Is it wrong to love a Diavel (Devil)?
Log Item: A young man moved in with (I think his grandparents) the people who live five doors down. Grandma is a retired school teacher and Grandpa is a retired ice cream sales person who looks like Santa Claus every day of the year. The young man bought a 2009 Ducati Monster 696 last week and has been riding up and down the street in front of my house every day without a helmet on. Based on his riding skills I deduce that he's new to riding and likely does not have a motorcycle license.
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| Ducati Monster |
- His bike is slower than mine.
- He doesn't know how to ride well.
- He is talking street race, not a track race.
- He wears shorts and boat shoes when he rides his bike...no gloves.
I asked him if he was planning suicide. He said, "no, I just want to race somebody."
Pretty Jenny asked me if I knew about motorcycle mortality statistics. Yes, I know about them, and this kid is the prime candidate for a Darwin Award.
It's not IF you will go down, it is WHEN you will go down. Anyone who has ridden for any period of time knows that. However you can stack the odds firmly in your favor if you behave maturely and responsibly on a bike -- even one as over-powered as the Diavel.
I suggested that he come by once he got his license and I'd do the Ortega Highway run with him. I'm not really looking for a little friend, but -- I don't want to turn a cold shoulder to the kid. And maybe if he gets some sense into him, he'll live to become a responsible rider.
Log Item: Ducati Factory Tour. It's a YouTube video, but you might enjoy it. The 1199 Panigale is featured, not the Diavel. (Keep in mind that now, Ducati is owned by Audi Corporate.) I'm waiting for my invitation to the factory in Bologna for my personal tour but as with my ride with Charlize Theron -- I have to be patient.
Good work with the kid, you'll likely save his life.
ReplyDeleteThe factory tour was fun too, thanks for posting the link.
You're welcome. We'll see whether or not the kid survives.
DeleteI think you have a kind spirit, LL. Good luck with the kid.
ReplyDeleteHopefully he gets his license.
DeleteThat stupid kid reminds me of a 22-year old me. No helmet, riding at speeds in excess of 100 mph in only flip flops, cut-off Levi's and a T-shirt that says "Fuck You" in bold letters on the front of it.
ReplyDeleteAh, the good ol' days. I somehow survived them. I shouldn't have, but did. Maybe this kid will too, with a little luck.
I think that a lot of us had an angel on our shoulder in our youth. I, for one, am glad that you made it!
DeleteYou and me both.
DeleteI hope that young man realizes the value of your mentorship, LL.
DeleteI'm glad too,
that you made it Fredd.
Ha-- you asked if he was planning suicide! Well done. Knock some sense into him! You'll be at least a little kinder than a concrete motorway at 100 mph. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't know that he'll take my advice.
DeleteJust a point of passing interest. The motorcycle fatality rate in Texas exceeds that of California every year. I don't know if that means that drunk cowboys run them off the road or how to account for the difference (since CA has a larger cycle-riding population)...