Go Back   Two Wheel Fix > In the Garage or Shop > Model Reviews

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-19-2008, 07:50 AM   #1
nhgunnut
gun totin redneck
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South West New Hampshire
Moto: turbo busa 999 Duc Goldwing & Victory
Posts: 1,130
Thumbs up KTM Super Duke

OK for anyone asking themselves "is it worth the trouble to go up to Laconia. The test ride on the KTM 990 Super Duke made every second of the trip up and back worth it. This thing is hot. While none of us got to wring it out on the highway we did get to tear up some side roads around the area. One of the first things that has to be acknowledged is that I am not as good as the bike is. That said the perfect combination of drive train chassis and brakes let me do things with a bike that I haven't done on anything bigger than a 125 and that was in the dirt. In one instance through a missed signal during a driving rain, I found myself over braking the rear wheel and just rolling the throttle on to "power slide" it back into position. This is not the fastest twin I have ridden but it is god awful quick, The chassis is great, it handled every surface extremely well and the riding position seems slightly higher than the Monster. Brakes are great with out over complication and the set is actually quite comfortable (hey anyone at Ducati listening?) The only downside is NO wind deflection. (I know it is a Naked after all) Oh and the price $14500 which puts it right in there with the S4RS (that is also the only real comparison point in performance as well) and it would be a tough call for me if I were ready to drop that kind of change. But make no mistake this KTM is clearly near the top of the heap with the Nakeds and with out that pricey vavl adjustment that some of its Italian competitors have.
nhgunnut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2008, 07:52 AM   #2
OneSickPsycho
Ride Like an Asshole
 
OneSickPsycho's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Moto: nothing...
Posts: 11,254
Default

Awesome... and only about $10,000 out of my price range...
OneSickPsycho is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2008, 08:03 AM   #3
Rider
Moto GP Star
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,156
Default

I demoed one last year. It was a fun ride but it revs out way too quickly. I hit the rev limiter several time in a 10 minute ride. Also the seating is very high, almost dirt bike style. If I was going to spend $15K on a bike it sure wouldn't be that one.
Rider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2008, 08:18 AM   #4
fnfalman
Europhile
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SoCal
Moto: Aprilia RS125, Aprilia SR50 Factory, Aprilia Tuono, BMW Rockster, KTM 990 Adventure
Posts: 1,875
Default

The price tag is high but then look at all the components: Brembo radial calipers and master cylinder, Brembo radial master clutch cylinder, Brembo wheels, WP twin-speed suspensions, Renthal bars, etc. Nothing is cheap on that bike. The engine doesn't give out the highest outputs among the liter twins but the power curve is superbly tailored to the bike. It's not about sheer power, but it's about useable power. Performance Bike did a shootout between the liter naked at the Nurburing last year and the only naked bike that outran the Super Duke was the Aprilia Tuono Factory.
__________________
Cogito Ergo Vroom - I think therefore I ride

fnfalman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2008, 09:54 AM   #5
nhgunnut
gun totin redneck
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: South West New Hampshire
Moto: turbo busa 999 Duc Goldwing & Victory
Posts: 1,130
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fnfalman View Post
The price tag is high but then look at all the components: Brembo radial calipers and master cylinder, Brembo radial master clutch cylinder, Brembo wheels, WP twin-speed suspensions, Renthal bars, etc. Nothing is cheap on that bike. The engine doesn't give out the highest outputs among the liter twins but the power curve is superbly tailored to the bike. It's not about sheer power, but it's about useable power. Performance Bike did a shootout between the liter naked at the Nurburing last year and the only naked bike that outran the Super Duke was the Aprilia Tuono Factory.
I haven't got any real saddle time on the Tuono (Oh and would I like to!) and as much as I love my friends S4RS I have to say the KTM felt far more planted It had the power where it was usable not in some stratospheric boil, and was amazingly well suited for the kinds of twisted multi surface environment (everything from glass smooth to gaping pot holes) we find here. It was almost as forgiving as my old V-Strom 1000 with far more performance.
nhgunnut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2008, 10:21 AM   #6
azoomm
moderator chick

 
azoomm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hill Country TX
Moto: Pasta Rockets
Posts: 8,917
Default

Fun bike... for sure. A very good friend of mine has one, and I just refer to it as *angry*. It's my favorite ugly bike... because ugly it is...
__________________
We have enough youth. How about a fountain of "smart"?

Come Play at the Track!!

http://www.elitetrackdays.com
azoomm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:27 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.