This forum is getting a bit bland.

I used to be on here every day reading through the posts. The mixture of banter, advice, shared adventures, piss-taking, engineering wizardry, mechanical advice, related SD stories, great pictures, mad views, kept me wanting to keep on seeing what was happening.

But something has changed in the last year or so.

Instead of being like an ice cream store with a hundred flavours it's all feeling a bit vanilla. It's like a bar I used to go to all the time that was just cool and full of great people but somehow over time it lost it's edge and survived on reputation for a while but then became a pale shadow of what it once was and forgot what had once made it good in the first place.

What's going on?

I accept that I must be part of the problem too. I'm not having a go at anyone or any particular type of people. Just a bit sad that it doesn't seem to have the same force it once had.

I'm drinking Gin. Maybe it's my perspective at the moment.

129SDR > all

There was a time way back when that the moderators forced the direction of the site to bikes and tits. The new 1290 owners have had lots to say and resolve with regards to sorting the few woes that came out. Then all hell broke loose with the near takeover and this is what we are left with. I still have my SD and I still have wonderful advice and insights into the human condition but my laziness have left me unable to care to type much Dribble. Now I spend my time looking for used bike parts for my other steeds.

Dribble. I feel the same as you.

I find that I am spending more time surfing the world of two-stroke triples and searching for parts for my H2 and exploring the world of those people who have been riding the smoking two-strokes since the mid seventies. I go back a long way with these people that I meet on the various forums and places where I end up. (I bought my first Kawasaki triple when I was 17 in the late '70s). It's not all great - many of these types are also stuck in the 70's way of thinking about politics, economics, race, sexual preference etc. But they have a passion for motorbikes and a great sense of history and knowledge that I crave for and need to keep my bike running well.

The era of the 990 Superduke may well be over. I feel privileged to have been a part of it and will always remember it as a great time and I met a load of good people.

I've learned a lot about bikes over the years and one of the most fundamental things is when to acknowledge that often you sell a bike that later you later regret selling. I've done this with a quite a few bikes, notably a 1991 Ducati 900SS and my original 400S3 Kawasaki. So I know now that I should never sell my 990. I will keep it to the end because it's such a great bike and the one that I've put the most hours into and invested the most cash. It's also the bike that has introduced me to track days and the highs of taking a bike to its true limits.

I will keep on tuning into this forum for as long as it continues but I suspect that I will start to drift away.

Maybe because there is nothing more to be learned and everything possible has now been shared and archived and available to anyone who can actually understand the search function.

(I for one cannot ever make it work for me! Ha ha)

I almost wished that I would have kept my 990 as well, the unfortunate thing is I probably would have never ridden it with the 1290 in my garage. I am however looking to purchase a 390 Duke.

I sold my Superduke over a year ago. I still enjoy the want to visit the forum time to time...
It seems even solid gold pussy gets old!

I'll agree that the site has gotten "vanilla" as you put it however vehemently deny that the 990 is done for me. This bike remains the only bike I've ever owned where I don't lust for another. There is simply nothing on the market right now that I'd trade my SD for. That's a great feeling.

I think everyone forum gets a bit boring after a while,
I'm on a Mustang forum, used to check in few times a day, now it's a couple times a week, and only been on there 6 months.

I guess it's an unavoidable fact that long-term exposure to a forum leads to it all becoming a bit "samey", it's happened to a few that I've been on over the years that have unfortunately faded into a shadow of their former selves....

Being as SD ownership is a somewhat exclusive club by virtue of the cost of new bikes and the relative scarcity of SDs compared with mainstream bikes, there isn't a big influx of new owners joining the ranks, and though I've been on the forum of over a year now I haven't had the pleasure of observing a good argument or the chance to shoot down a dickhead as there don't seem to be any of them active on here. Perhaps the forum could advertise for idiots to come join it and spice things up a bit..?

That said, I'm still visiting more than daily to click on the "new posts" button to see what's happening, what I can learn, or maybe even pass something on to someone....

I"m pretty new here as I just bought a 1290, but I appreciate all of the info and knowledge on here. I see a lot of forums going down the past few years. partially just the market is smaller than it was in 2007 (at least in the US) partially because there are so many avenues to use when it comes to "social media". I still prefer forums for any type of "how to" info but for quick response on some things, posting in a superduke section of Facebook will get you quick replies from all over the world.

I guess i need to post more of my "basic" questions here to liven things up a bit. But you are also talking about a niche bike from a niche brand. I think the forums can be a great source of information as the 950/990/1290 dukes will no doubt become "cult" bikes in the future. I seem to have an attraction for cult bikes, having owned 4 or 5 of the Honda Hawks (NT650/"Bros" for the UK crowd), a 950 Super Enduro and now the 1290.

