Want to see more girls on the bikes. No problem with seeing you on them but the girls are a lot better to look at.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/3/2025 @ 7:54 AM *

Next up is 2016 Ducati 959, BRILLIANT MACHINE, perfect blend of performance and handling for the backroads!

Splits the difference nicely between the RS660/ZX6R sport lightweights and my top tier, 200+ HP superbikes and is on par with my Repsol Honda and 2011 ZX-10R, not the fastest but fast enough.

Brake performance is good if not overwhelming, handling errs more to the stability side than the agility side, takes a bit of a shove to get it flopped over but rock solid at the apex.

Suspension is stiff but controlled, ergonomics, narrow tank feel between the knees, nice rider triangle, not too tight, just right for aggressive riding.

Downsides are few, no autoblipper but the DQS is right on with the clean upshifts, bike runs hotter than a Chinese firecracker, roasts your nuts and left thigh in the summer time if you slow down below 50 mph, coolant temperature runs 203 F cruising at 100 mph on a 84 F summer morning. On a 60 F winter day however, the heat coming off the bike is very pleasant. Sidestand is designed by a contortionist, can’t take it down unless you reach down with your left hand.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/4/2025 @ 3:03 PM *

THANKS! Extreme cuteness I can't stand it! Perfect compliment to the bikes.

I knew you'd like the girls Rook, they are all lovely!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/4/2025 @ 11:15 AM *

2011 ZX-10R got rode hard and put away wet this morning.

WOW WHAT A MACHINE, MOTHER TEAPOT CREATES NEAR PERFECTION! This is my pipe and slippers ride, does everything really well, no real faults, easy to ride fast, doesn’t top the charts in any one area but get’s the job done by blending it all together in near perfect harmony.

Runs cool as a cucumber at 167 F coolant temp on a 80 F morning after running hard, my 959 would have been over 200 F.

Rear wheel HP is only about 160, 40 HP down on my Euro bikes but who cares? On the road at least, 160 HP is all you really need.

My thought this morning was this bike deserves #3 right behind the ’16 ZX-10R and BMW S1000RR. All three of those bikes are great road bikes first, the RSV4 and Panigales are built for the track first and sacrifice creature comforts……. and they run HOT!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/4/2025 @ 11:22 AM *

Ducati V4 MAGIC CARPET RIDE this morning! Finally starting to gel with this machine after 660 miles and it is a stunner! Except for the off idle stutter which is improving with break-in miles and the ball roasting summer time heat coming off the engine, this thing is as near perfection as you can get.

It feels as agile as the S1000RR with it’s carbon wheels but delivers loads more stability in the bargain and the suspension is next level, smooth, compliant but very controlled, cornering is near telepathic, braking is some of the best I have ever experienced, electronics are next level and everything feels so refined and buttery smooth.

Up and down quick shifts are as slick as a porpoise dipped in Wesson oil.

At the risk of sounding like a flake here, this might just be the best sports bike on the planet, ZX-10R and S1000RR, watch your six O'clock that's probably a V4 approaching in your rear view mirror....

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/8/2025 @ 12:04 PM *

Hub, I think these two apex predators will eventually turn out to be at the top of the food chain, they are both 200+ rear wheel HP beasts, just takes time to learn to use them on the road.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/5/2025 @ 12:28 PM *

THE RSV4 is FREEKIN FAST! Fastest bike I have ever ridden actually, even makes the Ducati V4 feel a bit tame. Does everything near perfectly, corners superbly, agile, light on it’s feet, rock solid stability, never have had to touch the suspension out of the crate, brakes have great feel and modulation but could use a touch more bite but I have EBC HH brake pads on there that take away some braking power.

Up and down quick shifts are near flawless and the more I ride this bike the better it feels. I’m starting to adapt to the almost 210 rear wheel HP on tap, takes a little time to get used to on the road.

You can tell this machine has been fine fettled and well sorted out over the years, give me another year or two of riding it and this might just be my numero uno….#!.

As it stands now, the exhaust note is hands down the best ever and while being subjective, I think this is one of my better looking machines, pure eye candy!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/8/2025 @ 11:57 AM *

THE 1299 PANIGALE IS A BRILLIANT ROAD BIKE! This bike is just sooo much fun to ride in the twisties, feels like a 959 on steroids and just amps everything up to a near 10 from there.

The M50 Brembo Monobloc brakes are amazing, brick house strong with near perfect modulation for trail braking and the ergonomics are spot on.

Feels bicycle thin between your thighs due to the slim 90 degree twin design, tank is perfectly sculpted to hang onto with your outside knee and suspension is plush but super controlled.

Cornering is a dream, trail braking is mere child’s play, and the bike seemingly has power and tire grip everywhere.

Quick shift and autoblipper functions are virtually seamless.

Stock, the exhaust note and engine mechanical medley offers up a delightful symphony and the bikes strong twin pulse character makes inline four machines seem boring by comparison.

