Today marks the end of the first month with my '04 Adventure. I thought I'd share my thoughts with the great and good and report on how things are shaping up.
I collected the bike from Edinburgh (23105 miles on the clock) a month ago and rode it back to Kent in glorious winter sunshine. During the ride back, there were no significant issues and the trip was uneventful. For me, the period immediately after I've done a private deal on a used bike is always the most nerve wracking, 'have I bought a lemon?' etc, I start 'hearing' mechanical noises, knockings and lord know what else in those first few miles.
Once home, I noticed a small but irritating issue with the low speed handling, and replaced the bearings in the front wheel and the steering head (ta CT!) and gave the bike an oil change. Later on a faulty clutch master cylinder cured a grabby clutch. I've managed to talk round a sulking Scottoiler, and CT blasted a pint or so of water out of my horn, which improved it's performance immeasurably. I've enjoyed working on the bike and fixing the issues that have presented themselves and have started to learn more about the foibles and mysteries of my KTM, it feel goods to know that jobs have been done and done well.
The riding experience has been a complete blast, I don't think I've ever had this much fun riding and I'm over the moon with the bike, which is starting to feel very much like 'my bike' if you get my drift. 1415 miles in the first month and looking forward to a few more over the summer.
I'm cleaning and tidying up the bike as I go and, taking inspiration from tunneruk's 950, decided yesterday to refinish the skid pan on the bike, which was looking a little tired. Bit of rubbing down, a bit of acid etch and some Plastikote Satin Super for pud.
I think it's come up well, and the finish is guaranteed to last at least until I get to end of my road!
If anyone out there is thinking of a 950, my recommendation (for what it's worth) is to stop buggering around a get hold of one before the summer! It's a great bike.
I collected the bike from Edinburgh (23105 miles on the clock) a month ago and rode it back to Kent in glorious winter sunshine. During the ride back, there were no significant issues and the trip was uneventful. For me, the period immediately after I've done a private deal on a used bike is always the most nerve wracking, 'have I bought a lemon?' etc, I start 'hearing' mechanical noises, knockings and lord know what else in those first few miles.
Once home, I noticed a small but irritating issue with the low speed handling, and replaced the bearings in the front wheel and the steering head (ta CT!) and gave the bike an oil change. Later on a faulty clutch master cylinder cured a grabby clutch. I've managed to talk round a sulking Scottoiler, and CT blasted a pint or so of water out of my horn, which improved it's performance immeasurably. I've enjoyed working on the bike and fixing the issues that have presented themselves and have started to learn more about the foibles and mysteries of my KTM, it feel goods to know that jobs have been done and done well.
The riding experience has been a complete blast, I don't think I've ever had this much fun riding and I'm over the moon with the bike, which is starting to feel very much like 'my bike' if you get my drift. 1415 miles in the first month and looking forward to a few more over the summer.
I'm cleaning and tidying up the bike as I go and, taking inspiration from tunneruk's 950, decided yesterday to refinish the skid pan on the bike, which was looking a little tired. Bit of rubbing down, a bit of acid etch and some Plastikote Satin Super for pud.
I think it's come up well, and the finish is guaranteed to last at least until I get to end of my road!
If anyone out there is thinking of a 950, my recommendation (for what it's worth) is to stop buggering around a get hold of one before the summer! It's a great bike.