I'm sure you see the same questions asked time and time again, so hopefully the influx of 1290 riders will fill the ranks again??

I think I will start to behave in a more confrontational way. Just to kick up some controversy and get people talking about stuff more. This site used to have some real personalities that would really make for a diverse and active forum. There is definitely a sort of movement towards posts about 1290s and the (in my opinion) rather boring shit that those owners are dealing with.

Before you 1290 owners get all defensive.......

I don't want to know about your rim tape options.

I don't want to know about your latest tank bag acquisition.

I don't really want to see pictures of your bike against a Californian sunset.

I want to hear about your riding experiences.
I want to hear about how you feel about your bike.
I want to see pictures of you and your friends out on an adventure.
I want to hear about the frustrations of being an SD owner.
I want to see crash pictures.
I want to hear about you - who are you?
I want to know why you ride bikes.

lol ^

This forum is definitely a bit of a slow one. Get yourself on pbmagforum.co.uk, I think you'd fit right in

I love reading bic's posts, especially after he has been drinking. Its very entertaining

Also Bic, I believe when a forum that revolves around a single model has reached the age ours has the forum becomes more about the people and less about the bikes.

I find myself coming here everyday not only because I have to but because it's a familiar place, like a friends house you're always welcome to stop by, hang out and shoot the shit with everyone about what they're up too in their day to day lives.

I agree that this site has lost quite a few of it's big personalities that steered this forum into a good natured piss taking direction, but I'm sure history will repeat itself.

Bic a lot of the banter from the "old days" came about from the fact that a lot of the guys used to know each other and either ride out together or do track days.
That and the occasional instigators like Stupid Luke or Dribble would always be guaranteed to stir the pot. Even Bass grew up and stopped posting random shit.
There is a definite lack of "characters" on the forum at this point and regardless of the point that most of the 990 issues have been solved the social side of the forum does seemed to have taken a turn for the worst.
The 990/1290 sucks debate was a good start, although it did seem to offend some peeps sensibilities. Lighten up.
Only one thing for it "more naked pictures".

Its always harder to stir up shit between 25 online members than it is between 430 online members. Back in 2011 there were a lot more members around and online and with so many topics its almost guaranteed that people will disagree and stir more shit. A general reduction in online members and topic posters means things will get a bit slow from time to time.
Thank goodness ducati pete throws a few pics up every now and then to put a smile on our faces

I am leaving for five weeks of riding the pacific northwest. Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and yes California. I am going to see Glacier National Park before it melts away. Hell I'll stick my head into Canada while I'm at it. No I am not taking the SD. I will be using a throttle lock on parts of the trip so I can concentrate my mind on chewing gum. I am taking a little rod and reel and I plan on doing a bit of fishing. This is the first journey with a camp chair. They really have figured out how to make these things very packable. As far as stirring the pot there is no banter and that is due in part from the seriousness of the world these days. when we were all struggling with an economy or should I say I instead of we, Piss taking was a release. Now to take the bait seems to imply your not hip. The English blokes were much better at getting together. Crashfest is a prime example. We have 987 SD's in Ca. and we can't get together for shit. I do want to know what drives members. I do not post on any other sites. This is it, call it sheltered if you like but it is the site that should represent the qualities that exemplify the strength of the Superduke. Orange you all glad I'm outtahere for a bit

Maybe it's because the 990 was so easy to improve if you knew
1 What to change
2 What to replace it with
3 Who to ask.
All this stuff happened with the 990's. Mine included. The forum answered all these questions with a degree of intelligence and a massive dose of wit and not a little sarcasm.
And, as has been pointed out there was a great social side especially in the UK with meeting up for the annual bash/crash at Cadwell.

Seems like the 1290, whilst not perfect just ain't so easy to improve upon

Hey M8's !

How it hanging ?

Yep...sure had a run back then with the 990's.

Then a couple of bad apples stood still while everyone else stepped backwards..

If you need a forum to hangout on...check out ADVrider.com....world wide....all kinds of bikes...that is where I hang.

But this place was special to me. Great group to chat with from around the world with a common bike to keep us together.

I tried to make a comment about having two different sections to this site 990 and the newer 1190 or what ever the fook it is, because they are totally two different bikes. I don't know jack about the newer bike, but I know my 990 inside and out. Why mix apples with oranges?

Got some panties all waded up on that ...to bad so sad...

WHATEVER ///////////////.......................... advrider.com....pacific north wet......fookin aaaaeeee....

Almost 1500 views and less than 30 replies on this thread.

