Deleted account 211025001
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- Joined
- Feb 3, 2005
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- 8
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- 10
I'd been wanting to ride one of these for a while now but kept putting it off 'cos I'm only too aware of how dangerous test rides can be..............
I prefer the R version, mostly on looks but also 'cos of the 21/18" wheels. Leisuretrail only had the standard model on demo but no great shakes and I rolled up there this morning to take it out for a spin.
Loads has already been written about the bike so I'll just bung a few of what I thought were the highs and the lows of the bike:
Electronics/modes - way easy to use, WBM could learn a thing or two here when compared to the 'wheel' thing on the WC.
Felt a real difference between the modes but left it in 'Sport' in the end, perfectly fine for inner city traffic as well as hooning on back roads. Fly by wire throttle was perfect for me; lovely.
Heat from the exhaust on left leg - none what so ever, even in heavy traffic.
Engine/box - The box was a delight, smooth & positive changes everywhere. The engine seemed harsh and very 'mechanical', nowhere near as smooth as my hexhead. This improved as the revs increased and once I re-calibrated myself to use more revs than the GS I didn't notice it. It defo needs to be rev'd though and has none of the turbine smoothness of a well run in GS. It was fairly vibey and I did wonder what it would be like on a long M-way trip?
Comfort - for me it was perfect. The bike is a little bit lower (the R is taller), a little bit smaller and a whole lot lighter than my GS. Really, noticeably lighter. The seat is a bit harder and not tilted as far down as my GS. Still dead comfy after 3 hours .
Handling - Brakes were perfect, feel and power in spades.
A GS flatters poor riding with exceptional handling. This bike almost does, but not quite as well. However, put a bit more effort and thought into your ride and it leaps ahead. In hoon mode I was riding known and not so well known roads at least 10mph faster and didn't even realise it until I looked at the speedo. 'Confidence inspiring' I think it's called
Performance - Seems quite 'normal' at normal 'GS revs', then when you realise it'll rev almost twice as high you start to use them and scare yourself shitless as the front wheel comes up (I don't 'do' wheelies
). Then when you've calmed down and start to get used to it you just can't stop giggling everywhere 
Very tractable through town too and easier to ride smoothly at low speed compared to the GS.
Finish - Good quality components let down by, I thought, average finish in places. Nowhere near as good as a GS and that really rankled on what is such an expensive bike.
Overall impression - LOVED IT! Whilst flawed in some places it has CHARACTER in spades. Character is not a word I'd place within a million miles of my GS, as much as I do love it. Maybe it's the flaws that give the KTM it's character, perverse but probably true
Or maybe it's just that engine Next step is to get Amanda out on it in a week or two and do some M-way miles to see just how suitable it is for that. I can put up with the extra vibes and stuff but it may be more of an issue for her as may be the slightly smaller rear seat and as the bike is would be used for big mile trips for the two of us that could well be a deal clincher..................................we'll see!
Andres
but my only experiance of v-twins is Guzzi so maybe it's just how they roll? I'm hoping to get out on it again this Saturday with Amanda so will see what it's like when being ridden 'normaly' 
- having said that it was a low revs that it felt harsh, get above 5/6k and it smoothed out (but the vibes were always there to a lesser or greater extent).
) just highlight's those awful slab sides. 
