Tools

Log Item: I now have a Kydex sheath for my kukri, and it's looped to hold the knife parallel to my belt. Thus, I can ride and it rests above the back seat comfortably. When I get off the bike, the kukri gets off the bike too. Yes, it's a left hand draw set-up (left hand, knuckles in, lift the blade) because the handgun gets the strong-hand.

I ordered the sheath from friends in Katmandu, Nepal, and they made it specially for my application. In the top photo, you see the Kydex sheath and the three chirra kukri. (11 inch high carbon steel blade, 18 inches overall length, blade width at the top of the fuller is 3/16 inch)

In the photo below, you will note that the knife is being drawn from the sheath. The top breaks open as you draw the knife to allow for a very clean draw forward or upward. Getting it right with the Nepalese was important, because a standard kukri sheath holds the knife far more loosely to allow the angle to clear the top of the sheath.

It's a good motorcycle knife for benign carry in an increasingly hostile and angry world. If people get too upset over the knife, I'll convert and become a Sikh (thus an oppressed minority). Sikhs are allowed to carry knives as part of their faith - even in Canada. Could I fit a turban under my motorcycle helmet? I'd rather not try. The Canadians will allow Sikhs to wear knives but refuse to allow them to wear turbans in lieu of a motorcycle helmet. Then again, I'm not in Canada.

Running GMR

Vintage Ducati (with real Italians)

Log Item: It's summer and I just got back from another run on the scooter. This was a short one with the goal of taking some sharp turns on a winding road not far from home, but there was a lot of traffic and I ended up being jammed into it with a double yellow line and no practical way out. I've been back to  Palomar Mountain Road. Another guy did a YouTube Video of the run on a Diavel with the inevitable crash along the way. There are a lot of squids (new riders) on the road who over-drive their bikes. I didn't take photos on this run mainly because I was by myself. Will snap a few for the blog on the next run. I've also done San Gabriel Canyon Road (Azuza Canyon) and the GMR (Glendora Mountain Road), which are SoCal landmarks for guys who want to take their bikes out and run some curves.

I'm becoming a lot more comfortable on the bike as I ride it on some challenging street routes. It's not a classic sport bike (heavier, higher center of gravity) but it keeps up for the most part with the boys on their cafe racers.

Log Item: Service recommendations call for checking the clutch throwout bearing every 5,000 miles or 6 months.  I decided to jump the gun because I had time on my hands and it was early morning and cool. I removed the pressure plate (and the 6 screws and springs holding it on) and felt the bearing for smooth operation. All good. Then again, the bike is nearly new.

While I was into it, I cleaned the end of the pushrod and the cup that it rests in. (Neglecting to do this can lead to damage to your clutch slave cylinder). I blew out the clutch with CO2 (compressed air works but I only have CO2 at the house - used for off-road operation of air tools and for airing up tires) to get all the dust out. I retorqued my clutch screws to 8 ft-lbs and - mischief managed.

Old School

Log Item: I just recently read that factory suggested top end speed for carrying a passenger on the back of a Diavel is 180 km/h (112 mp/h). I haven't been that fast with a passenger on, but I wonder why they put that suggested limit on it.  At 95 mp/h, carrying a passenger, the scooter, which just shifted into 6th gear, pulls about 5K RPM and the red line is at 12K...

I don't think that many Diavel drivers ride two-up. But I find the suggested limit just a bit anemic.






Log Item: Insomnia - I went out for a midnight ride because the world looks and smells different at night. There is a lot of night blooming jasmine where I live and it imparts an exotic smell. The same is true for eucalyptus trees and a number of other plants that spread their pheromones after sunset.

When you do that, you need to wear clear glasses and let the lift the helmet  visor all the way up so that you can take in everything. There are the sprinklers renewing lawns, the sweeper vehicles working on strip mall pavement, and the night sky. The wonder of the night sky. The distinctive sound of the engine's purr.

I bought my first motorcycle when I was fifteen years old and there are a number of things that hooked me on bikes. If you've never ridden, you'll never understand. There is a sense of freedom  and a swell of euphoria that accompanies a ride. For me, the intoxication of a night ride is always more profound.