This was the second forum I ever joined, after AF1. Both were great, AF1 was a lot bigger due to the number of models they provided for. Due to the English background of superduke.net, I found I had a lot more in common - big fan of The Office (English version not that pale US imitation). But the biggest draw for me was the vast knowledge here. The SDR is a bit of a pig in standard form - lurchy, hair trigger throttle and doesn't sound anywhere near as good as it can, and with your help, I made my last one into a brilliant bike.

I too, hated the 1290. Even now, I still prefer the 990. Sure, it may be slower, but that fooking ugly front end on the 1290 does my head in every time I look at it! And to touch it feels so plasticky and made in India. Yuk.

Getting another standard 990 soon and I can't wait to start working on it. Thanks Bic for keeping this going. What happened to Klinck, Bass Linga and the other big characters in this forum??

It also doesn't help that 95% of what one can write about the 990SD has been written here already. I find myself here often, but mainly just reading... I try to throw in whatever tidbits I've come across since I got mine.

Sorry to hear about Bass.

Bass Agent was a character on this forum. He came in with a bang and was controversial from the start! He was antagonistic and confrontational and pissed people off. But he loved his bikes and he was totally into his superduke. It was sad to lose him.

I think that there are three people who have died from this forum on their Superdukes.

The 'Dr F" referred to in the technical section was one of the biggest contributors when I first joined the forum in 2007. He died in an accident very soon afterwards and all his posts i read were after he'd died. He was a bit of a legend on here and although I never knew him or posted on his threads I felt very much that I had benefitted from him.

Evey forum normally always goes silent or has been about to come silent when I arrive. Sometimes there is some noise too but then I leave early... Me no part of any group...

One of the letters in the abbreviation of KTM refers to the place in which it is made. In this regard it would stand to reason if you wanted an Indian bike.. I think it does matter where a product is made and I also believe that there can be and many times are inferior and superior manufacturing regions throughout the world. I would not want a Harley made at an Indian plant or a KTM. I have no problem buying cheap pot metal house numbers made in India but "bang for buck" don't try and sell me wheels that I will rely on to move me through space and time.

I was talking to a dude who had a leaking valve gasket on one of those Indian assembed KTM machines and he reckoned the old gasket looked like it was 20 years old.
So who knows what your buying these days.
Drib fix your Avatar please

I like Vermont syrup on my Canadian bacon. Where something is made makes a hell of a lot of difference to me. A shiny cheap piece of shit is still a piece of shit no matter how cheap. Look for yourself into KTM Wheel malfunctions. They are shiny, I'll give you that. I do not recall problems with the original Brembo wheels on the 990.

MV Agusta produces some of the most beautiful machines without a doubt. And if I spent as much time looking at my bike as I do riding it, I would be tempted. But sadly, the fuelling issues of the marque and the fact that the F4 is so demanding to ride and long in the tooth mechanically, did not put it on my short list. The 1290 SDR design, especially the "industrial chic" of the '17, is controversial but then so were many bikes in the past like the 1983 Suzuki Katana or the Ducati 999 which looked ever better over time. The BMW GS series is not touted for its looks, but for a functionality which has made it one of the best selling models of all time. Even the assymetric headlights of the BMW S1000RR which look odd (to be kind), have gained acceptance. So to call the 1290 an aesthetic design disaster is an expression of personal taste, not actual design acumen.

[/quote][/quote]
Yes. Country of manufacture is important to me. The Superduke purchase came after the purchase of a Duke II and I was impressed with the build quality. "Made from foreign and domestic parts" causes me turmoil. I have bought the same Stanley tape measures for forty years and the !00% made in USA tapes have always been superior. Sheffield England chisels (Marples) are superior in holding an edge, Israeli carbide (Amana) router bits are far better than most, the list goes on and on. I am a believer that certain countries and or peoples have a leg up on quality from years of production practices. I am not interested in products made in the least cost per item approach for the sake of making an item more accessible to a larger audience, when in all likelihood is makes the item inferior. The reason they relocated production was to put more in the shareholders pockets (greed) than creating a better product. Santa Claus has all production rights to the north pole and therefore fills my stocking with elfin delights but the stocking itself comes from Romania as they make the best hand knit apparel. China makes the best pollution and when I need more of that I just go to Walmart for a shopping spree.[/quote]

Most people would be shocked if they knew just how much of their new houses, cars, clothing, electronics and food actually came from Asia, particularly China and India. These countries, just like Japan and Korea before them, strive to attain the same quality that the West produces, and increasingly, are becoming successful at it. Eventually, the cheap knock offs are replaced by quality products. Western made products can then only survive if they brand themselves as luxury products that contain cutting edge technologies that the East hasn't caught up to yet. The German car industry realised this long ago as did the Italian motorcycle industry. Just because it comes from the East doesn't make it a "cheap" product.