Another which bike…

[raining_sulphur]

Ok, I’m keeping this simple. Looking to buy a new bike, brand new. It’ll be my first ‘big’ bike. I’m down to a choice of 3, with an off target 4th wild card. I can only choose 1, bike will be used purely for fun/pleasure/whatever I feel like. Tell me which you’d choose and why. Choices are as follows:

Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory
MT09 SP
KTM 890 R

4th choice, 2nd hand Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer

What do you guys think?

Edited by raining_sulphur on Wednesday 30th March 20:20

[Kawasicki]

All nice, I‘d go KTM.

[MrGman]

Aprilia 660, for me, I’ve not ridden any of them but that’s the most appealing, to be honest if it’s your first big bike they’ll all feel fantastic so go with what you fancy the most.

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

MT09 much more poke than the 660.

I wouldnt touch a new KTM.

[scorcher]

KTM
MT09
April is
Ducrapi

[Bob_Defly]

MT09 SP or KTM, both are really good.

The Yamaha will be infinitely more reliable, the KTM has better suspension/handling.

[carinaman]

That's a nice selection to choose from.

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

I wouldnt touch a new KTM.

Why's that?

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 31st March 01:26

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

carinaman said:

Why's that?

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 31st March 01:26

Poor build quality and electrical niggles.

[trickywoo]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

I wouldnt touch a new KTM.

A new KTM, under warranty, is the only KTM I’d touch.

[horsemeatscandal]

I'd probably go:

1. KTM
2. Aprilia
3. Yamaha
4. Ducati

That's based on what I like in a bike and what I think they'd be like as a bike to go out and enjoy. Ultimately the Yamaha is likely going to be the most reliable. MCN reliability reports for the older Duke 790 (the new 890 only has two reports) are pretty st. You never really know though.

Just noticed you said it's for fun... Get the KTM and hope it doesn't break. It can't be that bad.

Edited by horsemeatscandal on Thursday 31st March 07:47

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

trickywoo said:

A new KTM, under warranty, is the only KTM I’d touch.

A fair point, it would still be a pita though.

[spareparts]

Abdul Abulbul Amir said:

trickywoo said:

A new KTM, under warranty, is the only KTM I’d touch.

A fair point, it would still be a pita though.

I was on a test ride of a new 890 Adv from a KTM dealer, prepped nicely and already run in. Half way through the ride, the dash completely blanked out. Couldn't see my speed or anything for the next 30mins.
Took a 600 mile 1290 Super Adv out as well which was also their demo bike. The headrace bearings were loose. The chain slapped around and it sounded like the back of the bike was about to fall off. There were rattles and ticking noises from the front end that I couldn't trace.
Very disappointing.

[airsafari87]

I may be slightly biased as we have a Tuono 660 in the household, but that would get my vote from your list.

I'm not sure what the specs are of the MT09? But choosing a bike just because it has more power than the others isn't the best way to choose a bike imo.

The 660 is such a sweet bike, well made with a lovely dash and with the addition of the IMU and quickshifter and blipper it makes for a cracking little bike, and under 10k too.

[raining_sulphur]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I’m pretty torn to be honest. My head says the MT or Aprilia. The hooligan in me says the KTM.
I’ve got mates saying I’d soon get accustomed to/bored of the Aprilia due to the lack of power. Other mates saying I’d regret the MT if I pulled up alongside a KTM.
Spec wise they’re all pretty similar, obviously the 660 is down around 15-20bhp. Does that make much of a difference?
I realise being my first big one, they’ll all feel fantastic and like rocket ships..I’m just a tight arse and don’t want to buy the wrong money. I want the best value for money, the best bike..and I can’t figure out which it is haha.

[Bob_Defly]

Why on earth would you regret the MT pulling up next to a KTM? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

Stop worrying about what other people think and buy the one you like the look of best.

[scorcher]

I’ve had 7 or 8 KTMs since 2009 and in all that time I think I’ve missed one weekends riding and had 2 failures requiring recovery. Probably covered 90’000 miles on them in that time. Does that make them an unreliable bike?

[Kawasicki]

raining_sulphur said:

Thanks for the replies guys.
I’m pretty torn to be honest. My head says the MT or Aprilia. The hooligan in me says the KTM.
I’ve got mates saying I’d soon get accustomed to/bored of the Aprilia due to the lack of power. Other mates saying I’d regret the MT if I pulled up alongside a KTM.
Spec wise they’re all pretty similar, obviously the 660 is down around 15-20bhp. Does that make much of a difference?
I realise being my first big one, they’ll all feel fantastic and like rocket ships..I’m just a tight arse and don’t want to buy the wrong money. I want the best value for money, the best bike..and I can’t figure out which it is haha.

My mates all told me not to buy a 400cc sports bike... “you‘ll be bored of it in 6 months!“

Rubbish, I had a ball on the thing for years.

A modern 660cc twin is fast enough. If you really like getting a good deal then I would buy a very lightly used 790 duke.

[KTMsm]

KTM or MT09

Having ridden KTM for years I've found them no less reliable than comparable bikes - has anyone got any stats to back up their unreliability claims ?

[raining_sulphur]

Regarding the 790, I’m quite taken by the quickshifters on the other bikes. Kinda think I want one so it would have to be the 890 if I was going KTM. I love the older 990 superduke too.
I’ve also been toying with an older street triple 1050, rather than going down the brand new/pcp route.
God there’s so many choices, it’s bloody difficult.

[KTMsm]

raining_sulphur said:

obviously the 660 is down around 15-20bhp. Does that make much of a difference?

IIRC its down 25bhp to an 890R, that's over 25% less power - which is very noticeable IMO

TBH it's not all about power as they are all new bikes it should be easy to test ride them all and decide which you like the most