When I came back from the ride and tumbled into bed, I slept like a baby.

Battery Maintenance

Not my hand
I was too lazy to go out to the bike, pop the
seat and take a photo, so I found one on the
Internet. Such is the nature of the world.

Log Item: I ride the Diavel enough that keeping the battery charged and cycled is not an issue, but it's never a bad idea to have a trickle charger on the acid box. Ducati was kind enough to build a connection into the motorcycle where you can just plug in. (see photo, right)

And if that was all that there was to it, I would be happy. But I'm not, because Ducati charges $250 + tax (and in California, it feels like another $250 for tax) for a trickle charger that should cost far less.

Thus the search began for a trickle charger that would be compatible with the Ducati system and power interface.

My first stop was Revzilla, since everything is on-line. I e-mailed them and asked them to do the research for me and let me know what is best for my purposes.

They recommended the "Battery Tender Junior HE", available from them for $36.00, and they offered free shipping.

The Battery Tender Junior High Efficiency is much more than a trickle charger. It has a brain. It's lightweight, compact, and fully automatic; very easy to use, especially in small spaces. It will keep your battery fully charged so that it is ready to go when you are. I think that I will go with the $36.00 solution.

Log Item: I've been riding the Diavel, but as temperatures top 95+, it's simply easier to step into the Raptor (air conditioned seats) and roll that way. The bike is designed to handle the heat and you know that it's getting hot when the fan on the oil cooler kicks in.  There is a sweet spot for riding bikes - somewhere between 60 and 90.  I rode over Hwy 241 today and it was 102. I opened the face of the helmet to get more air blowing into the brain bucket. A friend told me that it was 122 in Yuma, which is par for the summer there. No, I have no plans to ride to Yuma in the summer - not even at night when the temps drop to 110.

Then and Now

Straw Poll: Should I take the two-up tandem set up off temporarily and return the Ducati to the stock one rider configuration or leave it as is? Dare I weather the wrath of a daughter?

Log Item: Can you spot the differences between the old Diavel and the new Diavel. It's interesting (if only to Ducati drivers, when two devils meet.

2012 Diavel (left) 2015 Diavel (right)

Crib Note: Most of the differences are in the engine (new for 2013).

Taking it Tactical (Part 2)

Ducati Monster - I've thought of doing something like this with a Diavel, transforming it from stock into a bike with a more promising military application.

Am I going to cut up my Diavel? No. I'm going to scour the local junk yards for a wreck to rebuild.

UK - Tactical

Their motto is that "you meet the nicest people on a Honda...

British Army, Royal Signals Corps on Honda R250's in Iraq

US Entry to Tactical Motorcycles

USMC, keeping it real, preparing for deployment to Iraq

The US Marine Corps' HDT M103M1 uses the chassis, a few engine components and all the internal transmission parts of the Kawasaki KLR650. The difference comes with the fuel. This is a diesel /JP-8 motorcycle. It is sluggish, but it gets nearly 100 miles per gallon

Answer to the Mystery Question from "Taking it Tactical (Part 1), the motorcycle below is a Honda Goldwing.

Taking it Tactical (Part 1)

Ducati Monster (Diesel/JP-8)

Today, we're going to look at the Ducati entry, taking the place of the venerable Moto Guzzi in Italian service. 

This Ducati Monster XL - Diesel is designed for long range military service - with a loss of some performance, but no loss of style.

Do I want one? 

Let me put it this way, I think that I need one, but I don't know what I'd use it for -- however I could think of something.

Serbian Special Police Unit "SAJ"

Serbian Police fire while riding a Suzuki Gixer (GSX)

Specijalna Antiteroristička Jedinica Team B trains their counterterrorism operators in rapid assault while riding a motorcycle, however I question the tactical advisability of standing while shooting simply because it makes you a much larger target. Maybe the Serbians have enough spare operators where the loss of a few isn't a big deal? Maybe they're using the Suzuki because they are expendable? That would make sense.

MYSTERY QUESTION: The motorcycle below is based on which motorcycle? - post your answer here. The mystery will be revealed on "Taking it Tactical" Part 2.

