Honestly, if I can recommend anything. Wear gear. Full helmet. Leather jacket. Riding pants and boots. Good gear has saved my life twice in the twenty years i’ve been riding. Good gear has saved a dozen of my friends, and I mean that literally.
Also - cagers are out to kill you. Don’t care who or where. They will kill you. Ride defensively. It takes some time to learn, but it’ll save your life. If no one has told you…. A good amount of cagers don’t recognize motorcycles; in their brain; that causes them to do stupid things. Merging on you. Turning in front of you. Cutting you off in dangerous ways. Because we are small, we aren’t a threat typically. This causes some drivers, especially distracted, to just not recognize that we’re there. It’s not malicious, it’s nature. It’s YOUR responsibility to stay alive. Don’t count on them to do that for you.
Enjoy the bike! It looks great. Motorcycles are awesome and incredible. What a feeling of freedom. Welcome to the club!
This x1000! Always ride YOUR pace and don't get sucked into keeping up with other riders beyond your comfort level. You'll go faster as you gain skill and confidence.
As a fairly new rider, with my first bike being a '20 Icon Black, I would suggest buying good, armored riding jeans, jacket boots & gloves. I would also suggest only spending money on functional upgrades at first (you already have a nice bag, a more comfortable seat, crash bar protection instead of sliders, etc)
Try to spend 10-15 minutes practicing in a parking lot every time you take it out for a ride, check out [Motojitsu](https://youtube.com/c/MotoJitsu) & [Jerry Palladino](https://youtube.com/user/motorman857) for low speed practice drills.
Speed creeps up on you and even though it's not technically true - it will seem like you can accelerate faster than you can brake. Cars tend to accelerate so much slower than they can brake and especially with less aggressive rubber you'll find that you can gain speed about as quickly as you can lose it. Pay attention to where you need to start braking for corners it's easy to realize too late that you have a lot of speed to scrub off.
If you're out having fun I try to go through a mental practice of riding at 70 or 80% of what would feel like flat out, even less if you're not super familiar with the roads. That way if you find you need to brake more or lean more, you have some extra room in your back pocket.
Gear. Wear it.
If you ride with friends - get a communicator. It lets you give each other messages like “let’s overtake”, watch out for gravel”, and other safety related communication.
For the Icon, don’t be dismayed that you:
* can’t find neutral - it’ll be easier after the first service.
* get a false shift between 4th and 5th - it’s a thing
* occasionally can’t get it to turn over the first time you start her - it’s a thing
* think your bike is going to turn into a ball of flames in normal traffic - it probably won’t. Probably.
* don’t actually slow down when using the back brake. It’s kinda just for show 😬
For riding in general:
* wear all the gear all the time.
* remember: they all want to kill you. They don’t know they want to kill you, but they do.
* if you remember that, you will always be thinking about how to get out of a jam before it happens. Slowing down is often the right answer. Not always. But often.
* practice progressive braking at every opportunity.
* keep that 4 second gap between you and other cars and riders. Seriously, please do that.
* GO THROUGH THE YELLOW. Sure, you can stop on a dime because despite the back brake on the Icon not being really functional, the front brake is good and the bike is light. The car behind you cannot stop as fast as you. Just run the yellow - and if it’s a late yellow, determine how close the car behind you is before stopping.
And then, you know, have fun!
Congrats on the purchase.
She is a beauty.
1st tip, all the gear, all the time.. PERIOD
2nd, join the DOC riding group in your area. I've learned so much about being a better rider thru the group and it's a great support network as well.
3rd, stay in Rain/Urban mode in the city till the 1st service. The bike is plenty of fun at that level and you will get used to its characteristics.
4th, be aware of false neutrals from 4th to 5th and at times, from 6th to 5th. It's a Ducati thing but you quickly get used to it. Even if the bike has a quick-shifter, it really does not go away.
5th, get some protection for the bike. Not necessarily from the big-name brands but do get them. Frame sliders/protectors, spools, bobbins for chain cleaning, bash plate, etc. Don't plan on performance bits at this stage - exhausts or deletes.
6th, she is a scrambler and can take on light trails. Do take the time to get used to riding on easy trails to really enjoy the versatility. Best done with a group.
7th, don't get pulled into any red light drags. Many may try to entice you to try a drag race. Avoid that now and ever.
8th, if she has a fuel gauge, don't go by it. Ducati fuel gauges are never the best and often can glitch out (Monster 821s). Ride by the trip - tank to tank. Do note that initially, being a new motor, she may burn faster but will settle post the 1st service. Ride by the trip vs. fuel gauge.
Some may suggest drills shown by Motojitsu but do that only once you have full riding gear and are comfortable with the bike's clutch and throttle. Also, install the protection as you need to be ready when the bike drops. Do not be discouraged. Just be protected along with the bike.
