Discussion
So I picked up my new to me bike yesterday in the glorious sunshine. I've always fancied a supermoto type bike and needed to free up a bit of cash. my reasoning behind it was to try and slow me down a bit on the road and also I couldn't justify the money that was in the r1 when I have a 1500 quid track bike that I ride twice as hard. The r1 just seemed too nice and too valuable to keep for a couple of rides a month. It also was devaluing very quickly. Luckily I managed to have the new bike experience without having to pay for it which was very lucky. ive always wanted that out of the box feeling and to enjoy it and I never wanted to see it as an asset but I couldn't help keep an eye on the value And I wouldn't put my money into a new bike in the future.
As an example I was offered 10k when it had zero miles, 8k when it had 1200 miles and I eventually got 7k with 3500miles. (I could of got more private but I wanted the deal quick as it was like taking a plaster off, Iloved the bike but wanted it gone out of sigh. So I could just crack on with finding another.) So watching the value drop so steeply within the first few k miles in future I'll always buy a couple year old bikes I reckon.
Any way r1 gone. Lump of money given to the wife to pay the last of the wedding off (with the promise I can upgrade my track bike once the weddings done) I went and bought this 2012 ktm smc-r with 8000 miles on it.
My initial impressions after 100 miles, I absolutely love it. It's way quicker than I thought it would be up to about 80. Then it's pointless. I thought I'd see what it had in it and at maxed out 120 it had some crazy front end weaving with the wind hitting the hand guards.
It picks the wheel up in the first three gears without hesitation. It's handling is strange. Very vague compared to a sportsbike. I could carry the same corner speeds as usual but I couldn't really feel what the front end is doing and on fast sweepers it feels like your gliding rather than planted to the road. I'm guessing that's due to the 10ft of suspension travel and the style of bike I guess. Its something I'll learn to trust and be able to gauge I hope.
On a b road I think it would upset a lot of more exotic bikes as the riding position is so good I can see over most hedges and other vehicles and the low Down torque is impressive plus the fact that bumps don't exist anymore. On anything more open and proper a roads it obviously would be left for dead. And motorways are a definite no go.
Will it make me ride slower on the road...erm I don't think so. It definitely feels like I'm less likely to die in an off as the speeds are generally less but it does feel ten times more likely that I'm going to loose my licence. It's pointless going over 80 but it encourages you to ride everywhere at 70/80 which isn't necessarily a good thing.
Low down throttle inputs are lumpy round town, fuel economy and the 12ltr tank are s
te, the sound is ear splittingly loud with it being a single it's not a particularly nice noise just a ripping sound. And I'm pretty sure sat anything more than 100 miles I'll develop piles but other than that I've not stopped smiling all day. Oh and you fill up at the back so you have to get off to fill up so you can't get it fully full and if you over flow slightly there's a nice channel in the plastics that funnel the fuel straight onto the the hot exhaust which is nice.
I Also no longer get nodded at by other bikers as they think I'm some sort of hooded yoof on a 125.
Ginger bike for a ginger man.
Guy Martin stickers to go as soon as I can be bothered.
As an example I was offered 10k when it had zero miles, 8k when it had 1200 miles and I eventually got 7k with 3500miles. (I could of got more private but I wanted the deal quick as it was like taking a plaster off, Iloved the bike but wanted it gone out of sigh. So I could just crack on with finding another.) So watching the value drop so steeply within the first few k miles in future I'll always buy a couple year old bikes I reckon.
Any way r1 gone. Lump of money given to the wife to pay the last of the wedding off (with the promise I can upgrade my track bike once the weddings done) I went and bought this 2012 ktm smc-r with 8000 miles on it.
My initial impressions after 100 miles, I absolutely love it. It's way quicker than I thought it would be up to about 80. Then it's pointless. I thought I'd see what it had in it and at maxed out 120 it had some crazy front end weaving with the wind hitting the hand guards.
It picks the wheel up in the first three gears without hesitation. It's handling is strange. Very vague compared to a sportsbike. I could carry the same corner speeds as usual but I couldn't really feel what the front end is doing and on fast sweepers it feels like your gliding rather than planted to the road. I'm guessing that's due to the 10ft of suspension travel and the style of bike I guess. Its something I'll learn to trust and be able to gauge I hope.
On a b road I think it would upset a lot of more exotic bikes as the riding position is so good I can see over most hedges and other vehicles and the low Down torque is impressive plus the fact that bumps don't exist anymore. On anything more open and proper a roads it obviously would be left for dead. And motorways are a definite no go.
Will it make me ride slower on the road...erm I don't think so. It definitely feels like I'm less likely to die in an off as the speeds are generally less but it does feel ten times more likely that I'm going to loose my licence. It's pointless going over 80 but it encourages you to ride everywhere at 70/80 which isn't necessarily a good thing.