Yes, it's one of those fantasy scooters. Their hearts are in the right place but dual mini guns are not optimal use of a motorcycle. I'm not a hater, though. I do like the look of the bike. I'd just like it a whole lot better if they were slapping them on a Ducati. That's a hint. It's not a Ducati.

Keeping it real with a tomahawk.

Ducati Streetfighter

Modified for military use

US Army guys rolling heavy in armor. Wouldn't you respect them more if they were riding on Ducati Streetfighters as part of a rapid strike force? Yeah, me too.

Riding Notes

Log Item: A few riding notes on the Ducati Diavel. I've been riding the Devil almost every day for about two months and have a few things to report. I don't have any gripes on the bike, but there are a few things to discuss.

2015 Ducati Diavel

(1) There is power from the line all the way to red line. There are no lags. For those of you who ride bikes like Harley Davidsons, there is no 'roll on power'. Even the HD V-Rods have that characteristic. With the Devil you have as much power at your fingertips as you want.

The power curve is not unlike a V-Max. The V-Max is as fast as the Diavel but it weighs 200 lbs more and is a shaft drive bike. The V-Max has a much higher center of gravity and doesn't corner all that well at slower speeds (haters, have at me but I've been there and done that). The Diavel allows the rider to sit lower on the bike and is much easier to maneuver.

(2) The throttle requires a twist. It's not a tight throttle, which is a good thing for everyday riding. There is all the power that you need/want, but you must twist the throttle a bit to get it to scream. 

(3) There are three riding settings and you can switch between them on the fly: Urban (100 HP), tuned down for people who may be intimidated by the bike; Touring (162 HP Low); different shift ratios and different traction control than; Sport (162 HP High). I keep it on Sport because the bike is "happier" in that setting. It simply runs truer to design.

This means that the bike is very malleable in terms of "riding it the way YOU are most comfortable". Though why one would buy a Diavel and not keep it in Sport Mode is beyond me. 

(4) Since it's not a sport bike with a wind deflector and a faring (it's a naked bike) and you are sitting up, they way that you would on any cruiser, there is wind pressure, which increases as you pass about 90 mph and makes it a bit uncomfortable. My Puig motorcycle windscreen is somewhere between Spain and here. I think that will help a great deal on trips where freeway speeds are somewhere between 75 and 85.  

(5) The bike is rated for 170 mph and I have no doubt that it will do that off the showroom floor without modifications. I don't know what you'd do in order to modify it to squeeze out more horsepower, but perhaps it's the wrong bike for you if you need to go faster. 

The Panigale R has 205 HP and weighs 150 lbs less than the Diavel. It will easily top 200 mph.

Log Item: This is an interesting account. He should have been riding a Ducati.

Paisan

Emilie takes a selfie

Log Item: Would you take an Italian motorcycle to an Italian restaurant? It would seem to be a no brainer but there are are a lot of Italian restaurants out there which brings me to the eternal question of WHICH one to go to?

Do old Mafia joints serve the best Italian food?

I'm thinking about Mulberry St. in New York City. Sparks Steakhouse where Paul Castellano was shot down, Don Peppe in Queens, and Umberto's Clam House in Little Italy where Crazy Joe Gallo was murdered in the middle of his birthday. Rao's in New York is good too. I was there in 2003, right before Louis Barone shot down Albert Circelli for bad-mouthing a female singer. (Scorsese used the spot for inspiration, even featuring Rao's regular Johnny Roastbeef in the movie, Goodfellas.) La Mela used to be called the Mayfair Boy's Civic and Social Club. Rudy Guliani's favorite mob joint in NY is Da Nico. There is the Green Mill in Chicago, Camille's in Providence and The Coliseum in Boston.  Total mob, good chow.

My daughter, Emilie, who is along for this run on the Diavel prefers Umberto's Clam House (used to be called Da Gennaro) where she orders the lobster ravioli every time she is in New York. But I'm not driving her to New York. She MUST learn to settle for local cuisine. Did I ever call her spoiled?

There is the Newport Sausage Company in Newport Beach, California - and the old reputed mobsters retired, leaving it to their kids, who expanded it and re-named it. Most of what the bad guys did consisted of bookmaking and twisting speedometers on cars. The sausage was excellent.

