I’d say my bike has aged well as a great example of a bygone era. I had always had a soft spot for the Superlight and older air-cooled Ducatis, so that helped soften the blow on not leaving with a 916. When I went to see Earl at Pro-Italia in Glendale, and saw the SP with all the special carbon bits and number plaque, I was hooked.
I was in love with the 916 and thought it was beautiful, but I couldn’t justify the price at the time because they were really expensive and had a waiting list. JB: Jim, why did you buy that 900 SS anyway? You coulda had a 916 in 1996? Someday I shall be free, but for now I require a certain amount of comfortable utility in a motorcycle. I don’t commute anymore either, but I do wind up hacking through plenty of urban jungle anyway since I live in the epicenter of Orange County. All that time, his garages have never been more than a few minutes from a tasty California backroad or three. When Jimmy decamped Los Angeles, he went north to Santa Barbara, and he’s been retreating northward ever since, one step ahead of civilization but now surrounded by wineries.