Niggles are few but are typical Ducati stuff, mirrors are useless for seeing anything but your elbows and coolant temps run high in the summer heat with the rear exhaust loop roasting your spuds in the bag.

Typical Panigale fueling is evident just off idle, fluffy lean Euro 4 mixture creates stumbling as you ease out the clutch but once you clear that, it’s go time pulling HARD right up to the 11,500 RPM rev limiter.

The Ducati Superquadro Twin 1285cc mill pumps out close to 185 rear wheel ponies stock and is one of the best engines ever created for back road riding and positively oozes character and charm….and ultra high performance!

This really is one of my all time favorite sport machines and t’s a real shame Ducati chose not to continue it in production as it is a better road bike in my opinion, than the V4 Panigale that replaced it.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/8/2025 @ 11:08 AM *

WOW,RODE THE V4 THIS MORNING AND IT HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST EVER, EPIC!!! I'm finally starting to gel with this machine and it feels closest to a MotoGP bike. Ball roasting exhaust heat and fluffy Euro 5 throttle response off idle aside, that’s pretty much it for the niggles.

Everything else is a category 9 or 10, faaaaast, smooth easy to control, linear power that builds into an incredible top end rush, telepathic handling, merely look and it finds the apex, brakes are some of the best I have ever experienced, great initial bite, superb strength and very easy to modulate.

Suspension is still on the stock settings and flat out works on the bumpier corners, sticks like cat claws on Velcro and the up and down auto shifter is smooth as silk. My top 5 machines are all very close in overall performance but there is something really special about this one.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/17/2025 @ 10:59 AM *

RSV4 up this morning, BRUTALLY FAST! This really is the beast of the bunch, mind warping speed that rapidly wears me out, everything else is near flawless, handling, cornering, brakes, suspension, electronics etc. There is an agility for stability trade off on this machine, very track focused, takes a little more effort to get it turning but then it is mega-stable when flopped over on it’s ear. This might be my all time favorite machine in a few more years once I adapt to almost 210 rear wheel HP but for now, too much for the road! The good news is it makes my fully tuned ZX-14 feel pretty calm and serene by comparison.

Almost want to buy an ape and duc the way you talk about these bikes, Kruz.

The V4 and RSV4 are almost on a different level from other bikes, the big difference is Ducati has made the V4 easy to ride, the RSV4 is a brutal, hang on for dear life kind of experience if you give it stick. So you have a choice, if you want ultimate adrenaline rush, get the new 2026 RSV4 and tune it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG_Gwio-CxU

WOWSERS HUB, THE ZX-10R WAS UP IN THE ROTATION THIS MORNING AND HAS TO BE MY ALL TME FAVORITE!! I keep circling back to this bike. it's just so good in so many areas, rear pegs could be a bit lower and there is not any real low end punch but aside from that it’s all 9s and 10s. I keep coming back to the word telepathic to describe it’s character, it’s just such a smooth operator and sooooo quick, you would never guess it's down 25-30 rear wheel HP on the Euro machines. Don't get me wrong, I love all the bikes with all their different character traits but If I had to narrow it down to keeping just one bike, this would probably be it.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/23/2025 @ 10:35 AM *

the RSV4 is a brutal, hang on for dear life kind of experience

That's my kind of bike. Unmanageable!

Hub, if that's the case I recommend the 2026 RSV4, I think you'd love it, you'll never be wanting for more power!

The RSV4 is not unmanageable at all however, the chassis, electronics and suspension are more than up to the task but when you twist it hard it feels like riding bareback on a bull with a loop of piano wire wrapped around it's nutz for a throttle....

John

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/26/2025 @ 8:48 PM *

Hubinator, I am getting oil residue all over the front face of my lower radiator on the 959 Panigale but darned f I know how it's getting there, horizontal cylinder valve cover leaking?

* Last updated by: Kruz on 8/27/2025 @ 12:50 PM *

Front of radiator at the bottom? That doesn't sound like the oil would be coming from any art of the engine. Front brake line leak? Is your brake fluid level dropping? Also could be concentrated engine coolant, that stuff is slippery as oil.

I imagine the valve cover/engine/exhaust headers are configured pretty much the same as a ZX-14. When my valve cover leaked on my 14, it leaked most on the LH side from the bike resting on the side stand. The leak was visible on the LH side of the engine. The bike made a slight burnt oil smell while running. The oil leaked down the head pipes during storage. Then it was visible even with fairings on. If there's an oil leak from the valve cover, it's probably burning off right at the manifold for the most part. You'll feel it wet right above on the valve cover gasket, mostly on the left.

If your oily radiator is a continuous problem, I'll bet it's brake fluid. Better investigate that soon because brake fluid is hard on paint as you know. ...but I'm thinking possible pinhole in radiator. Check to see what fluid level is dropping. You'll track it down.

Fingers wiped behind the fork legs where the seals are. Dry or oily? Can't believe the engine covers are leaking and pushing oil forward?

Lower radiator does not look like an oil cooler, but a sub radiator.

Forks dry, I'd start looking at valve cover leak for chasing oil.