| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
Wow, it is here...... http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/ktm-super-du ke-1290-r-video-debut/#more-47926 Ducati (and other manufacturers considering building a twin cylinder streetfighter style bike)take note. This is how you build a streetfighter. Too loony for me, but you have to admire KTM (again). | ||
| Hughlysses |
Pretty badass. Official site is up: http://www.1290superduker.com/cms/index.php?id=1&L =0 I got a chance to ride the previous (999?) version at a demo at Two Wheels Only a few years back. It was pretty impressive- with 200 extra cc's, I'm sure it's brutal. I guess this is the target the EBR 1190SX will be aiming at, er, ahead of. | ||
| Torquehd |
those trellis frames are steel, right? it seems like it should be heavier. | ||
| Trojan |
Steel trellis, but still lighted than a huge slab of aluminium if done properly. Weights are a contentious issue, as some include oil/fluid/fuel and some don't. There is no common standard for displaying weights or even power figures. Some are measured at the crank, others at the rear wheel, others seem to be completely made up  KTM always seem to be pretty much on the money with their measurements in the past though, so I would think this is correct (ish). | ||
| Uncle |
Way Cool. Glad to see it back. I was surprised to see it dropped from the lineup years ago as everything I heard about it then said it was an awesome bike. Anybody know why they dropped it? | ||
| Pwnzor |
Buddy of mine has a 2010 SuperDuke 990R... damn thing is squirrely as hell, that motor has a LOT of punch to it. Rode the Dragon on it last year, holy hell that was fun. I can only imagine what MORE power would be like on a scooter like that. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Anybody know why they dropped it? There's a thread about the bike on ADVrider. One of the guys claimed KTM street bikes have done poorly in the U.S. because of the dealer/supplier rules. A dealer told him that KTM requires fairly hefty minimum bike model orders. The dealer said this was OK for the popular dirt bikes, but he wound up getting stuck with left-over street bikes year after year so he quit stocking them. FWIW | ||
| Noone1569 |
Well, my next bike is either the 1290R or the new EBR. I'm waiting to see what EBR comes out with, but the Superduker is really calling my name. Probably sell the SM610 to buy it and keep the XB as a reasonable commuter, lol. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I have buddies (3) that ride orange on the dirt. I've spent a lot of time chasing them on my KDX. We all agree: 1) From a performance standpoint, they border on magical. 2) From a reliability standpoint, everything has been built to about 90% of what it should be, so that they can achieve #1. It goes from soup to nuts... gaskets for cases that are so thin they are virtually impossible to install, hydraulic clutch fittings that shear easily on minor drops, broken frame mounts (chronically), uber-delicate radiators, pretty much guaranteed overheating with stock parts, bikes that simply *won't* start if hot, etc. Great race bikes. Fun trail bikes if you can stomach the quirks and maintenance. Kinda like having a tuber for a street bike. If you don't have a meltdown over common but simple maintenance, you will have a very rewarding ride. I assume (but don't know first hand) the street bikes follow a similar path... Don't get me wrong though, if I couldn't find a hopped up KDX-200, a KTM 300 something would be next on my list for sure. | ||
| Trojan |
KTM dirt bikes are race bikes and have extremely short service intervals and need constant hands on attention. Their road bikes however are in another ball park altogether. I have yet to speak to a 990 Superduke/Supermoto/Adventure or RC8 owner who haas had any major problems over the years. Yes they can have minor clutch slave cylinder problems (sound familiar!) but other than that they are pretty bulltproof, especially given the abuse they tend to get. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Good to know. Any of the super-motard's in that category? A street legal single KTM that is affordable to commute on would be stupid fun. | ||
| Sycho |
Reepicheep, they have a 690 Single that is street legal. If I could get away with another bike I'd buy one. | ||
| Strokizator |
Anybody know why they dropped it? I stopped at a dealer who carried KTM as well as others. He had a 990 Baja on the floor so I asked him when the new 1190 Adventures will be coming in. He said he was dropping the street bikes. In order to sell the 1190 he would need to buy $15K worth of servicing equipment/software and the numbers didn't make sense for him. I rode a '07 990 Adv that I bought used in '09 and it was reliable as an anvil (even did a 1200 mile/22 hour run on it). I sold it and bought a new FJR because I thought I was getting too old for that style of riding but I think I'm going back to the ADV unless EBR has something up its sleeve that doesn't require me to fold myself up like a pretzel. | ||
| Rick_a |
That can be said for most bikes in the dirt only category, just more so for those in a higher state of tune. I was always floored by all the people with blown bikes/atv's of all makes that treated their owners manual with complete disregard. They always felt entitled to warranty repairs as well...and sometimes got it. | ||
| Blake |
Sorry. Can't get past the ugly. When a 1301cc motorcycle is called a "1290", we know that the marketeers are running the show to absurdity. | ||
| Oldog |
great video, I have read several pieces by SD owners they have their own set of headaches the valve service for the LC8 engine is involved as you must take measurements, remove the cams (to access the tappet shims) re set and check, a known water pump issue, and on owner saying that an oil change is an all afternoon job. I considered a SD before getting the 1125r my nearest dealer is over 70 miles away. I would like to ride one once to say I had done it. | ||
| Trojan |
the valve service for the LC8 engine is involved as you must take measurements, remove the cams (to access the tappet shims) re set and check, a known water pump issue, and on owner saying that an oil change is an all afternoon job. Show me a modern superbike engine that is easy to service at home these days? ALL modern engines are designed to be serviced by dealers with electronic aids and super tools required. Most modern Jap bikes have a similar shim/bucket system for valves too. I'm pretty sure this is part of a plan to make more money for manufacturers by restricting home maintenance, but it haas also been suggested that home maintenance should be banned across Europe by the EU on the grounds of ......not quite sure? Pollution and global warming probably. Either way, don't expect to see a new sports bike of any colour released that encourages home maintenance  Have you looked under the fairing of a Panigale? | ||
