| Author | Message | ||
     Speedfreaks101 |
http://m.motorcycle-usa.com/667/15089/Motorcycle-A rticle/KTM-690-Duke-Returns-to-U-S--for-2013.aspx I have been waiting for this! I just hope that in a few days they say the R model is coming. All that is left is the test ride.  | ||
| Aesquire |
WP suspension? 70hp Thumper? Me like. I'm getting SR500 flashbacks. Let us know about the test ride. | ||
| Thumper74 |
I love the Dukes and live 10 minutes from the NA distribution center... | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Nice  I've always liked the Duke. I didn't like the headlight on the new one when I first saw the pics, not as aggressive looking as previous models, however I saw a 200 Duke at the dealer the other day and seeing it in the flesh changed my mind. Really looking forward to seeing the next SuperDuke too. | ||
| Glitch |
The KTM truck was at a Buelltoberfest one year, or was it March Badness, I can't remember. Anyway, the 690 was one of the bikes you could demo. North on HWY60 to the Fire Station and back, about a 30 or 40 minute ride. They also had the RC8 or whatever the superbike is called. I rode both. I rode the 690 about five times. That thing is a hoot in the hills! The demo route is from "A" to just past the cemetery, a very nice ride, and the leaders of the rides weren't pussy footing around which made it extra nice.  | ||
| Speedfreaks101 |
Glitch: How was the weight distribution and throttle response? I am looking to replace my DRZ400SM with this bike. The only possible downsides are drive by wire and it weighs as much empty (330 lbs) as my DRZ does full of fuel. I can build the DRZ to have 50-60 at the tire but I can't see putting that much cash into that bike when I could buy this one ready to ride and what I perceive as a more advanced chassis. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Glitch- that was a fun time, wasn't it? The only thing I rode was the Superduke, but I LIKED it. | ||
| Ezblast |
Nice single! EZ | ||
| Glitch |
It was an incredibly flickable bike. The throttle response was predictable and smooth. I didn't look at any of the specs, and knew very little about the bike. I was chomping at the bit to get to ride the superbike as I had read so much about it. That was in my mind, general overkill. I kept feeling like I was holding back the entire ride. The first 690 I rode was the one with the underslung muffler. The next was the "normal" one. Both were very eager to go. The ride out took a few to get used to. Going from tearing up the twisties on the Buell, to a demo ride on a thumper was an adjustment. The ride back I had relaxed and knew what to expect, so I had a much better time. So much in fact I immediately got back in line, again and again. If you're thinking of getting one, go to your friendly neighborhood dealership and grab a test ride. Yeah Hugh, that was one to remember! | ||
| Etennuly |
I think I rode a 990 something. The leader was slow on my ride out because someone had just dumped the road racer version and it hadn't been towed back in yet. At a slow pace one thing I noticed compared to my Uly was the amount of chain noise and the feel of chain slop as I was easy on and off the throttle to stay behind. It did have the feel that it wanted to do something though. I did not get a good fair test ride. When we got back in they shut down for the day. |
