Nothing to do with KTM but the wife just got a new car, we got gap insurance via ALA and if you type in MSE25 it gives you a 25% discount...so for your quote it shows £273 but this drops to £204 with the moneysavingexpert code.
Nothing to do with KTM but the wife just got a new car, we got gap insurance via ALA and if you type in MSE25 it gives you a 25% discount...so for your quote it shows £273 but this drops to £204 with the moneysavingexpert code.
Is it any different to the likes of Hermes asking you to insure your parcel just in case they lose it ?
I know I’d planned to pick the bike up in January but we got finished 2 days earlier than planned so I was on a plane home from the Shetlands at 5pm last night plotting bike collection, home by 4pm today and I’m collecting the bike on Saturday afternoon. The weather forecast isn’t too bad so I might even get some way towards running it in over the Xmas break while my mother in law is at our house
............ I’m collecting the bike on Saturday afternoon. The weather forecast isn’t too bad so I might even get some way towards running it in over the Xmas break while my mother in law is at our house
Ok, 40 miles on the clock and what do I reckon to the new bike.....
The roads are greasy so I was even more careful than I’d normally be on a new bike and I’m also a great believer in being nice to bikes for the first 100 miles just in case there’s a stupid manufacturing or PDI fault but here we go.
The engine feels stronger than the 1190 but it also feels ‘lumpier’ and I think it’ll need a lot more gear changes than the 1190.
I’m already missing the brush guards and the touring screen I had fitted on the 1190. It was cold and like a dick I’d left the vents open on my crash helmet but didn’t notice on the way over to Market Deeping.
The seat felt firm but having a heated seat was nice. No doubt the seat will bed in after a few hundred miles but the novelty of a heated seat will last a lot longer.
The riding position feels strange after an adventure bike but there’s no wind pressure with the screen at its highest setting so touring should be relatively pain free.
Handling felt neutral but I didn’t push it into any corners though I normally find slower speeds quickly show up both heavy or fast steering more than faster speeds so I’m happy with that side of it. The tyres didn’t move at all even though they’re sparky new and the roads were greasy so that’s good as well.
The lights seem good, there’s a good spread on dip beam but the main seems a bit high at the moment. That might be better when it’s properly dark rather than the winter twilight I rode home in.
The panniers fit nicely and are very easy to take on and off but by fuck they’re small. It’s a nice touch having nets in them to prevent filthy boxer shorts falling out in hotel car parks but I’d say touring for a fortnight will require a small tail bag. Note for Melch: not a top box
It’s a bit heavier on fuel than the 1190 but the engine is tight so that’ll improve and to be honest I’m not worried about mpg as much as range when cruising across Germany on autobahns and it’s got a 5 gallon tank so 200 miles should be easy to achieve.
Cruise control is a new toy for me on a motorbike but the only time I’ll see the advantage is if I want to mess with my gloves or the vents on my jacket though my views on it may change over time.
Overall I’m happy with it and wish it was summer
I’ll fit the satnav power lead along with an Optimate lead and the supply for my heated jacket later though that might be something I’d be better doing when the Xmas visitor insists on watching Eastfuckingenders.
handling is great and comfy compared to my gixxer . I Was never in any rush to get by traffic like i am on my sportsbike , and oddly enough i found the screen better in its lowest postion and i'm 6ft 2 , strange and standard exhaust sounds great so don't think i'll be changing that , sadistically i actually enjoyed the greasy roads 