| 2kx1 |
Earlier Lc8 KTMs had a water pump seal problem which would occur around 15k miles. Oil change can be done in 45 minutes. Valve adjustment usually doesnt happen until 15k. My 950SM has been bulletproof other than clutch slave. The Ducati Panigale,whew , 14 hours to do a valve adjustment. what they are thinking I don't know. I would just trade it in. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
 I hope the EBR naked bike looks more sleek than that. | ||
| Sifo |
the valve service for the LC8 engine is involved as you must take measurements, remove the cams (to access the tappet shims) re set and check That sounds exactly like the maintenance on triumph triples too. I think it's pretty typical. Usually you only have to make adjustments every other time though. You only need to pull the cams for the adjustment. It does give me a special appreciation for my XB, but my XB just isn't considered normal in the motorcycle world. I'm more than happy to give up a bit of performance for a lower cost of ownership. I wish there were more options for that. I hope the EBR naked bike looks more sleek than that. Some bikes do look like a box of razor blades dumped on top of a magnet. I think KTM does this look among the best, but it's not a look I really like. My local KTM dealer has the occasional father come in looking for a dirt bike for their kids to romp around on. They are honest enough to tell them that KTM isn't what they are looking for and sends them to the nearby Honda dealer. | ||
| Blake |
"Slab of Aluminum"? I know most sportbike wheel hubs are slab-like. What motorcycle frame is? Are modern airframes typically built from steel trusses or aluminum? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Speaking of valve adjustments, that's one thing the Rotax/Buell/EBR engineers deserve major kudos for- the setup used on the 1125/1190 V-twin. The use of finger followers eliminates the need to pull the cams for routine valve adjustments. Of course, maybe EBR will eventually figure out how to fit hydraulic lash adjustment so their newest bikes will be as simple as the tubers and XB's to service.  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I'm more than happy to give up a bit of performance for a lower cost of ownership. I wish there were more options for that. Moto Guzzi. | ||
| Sifo |
I'm kind of feeling the Guzzi love too. I've found that there's only 2 Guzzi dealers in my state though. One is a complete male appendage, the other seems mostly incompetent. There looks to be good mail order support though. We'll see how it goes. | ||
| 86129squids |
The 2013 Motorcyclist issue with the MOTY stuff had a small amount of gushing for the new Guzzi bikes- I must say that I've always dug them. Met a fellow in Tellico Plains with a dark cherry/black early '70s El Dorado, and fell in love with that bike! Lots of coolness abounds if you care to look, especially the Ghezzi/Brian variants, but that involves $$$. Now that I'm back on a BMW, it's fun to look at all the similar old stuff. (Message edited by 86129squids on October 05, 2013) | ||
| Ezblast |
The Suzuki bike is almost a direct copy in looks. EZ | ||
| Malott442 |
0-200kmh in 7.2 sec  Gimme gimme. I'll make beautiful felonies! | ||
| Oldog |
Show me a modern superbike engine that is easy to service at home these days? the 1125R is not bad ONCE past the engine rotation, the checking and setting of the clearance is quite simple, }Have you looked under the fairing of a Panigale No not real interested in one. lovely machine just too much work to maintain. } it haas also been suggested that home maintenance should be banned across Europe by the EU on the grounds of ......not quite sure? The up side of big central government, we will probably see that here at some time. the newer bikes are more complex, electrically but the engines are not much different, On the oil change being 45 minutes, on a SD, My tuber is about 20, and the 1125 is about 15. I put them on my lift for service of most any kind so I don't count that or the clean up afterword. I hope that the 1125 water pump does not become a problem, as it requires removal of the clutch side covers. I like most points of the SD design I don't care for the lines of the machine but power and handling look to be superb whats the price last one I priced was over 12K that was '07, I am betting about 15 ~ 16K | ||
| Sifo |
the 1125R is not bad ONCE past the engine rotation, the checking and setting of the clearance is quite simple, Honestly, once the valve cover is off my Triumph, it's pretty straight forward too. Much of that work has to be done to change the air cleaner anyway. Even when an adjustment is needed and the cams have to come out, that's only a few more bolts. It's a lot of work if it's all in the name of a valve adjustment, but in conjunction with the rest of the scheduled maintenance, it's not that bad. No doubt that not everyone is qualified to do this though. Those same people probably shouldn't rotate an engine either though. I assume that on the 1125, the ONLY reason to rotate then engine during routine maintenance is to access the valves. I wouldn't compare maintenance on ANY Ducati to other bikes. They have a reputation for tedious maintenance. Hopefully you understand that going in. | ||
| Teeps |
Reepicheep Posted on Thursday, October 03, 2013 - 10:05 am: We all agree: 2) From a reliability standpoint, everything has been built to about 90% of what it should be, so that they can achieve #1. It goes from soup to nuts... gaskets for cases that are so thin they are virtually impossible to install, hydraulic clutch fittings that shear easily on minor drops, broken frame mounts (chronically), uber-delicate radiators, pretty much guaranteed overheating with stock parts, bikes that simply *won't* start if hot, etc. Great race bikes. Fun trail bikes if you can stomach the quirks and maintenance. I owned 2 KTM' & a Penton, back in the day. My experiences were similar to those stated above. Only my '78 Maico 250GP was more problematic. The new Buell, errr EBR should be similar; I just hope they (EBR) use a 10lb bag instead of an 8lb bag when packaging the beast. |
