Sports: [DucatiST] Re: Why I'm still here...

--- In st2_owners@yahoogroups.com, "St4S" <ST4s@...> wrote:
>
> Nick,
> What else do you have in that garage? I'm curious.
> Frank
> Flower Mound TX
>

Thought someone would ask! My MOT test man says he reckons I've got the most oddball collection of any of his customers...

In no particular order_

'85 Cagiva Alazzurra 650. To my mind, the spiritual ancestor of the Ducati ST but much more tractable. Low on power of course (600+ Pantah motor), but the same taut refinement as the ST4. Sheer pleasure.

'97 M750 Monster. Same iteration of 2-valve motor as the Alazzurra but banzai, perhaps because it drips with CF and is pretty light. Uncomfortable despite massive ergo changes and suspension refinement but handsome and fun.

'00 Cagiva Canyon 500 single. Without doubt the sexiest-looking traillie ever made. Much quicker than it has any right to be, and it sounds great too. Love it in charcoal and mustard yellow.

'91 Suzuki VX800. Absolutely superb bikes these; big-hearted and friendly, long, lean and stylish, and a demonstration of how best to use a decent-sized veetwin motor to generate real-world-riding torque. Two more of these live in Pennsylvania for our pleasure there, being easier to live with than Ducatis.

'02 Sachs b805. Arguably a more-modern iteration of the VX using a similar motor, and dressed in outrageous clothing. In no way does it match the composure and all-round excellence of the VX though. Literally a pain to ride on bumpy roads despite much 'refinement', but definitely a looker!

'90 Moto Morini Dart 350. Odd combination of a '70s pushrod veetwin in a small monoshock 'stroker chassis concocted by Cagiva, and clad in Tambourini bodywork. Exquisite in all respects especially handling, but a bit too taut. Technical interest mostly.

'00 MZ Skorpion Tour. 660cc Yamaha single in a British-designed frame built by East Germans. A bike that seems to become an extension of one's own body, it just feels so right. Not as pretty as the faired Traveller version (the motor is hardly elegant) but lighter. Sounds much nicer now with a Ducati Monster exhaust can!

'90 Yamaha SRX600. The Japan-only monoshock update of the cultish SRX series. The most compact design of air-cooled bike engineering imagineable, mass-centralised before it became fashionable. Beautiful to look at and fun to ride, but the 4-valve Yam has a deal less power than the 5-valve unit in the MZ.

'76 Suzuki GT550 triple 2-stroke. Currently needing engine work, but a delightful contrast in motors to the rest, again with a delicious sound-track. Surprisingly comfortable and torquey, and stylish in a '70s way.

'96 Honda NTV650 veetwin shaftie. Competent and compliant, if heavy for the power. Ideal for winter duties and would take you anywhere, but not exciting. Fine for enjoying the journey though...

'00 ST4. The best!

That's 11 total, but I pretend it's only 10 to humour the Missus!

NickW, UK