Ducati Travelogue of Tigh Loughhead's Motorcycle Adventures in NYC | NYDUCATI

Ducati Ben Bostrom Edition 998

 Motorcycle Mall has a yearly European demo day, where they let riders test-drive the new bikes.  Experience riders sign up, and Rich Gonello leads a little half hour tour around East Jersey.

I didn't ride much this weekend, as my ST3 sits languishing on the street, and on Sunday afternoon I was sitting, reading on my balcony, when I saw an email from Union Garage mentioning the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride next weekend, and the 7th Annual Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Rally today, which I had totally forgotten.

I've been quite remiss in getting this post up.  In September, a bunch of Ducati owners dedicated to riding, made a plan to travel up to Montreal, Canada for the weekend.  I had been up to Montreal over July 4th weekend, and had such a good time, that a number of my other riding crew wanted to go.

 I ran up to Bear Mountain last weekend after getting a tire changed at Rockwell Cycles.  My beautiful 996 complimented the stunning scenery on my favorite scenic spot in the park.

Tesla Model M

 Spending the day at the Old Port of Montreal, checking out the famous Jazz Festival, then cruising for food on the Rue Saint Denis during the Circe Festival.

Please join STUART PARR FOR THE LAST "OPEN BIKE NIGHT”

Thursday, July 9th 7pm-9pm at 285 Madison Ave (at 40^th Street) - ALL RIDERS WELCOME for an Italian Bike Night 

Sadly we are closing the show early, as the space has recently been leased as a result of the buzz and traffic you have all generated by visiting the exhibition.***

**The last day of the exhibition will be Sunday, July 12^th. 

The event will take place on 40th Street by Madison Avenue Thursday night (July 9^th) at 7pm, and we'll have some refreshments and then ride over to the Ear Inn for anyone who is interested. 

We welcome all motorcyclists, so bring your friends! Find out a little more about the exhibit here: www.stuartparrcollection.com.

I haven't gotten out of the city for a while, and I've been getting restless (at least too far outside the city, and my wander lust has been kicking in)...
So, during my preparations for getting a bike night together for Ducati owners and enthusiasts with Stuart Parr, at Art of the Italian Two Wheel in Manhattan, I realized I had a long weekend coming up.

Thirty Ducatis and Stuart Parr at Art of the Italian Two Wheel

Taking off from ArtOfTheItalianTwoWheel on 285Madison.
High resolution version here: http://gfycat.com/fortunatehospitablefireant
© 2015 Tigh Loughhead

Amazing ride last night with Stuart Parr to the Art of the Italian Two Wheel collection last night, who showed up on another MV Agusta 750S, and joined the DOCNYC and a few other Ducati enthusiasts on a spirited ride around Manhattan, before stopping off at the Ear Inn.

 I'll write up a better ride report shortly, but for now I'm packing to ride my 996 up to Montreal for the weekend.
© 2015 Tigh Loughhead

Tuesday June 30th 7-8pm at 40th and Madison - ALL RIDERS WELCOME for an Italian Bike Night 

Ducatis Appreciated, but Not Required

Woke up Saturday ready to ride. and spent most of the morning mulling around Ducati Soho.
 Tricked out perfect purple Panigale with everything powder-coated from TheChopShopNY

Tigho's First Track Day:

Brand New 2015 Ducati Scramblers: Red or Yellow?

Stuart Parr Collection: Art of the Italian Two Wheel

Imola on Madison Avenue: Art of the Italian Two Wheel

 This was the bike that saved Ducati, and launched the company's presence and ultimate domination of the Superbike class, as well as the tradition that exists today of building racing motorcycles first, to then retrofit for the street.

Antique Ducatis, MV Agustas and LaVerdas abound in Midtown

UPDATE: Exhibition is called "Art of the Italian Two Wheel" from the Stuart Parr Collection. The catalogue will be written by none other than Ian Falloon.

 I was walking to work this morning from Bryant Park east along 40th Street, when I caught sight of the unmistakable profile of an orange Ducati 750GT out of the corner of my eye inside a seemingly otherwise empty retail space along Madison Avenue.

As long as I've driven Ducatis, I've had my heart set on a 916, a 996 or a 998.  Simply put, Massimo Tamburini's 916 is the apotheosis of motorcycle design.  Behind this flawless aesthetic was a beast of a machine, and throughout the 90's Ducati dominated the race circuit. This has been my dream bike, and I knew I would own one eventually.

Photo Credit (not me): Nejat

There were a number of other customized and classic motorcycles at the motorcycle show.

R1s, H2Rs and RC390s for 2015

 New York City "Progressive" International Motorcycle Show

I braved some miserable weather up to Rockwell Cycles this weekend with a friend from the DOCNYC, for their annual holiday party.  Good food, music and a great atmosphere provided a festive backdrop to Rockwell's beautiful motorcycle inventory, like this Ducati Panigale R.

That evening, the DESMO Ducati Owner's Club held our annual Christmas as well.  The party was a bit more subdued than last year, but we really appreciated all of the sponsors, including: Absolute Cycle Experience, Rockwell Cycles, Motorcycle Mall, Klim, Shoei, California Superbike School, Brillianize, EVS, Olympia, European Cycle Services, New Pig, Techspec, BST Wheels, Vortex Racing, Odyssey Battery, Sargent Cycle, RKA, Revzilla.

To find out more about the event, check out http://www.desmoducati.org/hp2014.html
© 2014 Tigh Loughhead

Unsanctioned Block Party at Union Garage

Hipster Mayhem: 6th Annual Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Show 2014

I was planning on visiting a few friends down at the track at Thunderbolt this weekend, but first  I wanted to check out the Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Show, which I stumbled on last year.  Williamsburg is the hipster epicenter of the free world, and I was expecting a bunch of sick bikes, most that can't be ridden too far or too fast, some of which are incredibly built; others that are just incredibly loud.

 Ok, so this is arguably not motorcycle, let alone a Ducati, but it's bike-related and still pretty cool.  By the time I'm posting this, there have been fewer than 70 "Slingshots," marketed by Polaris as a "3 Wheel Motorcycle" sold in the world.

My buddy Jay and I went for a ride today.  He had to get the oil changed on his newly acquired BMW S1000RR, and we set off  towards Pennsylvania, planning to snake around the Delaware River up Route 32 towards the Delaware Water Gap.

Droves of Ducs and Garrisons of Guzzis at the 2014 IMOC Rally

 Biking to Bunker Hill while Waiting for a Wedding

DOCNYC Maine in September

DOCNYC in Portsmouth, NH

1956 MV Agusta 175 CSTL

Martin Moto hosts the The Modern Classics Ride-In in Boyertown, PA