I took out the above bike from a KTM dealer in Croydon today and thought I would give my impressions, as much as anything for my benefit to weigh up whether to buy one.
A bit of background...I've been riding about 33 years and the past probably 20 of those have been predominantly on adventure type bikes (long enough ago that the slightly nauseating term wasn't invented anyway). As a result I am somewhat bored with them and the whole slightly absurd 'scene' that surrounds them whereby a day trip to Calais is now an 'adventure ride out' yada yada (That's something easily ignored though in all fairness).
I've up until now had a bit of an aversion to technical complexities, mostly through fear I suppose. The fear being that it won't be reliable and will cost the earth once out of warranty, also that when I breakdown as a result of the fragility I won't be able to touch the thing to rectify any problems leaving me somewhat helpless in the middle of Little Smitheringtonclusterbumfuck on the Naze. I think I've gotten over this slightly and modern motorcycles do seem to be getting very reliable – except BMW obviously
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My current squeeze is a Triumph Tiger 800xc which is a very good bike it has to be said but doesn't really excite if I'm honest. It also doesn't make me look back at it when I walk away. Aesthetics are very important to me, can't help it, it's just the way I'm made.
I quite fancy a KTM. I also own a 350 exc-f Six Days and have been most impressed with the build quality. The weekend before last I looped the thing and whilst I rolled back down the hill for what felt an eternity, I caught glimpses of it going up in the air, up a tree, upside down and then crunch on its handlebars etc. I expected bust bars at least. Not a mark on it. If a bike can withstand that, that's good enough for me. Another KTM it may be then.
Anyway, enough self-indulgent wittering...the bike.
First impression...blimey feels like it's going to drop in and fall over if I lean it over. That'll be the 17" front wheel then. It's been a while since I've not had a 21" front. It also felt very, very compact...not small, small would be the wrong word because it's a chunky monkey. I suppose I'm used to having a load of old guff stuck out about 2 feet in front me whereas on this the clocks are not far from your nose and then nothing. It was enough to make me feel quite exposed at first. Almost like I'd gone out without my trousers on...or something. I got over it in no time though.
It took what seemed an age to find a way out of the shithole that is Croydon and some nicer/emptier roads. First straight, quick squirt in second to get the feel...Holy mother of God...incredible stomp from no revs at all. No such thing as wrong gear on this. Pick a gear, twist the twisty thing and watch the world spin sharply on it's axis while you stay still (or any other go fast cliches you can think of.)
If it was a dog it would be a Pitbull. A Pitbull with a nice temperament that was good with children until you wound him up and then it would be time to leave the room a bit sharpish before it has your face off.
Having said that it is very well behaved (in Street mode at least). It felt really good and flickable in traffic. The amount of torque the thing has is extraordinary. It felt pretty linear to me but then I only tried the one mode. i didn't have that much time and didn't bother with other modes as I was impressed enough with this one for now and felt that returning the bike after having wheelied it through some privet would be a little bad mannered.
Another problem I've also had with more modern bikes is the turbine like, soulless feel to the engine. An engine that is only fun when you are into 3 figures and screams at you to go go go. This isn't really like that. Yes, the torque leaves you grinning like an idiot but it runs quite nicely at legal (ish) speeds. They have done a clever thing in as much as it stlll feels like a big fuck off grunty v-twin but is still smooth (or at least the right amount of smooth) with unlimited grunt.
All in all I thought it an amazing bit of kit. Do I want to shell out £15 big uns for the Special Edition one? Dunno, that's 9K more than the Tiger is worth. Is it that much more of a motorcycle? Of course not. Is it fun...fuck, yes...and that, at the end of the day is what it is all about to me. Whilst the special Edition has all the bits like exhaust, comfy seat etc. I would most likely still want to change the bars and rearsets to adjustible ones to ease my ever more creaky knees and joints. More damn money.
