Ducati Monster 821 screen and radiator guard

Evotech Radiator Guard

Now that I've decided to commit to the Monster 821 I've started to look at upgrades and improvements to it (there didn't seem much point if I was going to be chopping it in for something else). I'd been told to get a radiator guard from the beginning, and feeling that I'd probably pushed my luck as far as I could on our medieval UK roads. I got this one from Evotech:

https://evotech-performance.com/collections/ducati-monster-821-2013-2017/products/ducati-monster-821-radiator-guard-2013-to-2017

Installation was quite simple, and the included instructions were clear. The whole operation maybe took 45 minutes - as this is the first bit of work I've done on the Monster following an almost 20 year break of home mechanicary I took my time. Installed, the guard is inconspicuous and looks sure to do it's job.

Puig New Generation Windscreen

I love my Monster, but one of the reasons I was thinking of trading was because I'd taken it for a ride to Nottingham over the summer across the A50. This was mostly done at 70mph, and I found it to be quite fatiguing after a while - no doubt because it's a naked bike with no wind protection. I looked at the various screens available and decided to order this from Sportsbikeshop here in the UK.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/300449

There are a few screens available for the Monster 821, some tall but quite gawky looking, others small and apparently not offering a great deal of protection. This was just £85 - somewhat more affordable than other options, so I thought I'd give it a try. It arrived, along with some winter base layers and was again a very quick and simple install.

I was a little concerned that the screen would spoil the appearance of the bike, and while it obviously looks better without it on at all, it could hardly be described as offensive, and from some angles is actually quite good.

I've had a ride of about an hour so far with it on, seems good so far. I'm only really going to know for sure when I go for a long ride on the motorway or along the dual carriageway. Ill update my thoughts when this happens.

What happened? Part 2: CBT and Theory Test

Compulsory Basic Training (CBT)

It was a crisp February morning when I went to do my CBT in Stoke-on-Trent. The first time I'd been on a bike for just over 11 years, but I remembered mostly what to do. The only issue was the very cheap 125cc bike - I think Brixton was the brand (sounds a bit like Thruxton dunnit?) - which stalled at the slightest provocation. Still, it was an enjoyable day and I relearned a lot in the classroom in the morning and then in the afternoon it was time to do the two hour supervised ride.

For me this went well - at the age of 42 and an experienced car driver I have a good knowledge of roads, but my co-student on this ride had only just arrived in the UK from South Asia. I knew it was over for him when he sailed through a red light on a pedestrian crossing, and our instructor was understandably extremely stressed - I worried this might result in an invalid test for me as he spent so much time watching out for the other student! Fortunately this was not the case, once the instructor recomposed himself I was told I'd done well and my CBT certificate was written up.

Theory Test

I remembered needing two attempts at this in 2010, the Hazard Perception Test caught me out although I'd done well on the multiple choice questions. Nevertheless, I got the official DVLA guide to the theory test and read through it all in preparation, and I also downloaded the DVLA app to practice the Hazard Perception Test. I'm very glad that I did both these things and I definitely got a few extra points on multiple choice. 

The Hazard Perception Test has improved since I did it in 2010, now based around a high quality simulation instead of the filmed sequences of the past. Again I only just passed this section, but pass I did and I was delighted to be one step closer to getting my licence.

What Happened? Part 1: 12 years

The brief answer (which I may expand upon in the future), is that following my last post I failed my test twice in the following month and decided to abandon my quest for a motorcycle licence. At the end of 2010 I had spent maybe £1000 on lessons, the same again on clothing and other equipment, and owned (but had not taken delivery of) an Aprilia Pegaso 650 Factory which had set me back a further £3500. 

I sold what I could of the equipment and clothing at a loss, the dealer who sold me the bike agreed to sell it for me, although it took over a year to get my money, I'd only lost £500 on that and saved myself the hassle of trying to sell it myself. With the dust finally settled and my heart broken, I put the whole thing down to folly and told myself I'd never dabble with motorcycles again.

And that's how it was for years. In 2015 my wife and I moved house and our new neighbour was building a custom chopper. We became friends and I took an interest in his project, and several other bikes he bought over the following years. I told him my sob story of licence-failure, but I'd learned enough during my experience to at least be able to have a conversation with him about the bikes as well as appreciate the steady stream of Hayabusas, Ducatis and BMWs he had over the following years.

Occasionally I'd get a little bit tempted to look at doing my licence, especially when my neighbour had a very nice Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer - but remembering what happened to me back in 2010 I was reminded that it was one thing to go and buy all the equipment - anyone with the means can do that - it was quite another to pass the test.

Exactly one year ago, things changed. My neighbour was going to the MCN Live show in Birmingham - his friends couldn't make it on the day he was going so asked if I'd like to join him instead. I figured that if nothing else this would be a good day out and went along.

After spending a day walking around all of the fantastic machinery I was pretty much hooked. Two bikes stood out for me that day, the BMW RnineT Scrambler and the Kawasaki Z900RS and I couldn't stop thinking about them.

A week later I was on my way to Australia to work for two months, but I'd made up my mind - once I returned I was going to have another go at getting my bike licence.