Thanks guys,

I'm having the cam-belts and oil replaced next week just to be safe, the bike's got 58.000 kms on it and nobody knows when they were last replaced... I intended to swap the belts every 20.000 kms; I reckon Ducati would love us to change them every 12.000 kms, but think that's b*llocks.

Went out for my first serious hoon on the bike last sunday as it was pretty good weather for getting a little sticky with the Michelins. Bike tracks just great!
Initially, the handlebars were a little push-and-tug as the front-tyre isn't too great and the previous owner hadn't ridden the bike anywhere near to it's potential. Later that day the steering went more neutral and the bike could be ridden at a faster pace. Could also be the tyres needed to loosen up, as it hadn't been ridden by the previous owner in quite a while? Won't break my head over that.

There's a lot of talk over these Michelins, but they work out OK for me? Sure, there would probably have been more stickier tyres if there was any market for 16 inch tyres, but the A59 and M59 never let me down.
Feedback's not bad at all, also! In my experience, the bike can be ridden at a cornering-pace pretty close to more modern rubber.

Love the way the bike combines a sporty character with touring-orietated ergonomics. Think me and the bike could have a wonderful relationship....... :thumbup:

Jilles.

I read in an automotive trade journal a while ago, Jilles, that timing belts are getting so good that some should soon be able to last more than 100,000km, or maybe it was even miles. But they won't all be that good, and considering the materials they're made of, the time factor is as important as distance. I'll still change mine sooner rather than later.

Really old post, but I'd still like to weigh in here: Having just had a belt snap at Daytona 2 wks ago, and seeing the damage it does, I'll just change my belts every 2 years regardless. My belts were 3 yrs old, but very low mileage; something like 2,000mi on a race bike, a 748. So their mileage was low, but the rpm's were high!