Last night a friend of mine, Nic Rosato from Long Island, came over so I could help him repair a leaking fork seal and do a little routine maintenance on his ‘97 Monster 900. Nic showed up around 6:30 and we got him squared away and out the door around 9:30 after repairing the leaking seal, changing the oil in both fork legs, changing his engine oil and filter, and adjusting his chain. During the three hours we shared, Nic repeatedly thanked me for helping him while he was away from home and was sincerely thankful to have a place to work on his bike 2000 miles from his Long Island garage.
Nic’s visit started me thinking about the community we all share, and how thankful I am to be a part of it. During my years of riding I’ve seen motorcyclists treat each other with attitudes ranging from disdain to admiration, from callous to charitable, and from enmity to solidarity. I bought my first Ducati in 2000 and immediately became acquainted with a different riding community.
In my experience, Ducati riders tend to treat each other with a little more respect, a bit more brotherhood, and a ton more enthusiasm than the riders of other marques. A Ducatista rarely refuses another any reasonable request, and often goes out of his way to help another in need despite significant costs in time and resources.
Shortly after I bought my first Ducati, a ‘95 Supersport, a fellow Ducati owner, Buddy Turner of Intrepid Cafe Racers fame, took me under his wing to show me the “ins and outs” of Ducati ownership. When my Supersport spat its chain 40 miles from home, Karl Zaster loaned me his brand new 1098 so I could make a parts run. When I wanted to buy a bike in San Francisco, Kevin Kachadourian volunteered to drive 50 miles out of his way to take a look at it and give me an honest evaluation of its condition. If this was all I could relate, then my anecdotes might be considered random acts of kindness. However, this is just the tip of the proverbial iceburg, and the number of these acts that I’ve been party to or witnessed is such that it would take me hours to type them all here! I’m glad that I could contribute to the list.
Maybe it’s because we’re generally older, and realize that nobody can easily get along without a little help. Maybe it’s becasue we’re more experienced, and realize that what goes around comes around. Maybe it’s because we’re just nicer people who, for some unknown reason, are drawn to red paint and basso profundo. Whatever the reason, I’ll wager that “you meet the nicest people on a Honda Ducati.”
Cloner: ABQ, NM
