| Author |
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Dynasport
| | Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 06:56 pm: | 
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I don't buy bikes very often, and I just bought a 10 XT. I doubt my next bike is in production yet. |
Hangetsu
| | Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 07:34 pm: |
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Because nearly every kind of maintenance, accessory installation, & repair is easier to perform when the bike's on a center stand. When the front wheel's off, the bike tips solidly back on the rear wheel & visa-versa. You don't take your Bulldog on the road with you. If you have to perform any kind of repairs anywhere but the comfort of your garage, it's simply a pain in the a$$ without a center stand - not impossible, but certainly less convenient. |
Court
| | Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 08:26 pm: |
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>>>The man's only 60 59.
You're asking to be cracked across the nose next time he sees you.
 |
Panhead_dan
| | Posted on Saturday, November 21, 2009 - 08:46 pm: |
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If my Uly had come with a centerstand I would have removed it the first day. |
Hangetsu
| | Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 10:10 pm: |
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I would too, if it were in the way or interfered with cornering clearance. If it did none of those things, it would be one of the best additions to the Uly I can think of. |
Mikef5000
| | Posted on Sunday, November 22, 2009 - 10:42 pm: |
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Agreed. If there was somehow a magical center stand that didn't take away from overall lean angle I'd be all over it!
If it interfered at all it'd be gone. |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 - 10:37 am: |
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Just weld a hinge under the muffler and attach an aluminum skid plate that doubles as a center stand. Don't go around the muffler. |
Pso
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 - 01:29 pm: |
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How hard is it to work on a KTM and what are the reliabilty issues w/it. I need a bike I can ride fo rten days to empty spaces and feel confident that I will return on the bike not in a U-Haul w/ the bike in back. |
Eulysses
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 - 01:44 pm: |
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For my research the DR650 has the bullet-proofness I was looking for. The XR650L is right there too but not roadable enough. My Uly was purchased because they do have a great "just ride em" rep. If you read AVRider forum much you can see all kinds of issues with bikes. They all have em including dealer issues and parts availability etc. If Honda made a Uly-type bike it would rule the world. My world anyway. |
Tom_barnyard
| | Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 - 01:57 pm: |
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When I bought my Uly, I also considered the KTM Adventure. The KTM's water cooling adds some maintenance issues that killed the deal for me.
KTM is working smart. They have a very dedicated off road base that are already sold on their machines, all they have to do is build them.
While I suspect that the KTM road machines would scratch the same itch that the Buell hits for me. Their increased maintenance requirements turn me off. |
Loves_to_ride
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 11:31 pm: |
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Been looking at the '10 KTM SMT...but my main objection was no reasonable size bags. Just discovered they have them now. Also see they have a taller windshield. Maintinence might be more than the Uly, but I have a great dealer that I have known for years and trust and is only 5 min from the house. Definitely something I am looking at since there won't be an 1125 Uly. Cost is another factor too as it sure won't be cheap with hard bags, bigger windshield, heated grips, and hand guards. Probably won't be here till next year anyway which gives me time to win the lotto. lol |
Loves_to_ride
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - 08:42 pm: |
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well....cancel the above. went to my KTM dealer today and was told KTM dealers will be broken up into 3 categories street only, dirt only, and something else. They are only going to sell dirt [economics] so they can't sell or service street models???? how does that make sense? |
Arcticktm
| | Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 01:00 pm: |
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IIRC, KTM's V-twin street bikes have required a separate dealer certification from the start.
It makes sense, in that you don't want a dirtbike dealer to fake his way into "supporting" street bikes.
I saw it as a smart way to avoid the poor dealer support complaints that we often voice as Buell owners using H-D dealers.
I have found older KTM dealers to be among the most knowledgeable about their product line and its history (in MI and MN, anyway).
My 4 KTM's have all been rock-solid reliable over the past 10 years.
My only street legal one is the 2001 640 LC4 that I still have for supermoto and dual sport duties.
I don't get that water cooling adds a lot of maintenance, either.
I have changed the coolant 2 or 3 times in 9 years, and it is as simple as pulling off a hose and hose clamp.
The radiators do have to come off for easier access to valve adjustments, but that has been twice in 10 years.
I would definitely consider KTM to replace my Uly when the time comes, but their pricing is quite shocking lately. |
Florida_lime
| | Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 02:59 pm: |
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I don't get that water cooling adds a lot of maintenance, either.
The LC8 motors have been known to have water pump/seal issues -- kind of like Uly rear wheel bearing issues ! 
That being said - my KTM 950 Super Enduro goes places I won't take the Uly.  |
Ft_bstrd
| | Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 - 05:45 pm: |
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The 950 SE is really fun to ride.
HOLY CRAP it's big! |
Florida_lime
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 06:44 am: |
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The 950 SE is really fun to ride.
...once you pull off all the extraneous plumbing, and rejet for aftermarket cans !
And yes, the KTM does make the Uly seem "regular sized". |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 10:27 am: |
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So this thread inspired me to go around looking at other brands of bikes. I've never owned anything but Buells, I'm learning a lot.
The first place I went to was the Moto Guzzi dealer in Burlington. They are out of business.
Next I went to the KTM dealer in Greensboro. They were closed. It was a Sunday, so no big deal. I almost went back the next Saturday. I checked their hours before hand this time, and noticed that they closed at 3:00 on Saturdays, too late for me to get there. Since Greensboro is 100 miles away, I can only get there on Saturday or Sunday, so they are out.
Next I went to the KTM dealer in Garner. I walked in and they had a lot of bikes. None of them were orange. I looked around a little while trying to find one, and then asked a salesman about it:
Me: Are you a KTM dealer.
Him: Yes.
Me: Do you have any KTMs?
Him: No.
Me: ?
Him: They don't sell very well.
And we complained about the Buell dealer experience being bad. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 10:30 am: |
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And we complained about the Buell dealer experience being bad.
 |
Florida_lime
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 11:14 am: |
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And we complained about the Buell dealer experience being bad.
Some people are lucky enough to have a local Buell dealer, some are not.
My "local" Buell dealer is 90 miles away, but my KTM dealer is 4 miles away. And I actually bought my KTM from a dealer in NC, who delivered it to me in Florida at no charge. (Hayesville - Smith Powersports, still too far from Raleigh, but I'd recommend them highly though ! |
Arcticktm
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 12:17 pm: |
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Funny how things "don't sell very well" when you don't have them to sell... |
Hangetsu
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 01, 2009 - 12:30 pm: |
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That seems to be the retailer mantra - "We don't have one in stock, but we can order it for you." Pre-pay, two weeks (or longer) wait, and no return (without a fight).
All this "convenience" and many piss and moan or lay on a guilt-trip when we go to cheaper, more convenient, and sometimes friendlier on-line sources. |
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