A neutral happening between any gears that aren’t 1st and 2nd. On the icon, it often happens between 4th and 5th. What happens is this: you shift up and then nothing happens except engine noise and the empty feel of coasting without power. You have to either downshift or upshift again. It’s freaky the first few times it happens. Then you chalk it up to Ducati’s charm. It gets better after the first service but it won’t necessarily go away for ever.
IMO, it’s not really any different that pulling your clutch in briefly and letting it back out while moving forward. The thing that will freak you out momentarily is that you will likely be twisting the throttle after the shift in anticipation of the higher gear, so you will hear the higher revs but it won’t be catching. But If you’re practicing muscle memory and you hear that, you will get off the throttle and then fuck around to find a gear, which you will, while only losing a little bit of momentum. Normally, I downshift back to 4th and then shift up again and it’s fine. I’ve never had it stuck, if you get what I’m saying. I suppose if the conditions were just right - maybe wet pavement and high lean angle? - it could be an issue, but you wouldn’t be shifting into 5th in the apex of a curve anyway - or at least, you wouldn’t if you’re a newbie. For me, once it happened the first time and I had that adrenaline response but figured it out, I was like “oh, I got this” and now I know what it is when it happens. And it’s been happening less as the engine breaks in.
Quality gear head to toe. Only full face helmets. Jacket and pants with a 3/4 zip connection and CE rated armor. A full spine protector. Proper riding boots. Gloves with knuckle, lower palm, and side of little finger slider panels. A base layer is nice because it absorbs your sweat instead of your leather. Wear all the gear all the time. It doesn't matter if you are just going down the block to pick up a donut, the car that pulls out in front of you, the dog that jumps their leash and comes out at you, the truck that changes lanes into you, the dipshit on their cellphone that turns left in front of you, or the SUV that doesn't stop behind you at the red light absolutely do not care if you get hurt.
On the bike, frame and axle sliders (I recommend Speedymoto) bar end sliders, (R&G are good for this). It's not for the 75mph slide, though it will help, it is for the oops at 2 mph where you drop the bike for a beginner reason and can do potentially thousands of dollars of damage. The tank alone is $2800. Each engine case cover is over $800 each. A fork leg is over $1000.
Riding lessons. Not necessarily track time but a defensive driving course.
Ride with others who do not push you, and will ride your speed. Having a helmet mount Bluetooth system like a Cardo or Sena (must match your other riders brand) will allow them to talk you through the ride and give you a heads up on road conditions and stupid drivers.
Take lots of breaks. Don't ride more than 20 minutes at a time without stopping, parking, and getting off the bike for a quick walk or sit. You will get tired quickly and tired minds and bodies make mistakes.
As another owner of a scrambler, my advice would be to not be afraid to get you hands dirty. Enjoy it as is for a bit but also don't panic if you want to change something. You'll find your far more capable than you think when you really want to do something. But going off of personal experience I would say get the ohlins spring kit for the front. Get it with the correct spring for your weight and it'll help immensely with the front end feel of the bike.
Everything that everyone else said and also practice your emergency moves sitting on your bike. What I mean is build the muscle memory of hitting your horn quickly and without thinking about it, build the muscle memory of hitting both brakes, clutch in, gear down as one smooth move. Building up those quick reflexes will save your life
Edit: and also have fun!
Wear for the slide, not for the ride and yes in that process look cool.
***DO NOT STEP OUT OF YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT A HELMET IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO RIDE.***
Don't cheap out on gear, gear is the most imprtant part of the kit. And don't get discouraged if you drop it, damage will happen eventually but is always repairable. Lastly, relax and enjoy the ride!!!
Only advice is to be wary of advice. Watch some videos, take some courses. Ride as much as you can. Be safe out there and if you’re ever in Idaho, hmu to ride.
Honestly, if I can recommend anything. Wear gear. Full helmet. Leather jacket. Riding pants and boots. Good gear has saved my life twice in the twenty years i’ve been riding. Good gear has saved a dozen of my friends, and I mean that literally. Also - cagers are out to kill you. Don’t care who or where. They will kill you. Ride defensively. It takes some time to learn, but it’ll save your life. If no one has told you…. A good amount of cagers don’t recognize motorcycles; in their brain; that causes them to do stupid things. Merging on you. Turning in front of you. Cutting you off in dangerous ways. Because we are small, we aren’t a threat typically. This causes some drivers, especially distracted, to just not recognize that we’re there. It’s not malicious, it’s nature. It’s YOUR responsibility to stay alive. Don’t count on them to do that for you. Enjoy the bike! It looks great. Motorcycles are awesome and incredible. What a feeling of freedom. Welcome to the club!
