Another what bike...MT-09..
Discussion
I recently moved to NZ. Looking to buy a bike. It is the tail end of winter here so currently dealers have great prices on new but 2019 bikes. My wife and riding gear don’t arrive for another month, by which time spring will be here and there is a reasonable chance that the last few cheap bikes will be sold and they will only have 2020 bikes for sale at normal price (perhaps also available at a discount but I don’t know how things work here).
I’m looking at a GSXR 750 for £7k. I owned one in the UK and loved it but it was hard on my knees.
I’ve seen an MT09 for just £6500. Trouble is I’ve never ridden one - but have read lots of positive comments. Normal price is £7250 so a useful saving.
Other alternatives a Street Triple R or KTM 790 but both are £9k.
I rode the KTM in the UK before I left and really liked it but not sure how comfortable it would be longer distance plus I’ve heard that reliability not great , especially compared to Japanese bikes.
I’m looking at a GSXR 750 for £7k. I owned one in the UK and loved it but it was hard on my knees.
I’ve seen an MT09 for just £6500. Trouble is I’ve never ridden one - but have read lots of positive comments. Normal price is £7250 so a useful saving.
Other alternatives a Street Triple R or KTM 790 but both are £9k.
I rode the KTM in the UK before I left and really liked it but not sure how comfortable it would be longer distance plus I’ve heard that reliability not great , especially compared to Japanese bikes.
I thought the MT09 would be the perfect road bike, it wasn't, great engine, the rest was s
te, poor suspension, poor brakes, useless headlight, and cheap and nasty in places, mine was the SP too, I'd not recommend one to anyone, the street triple is a far superior bike in my experience of owning both.
te, poor suspension, poor brakes, useless headlight, and cheap and nasty in places, mine was the SP too, I'd not recommend one to anyone, the street triple is a far superior bike in my experience of owning both.Triumph or KTM every day of the week over the Yamaha.
As for your statement about KTM's reliability I'm not sure who you're listening to....
Numerous offroaders, an 1190S that went for 2 years up the East African region and not a moment of trouble.
Friends have other models such as the 1290 GT and SD and all love them to bits.
Personally, for riding NZ I'd be looking at the 1290S or GT. S if you're likely to be doing a little off piste or the GT if the only off roading you're going to do is entering a car park....
As for your statement about KTM's reliability I'm not sure who you're listening to....
Numerous offroaders, an 1190S that went for 2 years up the East African region and not a moment of trouble.
Friends have other models such as the 1290 GT and SD and all love them to bits.
Personally, for riding NZ I'd be looking at the 1290S or GT. S if you're likely to be doing a little off piste or the GT if the only off roading you're going to do is entering a car park....
Jazoli said:
I thought the MT09 would be the perfect road bike, it wasn't, great engine, the rest was ste, poor suspension, poor brakes, useless headlight, and cheap and nasty in places, mine was the SP too, I'd not recommend one to anyone, the street triple is a far superior bike in my experience of owning both.
Can we keep this down... just while I sell mine...te, poor suspension, poor brakes, useless headlight, and cheap and nasty in places, mine was the SP too, I'd not recommend one to anyone, the street triple is a far superior bike in my experience of owning both.
The bike no one mentioned - the Gixxer - was the one I bought!
Had they all been the same price I probably would have gone for the Triumph but at £7k (actually I got it down to £6700) the Suzuki just felt like a bargain I couldn’t refuse (especially as I paid £10k two years ago for the same bike in the UK).
I also felt there was unfinished business with the Gixxer. I’ve owned and sold quite a few bikes and even if I’ve regretted the sale later I did make a decision to get rid of them. My relationship with the Gixxer didn’t come to a natural conclusion as I destroyed it on track.
Had they all been the same price I probably would have gone for the Triumph but at £7k (actually I got it down to £6700) the Suzuki just felt like a bargain I couldn’t refuse (especially as I paid £10k two years ago for the same bike in the UK).
I also felt there was unfinished business with the Gixxer. I’ve owned and sold quite a few bikes and even if I’ve regretted the sale later I did make a decision to get rid of them. My relationship with the Gixxer didn’t come to a natural conclusion as I destroyed it on track.
I've got an MT09... great bikes - lot's of fun.
Suspension does need set up properly - I've changed the rear shock, front springs and oil weight to get it right for me.
Nothing wrong at all with the silver dot (brembo made) brakes... in fact, the Blue, silver, gold dot's are some of the best OE brakes out there.
Having said that, I have just upgraded mine to bigger front discs..
They are really good bikes to throw about, and can easily keep up with "faster" bikes when the roads start getting interesting.
Suspension does need set up properly - I've changed the rear shock, front springs and oil weight to get it right for me.
Nothing wrong at all with the silver dot (brembo made) brakes... in fact, the Blue, silver, gold dot's are some of the best OE brakes out there.
Having said that, I have just upgraded mine to bigger front discs..
They are really good bikes to throw about, and can easily keep up with "faster" bikes when the roads start getting interesting.
I do miss my GSXR-750, the later variants with the BPF and brembos... What a front end...
I'm very fit and of average height and it was still fking uncomfortable, almost unbearable at lower speeds where it just goaded me to riding like a tt.
Not sure I'd want another as a road bike.... But then again....