Filipi's Restaurant (San Diego's Little Italy) comes from the same pedigree, and while the place was sold, Roberto De Philippis' kids still run some of the franchises. Old Man De Philippis was the reputed head of the San Diego branch of the Los Angeles LCN Family. It's a title that he disputes (he's 81 years old now). The place is a landmark in Little Italy and the food is Italian American, or American Italian, depending on your perspective.

De Philippis is from a restaurant family with roots in New York City. His parents, Vincent and Madeline, moved to California from The Bronx. They founded Filippi's Pizza Grotto in 1950 in San Diego. 

In 1976, De Philippis pleaded no contest to three counts of federal income tax evasion and was sentenced to two years in prison. He served about a year. “If everybody went to jail who cheated on their income tax, there'd be a prison on every corner,” De Philippis said.

Never eat more food than you can lift

Then, in 1980, the liquor license of the Mission Valley restaurant was briefly suspended. “There was a customer, he was bookmaking in the restaurant, and we didn't know nothin' about nothin',” De Philippis said.

He opened Butcher de Carlo, a restaurant in Tijuana that was a big hit with the spy crowd, the Mexican Army and the Federal Judicial Police. I was there a number of times. Best steak in Northern Mexico, hands-down. There was a whorehouse on the second floor if the customers wanted to risk a social disease (Mexican nationals don't often use condoms). I never made my way upstairs...for those of you with dirty minds.

De Philippis said that secret to his restaurant success (in the US and Mexico), "Hire attractive waitresses. You'll think I'm crazy, but I believe they make the food taste better.”

I only recently learned that they opened a restaurant about ten miles from where I live. I could go there normal, or I could ride Italian Devil for old time's sake. And if I'm goin' Mafia, Emilie is tagging along for supper.

Following the ride, Emilie takes a selfie to assure herself that she didn't gain weight after bolting down half a plate of fetucini alfredo and half an order of garlic bread. (she brought the rest home)

Communism and the Devil

Ural Motorcycle

Observation: Motorcycles made in slave states were completely devoted to military scouting operations or mopeds designed to move slaves from their dormitories to work at distances where a bicycle was impractical. Thus there is very little history of motorcycle excellence in either Russia or China, both of which have emerged from under the yoke of communism -- but haven't caught up when it comes to making motorcycles.

The Russians have been making versions of the Ural for 70 years now. They have had the opportunity to make it right now that they've shed the yoke of communism. How is that working out?

The Russian Federation's (as opposed to the old USSR) entry into the motorcycle market has come with the export Ural.

Log Item: A friend of mine made a decision to buy a Ural outside of my advice to the contrary. His came with a sidecar. I like sidecars, but they make a motorcycle drive like one of those CanAm spiders...more of a  small convertible car than a motorcycle. In the case of the Ural, it's an underpowered motorcycle (at 41 horsepower) that is way under powered when you add a side car. 

From the ugly tractor seat to the 1950's design, the Ural does have a nostalgic twinge. I remember riding in Muskovitch and Lada automobiles back when and they all performed in much the same way that the Ural does. Sort of like riding on a tractor. Naturally it incorporates a tractor seat for the driver to complete the vibe.

Ural Motorcycle with Sidecar

Uralistas are easily wounded if you criticize their products of the worker's paradise, apparently. I don't quite get it, but they are.

He and a Uralista friend called and came by first thing in the morning to extoll their bikes over the competition. I realize that you may find that incredible, but anyone dumb enough to buy a Ural is dumb enough to drive to my house and talk about how much cooler it is than my Ducati.

It's like buying and old Muskovitch, then comparing your old Muskovitch to a Ferrari and --- making fun of a guy who bought a Ferrari who paid less for his Ferrari in the process (more on that later). They argued that the 162 horsepower of the Ducati Diavel was just overkill. The same is true of the digital instrument cluster, which is emblematic of unnecessary expense. Maybe so, but it is the devil...

