If you go on Saturday instead, you stand a better chance of getting a closer inspection of the Ducati models. Just bring a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers. Of course, when I say "a better chance," I mean it goes from 1% to 1.5%.
Be sure to hit up the Honda guys and see if they have an update on the release of 2015 CB1100. The person I spoke with when they were in Long Beach had no idea. There was just one CB1100 DLX on the show floor. But when I was there, it was getting plenty of attention from the crowd.
I love the idea of adventure bikes but have never really been drawn to them or imagined myself an owner of one. But KTM has some amazing models that made me think, "Wow...I could definitely see that in my garage." I was excited to see the Ducati Scrambler up close but when I finally did, I was not impressed. I felt just the opposite with the BMW R nine T. Seeing it in photos and reading about it online, I thought it was a nice bike but wasn't overly thrilled by it. Seeing it in person, however, I was struck with how great of a design it is and the technology that it possesses. Photos don't do it justice.
Oh, and those other Ducati models...where do they find them?! One came up to me, holding an iPad, and asked if I'd be interested in signing up to receive information regarding the Scrambler. She did this is as I was looking over the Scramblers and thinking to myself, "Hmmm...so disappointing." My response - "Oh, uh, huh? Uh, yeah, sure. Okay." Thank God she hadn't asked if I'd be willing to lie down on the convention center floor to be run over repeatedly by the Ducati Monster 1200 to demonstrate the effectiveness of its suspension. I fear my answer would have been the same.
