The next saga of my biking journey

[bkingalan]

I think Robs aim is to slow down not go faster Simon
They got a demo 1290 sdr at moto corsa, couldn’t believe the deference between my gen 1 and my gen 3 but as fozz said leave it in rain mode

[menzies3032]

Hi Scotty yes as said above the Superduke would just be too quick. That’s why I wanted to get rid of the Gixxer Thou as spent too much of my time at speeds in 3 figures and although it might sound cool the reality is it’s just bloody dangerous and one day my luck will run out.

If I was going KTM I think I would have loved the new 890 but can’t get a test ride on one and I’m not buying a bike without trying it first.

In answer to the twin question I would say it’s a lot better then 990 not only for the electronics but also how well fuelled and how smooth the ride is for a twin even at slow speeds.

[Streetmann]

Can you kot test ride 890 in sp motorcycles in exeter last time i went passed they are a ktm dealer now ?

[menzies3032]

KTM are not letting any dealership in the country have a demonstrator. Only bikes to buy

[Kata]

KTM are not letting any dealership in the country have a demonstrator. Only bikes to buy

They too worried about the cost of a breakdown?

[Scotty]

In Premier Bikes yesterday I noticed a number of 890s, though none of them were demonstrators. The salesman said that early supply issues have been overcome so I’d expect that someone will have one for demos sooner or later.

The throttle works both ways Rob.... ;)

[menzies3032]

Hi all just keeping you updated the test ride schedule has had to change yet again due to bad weather and now is as follow.

Brutale 800RR - Complete and vid on YouTube
Triumph 765RS - Complete and vid on YouTube
BMW F900R - Complete and vid on YouTube
Kawasaki Z900 - Tuesday 8th - Bransons Yeovil
Yamaha MT09 - Tuesday 8th - Bransons Yeovil
Suzuki GSXS 750 - Thursday 10th - Fowlers Bristol

[billinom8s]

When you take the bikes out from bransons, head to sherbourne then bishops caundle. It's a great route, got bits of all the fun stuff for you to rest ride on.

(It's the road we did coming back from that rideout a couple of months back)

[Robbo87]

When you take the bikes out from bransons, head to sherbourne then bishops caundle. It's a great route, got bits of all the fun stuff for you to rest ride on.

(It's the road we did coming back from that rideout a couple of months back)

Pop into the cafe in Compton Abbas airfield also and let us know what the opening times are. There's some nice biker's roads up that way too

[goatpants]

When you take the bikes out from bransons, head to sherbourne then bishops caundle. It's a great route, got bits of all the fun stuff for you to rest ride on.

(It's the road we did coming back from that rideout a couple of months back)

Used to do the Murco @ Bishops Caundle, as said cracking road.

[TLS-Moose]

I have a question, Rob. You say you want a naked bike to slow down, enjoy the ride, be more in control ..... Yet all the bikes you're looking at are "R", "RR", "SP" or "Performance" versions. Bikes have been marked down because they don't have traction control, quick shifters, auto down-blippers, multi-mode fuel mapping ...... And in the case of the likes of the MV, 140bhp+ or 130 for the Triumph, power outputs not much different to a 750 sports bike .....
Why do do you need any of that to slow down? Perhaps you're not really ready to give up your sports bike? Genuine question, just wondering if what you say you want to achieve is the same as what you're looking at/for?

[menzies3032]

Hi Moose

Its actually a really really good question. The big thing that I want to be able to do is to have fun and feel like i am having fun but without the need for doing triple figures on the road. Its actually quite difficult as I am a bit of a speed freak. Just take a look at the YouTube channel and look at all the track days and its clear I am not a biker that likes plodding about.

So here lies the reason why I am test riding the bikes. The K7 Gixxer was not happy unless it shot you to the moon and I would tend to do that as the bike felt just wrong at lower revs or speed.

The BMW F900R is ticking all the right boxes at the moment as had a lot of fun in double figures and was just as happy riding at a steady speed as it was cracking on when I wanted to. The MV was a bit of a surprise as looks amazing and road really well and using the power modes could ride below 7000 revs and the bike was totally happy at a slower pace however above 7000 it all got a bit more exciting and a lot quicker. Which makes this bike more of a difficult choice as it looks great sounds great (when riding) feels great but unfortunately might tempt me back in to my old bad ways if i were to let it. The BMW however is the more sensible option, not quite so good looking but fully of electronics and feature and still fun to ride but was at a slower pace where the smile factor kicks in. The Triumph....... well just did nothing for me so its out.

Be very interested to see if the Z900, MT09 or the GSXS bring anything new to the party.

Why the sporty models? basically all the electronics gadgets and bling parts as this i am very interested in (which again at the moment the BMW is leading)

[Tractorwackyracer]

There are two comm denominators in this thread

One
You cant control your right wrist ! which to most of us was funny twenty years ago Now just makes you dangerous in my opinion

Two
Your YOUTUBE CHANNEL ffs I hope your going to give SWB a bung from the money your getting through all your self promoting

You’ll probably never be allowed to buy a new bike anyway

[Ruffian]

I have a question, Rob. You say you want a naked bike to slow down, enjoy the ride, be more in control ..... Yet all the bikes you're looking at are "R", "RR", "SP" or "Performance" versions. Bikes have been marked down because they don't have traction control, quick shifters, auto down-blippers, multi-mode fuel mapping ...... And in the case of the likes of the MV, 140bhp+ or 130 for the Triumph, power outputs not much different to a 750 sports bike .....
Why do do you need any of that to slow down? Perhaps you're not really ready to give up your sports bike? Genuine question, just wondering if what you say you want to achieve is the same as what you're looking at/for?

Here here!!
The most fun I have had of late was the msx125.
9Bhp and flat out with the lightweight racing snake gee46 on it got 72mph.

I remember a couple of years back when we were out on a morning ride I let rob have a ride on my z750r.
He hated it and quickly jumped back on his gsxr 600.

Now he is looking for one.
I want to go and ride a ktm 390 as reckon that would be awesome.

[TLS-Moose]

On a superbike, or a supernaked, where you're trying to tame 200bhp+, I can understand the desire for traction control, anti-wheelie, multi-mode fuel mapping, etc, but when you're talking about a group of bikes that at most make 140bhp and your favoured one only just breaks 100bhp, you shouldn't really need the "aids" in the first place. The enjoyment should come from your precise control of the bike in an analogue way. And that's really not the luddite in me coming out...
You only have to look at high performance cars with massive brakes, huge power, abs, traction control, flappy paddle gearboxes, active damping, etc - instead of the driver testing the limits of the machine, the machine tests the limit of the driver .... And when the machine reaches its limit, it's so far past the drivers the accident happens far more quickly and at a far higher speed.
If you like the Brutale RR, but are happy with the BMW's 100bhp, did you look at the Brutale and Dragster Rosso's? All the looks with a bit less power and a friendlier price. Also there's the Ducati monster or streetfighter, or BMW R-nineT. With Triumph, what about the Thruxton?
If you truly want to slow down on the road, you need to change your perspective more than the bikes - your favourites so far are sports bikes without a fairing that will encourage the inner hooligan, and it's not the electronic aids that have to control that .....

As an aside, I was going to mention in my earlier post the very bike Ian did. I know someone, who after years on Blackbirds, a TL100, a ZX10r, trackdays & racing, bought an RC390. They reckoned it was the most exhilarating road bike they'd ridden in years and really honed their road-reading skills to maintain a pace with bigger bikes.

Edit: you are allowed to say, in answer to my earlier question about why you need the rider aids, "because they're available and I'm a gadget junkie" ... There's nothing wrong in that