, and history/culture of those places. The bike is not that important.
Also.....many more Honda dealers than Ducs as she travels.
 
scootac said:
Ducatis don't seem to fit her style of traveling....or her personality. Bright red, loud bikes attract attention....which she seems to shun. Her trips are about where she goes, what she sees, and history/culture of those places. The bike is not that important.
Also.....many more Honda dealers than Ducs as she travels.
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All true. But my point was really that after even an admittedly one-time foray into the world of the Duc (she says several times the Ducs are out of financial reach) and a long-term relationship with Mother Honda, a Royal Enfield is going to seem mighty tame by comparison.

But she does love the noise a Duc makes. And the adrenaline it inspires.
 
scootac said:
The bike is not that important.
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For the most part I can agree, however, having watched the “The Long Way _________” series, the bikes that Ewan and Charlie rode were overkill for a good portion of their trips. The amount of effort required for them to pick the bikes up.... most of the time it was two of them that would right one bike up. She’s alone.... the Himalayan just seems the right choice for the South American/Mexico portion of her planned trip (depending if she ever gets to continue it). For the rest of the trip through the States possibly Canada the modified Honda with adventure tires may suit that leg of the journey better for her because of the better roads and ability to ride faster.
Even I, a man of stature, would seriously consider using a Himalayan, or the 650 V-Strom.
In Europe I can see the appeal of the Ducati, the dealer network is probably better there than on this side of the pond.
Noraly does like a bit of noise as she did change the exhaust on all her bikes to get her closer to that Ducati sound. ;)
I’m sure she will pick the bike that fits her budget and needs though at night dream of her Ducati
 
That's why so many BMW GS pictures show six guys pulling the GS and rider out of somewhere he has no business going. You need a support team, if you ride in those places.

Chris
 
RedMotion said:
Too bad she censored out the Panigale's speedo...
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Yes! It was interesting to see that the only place that is "safe" to exceed the speed limit was on the on-ramp to the freeway. Having driven in Holland many times, I know that the freeways have radar camera boxes almost every 500m.
 
ibike2havefun said:
All true. But my point was really that after even an admittedly one-time foray into the world of the Duc (she says several times the Ducs are out of financial reach) and a long-term relationship with Mother Honda, a Royal Enfield is going to seem mighty tame by comparison.

But she does love the noise a Duc makes. And the adrenaline it inspires.
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She used to own a Ducati Monster. Her first bike.

In 2015 I got my motorbike license and bought my very first motorbike: a second-hand Ducati Monster 796. From the first day on this motorbike, I was hooked. There is just nothing in this world as thrilling as riding a motorbike! But traveling the world permanently, meant I had to sell my Ducati (sad times…).
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Live chat tomorrow.

Want to chat?!
It feels like forever since the last live chat, so let's catch up!!

Let's talk about what on earth is going on with Dhanno, what is going to happen this winter, travel plans and well... whatever else comes up! If you want to ask me a question, please pop it under this post, because I won't be able to answer every question in the live chat!!

When: Tomorrow, Friday 27th of November
Where: On my YouTube channel
Time: 16:00 Dutch time (GMT+1 / Central European Standard Time)

Speak to you tomorrow!
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Scarce said:
She used to own a Ducati Monster. Her first bike.
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She also mentioned that in the latest video. I like that she didn't make mention about blocking the speedo. Any guy would make a BIG deal about how he did that to Fight The Man blah blah.

Speed cameras are a small price to pay for reducing accidents. "Over there" they're a way of life. Here they're just one more example of GOVT's jack boots on our throats crushing the joy from our souls. :rofl1:

I'd like to see how speed cameras infrastructure is managed there. In CA and other states (we don't have speed cameras) there was much abuse with red light cameras where the yellow light duration was shortened to less then required times.

Maybe the cities and counties knew this maybe they didn't. But it ended up pretty much killing off their use in CA which is too bad.

Back to the topic – her enthusiasm for the Ducs and the exhaust notes was delightful. AND we had a drone flight! I'm really enjoying these At Home videos and hope she can keep this up until she can travel again.
 
Noraly said:
Time: 16:00 Dutch time (GMT+1 / Central European Standard Time)
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So that's 0700 in CA (California)? Yikes! That's the middle of the night here. I'll actually have to set an alarm. Can't remember the last time I did that.
 
ibike2havefun said:
I bet Dhanno doesn't stay long in the fleet after IB's foray into Ducatis. Even Ronin has to be a serious step up, and once you get used to that...
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From her Live Chat, she's giving up her position as unofficial ambassador for Royal Enfield. When Dhanno arrives from Peru, she will be parked in favor of a modified for off road Ronin, a Honda CB500X. Double the HP and cylinders.
 
Ronn said:
ibike2havefun said:
I bet Dhanno doesn't stay long in the fleet after IB's foray into Ducatis. Even Ronin has to be a serious step up, and once you get used to that...
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From her Live Chat, she's giving up her position as unofficial ambassador for Royal Enfield. When Dhanno arrives from Peru, she will be parked in favor of a modified for off road Ronin, a Honda CB500X. Double the HP and cylinders.
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I think she is smarter than to go with a Ducati. What's her degree in...I think it was Geochemistry. She's no lightweight.

One of her primary concerns is weight and size. Add a bunch of belongings like clothes and video equipment, and it gets to be a handful if tipped over. And she doesn't have the support group some of the well-known BMW GS travelers. So whatever happens to her, she has to take care of by herself.

I about choked when I saw the cost of a valve check on a Ducati. Three valve checks would pay for the bike I had brought in for a tire change. If anything goes wrong with it, you'll need a computer to figure it out. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield is simple. My guess is you could fix just about anything on it with some bailing wire and duct tape. Especially if you're out in the boonies somewhere on a single-track trail.

The Honda is about right for her. Small. Lightweight. Plenty of power for everyday riding. And as bullet-proof as any modern era motorcycle will be.

As for bringing Dhanno back, I wonder if she wouldn't be money ahead to simply sell it. Although it would be fun to say the bike I'm riding is one that has been to all these countries on the Itchy Boots videos. But even there, it is her and her personality that comes through. The bike is not nearly as important in the story.

Chris
 
Just watched the live chat, she stated she wants to remain in the motorcycle industry.
Anybody else see her in PR/marketing for Ducati?
 
I caught the last few minutes of Norlay's live chat and like it. I'll have to go back and watch the replay later today. She said she'd try to do more. It'll be interesting to see how that goes.
 
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