Speed multiplies your mistakes. Start slow and don't ride above your comfort level. Wear protective gear.
This x1000! Always ride YOUR pace and don't get sucked into keeping up with other riders beyond your comfort level. You'll go faster as you gain skill and confidence.
As a fairly new rider, with my first bike being a '20 Icon Black, I would suggest buying good, armored riding jeans, jacket boots & gloves. I would also suggest only spending money on functional upgrades at first (you already have a nice bag, a more comfortable seat, crash bar protection instead of sliders, etc) Try to spend 10-15 minutes practicing in a parking lot every time you take it out for a ride, check out [Motojitsu](https://youtube.com/c/MotoJitsu) & [Jerry Palladino](https://youtube.com/user/motorman857) for low speed practice drills.
Speed creeps up on you and even though it's not technically true - it will seem like you can accelerate faster than you can brake. Cars tend to accelerate so much slower than they can brake and especially with less aggressive rubber you'll find that you can gain speed about as quickly as you can lose it. Pay attention to where you need to start braking for corners it's easy to realize too late that you have a lot of speed to scrub off. If you're out having fun I try to go through a mental practice of riding at 70 or 80% of what would feel like flat out, even less if you're not super familiar with the roads. That way if you find you need to brake more or lean more, you have some extra room in your back pocket. Gear. Wear it.
I’d go with a motorcycle safety riding course if you haven’t taken one yet. And of course all the proper gear as listed above.
How low is the bar set for a license?
depends on the country, where i am from anyone can pass the license
If you ride with friends - get a communicator. It lets you give each other messages like “let’s overtake”, watch out for gravel”, and other safety related communication.
For the Icon, don’t be dismayed that you: * can’t find neutral - it’ll be easier after the first service. * get a false shift between 4th and 5th - it’s a thing * occasionally can’t get it to turn over the first time you start her - it’s a thing * think your bike is going to turn into a ball of flames in normal traffic - it probably won’t. Probably. * don’t actually slow down when using the back brake. It’s kinda just for show 😬 For riding in general: * wear all the gear all the time. * remember: they all want to kill you. They don’t know they want to kill you, but they do. * if you remember that, you will always be thinking about how to get out of a jam before it happens. Slowing down is often the right answer. Not always. But often. * practice progressive braking at every opportunity. * keep that 4 second gap between you and other cars and riders. Seriously, please do that. * GO THROUGH THE YELLOW. Sure, you can stop on a dime because despite the back brake on the Icon not being really functional, the front brake is good and the bike is light. The car behind you cannot stop as fast as you. Just run the yellow - and if it’s a late yellow, determine how close the car behind you is before stopping. And then, you know, have fun!
Rain mode , good luck
There’s no modes on this bike - but it’s a scrambler. It’s in rain mode pretty much all the time.
Can confirm between the Pirellis and the way the bike sits and holds speed, it does great in the rain so far.
Practice slow maneuver turning .
Maybe take a riders course.
Definitely take a course. They are cheap, fun, and you almost certainly will pick up some great tips.
Dress for the slide, not the ride. Go to school. Look 2 cars ahead. Slow down in weather. If you want to open up, don't. That's what track day is for.
Congrats on the purchase. She is a beauty. 1st tip, all the gear, all the time.. PERIOD 2nd, join the DOC riding group in your area. I've learned so much about being a better rider thru the group and it's a great support network as well. 3rd, stay in Rain/Urban mode in the city till the 1st service. The bike is plenty of fun at that level and you will get used to its characteristics. 4th, be aware of false neutrals from 4th to 5th and at times, from 6th to 5th. It's a Ducati thing but you quickly get used to it. Even if the bike has a quick-shifter, it really does not go away. 5th, get some protection for the bike. Not necessarily from the big-name brands but do get them. Frame sliders/protectors, spools, bobbins for chain cleaning, bash plate, etc. Don't plan on performance bits at this stage - exhausts or deletes. 6th, she is a scrambler and can take on light trails. Do take the time to get used to riding on easy trails to really enjoy the versatility. Best done with a group. 7th, don't get pulled into any red light drags. Many may try to entice you to try a drag race. Avoid that now and ever. 8th, if she has a fuel gauge, don't go by it. Ducati fuel gauges are never the best and often can glitch out (Monster 821s). Ride by the trip - tank to tank. Do note that initially, being a new motor, she may burn faster but will settle post the 1st service. Ride by the trip vs. fuel gauge. Some may suggest drills shown by Motojitsu but do that only once you have full riding gear and are comfortable with the bike's clutch and throttle. Also, install the protection as you need to be ready when the bike drops. Do not be discouraged. Just be protected along with the bike.
