Ditching the sportbike
Discussion
fixitfelix said:
My car would be adequate if I was just trying to get from a to b I want to have some fun along the way and I dont think stepping from a 125 from a 600 would light my fire, I can't imagine any offroading I do would be too technical mostly fireroads and Greenlanes, one of the things that's attracts me is the ability to throw it around and have some fun it would be nice to be able to pull wheelies without doing near triple digit speeds by the time I'm coming back down.
That's why I said a 125 probably isn't what you want. Why not have a look at an Aprilia RXV 550. Absolutely brilliant in so many ways, but ultimately floored the one area it excels in.
I have just done exactly this. I have an 1199 Panigale which I am doing more track days on and when I do ride it on the road am riding like a d**k and it's only a matter of time before I get my licence torn up.
I wanted something I can have some fun on and still look good. I really fancied a KTM Superduke but want to sell the panigale and be able to buy a trackbike and road bike for the same money so it counted the Superduke out. I then started looking at the big supermotos as I want it do be able to do my 45 mile trip to work and am planning to use it through winter to hone my skills a little. I looked at the 990 ktm and the hypermotard and from reading the reviews the KTM always comes on top but I don't think it looks as good as the hypermotard and a few fractions of a seconds on track is not what I'm buying the bike for as I'll be buying a dedicated track bike.
I've had my hypermotard about a month now and am loving it, it can be a hooligan when you want it to be but it tops out about 120 and you really have to work it to get to that. I'm not sure my licence is any safer as wheelies etc are easy but outside of that I do think it is more fun on the road than the panigale. You sound like you are after something which you can take off road which you obviously cant with the hypermotard but I've ditched the sports bike and am definitely not regretting it.
Before
After
I wanted something I can have some fun on and still look good. I really fancied a KTM Superduke but want to sell the panigale and be able to buy a trackbike and road bike for the same money so it counted the Superduke out. I then started looking at the big supermotos as I want it do be able to do my 45 mile trip to work and am planning to use it through winter to hone my skills a little. I looked at the 990 ktm and the hypermotard and from reading the reviews the KTM always comes on top but I don't think it looks as good as the hypermotard and a few fractions of a seconds on track is not what I'm buying the bike for as I'll be buying a dedicated track bike.
I've had my hypermotard about a month now and am loving it, it can be a hooligan when you want it to be but it tops out about 120 and you really have to work it to get to that. I'm not sure my licence is any safer as wheelies etc are easy but outside of that I do think it is more fun on the road than the panigale. You sound like you are after something which you can take off road which you obviously cant with the hypermotard but I've ditched the sports bike and am definitely not regretting it.
Before
After
I purchased a KTM 690 Duke R for the small commutes its total blast and looks ok as well, but will never be in the same league as the Dukes they are pretty for sure. (but a different sorta cash)
I have a few bikes and despite the KTM having some stalling at the stop lights issues, its the most fun in the traffic and because its not a Ducati its not a bike i worry about leaving parked at a place when im inside or cant see it, go ride one you will be surprised.
I rode the DZR first but it did not seduce me when i looked at it, the KTM in the right hands is a hooligan tool. but again you dont want to do long runs with a single it will get boring, but short sharp runs in and away from the plod, its a must.
I have a few bikes and despite the KTM having some stalling at the stop lights issues, its the most fun in the traffic and because its not a Ducati its not a bike i worry about leaving parked at a place when im inside or cant see it, go ride one you will be surprised.
I rode the DZR first but it did not seduce me when i looked at it, the KTM in the right hands is a hooligan tool. but again you dont want to do long runs with a single it will get boring, but short sharp runs in and away from the plod, its a must.
Years ago I bought a 600 ccm which had moto and off road wheels, I didn't have much experience off road and thought it would be great for learning off road and blasting about the local lanes.
In reality it was rubbish on road and off road.
If you want to ride off road buy something small and light, I had a 200 2 stroke gas gas which had all the power you need, riding off road will improve your road riding more than you can imagine.
But it will be rubbish on road, so you'll need 2 bikes.
In reality it was rubbish on road and off road.
If you want to ride off road buy something small and light, I had a 200 2 stroke gas gas which had all the power you need, riding off road will improve your road riding more than you can imagine.
But it will be rubbish on road, so you'll need 2 bikes.
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