The Next Best Bike in The World Ever......Thread :-)

AndyB_11 said:
Well I've had a little jolly on a 1290S and unfortunately for me I liked it.

The bike I rode only had 300 miles on it so I was nice to it and didn't really get to see what the difference between that bike and my 1190S is when really winding the throttle back but it was very obvious that low in the rev range the 1290 is a better bike. Handling was solid and the tyres felt good even on damp roads that had been frosted overnight but I didn't expect anything else.

The toys are fun, I'd never ridden a bike with cruise control before and liked it. The instrument panel looks like an iPad mini tipped on its side but the display was very good and because I'm used to how KTM lay things out is was easy to navigate.

Do I want one? Hell yes but I need to think long and hard about it because of going self employed less than a year ago and even though I'm confident I'll keep busy I'm feeling slightly risk averse at the moment. They offered me £8.5k on my 2 year old 1190 which is a good price because it's a 2014 model that I bought new at a much reduced price in 2015 so the choices now are stick with what I've got (sensible), buy one and finance about 5k over 2 years so I keep cash in the bank (not really a risk and I can get the money) or do I rape my savings account and hope to keep busy and not get any rainy days.

If I buy one it'll be a beer induced purchase and I'm away for a weekend on the piss in Dieppe sailing from Dover tomorrow morning :beerjug:
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Andy - is your 1190 fairly standard? Third option is to spend a little money with Hilltop which much improved the low down feel of my 2015 ;)

Still trying to avoid test riding the new 1290S myself :augie
 
My bike is pretty much standard so no exhaust mods, no messing with the ECU, no air filter change and no changes to the gearing. I'll see how I feel when I've taken it to Dieppe and back this weekend and see if my head can rule my heart :D
 
As for Arsey and his do it comment, you're really not helping. My wife isn't much of a help because she's booked a test ride on an MT10 with the idea in her head that if she likes it (she will because she likes fast bikes) she'll chop her 2 year old MT09 Tracer in against the touring version of the MT10 and she's saying just buy the 1290 and be done with it.
 
MT10 is great bike . Do that as well !!!

Did 4000 miles on mine in 5 weeks!

24197ea16601e3d89605fd0f995feb4a.jpg

Meanwhile , sur la 1290R dans French France, at 620 miles (1000kms) a great big SERVICE in yellow flashes up and the 6000 rev red band restriction is lifted and access to the SHIFT LIGHT menu under Preferences is granted , with defaults set at 8500 and 10000
 
Andy......

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!:D

I'm going away on my S tomorrow, and can't bloody wait!:JB
 
AndyB_11 said:
As for Arsey and his do it comment, you're really not helping. My wife isn't much of a help because she's booked a test ride on an MT10 with the idea in her head that if she likes it (she will because she likes fast bikes) she'll chop her 2 year old MT09 Tracer in against the touring version of the MT10 and she's saying just buy the 1290 and be done with it.
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When I rode a 'proper' 1290 ;) (SD) I said at the time if they bring out an 1190R with that engine I'd get one and I meant it. I loved the low down turbine pull of the engine.........

Since then I've grown to love the power band hit at 6k on my 1190 and would miss it (I think?) if I had a 1290 (I'm assuming the 160bhp 1290 lump is more like a SD than a 1190 in that respect ?).

Once beyond 6k the top end rush on each bike is ballistic and makes no difference which bike you're on?

So.........you're paying 4K (guess?) for a stronger bottom end, less of a power band step and cruise control ~ at least that's how I'd rationalise swapping to a 1290 and it's not enough for me.......

Does that help? :D

Andres
 
Outtomunch said:
When I rode a 'proper' 1290 ;) (SD) I said at the time if they bring out an 1190R with that engine I'd get one and I meant it. I loved the low down turbine pull of the engine.........

Since then I've grown to love the power band hit at 6k on my 1190 and would miss it (I think?) if I had a 1290 (I'm assuming the 160bhp 1290 lump is more like a SD than a 1190 in that respect ?).

Once beyond 6k the top end rush on each bike is ballistic and makes no difference which bike you're on?

So.........you're paying 4K (guess?) for a stronger bottom end, less of a power band step and cruise control ~ at least that's how I'd rationalise swapping to a 1290 and it's not enough for me.......

Does that help? :D

Andres
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I know exactly what you mean and I'll be giving it a long hard think while I rode my bike to Dover tonight then to Dieppe tomorrow.

How pissed will I get? :beer:
 
AndyB_11 said:
I know exactly what you mean and I'll be giving it a long hard think while I rode my bike to Dover tonight then to Dieppe tomorrow.

How pissed will I get? :beer:
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In hindsight what I typed is far too sensible for me, way out of character;) What I should have written was, have a great trip, drink beer and go with your heart. You only live once :)

Andres
 
Outtomunch said:
When I rode a 'proper' 1290 ;) (SD) I said at the time if they bring out an 1190R with that engine I'd get one and I meant it. I loved the low down turbine pull of the engine.........

Since then I've grown to love the power band hit at 6k on my 1190 and would miss it (I think?) if I had a 1290 (I'm assuming the 160bhp 1290 lump is more like a SD than a 1190 in that respect ?).

Once beyond 6k the top end rush on each bike is ballistic and makes no difference which bike you're on?

So.........you're paying 4K (guess?) for a stronger bottom end, less of a power band step and cruise control ~ at least that's how I'd rationalise swapping to a 1290 and it's not enough for me.......

Does that help? :D

Andres
Click to expand...

I do rather like the Jekyll & Hyde character of the 1190 myself also.

I've ridden the 1290SA and was impressed with the much stronger top end, and given a straight choice of the 1190R or 1290SAR, it'd be no contest - I'd have the 1290, but I already have an 1190.

Cruise is of no interest, I'm not bothered about the quick shifter, though it might be great off road, lights look great, but I don't ride much at night and the ones I have are fine if you don't go ballistic, SAR suspenders a bit better, but R is pretty good on road etc. etc.

...On the other hand...When i first had my 1190, I thought the poke was mind blowing, but now it just seems normal. The SAR is better looking too :mmmm
 
AndyB_11 said:
It's the wife who's thinking about an MT10, not me.
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Neither of the MT's are my kind of bike, I thought the Tracer was very over-rated when I tested one, but certainly a lot of bike for the money, the MT-10 is just a factory crashed R1, they just save you the extra cost by not fitting the fairing in the first place - don't see the point at all, then again not ridden one so I could be missing out on something.

Luckily my Mrs still thinks her TDM900 is the worlds best bike, I cannot even talk her into test riding any other bike, in fairness to the thing it rides very nicely (MCT Forks and Shock) and does everything well, they are also bullet-proof (like most Yamaha's) and cheap to run.
 
I was drooling over 1290s and Rs today at AMS. Size wise the 1090 would suit me better but I know if I buy one I will always be thinking about the 1290.

Why are we programmed to never be satisfied with what we've got already weather it's cars, bikes, women, jobs etc!

Before I got my XR I really wanted one and now I've got one I want a KTM 1290!

Totally bonkers!
 
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