I don’t know what the highest-mileage Tesi 3D in the world is, but I’m on a quest to claim the title. This month, I hit 10k – let’s see how the last 2,500 miles have been!
Did you miss Part 6? I get a wonderful Tesi-related gift!
It seems like I start these posts with an update on what went wrong and then get into the good stuff. Let’s continue the theme here, with something minor and something major.
The minor thing is that the “tape” used to protect the bodywork from the bottom of the seat has been getting squished out. Apparently I am fat.
Annoyingly, to get the rider’s seat off you have to take the passenger seat off (which is easily done with the ignition key) and also take this underseat storage tray out before you can access the two bolts holding the seat in place.
It’s become warped over time so I’ve put it back for now and will have to order a replacement.
The major thing is that one of the rivets in the chain somehow managed to escape! It’s not like this was the master link – I’ve never seen this before.
I took the opportunity to install a new chain and sprocket.
My Tesi has had some weird issues but beyond loose bolts in the beginning they haven’t actually been “Bimota” problems. The biggest issue I’ve had was an electrical short in a O2 sensor and that’s a fairly common problem with these Ducati motors. Then there’s stuff like this chain, which is a freak issue but it’s not like Bimota made the chain. Still, I haven’t had things like this come up with bikes from other manufacturers…
The fine folks at Pirelli sent me some new Supercorsa V4 tires to test, but they sent them to me just after I installed a new set of V3s. Roughly 2,500 miles later, it was time for the new tires to go on. The V4 is all new in terms of tread, compounds, and profiles. I took them for a quick test ride, and while I liked the rear, something about the front felt weird to me. It turns out that this is the first Supercorsa to go with a dual-compound front: there’s a full-silica base compound that covers the entire profile and makes contact with pavement in the center. There’s a second compound (100% carbon black) layered on to the sides of the tires for better grip when you’re on the sides of the tires. The problem is that you can feel the transition when you lean over and the contact patch moves from the silica in the center to the carbon black on the sides, and I strongly dislike the sensation – it’s like you’re hitting a small bump every time you lean over because the transition is not seamless.
Not my best photo, but hopefully you can see the difference in compounds.
I know that in theory, the dual-compound nature helps extend mileage (especially in a situation like mine where I commute on the bike) as the central tread is harder and lasts longer, but I only get 2,500 or so miles out of Supercorsas anyway so tire life isn’t a priority for me. Eventually I got used to it, but I think I’m going to go back to the V3 for my next set of tires.
I go slower with the V4 vs. the V3 but it’s not like I’m racing, so who cares. Though I did team up with Nathan May to create a “Just Ride” video of the Tesi. This is a video series we’ve experimented with, the idea is that there’s no long introduction, no talking, no music…just the sound of the bike itself! Also, the angle where the camera is mounted on the front swingarm will show you that I installed a PIAA horn because the stock horn was of no use in the rare times I needed it for commuting purposes:
While the Tesi mostly does commuter duty, every once in a while I’ll take Vy (bless her heart) on the back of it out for dinner. I don’t know why I do this, because she does not enjoy the Tesi. There’s no luggage for her to put her purse (or carry leftovers back home from dinner), the passenger seat is small/firm, and the passenger pegs are quite high so it’s a chore to get on the bike. But we do these things for science so I can write about them. In my current fleet, her favorite 2-up bikes are my BMW K1200R and my BMW R100CS Last Edition, especially seeing as the latter has bags and a backrest.
On a recent Sunday Ride with Iconic Motorbikes, I took out my Tesi and my partner Adam borrowed my Megamoto. Arai recently sent me one of the new Schwantz 30th Anniversary helmets, which I am thoroughly enjoying and have made my commuter helmet. It should be available at your local retailer around May!
Why do I bring that up? Because it was on that Sunday Ride that my Tesi hit 10,000 miles!
I know I used this photo as the feature image but I dig it too much to not share again because I am vain. There aren’t exactly a lot of photos of Bimota Tesis doing wheelies out there on the interwebs so I’ve got to do my part to help:
Photo by Nathan May
That’s it for now – the mileage quest continues!