1st ride report from new orleans!

Well all I can say, the 939 is all that I hoped for and more (READ MY BACKGROUND BELOW OR IN NEW MEMBER INTRO...)

First off let's just say that the bike is beautiful! It is sculpted wonderfully the lines are great it's exactly what you would expect from Ducati. When I had to choose between the white and the red when I put in my order eight months ago, for an S, I wanted the white but I've always had red because I feel like that's the way it supposed to be LOL. But as time approached I thought that I might really like the white. The demo that came to my dealership was white and ....I'm really glad I got the red. Even though the white is beautiful it's a matte finish and by the time they uncrated the bike and got it dialed in, the grease fingerprints from all the admirers had smudged the bike so much that it kind of looked weirdly used already. Now I say that in no way to make you think that once they wiped it off it wasn't pristine and beautiful again but I know that I would like a more glossy finish because I don't like my bikes to be dirty and "fingered" and I don't know how to take care of matte paint. Also the red wheels are super cool but they look so shiny they almost look like a toy wheel. LOL. Now with that being said if someone had said that that star white silk super sport was mine right then I would've been over-the-top happy so the folks that got the white you're going to be really happy because you knew that you got the matte finish and you obviously like that.. I took off my work clothes changed into my riding gear, put on my helmet and threw a leg over the bike and it was perfect size for me!! (I like my bikes tiny bit tallish) I am 5'6" tall 145 pounds with a 30 inch inseam. I put those measurements down so that anybody that has similar measurements can know exactly how the bike feels. I am just coming off of a 821 hyper Strada on which I was toe tips on both feet all the time which was mildly uncomfortable for me. The ergonomics are awesome and the controls are a little different than what you may be used to on the handlebars to start the motorcycle and to change the riding modes. In fact, after multiple Ducati's that I've owned I didn't figure out how to start the bike until they showed me LOL. It's a weird button that you pull down, it's not a button that you press. This apparently is the new trend of Ducati except for the multiStrada 1200 I'm told. When the bike started up the display lit up and it was beautiful. I would've rather had a full color display as in the multi Strada 1200 but this one is so much better than all of the other ducati bikes that I've had. The roar of the engine was perfect with all the pops and gurgles that you would expect but actually more grunt and roar than I expected from the stock cans which lets me know that I probably won't be buying any slip Ons. So if you are toying with the idea of buying this bike and thinking that you're going to have to spend an extra $1500-$2000 on the slipon, don't feel that way because the stock ones are great. I fixed my mirrors and decided to take off. I have to stop right here to say that. THE MIRRORS ARE HORRIBLE. USELESS. when I came back I said that to the dealership and they told me that when they went to Italy to test ride the bike everyone said the same thing so I'm going to assume that there's going to be a fix at some point. They vibrate so much that it's not really good to even look at them and while some people never used your mirrors on their motorcycles, I do all the time. So I put that behind me and started out in the urban mode. This drops the horse power 75 and allows you to get a good feel of the bike. My hyper Strada had the same riding modes so I was very familiar with this. the way that you change riding modes is a little bit different than on the hyper Strada but easily done. The ride by wire is seamless the acceleration even in the urban mode was adequate for bopping around town from stoplight to stoplight. At the first six stoplights I have to say to my fellow Ducatisti that i got looks like nobodys business and three people actually stopped me and asked me what it was. So if you're looking for curb appeal this is your bike as well. As I was going to try to get on the interstate I pulled up the adjustable windscreen which I think might be a little bit short so, I'm going to order the taller smoked windscreen for sure. Once the windshield is raised it's adequate but it looks a little goofy to have it raised all the time. I switched the bike to touring and hopped on the interstate and in no time I was at 120 miles an hour cruising effortlessly. It was at this point that I noticed that the ergonomics although much more comfortable than my 749 are still very sports oriented. This is important because I don't want anyone out there thinking that you're going to use this as a true sports tourer. I don't care if you buy the side bags or not. I am a little guy and the ergonomics are awesome for me but I could see myself riding his bike for 3-4 hours or so but there is some strain on the wrists and your feet are back a bit. So it's truly a cross between a monster and a panigale in that aspect. This is not a negative because for folks that want to do some light touring and riding around in urban areas it's perfect. I just want people to understand that they're not going to trade in their multi Strada or bmw tourer for the SS thinking that it's the same, because it's not--for sure. As I get back off the interstate and get to the twisties I put it in sport mode and that's when the bike really comes alive. I've never felt more comfortable on a motorcycle. It inspires so much confidence by the way that it winds out and the way that it is easily maneuvered in turns. It's sublime in that way. On my old 749 it handled the turns obviously very well but afterward it was a very uncomfortable ride home on the interstate and the street. So as I'm riding home I felt my only other slight irritation with the bike. It got really hot around my thighs. So hot in fact that I thought that maybe they put the bike together without the heat shield and didn't vent something appropriately. not hot enough to stop riding mind you but much more hot than any of the other bikes that I've had. I looked at all the other reviews and people didn't have that problem at all so it may have been a thing unique to that particular bike so I'll keep you posted when mine comes in. ( It's worthy to note that I hung around the dealership for about an hour and other folks came back after riding the supersport and a couple of them said they felt it was hot and a couple of them said they didnt.) So after being gone for about two hours I stopped and called the dealership and they had a line of people waiting behind me to ride the bike so I felt obligated to take it back. When I pulled up at the dealership they were 7 people waiting to ride this motorcycle and I was first so I felt very privileged LOL. I knew most of the guys and they all chuckled when I took off my helmet because they know that I have the only one on order so I shouldn't have hogged all the time on the bike!

So to sum up my riding experience it was AWESOME. If you've ordered this bike you should feel very comfortable about your purchase. the fit, the finish, the engine, suspension ---all great. The mirrors suck and will have to wait and see on the heat dispersion issue. I have ordered mine (Red S) and will receive it in about two weeks and I'll definitely make sure to give you more updates. My only planned modifications will be the taller touring screen and maybe a carbon fiber front mudgard. But I'm sure that will change as it did with so many of my other Ducatis. So good luck and have fun. Any questions you guys have I'll be sure to answer in the next day or so. And I'm glad to be on the forum!







BACKGROUND:

Hello everyone, I placed my order for my SS the day that it was possible about 8 months ago! lol. I have had the hankering for a more relaxed sport bike from ducati for a long time. I have had 2 monsters 969 and 1200, and I wanted more fairing, had a 749 wanted more comfort, and just sold a hyperstrada 821 that I had for 3 years,it was too tall and while it a blast to ride i wanted a more "in the bike" feeling than an "on top of the bike" feeling if that makes sense. Even though on my monsters I had that bikini fairing and they had enough HP, they didnt give me the sport bike feeling unless I wanted to do some heavy mods. I hate big project aftermarket mods as they make me feel unsafe....going 90 mph scared something is gonna get loose and fall off! maybe weird but I am what I am. When I saw the 939 SS I KNEW that was the machine I was looking for. My bike comes in in about 10 days and I actually test rode the demo after I watched my dealer uncrate it! I was right about the bike all except for a couple of minor things that really are more mild aggravation. IT WAS A BLAST. I will show some pics and talk about the first ride in the appropriate thread. Thanks for the welcome and glad to be here.
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