I'm very fit and of average height and it was still f
king uncomfortable, almost unbearable at lower speeds where it just goaded me to riding like a tt.Not sure I'd want another as a road bike.... But then again....
As a relatively new ride (Licence had for only 4 years) I find the MT-09 the ideal bike for me. Fast enough (for me), comfortable, everything works and I have the gift of sight and can see easily at night for the limited time I use it when its dark.
I do fancy the look of the new 790 Duke though.
I do fancy the look of the new 790 Duke though.
Edited by N0ddie on Monday 7th October 15:00
Edited by N0ddie on Monday 7th October 15:01
Well done OP you will fit in perfectly in NZ.
When I first arrived here I ran a bike shop, everyone came in and looked at/test rode the Triumph, Ducati, BMW that we sold but went over the road and bought the cheapest Suzuki they could.
Outside of Auckland Kiwi's in general make the Scottish look like extravagant spenders
When I first arrived here I ran a bike shop, everyone came in and looked at/test rode the Triumph, Ducati, BMW that we sold but went over the road and bought the cheapest Suzuki they could.
Outside of Auckland Kiwi's in general make the Scottish look like extravagant spenders
NNK said:
Well done OP you will fit in perfectly in NZ.
When I first arrived here I ran a bike shop, everyone came in and looked at/test rode the Triumph, Ducati, BMW that we sold but went over the road and bought the cheapest Suzuki they could.
Outside of Auckland Kiwi's in general make the Scottish look like extravagant spenders
Perhaps you should have sold Suzukis then?When I first arrived here I ran a bike shop, everyone came in and looked at/test rode the Triumph, Ducati, BMW that we sold but went over the road and bought the cheapest Suzuki they could.
Outside of Auckland Kiwi's in general make the Scottish look like extravagant spenders
The brand I’ve owned the most is Ducati (4 bikes) but for current, expected usage the GSXR fits the bill better. Of the bikes I’ve owned my old one was the most fun except for perhaps the RS250 (others I’ve owned have looked or sounded better).
Esceptico said:
The bike no one mentioned - the Gixxer - was the one I bought!
Had they all been the same price I probably would have gone for the Triumph but at £7k (actually I got it down to £6700) the Suzuki just felt like a bargain I couldn’t refuse (especially as I paid £10k two years ago for the same bike in the UK).
I also felt there was unfinished business with the Gixxer. I’ve owned and sold quite a few bikes and even if I’ve regretted the sale later I did make a decision to get rid of them. My relationship with the Gixxer didn’t come to a natural conclusion as I destroyed it on track.
Had they all been the same price I probably would have gone for the Triumph but at £7k (actually I got it down to £6700) the Suzuki just felt like a bargain I couldn’t refuse (especially as I paid £10k two years ago for the same bike in the UK).
I also felt there was unfinished business with the Gixxer. I’ve owned and sold quite a few bikes and even if I’ve regretted the sale later I did make a decision to get rid of them. My relationship with the Gixxer didn’t come to a natural conclusion as I destroyed it on track.
If you could get a new one in the UK for that money I'd have one! Awesome bike do pop a few pics up.
N0ddie said:
As a relatively new ride (Licence had for only 4 years) I find the MT-09 the ideal bike for me. Fast enough (for me), comfortable, everything works and I have the gift of sight and can see easily at night for the limited time I use it when its dark.
I do fancy the look of the new 790 Duke though.
Is it your first bike?I do fancy the look of the new 790 Duke though.
Edited by N0ddie on Monday 7th October 15:00
Edited by N0ddie on Monday 7th October 15:01
I have a 2018 Mt09, upgraded after my tracer 700 got stolen. It is a much better bike, but as a new rider I don't have any other comparisons (aside from the sv 650 which I learnt on and wouldn't recommend).
The engine is superb in terms of performance, the bike looks great and handles fine for my skill level. It has a number of toys - quickshifter (don't need to depress clutch), 3 different performance modes (mine stays in the lowest vast majority of the time). Clutch level is also much better than the 07, much lighter.
The downsides - lots of wind push back - you can't get a decent screen for it like the tourer. I do have an after market screen which helps, was the biggest I could find but still obviously not as good/big as a tourer screen. Also the petrol tank is tiny, and the bike isn't great on fuel, not a great combination. Finally, though the engine is great - the tone isn't the nicest, its not bad (maybe its my stubby sports exhaust) but could be better - I may change the exhaust.
Oh an needs a tail tidy, the current set up looks terrible. But...even with all that I still love the bike and no plans to change - I just know better what to look for next time to suit me (better tank/screen).
The engine is superb in terms of performance, the bike looks great and handles fine for my skill level. It has a number of toys - quickshifter (don't need to depress clutch), 3 different performance modes (mine stays in the lowest vast majority of the time). Clutch level is also much better than the 07, much lighter.
The downsides - lots of wind push back - you can't get a decent screen for it like the tourer. I do have an after market screen which helps, was the biggest I could find but still obviously not as good/big as a tourer screen. Also the petrol tank is tiny, and the bike isn't great on fuel, not a great combination. Finally, though the engine is great - the tone isn't the nicest, its not bad (maybe its my stubby sports exhaust) but could be better - I may change the exhaust.
Oh an needs a tail tidy, the current set up looks terrible. But...even with all that I still love the bike and no plans to change - I just know better what to look for next time to suit me (better tank/screen).
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