As a professional investigator and observer, I probed gently. Within the first few months and thousands of miles, both of them have had serious issues with their Urals:

• Final Drive Failure
• Broken Front Shock Absorber
• Mirrors don't stay in place and pivot when the vehicle is in motion.
• Broken Swing Arm
• Worn out and leaking brake lines
• Speedometer Failure (bouncing across the analog dial) 
• Broken Steering Dampener

In fairness, these were covered by a "generous"  three-year warranty as both riders explained. But one fuel tank had to be replaced at about the 500 mile mark due to a break in a weld and the replacement tank turned out to have grit and debris in it that fouled the carb (no fuel injection). With warranty work like that, what good is it really?

What about the cost of the Ural vs the Ducati Diavel? 

I paid $400 less for the Diavel than the guy with the sidecar paid for his 2015 Ural Patrol 750. He boasted of his sidecar, which is cool up to a point. I think that P. T. Barnham was correct when he said that a sucker is born every minute. I seriously thought that he'd have paid somewhere around $5K for a new one until they started 'measuring dicks' and wanted to tell me what great deals they got.

Dirty Devil

Log Item:  It's one of those lazy days here at the homestead and I am cleaning the devil, checking chain tension, cleaning the chain and adding some chain lube to keep the drive system on the bike up to par.

I use Motul Chain Clean (C1) and Motul Chain Lube (C2). There are all sorts of chain lubes on the market. I either use Maxima Chain Wax or Motul (which incorporates wax with the lube). Non fling free lubes go everywhere like someone poured a quart of motor oil on your wheel when going 55. Other brands' anti-fling lubes tend to clump and fling sticky clumps to your wheel and the left side of the tail. WD40 is a disaster. People say they love it. Those people have chains that last 2,000 miles.

Once-over cleaning ever 500 miles

I clean and lube the chain at least every 600 miles. This cleaning job was made at about the 500 mile mark. Cleaning the chain also means cleaning around the chain where grit and grime accumulates. Every 1,000 miles, I take off fenders and covers and give it a thorough cleaning but that's not today.

Cleaning the chain is simple. Put a rag behind the chain to protect the tire and wheel from overspray and then spray down the full run of chain. It  makes sense to check the chain tension for tight spots when you do that.

Lubing the chain requires that you put the same rag behind the chain while you apply the lube, wiping the chain plates clean while you're doing it. If they don't come fully clean, you may need to repeat the cleaning process.

It's a good opportunity to check oil and brake fluid levels as well as inspecting the entire machine.

Giving the bike a once-over while you wipe the dust out of nooks and crannies
helps to inspire confidence in the machine's status when you're putting it through
its paces on the street.

Riding Notes

Yes, it's legal to split lanes

Log Item: SPLITTING LANES - The cure for hate is forgiveness. The cure for outrage is humility. The cure for sorrow is thankfulness.  The cure for envy is buying your own motorcycle. The video (here) of a bike splitting traffic on an LA freeway and another one of a wreck witnessed by a lady on a bike (here) while splitting traffic are instructive if you don't know what I'm talking about.

In the Los Angeles Area, the one constant is traffic. For you east-coasters take the Leesburg (VA) pike in traffic, or sit on the freeway between Manhattan and Long Island, and you will feel the pain as well. 

To get to the meat, it's interesting to see how motorists react to a motorcycle spitting traffic. Most give you extra room to get past. Some do not.

I was in Pasadena on Friday, dealing with issues associated with a company that I helped found that is presently not doing all that well and a meeting that started at 1pm, sadly for me, ended at 5pm. That means a three hour drive home in a car with LA traffic, or an hour and twenty minutes on a motorcycle, splitting traffic...such are the advantages.

Log Item: The kid with the Ducati Monster  that I reported on May 23rd has been conspicuously absent from the streets, riding without helmet, gloves or boots. I walked down to his grandparents home and rang the bell. His grandmother explained that he crashed his bike into a curb/tree/block wall (no motorcycle license) a bit more than a week prior and it put him in the hospital. She ushered me up to his room where he was recovering from a broken leg and broken arm. It could have been worse.

FBI Gang List Includes all Licensed (M) Drivers

Obviously looking for trouble. 

Log Item: The FBI hates me. In the photo (right) I am wearing black clothing and riding a black motorcycle in the crime blighted city of Newport Beach, California. Does that add to the criminal profile that the FBI is compiling? According to the Washington Post, it might.

