I like how the riding position seems more stretched out than today's bikes. Today's bikes are all cramped up, making you feel like you're hovering over the bars instead of countersteering them. I like older bikes with more distance to the bars.

Update, I have the mechanical problems fixed, repaired, lined up, adjusted, lubed and aired up. Fresh oil & filter is done. Now I just need to clean everything up and put the body work back on. The "bad" rear master cylinder was a linkage adjustment and pedal adjustment. The front tire is an odd size, a 130/70-17. I didn't even know they made that size.. Spike is going to need new tires soon anyway.
It does have one strange "feature", the engine won't run with the side stand down. I guess that gets around some safety law since it has no clutch safety switch, but it is a pain in the ass when you can't run the engine unless you are sitting on it with the kick stand up. I need to test the switch and see if it is an open or closed kill circuit and take corrective action. I think I'll go riding Sunday, for as long as my wrists let me..

I got the slip-ons today from D&D. Look pretty good, better than the set I had back in the 90's. The metal finish is good and the carbon is as nice as any I've seen anywhere. It is a nice black carbon, unlike the greenish color the old ones were. Everything fit perfectly and it took less than 1/2 an hour from start to finish. The sound, well what can I say, pure Ducati music. Poor neighbors... or happy if they appreciate fine music.
I'm going riding with the guys tomorrow, but I'm going to have to keep it sane. The tires are iffy and I haven't done much with the suspension yet since the tires are working against me right now and I would have to redo the adjustments when I put new rubber on it anyway.

they do good work for twins ;)

Hugh, now that you've had a few riding opportunities on the Duc how about a comparison from your viewpoint of the F4I compared to the Duc?

About like I expected. Even though I don't have the handling of the Duc sorted out yet, which will help a lot, the Honda is technically a much better bike. It does everything better than the Duc. However, comparing the two is somewhat like apples and oranges, because it is different kind of ride.
The Honda is fast, smooth and quiet (it seems now :) ) and Spike feels like a Ducati. He is loud, naughty in a bad boy kind of way that is fun and not so smooth until you get above 80mph. The Honda is more like riding an electric motor and the Duc is more like riding an internal combustion engine. Both are a pleasure to ride, just different.

I went riding with my usual group last weekend and put 350 miles of twisty back roads behind us before the cords came through the rear tire. All the others, except 1 SV, were liter + Jap bikes and I mostly rode the tail. Not enough jam to ride in my usual spot with that group and the handling had me fighting the bike all day. But, it was fun and I had no mechanical issues other than tires and suspension, which will be sorted out.

What tires will you be putting on the Duc?

I have a set of BT021s on the way. They have worked great for me on the F4i and I expect they will perform just as well on the Duc.

I think I might give them a try on our F4I as well when the time comes. Just curious but how many miles are on your F4I and Duc? I need to go ahead and do the manual cam chain tensioner on mine.

The F4i has 24,000+ and the Duc has 5653 on it. The Honda went thru 2 stock CCTs and then I put an APE manual on it.