Sensible head (be happy with what you have, you damn fool) or immature idiot going "go on, it's only money, you only live once." Decisions, decisions.
A bit of background...I've been riding about 33 years and the past probably 20 of those have been predominantly on adventure type bikes (long enough ago that the slightly nauseating term wasn't invented anyway). As a result I am somewhat bored with them and the whole slightly absurd 'scene' that surrounds them whereby a day trip to Calais is now an 'adventure ride out' yada yada (That's something easily ignored though in all fairness).
I've up until now had a bit of an aversion to technical complexities, mostly through fear I suppose. The fear being that it won't be reliable and will cost the earth once out of warranty, also that when I breakdown as a result of the fragility I won't be able to touch the thing to rectify any problems leaving me somewhat helpless in the middle of Little Smitheringtonclusterbumfuck on the Naze. I think I've gotten over this slightly and modern motorcycles do seem to be getting very reliable – except BMW obviously
.My current squeeze is a Triumph Tiger 800xc which is a very good bike it has to be said but doesn't really excite if I'm honest. It also doesn't make me look back at it when I walk away. Aesthetics are very important to me, can't help it, it's just the way I'm made.
I quite fancy a KTM. I also own a 350 exc-f Six Days and have been most impressed with the build quality. The weekend before last I looped the thing and whilst I rolled back down the hill for what felt an eternity, I caught glimpses of it going up in the air, up a tree, upside down and then crunch on its handlebars etc. I expected bust bars at least. Not a mark on it. If a bike can withstand that, that's good enough for me. Another KTM it may be then.
Anyway, enough self-indulgent wittering...the bike.
First impression...blimey feels like it's going to drop in and fall over if I lean it over. That'll be the 17" front wheel then. It's been a while since I've not had a 21" front. It also felt very, very compact...not small, small would be the wrong word because it's a chunky monkey. I suppose I'm used to having a load of old guff stuck out about 2 feet in front me whereas on this the clocks are not far from your nose and then nothing. It was enough to make me feel quite exposed at first. Almost like I'd gone out without my trousers on...or something. I got over it in no time though.
It took what seemed an age to find a way out of the shithole that is Croydon and some nicer/emptier roads. First straight, quick squirt in second to get the feel...Holy mother of God...incredible stomp from no revs at all. No such thing as wrong gear on this. Pick a gear, twist the twisty thing and watch the world spin sharply on it's axis while you stay still (or any other go fast cliches you can think of.)
If it was a dog it would be a Pitbull. A Pitbull with a nice temperament that was good with children until you wound him up and then it would be time to leave the room a bit sharpish before it has your face off.
Having said that it is very well behaved (in Street mode at least). It felt really good and flickable in traffic. The amount of torque the thing has is extraordinary. It felt pretty linear to me but then I only tried the one mode. i didn't have that much time and didn't bother with other modes as I was impressed enough with this one for now and felt that returning the bike after having wheelied it through some privet would be a little bad mannered.
Another problem I've also had with more modern bikes is the turbine like, soulless feel to the engine. An engine that is only fun when you are into 3 figures and screams at you to go go go. This isn't really like that. Yes, the torque leaves you grinning like an idiot but it runs quite nicely at legal (ish) speeds. They have done a clever thing in as much as it stlll feels like a big fuck off grunty v-twin but is still smooth (or at least the right amount of smooth) with unlimited grunt.
All in all I thought it an amazing bit of kit. Do I want to shell out £15 big uns for the Special Edition one? Dunno, that's 9K more than the Tiger is worth. Is it that much more of a motorcycle? Of course not. Is it fun...fuck, yes...and that, at the end of the day is what it is all about to me. Whilst the special Edition has all the bits like exhaust, comfy seat etc. I would most likely still want to change the bars and rearsets to adjustible ones to ease my ever more creaky knees and joints. More damn money.
Sensible head (be happy with what you have, you damn fool) or immature idiot going "go on, it's only money, you only live once." Decisions, decisions.
