Potential new bike - 3 owners in 2.5 years... (Vitpilen 701)

[66mpg]

carinaman said:

having read on owners' forums of issues with the Trident 660s cutting out and stalling after I left a deposit on one last year has put me off of the brand. If they'd issued a recall or TSB I'd probably have bought it and been a year into being a Trident 660 owner. I felt a mug as I'd seen the threads here about issues with the new 1200s.

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 11th October 07:51

The stalling issue on the Trident 660 is now the subject of a recall to replace the pipe work around the MAP sensor. Mine was done on 18/09 and is now fine.

[WhisperingWasp]

PT1984 said:

Ducati Scrambler 900. Even the 1100.

I love mine. When my wife can’t find me I’m in the garage looking at it with a whisky.

Good point. Also on my radar, and a Monster 821.

Presume that is a typo and should be an 800? Or is there now a 900...?

[WhisperingWasp]

carinaman said:

Have you seen the KTM reliability thread? M&P in Swansea have/had new A2 compatible 790s for £6K.

I've had three or four pre-A2 105bhp ones as loaners. I like them lots, I like the torque, the noise, the looks, the flickability and the size but I don't have bandwidth in my life at the moment for a toy creating problems or niggles that will annoy me everytime I switch it on. I'd find it frustrating that the 790 would have so much performance that I couldn't use on the roads I use most often.

The CB1000R caught my eye as a dealer in Herts. had a lightly used Plus in black for £6K, but it seems the paint is a bit soft on the earlier ones and the headlamp isn't that good. The owner review I watched said they sound good. I've a juicy car so while I don't commute a bike that's relatively economical has some appeal to me. I think Crescent having a maroon and silver one brought them to my attention.

A white Street Twin has appeared near me, and the revised with better brakes Street 900 had much appeal to me, but having read on owners' forums of issues with the Trident 660s cutting out and stalling after I left a deposit on one last year has put me off of the brand. If they'd issued a recall or TSB I'd probably have bought it and been a year into being a Trident 660 owner. I felt a mug as I'd seen the threads here about issues with the new 1200s.

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 11th October 07:51

I've dipped in and out of that thread but should probably have a deeper dive. Is it bad reading?

I saw the reference to the brand new 6k ones although I think there is a later comment suggesting this has now stopped already?

I'm sure the 790s are now ~95bhp? Isn't A2 something like 40bhp?

Re the CB1000R, 6k sounds like a bargain - don't think I've seen one that cheap.

The retro Triumphs all appeal to me; Scrambler, Street Twin & Cup, Thruxton, Bobber - not so much the Bonneville - and in the past I've always been drawn to the Street Triple R. But when I look at second hand ones they always seem to be quite well worn and I do wonder about the build quality.

Edited by WhisperingWasp on Wednesday 11th October 13:54

[carinaman]

The new 790s are 94 or 96 bhp so they can be restricted to the A2 limit. The A2 rules have an upper limit to what can be restricted down to 44 bhp or whatever it is, possibly half, hence the GSX-S950 that's the 1 litre but capped at whatever the 90 odd bhp limit is so it can be further limited to 44bhp.

In my experience the Duke 790 is all about torque so losing 10bhp peak shouldn't matter too much. I doubt it would matter to me much on the road.

I've ridden one Duke 690 and 3 or 4 790s. I've not been around motorcycles enough to discern the difference. If they're responsive and go then I am happy. I liked both of them so imagine that someone that likes a 690/Vit/Svart 701 will like a 790. The torque delivery is different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-sC3v6vdj0

Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 11th October 16:52

[PT1984]

WhisperingWasp said:

Good point. Also on my radar, and a Monster 821.

Presume that is a typo and should be an 800? Or is there now a 900...?

Ha the 800! Perfect for my needs.

The CB1000R is a beautifully built machine.

Edited by PT1984 on Wednesday 11th October 17:24

[carinaman]

The CB1000R I saw for £6Kish was with a Honda dealer in Herts in March. It was a black Plus and it had a slight dent, possibly from a disc lock on the NS silver trim on the fork that runs up to the mudguard. I found the part on the Fowlers parts website and it wasn't expensive. I was away for 10-11 days in March and when I got back the advert had gone but it did reappear a while after. The mileage was 3K ish. I like the crud catcher on the back. Owner reviews saying the headlight isn't that great put me off and like a 790 I don't know if I can be trusted not to use the performance. The Lamb Chops Rides and The Missenden Flyer reviews may have influenced me. One or both said the fuelling was spot on.

