Installed the battery, inflated the tires, made a little testrun: motorcycling season 2023 has officially started!

Today I brought the Duke to the dealer for new tires, bleeding the clutch (again) and taking care of the call back for the wiring loom.
The last two went fine but when changing the tires the mechanic noticed a dent in my front rim. Can't really recall when this happened, but I vaguely remember thinking a while ago that I was greatfull for having a steering damper. I must have hit something at the time, but it didn't make much of an impression (on me). Anyway, the dealer is going to replace the rim asap.

Got a new front wheel and tires (Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4 Corsa).

This weekend I participated in an advanced riders course aimed at being a better rider in mountains. Of course I've been there often, but I always struggled with descending hairpins. So when my boss offered to pay for a self improvement course for all employees I took this one.
Guided by Rob, the owner of Verkeerstraining Nederland we rode three days through the German Eifel. At the end I knew how to smoothly take hairpins, but more practice is necessary to make it second nature.

Or: Yet Another Ticket... Cleaned the bike and made a little ride to ride it dry. On a deserted dyke I rode a bit too fast and ran into a lasertrap. Doing 90+ where 60kmh was allowed. They couldn't tell how much it would cost me because above 30kmh a prosecutor will determine the amount, taking into account priors... I'm counting on 500+ euros. Just as well I get this week my vacation money ;).
Biking overhere is not really fun anymore...

Stretch of dyke I was 'caught', just as abandoned as then...

For quite a while I was thinking about stopping with motorcycling. But lack of an alternative hobby stopped me. Until this last ticket. It is almost impossible to ride the way I like it overhere, i.e. sportive. So I pulled the trigger and put my bikes up for sale.
Not much interest for the KTM, which was to be expected considering the price. A lot more interest for the Kawi, but no buyers yet.

Sold the Duke to a guy who wanted to upgrade his Gen-1 Super Duke. Prices of the 1290's plummeted quite a lot this year. Dealers have a lot of used ones waiting for buyers, so it isn't easy for a private person to sell it for a decent price. After lowering my asking price a few times I finally got a reaction.
The Duke was a lot of fun. Mainly abroad because in the Netherlands an expensive ticket is just around the corner. That's one of the reasons I sold it so soon.
Maybe I will buy a cheap small low powered bike next year...

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