short spin around Wicklow Hills.

[shay]

A short spin around the Wicklow hills today. I stuck to the minor roads as much as possible. These roads are barely wide enough for two cars to pass so speed was low but it gave me a chance to enjoy the scenery:

I tried to do a little off road stuff but there were too many barriers in the way:

I stopped on this bridge for a break:

Views from the bridge:

I hadn't ridden some of these roads before, a mixture of gravel / dirt and tarmac, really enjoyed it!

Touring by horse drawn caravan:

The hills looked especially green after recent rainfall:

Quaint cottage:

Sugarloaf, which dominates the skyline as you drive south through Wicklow:

Taken from car park below the Sugarloaf:

and I got a text saying the luggage for the bike was ready for collection after taking the pic above:

Plenty of storage space for a sambo and bottle of water now

 

[richardbd]

Great looking bike...

...but how UGLY is that top box???

 

[Ravenbyrne]

Ah I know it well Shay, sure it's in my back garden. Nice pic's and moto

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Nice images Shay.

 

[GrinningGSer]

I do like that bike.... but agree that the top box is just wrong.

You're using a screen extender, but they make a larger screen if wished
I'll pm you cos I'd like to know how you're getting on with the bike, unless you'd like to publish on here?

 

[johnnyrep]

another place i must visit one day

 

[shay]

I do like that bike.... but agree that the top box is just wrong.

You're using a screen extender, but they make a larger screen if wished
I'll pm you cos I'd like to know how you're getting on with the bike, unless you'd like to publish on here?

I have ordered the higher screen but it hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully I won't need the extender with it.

I traded a 2006 vfr for the 1190, the engine is superb and it handles better than the vfr. I'm biking for years, police trained (if that makes a difference to my credibility) and I don't hoon around anymore but it's really nice having enough torque to overtake without having to work the gearbox. Zero surging - kTm really nailed the fuelling on this bike - I don't miss the vtec crap from the vfr at all.

Screen is fine around town - the extender is nice for motorway work, it lifts the airflow over your helmet.

Luggage is feckin huge ! I used a givi v46 for years but sold it with the vfr, the kTm stuff fits nicely and I seriously doubt I will ever fill the panniers. Tankbag is a little shite, I've seen touratech tank bags that are a lot better.

Bike is great around town, narrow enough to filter easily and plenty of power, motorway work isn't bad, saddle is a little hard but not unbearable. It should break in a little when I get some miles on it. I had a 2002 fireblade and that had a plank of a saddle but I still put 3,000 miles+ on it in two weeks around france and the kTm saddle is an armchair compared to the blade.

Service intervals are 15,000km, close enough to 10,000 miles. Tank range is good, 23 litre tank will get you 300k, close enough to 200 miles. Headlight is nice, auto switches from led to headlight and works so far.

It gets a little hot on the legs in good weather but that's not much of a complaint.. will be nice in the winter. Heated grips are ordered but I don't have them yet so can't comment on them.

There's a nice range of accessories from the kTm powerparts catalog, you can spend a lot of money on this bike if you want.

Shout if you want to know anything else.