Looking at A New Motorcycle Today

[Stone]

In about an hour, I'm off to look at a new KTM 690 Duke.
Spec wise, looks like a terrific lightweight motorcycle, but the real issue is how well it fits me

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/motorcycles/2014models/2014-KTM-690Duke.htm



If I get it, you guys probably won't be hearing from me for a while.

Wish me luck, mazHur

 

[Stone]

Bought it.
Chose the black with an orange frame.
Probably pick it up late Thursday or Friday.

 

[Aries]

Nice! Be careful on it. And come back and say hello soon!

 

[darkcgi]

Very nice

 

[Stone]

Nice! Be careful on it. And come back and say hello soon!

Thanks for the concern......it's like many sports, safety is learning the risks and staying observant.

I'll be back. Can't ride each and every hour out of the day ( damit )


Supposed to be good weather here till Monday.

 

[Jordan]

Looks like a nice bike.
Best of luck with it! Hope you get all the thrills and joy out of it.

Bikes arn't cheap xD Friend of mine got his bike last year and he rides it all the time now. hes like a big happy child when he rides down the street xD

 

[Alien Allen]

nice ride

I would love to get a bike but I want something bigger than the 440 Kowasaki I had back in the 80's and anything bigger I can not ride due to my stupid short legs. Too much weight to balance with ones tip toes. I know there are ways to lower a seat but that costs extra and how do you know if the fit will be good unless you buy the bike and pay to have it lowered. Not like you can just lower a seat on a bicycle.

 

[Stone]

nice ride

I would love to get a bike but I want something bigger than the 440 Kowasaki I had back in the 80's and anything bigger I can not ride due to my stupid short legs. Too much weight to balance with ones tip toes. I know there are ways to lower a seat but that costs extra and how do you know if the fit will be good unless you buy the bike and pay to have it lowered. Not like you can just lower a seat on a bicycle.

Buy it anyway and if it doesn't work out, sell it to me for little to nothing


Seriously, the seat height on many new motorcycles can be altered by replacing two rear suspension links. It's not hard. I did it to a Suzuki DL1000 and the results were great. There were 3 positions I could choose from. I lowered it 3" and could have even gone 4".

Of course, you could check out cruiser type bikes first, as they sit lower than most types.
Yamaha has a new model called a Bolt that you might like.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/motorcycles/2014models/2014-Yamaha-Bolt.htm

 

[Alien Allen]

Is that altering the rear suspensions something a dealer can do before purchase or is that a bit too involved

Because I do not need a bike that bad to donate to your collection

 

[Stone]

Looks like a nice bike.
Best of luck with it! Hope you get all the thrills and joy out of it.

Bikes arn't cheap xD Friend of mine got his bike last year and he rides it all the time now. hes like a big happy child when he rides down the street xD

Thanks.

Not cheap at all any more.
But there are a lot more options and high tech parts on today's MCs.
A lot of electronics.
This KTM has ABS brakes that can be turned off.
The engine has electronic settings that can detune performance for wet/slick roads or increase performance for aggressive riding.
The instrument cluster is all electronic and can be changed electronically to display different visual modes.
Trouble codes can be read there. A trouble code list is included in the owners manual.
Speed can be set in MPH or KM/H at the push of a button.
A digital clock is included.
Coolant temp and a hot warning light is there.
The throttle is drive by wire ( no cables)
The fuel system is by injection.
There is a low fuel warning that's associated with one of the trip meters.
Probably more but I haven't finished reading the owner's manual

Mechanically....
The footpegs can be raised and lowered.....a nice feature not often seen on other brands.



And of course, everything else that makes up a standard motorcycle.


All that in a 331 lb package. That's efficient engineering.

 

[Alien Allen]

What is the price tag for that bike. Not what you paid exactly but the price range

 

[Stone]

Is that altering the rear suspensions something a dealer can do before purchase or is that a bit too involved

Because I do not need a bike that bad to donate to your collection

I doubt a dealer would alter a bike without a signed purchase order AA.
Those replacement links are aftermarket parts.


But a cruiser like that Bolt ought to work for you. You don't need to drive one, just sit on one at a dealership and see if your feet plant firmly on the showroom floor.

 

[Stone]

What is the price tag for that bike. Not what you paid exactly but the price range

List was 9K.
I also bought a Shoei helmet with the deal. That listed for $350
Then there was sales tax, 30 day tag and registration fee.
Bikes like this are low volume sellers, so there isn't much discount.
Essentially the dealer ate the freight and prep with a minor discount on the bike and helmet.
10K out the door was the pain.
But it's worth it to ME!!!!!.......

 

[The Man]

Thanks.

Not cheap at all any more.
But there are a lot more options and high tech parts on today's MCs.
A lot of electronics.
This KTM has ABS brakes that can be turned off.
The engine has electronic settings that can detune performance for wet/slick roads or increase performance for aggressive riding.
The instrument cluster is all electronic and can be changed electronically to display different visual modes.
Trouble codes can be read there. A trouble code list is included in the owners manual.
Speed can be set in MPH or KM/H at the push of a button.
A digital clock is included.
Coolant temp and a hot warning light is there.
The throttle is drive by wire ( no cables)
The fuel system is by injection.
There is a low fuel warning that's associated with one of the trip meters.
Probably more but I haven't finished reading the owner's manual

Mechanically....
The footpegs can be raised and lowered.....a nice feature not often seen on other brands.



And of course, everything else that makes up a standard motorcycle.


All that in a 331 lb package. That's efficient engineering.

Sounds pretty nice...the specs.
I do hope electric start is included for your old ankles

 

[Stone]

Sounds pretty nice...the specs.
I do hope electric start is included for your old ankles

Yep

That's a pretty large big bore single to be kicking over.
That series engine is designated LC4.....meaning liquid cooled 4 stroke. KTM also builds many, many 2 stroke motocross and enduro bikes.
Back around 1993 or 94, KTM introduced the LC4 engine in an enduro bike that was 400 cc.
It was kick start only.
A selling feature was that you could start the engine by hand cranking with the kick start lever rather than kick starting it.
I didn't believe it until I saw an owner showing off how easy his new LC4 KTM would start.
KTM engineers incredibly good motorcycles.

 

[Stone]

Supposed to rain tomorrow, so I'll probably pick up the bike this afternoon.
Getting anxious to ride it NOW!
Kinda cold out at the moment and the dealer is ~25 miles away, so early afternoon looks good.
I'll take the long way home

 

[The Man]

Got a road to break it in on?
That's alot of motor for th weight it will be pulling....I have just the hilly road for it out here to stop the walls from glazing

 

[Stone]

Got a road to break it in on?

Not all at once

Lots of county and back roads to the south east of me that I'll probably spend some serious time on.

I'll be carrying a camera and post some shots.

 

[The Man]

Not all at once

Lots of county and back roads to the south east of me that I'll probably spend some serious time on.

I'll be carrying a camera and post some shots.

Cool deal...country is where its at to do it.... lots of medium acceleration bursts

 

[The Man]

Did you pick it up?...the more I read about the bike the more I like it...great buy