This latest version of the KTM Duke purports to be the most powerful road-going single-cylinder bike ever produced.They have also civilized the thing a bit, which is fine with me as I am not a stuntman.
Now a single cylinder machine obviously has its limits, one of which has to be high-speed cruising, so I anticipate using it mainly on small roads, which is fine by me as I am not a great fan of riding on motorways: it's just too boring. I am going to Lyon tomorrow to collect it and ride it back to Paris and I am very excited about it! The twisties in the Beaujolais/Burgundy area should be just right for running it in properly. A new bike is always quite an event, and you just don't get tired of such things. It feels like, well, some other very good events. Maybe I would get blasé if I was rich and could buy all kinds of bikes. But I am not, so the event stands out for me.
I suppose this slight tension and excitement has something to do with the fact that I bought the machine over a month ago and have been waiting ever since to find the time from a current heavy load of work to make the 2 hour train journey and probably most of a day's ride back (the machine is running in, remember, and there are suitable stops to be made at the odd winery on the way back).
I like the idea (and the feel, when I tried the bike a few months ago) of lightness on a bike. This is getting harder and harder to find with the growing size and sophistication of modern motorbikes. Now this thing weighs about 150 kilograms dry and maybe 165 wet. And it has 70 bhp down below. Should make for a lot of fun.
Watch this space shortly for a first test report.....
The KTM should be one heck of an Urban Warrior on the city streets as well . Im looking forward to the updates , especially when it comes to reliability
ReplyDeleteIs this orange color a sign of nostalgia for your bubblies past ; )
ReplyDeleteWell Guitar, as to reliability; only time will tell. After a 600 kms ride, finishing in Paris traffic, yes, it is pretty sharp in town, but the real joy is riding the twisties. Goes where you put it, has plenty of angle, and is stable and punchy as well. More on this soon.
ReplyDeleteNos the same orange Olivier, and, if I had the choice, I would have avoided that frame colour. I've had the nasty stickers removed from the tank though and it now looks better in (mostly) black.
Mind you, if the Widow sponsors the purchase...
DeleteComing of age, finally ?
ReplyDeleteOrange is very much the colour of those b....y northern ex-neighbours of mine. Still, it happens to be my favourite colour, for no linked reasons. But, as far as your frame is concerned, ity needs to be amended, definitely. Thinking of Ulster, what about ... green? British racing green of course.
Mean old widow Hervé. No joy there!
ReplyDeleteLuc, now you are a Holland sandwich (well, the name of a sandwich is usually given by the filling, so perhaps we should say a Belgian sandwich, with Dutach bread)you are the specialist on this curious colour. I like you idea of BRG for the frame. Won't do it for a while though as I need to take the tink apart and its brand new and a bit tekky for me with all thos electronics. Nice bike though, but that seat is punishment.