Low down throttle inputs are lumpy round town, fuel economy and the 12ltr tank are s
te, the sound is ear splittingly loud with it being a single it's not a particularly nice noise just a ripping sound. And I'm pretty sure sat anything more than 100 miles I'll develop piles but other than that I've not stopped smiling all day. Oh and you fill up at the back so you have to get off to fill up so you can't get it fully full and if you over flow slightly there's a nice channel in the plastics that funnel the fuel straight onto the the hot exhaust which is nice. I Also no longer get nodded at by other bikers as they think I'm some sort of hooded yoof on a 125.
Ginger bike for a ginger man.
Guy Martin stickers to go as soon as I can be bothered.
Cheers Dave. It's not everyone's cup of tea and they do have a certain stigma attached to them. But then so do r1s and gsxrs which I've owned. I think I just like chavvy bikes strangely.
I'm hoping this has done it he majority of its depreciation but as long as it keeps running...ktm kiss of death, until it's worth 4k with a couple of grand on top I could always pick up another decent sport. Bike for 6k if I choose to go back down that route later on.
Strangely I've had a k6 1000 a big bang r1 both I loved and can't fault and with over 170 up or whatever they were fast but the two bikes that have given me the biggest smiles on the road are an old tatty 600 hornet and this so far. Both with just enough horsepower to turn my oven on.
I'm going to swap my old gsxr track bike to a newer r6 track bike at some point next year so I can get my speed kicks from that a handfull of times a year this is just to get me out and about locally really. What sealed the deal for me was on the morning I traded it I thought I'll give the r1 a bit of a thrashing (to my ability) on the way. Not once did I use full throttle and I followed two separate police cars so I just got it in my mind that I don't need itand it's wasted on me. In an ideal world I'd obviously have one of every type of bike but time for a bit of a change.
Annoyingly Speed bumps have now become speed jumps though. it really does bring out the worst in you.
I also love spoked wheels.
I'm hoping this has done it he majority of its depreciation but as long as it keeps running...ktm kiss of death, until it's worth 4k with a couple of grand on top I could always pick up another decent sport. Bike for 6k if I choose to go back down that route later on.
Strangely I've had a k6 1000 a big bang r1 both I loved and can't fault and with over 170 up or whatever they were fast but the two bikes that have given me the biggest smiles on the road are an old tatty 600 hornet and this so far. Both with just enough horsepower to turn my oven on.
I'm going to swap my old gsxr track bike to a newer r6 track bike at some point next year so I can get my speed kicks from that a handfull of times a year this is just to get me out and about locally really. What sealed the deal for me was on the morning I traded it I thought I'll give the r1 a bit of a thrashing (to my ability) on the way. Not once did I use full throttle and I followed two separate police cars so I just got it in my mind that I don't need itand it's wasted on me. In an ideal world I'd obviously have one of every type of bike but time for a bit of a change.
Annoyingly Speed bumps have now become speed jumps though. it really does bring out the worst in you.
I also love spoked wheels.
Nah didnt advertise it anywhere just took it to a local garage.
3dp, I never been able to wheelie for the life in me but already yesterday I was spent half the afternoon on the back wheel. It's weird it has so much travel I couldn't tell it was whellying but my mates said it was a a good foot or two up. Just coming out of a 2nd gear corner it just lifts with no effort. By the end of the night they were getting to the point where they were getting scary and I couldnt see the road anymore. It's definitely a strange feeling and probably going to get me in trouble. Just got to keep it up on the pennines.
3dp, I never been able to wheelie for the life in me but already yesterday I was spent half the afternoon on the back wheel. It's weird it has so much travel I couldn't tell it was whellying but my mates said it was a a good foot or two up. Just coming out of a 2nd gear corner it just lifts with no effort. By the end of the night they were getting to the point where they were getting scary and I couldnt see the road anymore. It's definitely a strange feeling and probably going to get me in trouble. Just got to keep it up on the pennines.
The r 1 was mega, but it was wasted on me, it needs to be with someone that's either going to polish it regularly and keep it mint or do it justice and ride it harder on the road.
I was sad to see it go but I soon forgot about it when I jumped.. Literally, even at 6ft both feet don't sit flat on the floor, onto the Ktm. The few roads I've been on over the last couple of days have already taught me loads. I haven't slowed down at all though, if anything the opposite. I don't feel scared of dropping the Ktm, and it can carry some impressive corner speed. I'm still finding it very vague in corners though. I'm not slipping or moving around but I just can't seem to feel what the fronts doing.
In typical Ktm fashion it's gone back to the dealers already. There's a couple of things I'm not happy with and the shops sorting them out. It needs a new oxygen sensor and also a cam chain tensioner. So again I'm bike less. At least it's not nice forecast for a few days.
I was sad to see it go but I soon forgot about it when I jumped.. Literally, even at 6ft both feet don't sit flat on the floor, onto the Ktm. The few roads I've been on over the last couple of days have already taught me loads. I haven't slowed down at all though, if anything the opposite. I don't feel scared of dropping the Ktm, and it can carry some impressive corner speed. I'm still finding it very vague in corners though. I'm not slipping or moving around but I just can't seem to feel what the fronts doing.
