Log Item: There are two sorts of street bikes - naked and dressed.
The Diavel is a 'naked bike' because it's not equipped with luggage bags, a faring and so forth. One thing that you immediately notice when riding a naked bike is the pressure of the wind, particularly at freeway speeds (70-75). One option is to install a windscreen - and I'm not talking a windshield. A windscreen is much smaller and serves to divert wind rather than block it. A windscreen usually results in less helmet buffeting than many windshields cause.
Rant: Not so fast. There are four distributors of Puig products in the USA: in Florida, Texas, Idaho and Arizona. So far, I've contacted the distributors in Idaho and Arizona to acquire this windscreen. (the cost is about $100) Neither of them have responded to e-mail. The Texans only sell to other dealers and blew me off. The people in Florida don't answer their phone.
Update: I bought the windscreen that I want from "Motivation Accessories", Austin, TX. I had to pay about double wholesale, but that's life.
The Diavel is a 'naked bike' because it's not equipped with luggage bags, a faring and so forth. One thing that you immediately notice when riding a naked bike is the pressure of the wind, particularly at freeway speeds (70-75). One option is to install a windscreen - and I'm not talking a windshield. A windscreen is much smaller and serves to divert wind rather than block it. A windscreen usually results in less helmet buffeting than many windshields cause.
Ducati makes them -- allegedly, but the parts department at the dealership was unable to find a part number for them. So maybe Ducati stopped making them?
Let's face it, Ducati parts cost roughly double what they should. So my search widened to Puig (pronounced "pooge" with a soft g), a Spanish company that makes after market stuff for motorcycles. Here are the installation instructions (Link). That sounds easy enough, right?
Rant: Not so fast. There are four distributors of Puig products in the USA: in Florida, Texas, Idaho and Arizona. So far, I've contacted the distributors in Idaho and Arizona to acquire this windscreen. (the cost is about $100) Neither of them have responded to e-mail. The Texans only sell to other dealers and blew me off. The people in Florida don't answer their phone.
I'm not locked into a Puig windscreen, but I'm running out of places to look. I do know a guy that deals in windscreens for motorcycles, but he doesn't make them for Ducati. I may end up getting him to make one for me, custom. If I talk nice, maybe he'll use my bike for a prototype and advertisement and I can scam one for free? The only problem with that is I have issues with waiting. (patience is a virtue, catch it if you can, you'll find it in a woman, but never in a man)
Update: I bought the windscreen that I want from "Motivation Accessories", Austin, TX. I had to pay about double wholesale, but that's life.
Austin's only preposterously expensive now because of all the Californians that have moved here... :) Next time, put me up to the task and I'll show up in person and try to get a better deal for you.
ReplyDeleteAustin has been californicated and that's no joke. Next time I'll put the pit bull with lipstick on the job.
DeleteWell, now that you've categorized me as a dog, I'm skimming 80% of the savings off the top. :)
DeleteTiger with lipstick on, then....
DeleteMuch better. I'll only skim 50%. ;)
DeleteA much easier tariff to endure.
DeleteVery good patience point, LL. Women are always patient, of course, except when they aren't, which is never.
ReplyDeleteI've learned that women are not patient with ME. I thought that they were patient with everyone else.
DeleteWhat's that you say, LL, about the reality around you responding to your own perception of it? hmmmm... :)
Delete(And if I botched that, forgive me. I was too impatient to go hunt down your exact verbiage.)
(actually, to be fair, I think I've learned the most about patience from men.)
Delete"The world around you is a reflection of your reaction to the world around you."
DeleteAnd my problem is mostly with myself in that I am not patient with me.
There, see? I've just learned a little bit more.
Delete