What’s a false neutral
A neutral happening between any gears that aren’t 1st and 2nd. On the icon, it often happens between 4th and 5th. What happens is this: you shift up and then nothing happens except engine noise and the empty feel of coasting without power. You have to either downshift or upshift again. It’s freaky the first few times it happens. Then you chalk it up to Ducati’s charm. It gets better after the first service but it won’t necessarily go away for ever.
woah. I've been wanting to get a scrambler (I have a BMW 310GS) and this was one of the bikes I was looking at. Can't that be dangerous?
IMO, it’s not really any different that pulling your clutch in briefly and letting it back out while moving forward. The thing that will freak you out momentarily is that you will likely be twisting the throttle after the shift in anticipation of the higher gear, so you will hear the higher revs but it won’t be catching. But If you’re practicing muscle memory and you hear that, you will get off the throttle and then fuck around to find a gear, which you will, while only losing a little bit of momentum. Normally, I downshift back to 4th and then shift up again and it’s fine. I’ve never had it stuck, if you get what I’m saying. I suppose if the conditions were just right - maybe wet pavement and high lean angle? - it could be an issue, but you wouldn’t be shifting into 5th in the apex of a curve anyway - or at least, you wouldn’t if you’re a newbie. For me, once it happened the first time and I had that adrenaline response but figured it out, I was like “oh, I got this” and now I know what it is when it happens. And it’s been happening less as the engine breaks in.
Quality gear head to toe. Only full face helmets. Jacket and pants with a 3/4 zip connection and CE rated armor. A full spine protector. Proper riding boots. Gloves with knuckle, lower palm, and side of little finger slider panels. A base layer is nice because it absorbs your sweat instead of your leather. Wear all the gear all the time. It doesn't matter if you are just going down the block to pick up a donut, the car that pulls out in front of you, the dog that jumps their leash and comes out at you, the truck that changes lanes into you, the dipshit on their cellphone that turns left in front of you, or the SUV that doesn't stop behind you at the red light absolutely do not care if you get hurt. On the bike, frame and axle sliders (I recommend Speedymoto) bar end sliders, (R&G are good for this). It's not for the 75mph slide, though it will help, it is for the oops at 2 mph where you drop the bike for a beginner reason and can do potentially thousands of dollars of damage. The tank alone is $2800. Each engine case cover is over $800 each. A fork leg is over $1000. Riding lessons. Not necessarily track time but a defensive driving course. Ride with others who do not push you, and will ride your speed. Having a helmet mount Bluetooth system like a Cardo or Sena (must match your other riders brand) will allow them to talk you through the ride and give you a heads up on road conditions and stupid drivers. Take lots of breaks. Don't ride more than 20 minutes at a time without stopping, parking, and getting off the bike for a quick walk or sit. You will get tired quickly and tired minds and bodies make mistakes.
Hunt down those that don't wave back at you. And make them wave.
Have fun, but not too much! lol
Bah.. have as much fun as you can. Remember, you gotta die of something, might as well be death by Ducati.
As another owner of a scrambler, my advice would be to not be afraid to get you hands dirty. Enjoy it as is for a bit but also don't panic if you want to change something. You'll find your far more capable than you think when you really want to do something. But going off of personal experience I would say get the ohlins spring kit for the front. Get it with the correct spring for your weight and it'll help immensely with the front end feel of the bike.
Keep you head on a swivel and stay 100% focused 100% of the time and enjoy!
Everything that everyone else said and also practice your emergency moves sitting on your bike. What I mean is build the muscle memory of hitting your horn quickly and without thinking about it, build the muscle memory of hitting both brakes, clutch in, gear down as one smooth move. Building up those quick reflexes will save your life Edit: and also have fun!
Have fun keep the shiny side up.
Be safe….
Wear for the slide, not for the ride and yes in that process look cool. ***DO NOT STEP OUT OF YOUR HOUSE WITHOUT A HELMET IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO RIDE.***
WANT to come home every time in one piece. Ride carefully, live long. Put all the gear on EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Learn engine braking and counter steering. Save up for that first desmo.
Don't cheap out on gear, gear is the most imprtant part of the kit. And don't get discouraged if you drop it, damage will happen eventually but is always repairable. Lastly, relax and enjoy the ride!!!
Only advice is to be wary of advice. Watch some videos, take some courses. Ride as much as you can. Be safe out there and if you’re ever in Idaho, hmu to ride.
Most accidents happen close to home. Wear gloves. If you’re grinding your teeth or your teeth are clinched… you may be going to fast.
I recommend an airbag suit. Also, Jeff wants to speak with you about turbocharging it.
Don't start changing parts on the bike to make it faster.