"Desmosedici is on the road to Spain Pt 1" thread in "Motorbike Chat"
I I finally got to pick up the bike I ordered 2 years ago on Friday the 25th of July. Or rather, as I was ...

I I finally got to pick up the bike I ordered 2 years ago on Friday the 25th of July. Or rather, as I was in Spain I asked Chris who works for me if he’d like to pick it up for me and then spend the rest of the day putting as many miles on it as possible to help me run it in.
Surprisingly his answer was not “No Dave I’ve got a lot to do here in the office, I don’t think it would be a good use of my time”, but more along the lines of “Fuck, yeah hang on it’s not April 1st is it?”
He went down to Winchester to Moto Rapido, who I’d originally ordered it from as they were the only dealer I phoned who could be bothered to call me back and relieve me of £37500, the others didn’t appear to be interested. Seems like a good choice as Wilf the boss has his own Desmo which he lent to Foggy for a demo lap at the TT. The first service was booked for Wednesday and Eurotunnel for 7.20am Friday.
Chris did 250 miles without incident, even managing to get back through South London without getting bike-jacked, and reported that it was a great bike but that it got very hot and only did 70 miles before reserve. For my planned ride back to Spain that could be a problem, but I reckoned I’d be glad to get off it every hour or so.
I arrived back at the shop on Monday afternoon with all the usual work stuff to do ( mainly suppliers asking why they hadn’t been paid, well that was obvious I had the bike to pay for) and it was absolutely beautiful, looked much better than in the photos or at the shows. It’s covered in beautiful little details and definitely looks hand-built.
Wednesday morning I was up at 5.30 like a kid on Christmas morning, rode the Bandit down to the shop and picked up the Duke. This was a trial run with the rucksack as well, because I never ride with a rucksack but Ducati have ensured that the beautiful lines of their bike cannot be sullied by luggage, with an aluminium tank and the exhaust exiting behind the seat, you can’t strap anything on. My friend John skived off work to come along on his R1, and we set off to Winchester.
The ride to John’s house in West London through rush hour traffic was horrible. The bike didn’t tick over and the heat was awful. It was still beautiful to look at though.
We got on the M40 to get out of town and things got better straight away. Once you get over 80 there is less heat around the seat and the wind takes the pressure off your arms.
We got past Oxford and then turned off onto some A roads but as always in England there was too much traffic. After 70 miles the light came on for fuel but it only took 11.5 litres so there was 4 left. Works out at 28mpg!
We rode South, but couldn’t find any traffic free roads. When we reached Melksham we cut across Salisbury Plain and for the first time I was enjoying the bike on the fast open road. We got to Winchester, and Moto Rapido did the first service at 430 miles a bit early but OK and told me how to fit the race exhaust which I’m going to do in Spain as it’s ridiculously loud (won’t pass track day noise limits in England).
Rode straight back on the M3 where the Desmo proved to be a good motorway bike at 100+ it’s reasonably comfortable and fuel economy improves to 30mpg. Got back to the shop with 500 miles on the clock, so the run to Dover would see running in finished. I was apprehensive about the trip, as the bike was so hot and it’s 40 degrees here in Spain.
4.30 on Friday morning my alarm goes off. I’d packed my little rucksack the night before, pair of trainers, pair of jeans 4 prs pants 4 prs socks 1 T shirt, 1 book 1 bike mag
toothbrush and paste, maps phone. Oh, and a camera that didn’t work. D’Oh! Not much for 31/2 days. Rode down to the shop, picked up the bike and headed for the Tunnel. This time it was much better leaving London. Early enough to avoid the traffic and cooler that early in the morning. A good ride down to Folkestone, the usual chaos at the Tunnel with people not getting on the trains they’d booked and trains leaving with space on them while people waited in the holding area. I got on the train I’d booked but the other guys on my train were all booked on the one before. Despite arriving on time at Checkin they hadn’t been allowed on the train they’d booked. I’d only booked the Tunnel cos I didn’t fancy having the bike tied down on the ferry.
Off at Calais and time to try the bike out properly. Cruising at 110 on the motorway to Rouen, no comfort problems not too much heat and 32mpg. This bike works better the faster you go. It’s a good motorway bike and the V4 drone is great brings back memories of TT’s and Bols D’Or of days gone by.
Off the motorway at Rouen and A roads to Chartres, back on the motorway again just before Orleans, and straight into a 24km tailback. My bollocks are starting to cook as I filter through the traffic, so stop at the services for some lunch and to let the bike cool down. Everywhere is packed, it’s the first weekend of August and Europe is on the move. High petrol prices? Recession? No sign of it here. I’m a bit disappointed that noone takes a blind bit of notice of the bike, apart from some kids who like the colour.
I get off the main A1 and onto the A71 and the traffic eases. Back to 110-120 and the bike is comfy again. Onto the A20 and I’m at the turn off for Limoges by 4pm and at the hotel I’d chosen at 4.30 about 20km South of Limoges on the N21 to Perigueux
Les Tuileries in Souilhac, highly recommended. 500 miles the first day, still felt OK only 1000 to go. After an excellent meal of Foie Gras fish steak and dessert, washed down with a nice Cotes Du Rhone and a Calvados, I was in bed at 10.30 ready for an early start to beat the heat. I’d noticed the chain had stretched a bit and was almost touching the (no doubt hideously expensive) carbon fibre belly pan.

Part 2 to follow-Pyrenees and into Spain link Desmosedici pt2

Excellent report Dave. Enjoy the next 1000 miles, maybe see you out on track in Spain over the winter, although you on the Desmo and me on the ickle 600 is going to be cheating slightly..LOL.

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www.stevejordanmotorcycles.co.uk ONLINE SHOP
www.racedays.net www.swaffs.co.uk

nice report Dave.. jealous.

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950 SMR, for men who know the difference

I'm not jealous...I think you're just a big show off

Oooh look at me on my nice new Desmo














Ok then I'm green with envy....apart from the cooking bollocks bit...dont forget to write pt II

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Big bike - small willy

you git

a desmo and a trip abroad... enjoy mate

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Wear your salt as a badge of AWB pride

Great story, looking forward to the next bits (and pics please when you get a working camera )

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PB Round The World Guinea Pig Blog

Oh I dunno power to weight should be similar

You could be on Rossis bike and it still wouldn't be powerful enough big fella

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950 SMR, for men who know the difference

Can I have a go?............Nope didn't think so

Photos photos photos!!