(Washington Post) MSNBC correspondent Jeremy Lancaster sat down with government official Darrin Cornia to discuss recent rumors that have been in circulation in regard to registered motorcycle owners being placed on a classified FBI gang list. 

Darrin Cornia who currently holds a position within the National Security Branch of the government agreed to complete transparency prior to the interview with MSNBC’s Jeremy Lancaster and did remain direct and seemingly forthright throughout his conversation with Lancaster.

After a few moments of introduction, Lancaster bluntly asked the following question,” Mr. Cornia, if I were to make the statement, all registered motorcycle owners are currently showing on a classified FBI gang list, would the statement be true or false? 

Cornia responded by saying, “That would be a true statement, the FBI has been collecting and compiling Department of Motor Vehicles and Drivers License Division records for the purpose of adding those that own motorcycles to a classified gang list since 1994. 

Lancaster asked Cornia to explain the reasoning behind the list which seems inappropriately broad, to Cornia answered the question with the following statement, “It’s nothing more than collecting and utilizing data. We may not like to admit it, but the truth of the matter is that those that own and operate motorcycles are 67% more likely to be involved in illegal or criminal activity than those that do not own or operate a motorcycle.” 

The National Security Official went on to explain, “It’s the same as firearms, if local P.D or Highway Patrol were to pull someone over that is a registered firearm owner, that officer has the right to know this information going into the interaction, the same could be said about a local P.D or Highway Patrol Officer that pulled over a registered motorcycle owner, the situations are honestly interchangeable in the eyes of National and Homeland Security. 

MSNBC correspondent Jeremy Lancaster asked Cornia if placing citizens on a gang list just because they are registered motorcycle owners is considered as profiling, Cornia responded to the question by saying, “as a nation do we complain when we add someone that has a Crips or Bloods tattoo to a gang list even though the individual swears up and down that they don’t have gang affiliation? Again these are 2 situations that are interchangeable, we can’t pick and choose.” 

Lancaster asked how individuals can find out if they are on this classified gang list to which Cornia responded, “Did you register a motorcycle or obtain a Class M license anytime between the year 1994 and 2015? If so, than you are on the list.”

I wonder if the FBI hates me more because I ride a motorcycle made in Italy than they would if I had bought one that was made in America?

I honestly don't know why everyone licensed to ride a motorcycle has made it to an FBI list. But mine is a "Devil"...but since the list is classified, there is no way to know if I've been singled out for special treatment.

I find it incredible that tax dollars are used for that drivel, but with 60 million Americans on food stamps, and Obamacare being in vogue and with prisons paying for gender reassignment surgery for prisoners, why not track everyone who has a motorcycle license or owns a motorcycle and put it on a secret list. Being that we're all such profound threats to national security, how is the FBI cataloging passengers who ride on the back of our motorcycles?

Is a Baja Run in the Future?

This begins the second month of Diavel blogging. I thought that it would be appropriate to begin by sharing a trip possibility (but by no means an eventuality).

Musing: I have been thinking about some long-runs for the Ducati (pre-trailer) and one of them was to make a run from home to the tip of Baja (possibly with a chase car in the mix). I hit the Google button and it's been done. You can watch it here. The same thing that concerned me --- fuel --- hit the guy who made this trip, as well. The Devil drinks fuel like, well, like the devil. You have between 150 and 200 miles depending on how you're whipping the Devil before the yellow light comes on. No more than that.

The video shows the Diavel Strada, which is more or less what my scooter is becoming. Ducati stopped making the Strada version in 2013.

Having a chase car makes sense, because I'd put spare fuel on it and all of my "stuff" rather than just strapping it to the back of the scooter. That's a rather long logistics train (traveling heavy) for a bike ride, but it's Baja. My vision included camping on the beach, etc. and there's simply not enough gear to haul on the motorcycle to make all of that the least big comfortable. (I'm not twenty anymore and I am a bit spoiled for basic comfort.) I had also thought to film a ride like that but as you see, it's been done.

I may try this run in the autumn even though I would not be charging down a road less followed.

I need to get LSP to come out to the coast and drive the Raptor/Chase car.