[Tribal Chestnut]

WhisperingWasp said:

...and on that note the search starts for a replacement. If you don't mind I'll pop my thoughts down here as a) my brain still a bit scrambled and it is helpful to get my thinking jotted down and b) to elicit any opinion on what I am considering.

So the only common theme here is that I like a naked bike, preferably a bit on the retro side.

Options I'm considering:
1) Another Vitpilen. Loved it and it was very "me". Argument against is comparing to what I had which was perfect
2) R nine T. Been on my radar for years. Grunty, good looks, premium. Great all-rounder. Probably what I am leaning toward most
3) CB1000R (the latest one). Love the looks, seem to ooze quality. Probably overkill for my use
4) Street Scrambler 900. Looks amazing, bet it sounds amazing. Great to pose on. Bit gutless?
5) KTM Duke 790/890. Not what I would typically be drawn to looks-wise but can't help but think it would suit my riding and be the most fun. Seen a 790 with an SC Project on it and it looks mega but heard the 790 can be a bit iffy...?

I might even ping some links in here for an opinion or two.

Have you considered how the theft might impact your insurance come renewal?

I know I sound like a miserable fk, but a friend recently had a bike pinched and it was borderline repair or write-off - they took the latter option upon an investigation of potential insurance options for next year. This was on a multi-bike policy though.

[carinaman]

In your other thread you mentioned you liked the lightness of the 701.

The Duke 790/890 are light.

[WhisperingWasp]

carinaman said:

The new 790s are 94 or 96 bhp so they can be restricted to the A2 limit. The A2 rules have an upper limit to what can be restricted down to 44 bhp or whatever it is, possibly half, hence the GSX-S950 that's the 1 litre but capped at whatever the 90 odd bhp limit is so it can be further limited to 44bhp.

In my experience the Duke 790 is all about torque so losing 10bhp peak shouldn't matter too much. I doubt it would matter to me much on the road.

I've ridden one Duke 690 and 3 or 4 790s. I've not been around motorcycles enough to discern the difference. If they're responsive and go then I am happy. I liked both of them so imagine that someone that likes a 690/Vit/Svart 701 will like a 790. The torque delivery is different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-sC3v6vdj0

&

carinaman said:

In your other thread you mentioned you liked the lightness of the 701.

The Duke 790/890 are light.

Ah I see what you mean about the A2 thing. Makes sense now, had no idea about that. And yeah, 90-odd bhp would be plenty enough for me.

I did love the lightness of the bike but just don't know if the KTM is the style I'm after... I do like this one once some mirrors are added and whatever that is over the headlight removed! The exhaust looks great on it. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20230925...

However, if it was a toss-up between this and another Vitpilen I think I'd go with the latter.

[carinaman]

WhisperingWasp said:

However, if it was a toss-up between this and another Vitpilen I think I'd go with the latter.

I think the Vitpilen looks great with the crud catcher. I liked the Fortnine/Ryan video on them.

If you're going to get another bike I'd suggest seeing if you can get a test ride of a 790 Duke so you've at least ridden one and can weigh up lightness and responsiveness against the looks. If you ride one you could benchmark the lightness and responsiveness against your other choices.

I reckon on a smiles per mile basis the 690/701 and Duke 790 would be quite similar.

I don't know when you're going to buy, but KTM usually do Black Friday deals so having a test ride and seeing if you can see past the looks if there's a deal to be done in 6-7 weeks time that may help offset any increase in your insurance premiums.

Edited by carinaman on Friday 13th October 12:10

[WhisperingWasp]

Vitpilen replacement incoming! On my way to the train station. Update later

[WhisperingWasp]

Belated update as hadn’t really taken many photos but this is the replacement for my stolen Vitpilen. Bit overkill and waaaay more than I need but, hey, maybe I am just a Monster man at heart!

[raining_sulphur]

Congrats! Lovely bike. I do love a monster.

[vindaloo79]

bit late now but isn’t this a duel 790 in disguise ?


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20231101...

£6195 and less than 300 miles

[PT1984]

Oh that is quite the step up. 1200S with the naughty pipe! I bl00dy love my 800 Scrambler. Even in its standard EU5 trim it sounds brilliant. But it is proving difficult to resist the Termi and Upmap.

[gareth_r]

vindaloo79 said:

bit late now but isn’t this a duel 790 in disguise ?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20231101...

£6195 and less than 300 miles

The problem CFMoto have is KTM's annual discount-fest.