Riding Italian in Harley Town—This Milwaukee Rider is Ducati Proud

Have you customized your motorcycle a little or a lot? No matter what you did, we want to show off your bike and you on WRN! Find out how to submit your bike photos here.

It took a lot of searching for me to find the right motorcycle.

It had to be stylish, it had to be powerful, and it had to be lightweight. I wanted an aggressive riding position that would make me feel more in control of the bike. And I didn’t want to sacrifice the classic moto look for the sake of a high performing, nimble sportbike covered in fairings. I knew there had to be something that had everything I was looking for in a motorcycle.

Finally, I saw the 2017 Ducati Scrambler Café Racer, and I was sold from that moment on. 803cc, a svelte 414 pounds wet, and that sweet retro café racer style right off the showroom floor.

The Rebel is light, low to the ground, has the right look, and fellow riders would get incredibly sentimental around it!Lots of people wondered why I didn’t go for a Harley-Davidson for my first bike, especially since I live in the heart of Harley territory: downtown Milwaukee.

Other than my preference for a more aggressive riding stance, the major reason I’m not calling a Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883 my ride is simply because of the bike’s weight. Harley makes beautiful, powerful classics, but a 564-pound motorcycle is the last thing I can imagine riding every day. Maybe in a few years I’ll be ready for a heavier machine, but for my third season, I love my Ducati. I’m still welcomed with open arms at all the bike nights around town, from the Harley Museum, Iron Horse Hotel, Garage Bar, and beyond.

Now that I’ve bought my dream bike, what’s a girl to do? Make it my own. After hours of researching aftermarket parts, watching video tutorials, poring over message boards, and looking at custom bikes, I’m finally making tweaks to my own.

I’m looking forward to doing so much more to making the dream a reality, with a ride that is becoming an extension of my own personality. I’m becoming renowned for this bike, and I love it.

I think that’s the major distinction between a car and a motorcycle. They both get you places, but most cars are tied to your basic value system, or your “realistic side.” A motorcycle is a manifestation of your dreams, a metaphor of your identity, a symbol of optimism, and an amazing way to connect with the people and world around you.

Have you customized your motorcycle a little or a lot? No matter what you did, we want to show off your bike and you on WRN! Find out how to submit your bike photos here.

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