I bought a duck...

WOW!!!!!! A 996 for a first bike! Well, it is pure sex on wheels, fit some frame sliders to that thing and get to an MSF course or something like that as soon as you can. Those dry cluches are probably going to be a bit tricky for you as well. Practice, and keep it as safe ass possible.

I would really reccomend that you borrow someone's dirt bike or get a cheap ninja for a few months to practice on. Learning to ride on a 996 is like learning to drive in an F1 car.

 

Congrats on a GREAT bike!!! We need pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

well done . effectively a new machine!! it remains my facorite shape of all dukes. actually the 888 is up there in the rankings too. again, a very nice machine and use it i good health.

 

You bought a 996 with no previous 2 wheel experience, and then drop it? I don't get it. Well I do.... but why.....

 

btw...please be careful in the parking lot as there is often alot of oil or even sand / gravel on the road surface!

 

Congrats buddy! looking forward to http://www.superbikeschool.com this week! Stay in one piece 'till then, K? Preview of my ride ...
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Holy crap. Hope U stay alive, or at least your self-restraint better than mine. They'd have to power-wash me off something. I still want a Tesi though. Or a Monster. Nice buy. Now ya need a hitch on the shark.

 

Do yerself a favor...

Park the Duck

go buy a Ninja 250 and ride it for a year.

The money you save in broken Duck parts and hospital bills will more than pay for the 250.

Good score on the bike... but as a first ride? hmmmm.....

 

Good advice.

 

shakes head.
says, I told you so.
Shakes head again.


Dude.
Ride safe please.

 

lol being the non-motorcycle type I thought you meant a 996 Porsche 911 and I was like wow that's low miles and how did a detailer be able to afford a brand new one? Too late, must get sleep...

 

Nah, Ducs crash very well. Unlike inline fours, when they go down, they tend to slide intead of digging in and breaking expensive parts. Get some atermarket glass fairings, get on a track and have a ball.
Congrats and enjoy Dan!

 

You sir, are MY ***KING HERO!!!!!

 

Rock Star!!!

Don't listen to these twerps, they're just jealous. Never be limited by your equipment I say. Even if you just putt around in the thing, the 996 is pure sex. If all else fails, put it in your living room as moving sculpture and offer to show chicks your scars you got from 'laying it down at speed'.

Get some replacement fairings, and maybe some frame guards (though the 9x6 is pretty well enclosed) so you don't write it off, and have at it.

I'm way with you on not having the desire to ride on the street too.

I just rode a friend of mine's 600cc enduro around today. Fun as all hell, and scares the absolute piss out of me.

 

Dan- if you are a reader, Code's second Twist of the Wrist book made enormous sense to me. The 996 is a brilliant bike. If there is anything I can impart from my mishap, it is full armor, all the time. Also, once you develop some basic skill, you are able to relax a bit, and that means you can really be in touch with the bike in a way that stiff, tentative riding won't allow. At early stages the learning curve is enormous, but can also be gratifying. Make sure you are well rested and not rushed each time. Enjoy!

 

Big props on buying a 996 but damn, I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry at some of your comments.

You thought you could take a riding course, on a track, on a superbike, with virtually no riding experience? Seriously? Hmm... Realize that even experienced riders are encouaged to take courses like that on smaller bikes to start out with. If you are serious about learning how to ride, you'll learn faster on a smaller bike. (He says, having started out on a 900cc Ducati himself...) IN any case, until the basics of riding are second nature (shifting, where the brake is, etc) you won't learn much of anything at a track course.

It sounds like you have some good people helping you out, which is great. Pay attention to them. And I'm not sure what the "msf THAT" comment was about... the MSF course is a great thing, a MUCH better idea than the route you're taking.

I don't mean to discourage you or say it can't be done. But reading your comments I have to wonder if you really know what you're getting into... A 996 isn't a great bike at low speeds. I'd go so far to say they pretty much suck at low speeds. If you didn't get above 35mph on your first day out then even more compliments to you because 35mph on a stock 996 isn't easy. I find about 40mph as being the cut off for smooth running in first gear!

Good luck in your adventure...

 

My 996, painted to match the car:
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u wus. I'm still in. But of course you can still stay. M

 

Kewl. Don't forget to put one of the sharks in the will too...Pozzi will do.
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Three inches I'm telling you!!! Oh wait, off the grou, erm, yes, three inches. That's my story & I'm sticking to it.

Of course Dan dosen't know what he's getting into! That's part of the fun!

 

I had lunch with him today, and it appears he is getting into fencing.

Just wonder what kind you would want to hit at 25mph ? ? ?
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Congrats Dan

Don't run frame sliders, they' bash your frame and bend it and if the catch on on something, they'll rip right out of your frame and send your bike tumbling end over end.

The 996 is awesome, you might consider converting from dual injectors to single injectors; it makes the bike's power delivery really smooth around town without a lot of tuning. (I've got an extra chip laying around if you're interested.)

The 996 really makes no sense on the street, on the track it all come together - I had mine a week and promptly took it to CA speedway (I've since bought race bodywork)
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