The atmosphere was a bit subdued this year at
DESMO Ducati Owner's Club. I've gotten a few tickets over the past few weeks, and more than a few friends (or friends of friends) have had some motorcycle-related drama.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OizBjTBIKcbaqmRWqMSQB0u_UPDpus5wn1OY5TIyM5RP4UQcYM-rd-NhU5Qe1A-096D_6Qh0XMjkAFKTmGTx1zYiSMtlA_5ToF5KqP3L5h2_l7fzPu8xl4kSGVE7zDTLcoV3ij7nqXZG/s1600/IMG_3183.JPG) |
Spotless Desmosedici RR with only a few hundred miles on it. |
I had
ridden up to Woodstock on Saturday with a few friends, some of whom were going to the track, others who were headed home, and I wound up riding down to the BBQ on my own, after a lovely morning riding around the Catskills.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8N7Fd6TKqqfVKDJv-_pGYW5NxCsPeqNjwTnW5oYEk3P5u8CO1a3nNDsO9-pG2dKZlmnUBMrJeLUm1ounzzj5Nm0CrOh1nf2VOwGOrNAha-r9lPcG6pa25CjRhI0Ix_0i7AtA5AXM6AUg/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG) |
Christan's lovely SportClassic |
Also, the appeal of
riding out of NYC from Central Park with 50 other Ducati enthusiasts has waned a bit. Attendance has also dwindled a bit; last year the DOCNYC had maybe 25 riders up to Hamptonburgh, and this year even less.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQsPPst_wriKrgtfFYdhbHIFnnZKxVrHSzSMrIO77mNOHSIP7LVJyI4tOJunrfxGaS609PEH_QwhKwAaz5SZHifPzw4WC1oejcs9jByUnoqBxpSN6-EVMdEZhDO3vqffR8fWadfWgBS3VH/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG) |
Untouched 1985 Ducati 750F1A, #570 of 602 (and the last Ducati made before Cagiva purchased the Italian manufacturer). |
The ride was hot, and by the time I got there, most riders had already showed up. There were a few classics, but the main attraction was a trailer-queened Desmosedici, with barely any miles on it, number 850 of the 1,500 produced.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVKgP2VLVPHeA2sOPWet5DetsKWjBpZYe71n4FihtLz_5DajTRurZ_30X-TWm-MqihrfTYF-Q0d-IZ6M7zjTZ2PutHv3ciViIwuPG7gZPaZQp8ZYzaOXJ8i3v6PDeV3GGAI3QY80Da71I/s1600/IMG_3151.JPG) |
1990 Ducati 851 Superbike, the predecessor of the 916. Stock except the Termignoni exhaust. |
There were a bunch of regulars, and the raffle was fun as always.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMBglDO6rGWOE9M-w29KsMjy9mnjlxycFw1wOb1i2X5obGD_-4g5XV3I30KG_7I6-QUumfOWBh7RYNAnHATty5WgEqg5hUwmRx-tOk6Pw0xZv_e2JG5hVZUBmgPZ9Ve7hUHAwWz3E9Jjp/s1600/IMG_3168.JPG) |
Ducati 900SS Superlight |
I walked away with five hats, and a few t-shirts, but nothing outrageous.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindxMtnm1aRQdIiAnvNdggBd4Ug5ndoMS22fjWtvZIkhfyBpaOnShKV6pWdVX7jBvSDhweqEB8qD5OwKVtB1BJIOEzif82OcFfmYYqvxqJ4zeuRjU8ZB264QKqKta73ZucGZd4RLDht3lR/s1600/IMG_3190.JPG) |
Ducati 749R Custom paint... everything possible upgraded, and best in show last year. |
DESMO unbelievably has been around for fifteen years.
I didn't stay too late either, and rode home myself.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRCVEB4FPZ8xupkWvdBteoG4oXj4ASjk2IQJPdmtpCwiTf_RKY_gUD6Au-HqV-Gb-a4XYICIgpyenw67DLJxIsPbPPW30N1KLY3nyuesQaDCE8-hBPmK_PV-rCyO8UxvYK7KqgDFLyGgwR/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG) |
A couple of heavily-modified 1198S Ducatis, with more carbon-fiber than imaginable. |
I've started using
Waze pretty seriously, as the directions automatically update based on traffic conditions, which are actually crowdsourced from users contributions,
But alas, even Waze had me mixed up, and I ended up taking a very circuitous route home.
To top it off, on the last exit of the Palisades, I left my wallet on the gas pump, and showed up at the George Washington bridge with no cash, no ID or insurance information. I managed to cruise through though, and home, though a little exhausted and worse for wear.
© 2015 Tigh Loughhead
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