In typical Ktm fashion it's gone back to the dealers already. There's a couple of things I'm not happy with and the shops sorting them out. It needs a new oxygen sensor and also a cam chain tensioner. So again I'm bike less. At least it's not nice forecast for a few days.
There won't be any more pics as the bikes going back Monday unfortunately. Out of the three weeks or so I've owned it I've actually had it.At home less than 24 hours. There's been numerous problems and today I finally told them ii wanted my money back. I loved the bike for the few miles I did but I won't be in a rush to get another ktm unfortunately as I have no trust in the local ktm garage or their bikes any more.
Stay tuned for another new bike thread.
Stay tuned for another new bike thread.
So I Can't even remember when I paid for the bike but basically that day it stalled twice as I tried to ride away and at the lights at the end of the road. I just thought it was the old big lumpy single way and it was me not giving it enough throttle. Anyway two hours later the fi light comes on and stays on and the stalling continues at any junction/lights. Also it didn't recognise how hot it was so it was kicking the fan on and boiling the coolant spitting it out of the overflow.
Anyway back it went. The garage were brilliant to be fair. They sent it to the local ktm for it all sorting plus a remap for the exhaust. Anyway two weeks later of ktm saying tomorrow tomorrow I went and picked it up yesterday. Ktm staff were generally rude and didn't say a word to me. Threw the keys to me and shut the door before Ihad time to put my jacket on. The bike stalled twice whilst I was warming it up and putting my stuff on. Took it back to the garage I bought I from and said I'dtake it for a proper blast and see if it got better. It didn't it stalled pretty much every set of lights. Especially annoying/dangerous/embarrassing when I filtered to the front of a queue and tried to pull away and it died causing everyone to slam on. I don't trust ktm did what they said they did. I also asked then to change the cam chain tensioner as it sounded loud. They said they didbut the bolt still looks old and it's still loud.
The moments the bike worked I loved it. It's the only bike I've been able to wheelie at will and on bumpy b roads it can upset some of the bigger exotic stuff but I just don't trust it and don't trust ktm will do any work properly when it goes back.
I've got 6 grand to go at so not sure. Really want a better track bike that's got a v5 so may try either a 07/08 r6 or a 675. My mate fancies buying my gsxr track bike so might get one of the above sell him my gsxr then pick up an old hornet again for the road. Not really sure yet. I'll probably end up with a fireblade as all these pictures of new ones on here have me looking at them.
Anyway back it went. The garage were brilliant to be fair. They sent it to the local ktm for it all sorting plus a remap for the exhaust. Anyway two weeks later of ktm saying tomorrow tomorrow I went and picked it up yesterday. Ktm staff were generally rude and didn't say a word to me. Threw the keys to me and shut the door before Ihad time to put my jacket on. The bike stalled twice whilst I was warming it up and putting my stuff on. Took it back to the garage I bought I from and said I'dtake it for a proper blast and see if it got better. It didn't it stalled pretty much every set of lights. Especially annoying/dangerous/embarrassing when I filtered to the front of a queue and tried to pull away and it died causing everyone to slam on. I don't trust ktm did what they said they did. I also asked then to change the cam chain tensioner as it sounded loud. They said they didbut the bolt still looks old and it's still loud.
The moments the bike worked I loved it. It's the only bike I've been able to wheelie at will and on bumpy b roads it can upset some of the bigger exotic stuff but I just don't trust it and don't trust ktm will do any work properly when it goes back.
I've got 6 grand to go at so not sure. Really want a better track bike that's got a v5 so may try either a 07/08 r6 or a 675. My mate fancies buying my gsxr track bike so might get one of the above sell him my gsxr then pick up an old hornet again for the road. Not really sure yet. I'll probably end up with a fireblade as all these pictures of new ones on here have me looking at them.
The r 1 went and disappeared between local dealerships, I wouldn't get it back if I could either. It was too nice for what I want. I'd of never taken it on track and on the road it was mega but just too easy to ride to my level. I wanted something I can feel like I'm leaning on a bit not just holding onto.
Also I just wanted it gone away from me really, when I get something in my mind I just go and do it usually. I didn't regret getting the ktm. If it worked I'd of loved it. It was just unfortunately broken.
The dealers were Jem speed shop in batley. They were spot on. Couldn't of asked more from them really. I kind of know the lad that works there which made it awkward when I had to go back but they did everything expected and more to be fair. It was when they sent it to ktm that it all went tits up.
Also I just wanted it gone away from me really, when I get something in my mind I just go and do it usually. I didn't regret getting the ktm. If it worked I'd of loved it. It was just unfortunately broken.
The dealers were Jem speed shop in batley. They were spot on. Couldn't of asked more from them really. I kind of know the lad that works there which made it awkward when I had to go back but they did everything expected and more to be fair. It was when they sent it to ktm that it all went tits up.
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