Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

ordered a LED taillight and I’d like to swap out the halogen front bulbs for some LED as well.

Ooooh. Contentious. I used to be all over LED stuff, but now prefer original shindigs.
Are the lights bad?
Looking at the MTS1200 and one of the issues with them is the poor lighting.

Very excited by all this. What gear did you go for? Knowing you and bikes, all gotta match no?

Alpinestars GP Plus graphite, supertech gloves and boots. It’ll be a murdered out look, maybe a bit boring but I wasn’t feeling the other color combos.

I’m not sure which boots I’ll end up with, either the new ones or last years but it’ll be black.

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Nope, I can dig it. I normally go for black and white Dainese. Bike is black and silver.

For boots through. Sidi. Always Sidi. Cycling and motorised. Nothing but Sidi.

Front halogen is more like candlelight apparently on the 848 /1098 /1198 and since I’m planning a trip back to the Netherlands with this, I’d like them to see me coming on the autobahn in Germany ;)

I always prefer a clean license plate area and moving to led will also improve my visibility.

Too narrow for me. S-works Sagan and Lake on the bike for me.

Then understood. It’s one of the things that’s making me hesitate about the MTS1200. Need a modified loom for LED’s, by comparison, the Tiger has excellent lighting.

You sure about the boots? I’ve got fat feet and their Mega range fits glove like, with comfort for daaaays.
The sole however, has already dried and cracked though, so not happy on that front. Warranty has been...non existent.

I tried them once, sold it directly after but I don’t think it was their mega range tbh as they didn’t have that back then. I prefer the look of my Sworks although I scuffed the sole up pretty badly during the first ride as I had several landslides to tackle on my descent haha.

I had several landslides to tackle on my descent haha.

Yeaaah, I’ll stick to my greasy London roads thank you very much.

We all have our own challenges in life! 😬

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I put a dual filament LED replacement bulb in the original tail light housings of the DR and the XJ... but replaced indicators for LED.

Also, fook.

Sweet baby Jesus, you weren’t kidding! And you scrambled down that in a set of road shoes???

Haha, yeah. And Speedplay cleats mind you!

I believe I was 140k in during a planned 180k trip that day and the only realistic way home was that route. The other option was to return the way I came but that would include all the altitude difference once again which wasn’t going to happen.

@MementoMori I know it’s not a 1098, but big fan of this guy and how he works on his bikes. As original and OEM as can be.

Been watching what he does to the MTS1200.

https://youtu.be/q6WwXE4JRWM

That's a great video actually, I'll watch in full when I'm back home from work.

Yeah he’s got a series of them on the 1198 and other Ducati bikes.
I don’t know how you feel about doing mechanical work yourself, but personally, I try to work on all my bikes. His videos give me a little bit of peace now I’m thinking of going for Italian red.

Uncharacteristically commented one of the videos in this series, been following him for a while. Garage goals right there. His Toyota 4Runner is all kinds of awesome.

Amen brother! I like his style, low key, technical without being patronising. He Doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to being thorough but economical.

Also good taste all around.

Could I have some product recommendations for cleaning/conditioning my leathers please?

Talk to @jambon he’s got wizardry up in that leather shiz

Seems the sex dungeon secret's out then... Essentially there's two types of products that you need, one to clean and one to condition. Easier said then done but avoid the elbow grease and let the "product" do the work. Decent stuff costs a bit but my clothing lasts longer than my bikes so feels worth it. This guide is useful and both products used would be a decent starting point.

Ta, that's helpful! So Motul M3 cleaner, Renapur Leather Balsam and a cosy evening should do the job.

Spent all evening pining after a trials bike. Oh no.

Spent all evening pining after a fast tourer. Part ex is tempting.

I have a couple hundred quids worth of parts for the XJ waiting for me at the mechanics (Hel lines, calliper rebuilds, front sintered pads), and a service/mot happening next month. Should just not.