KTM Superduke Test Ride

Silver · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Karma :

Just got back from test riding the KTM Superduke. It all looked bad when I got my GSXR out of the garage this morning... and it started raining Evil or Very Mad

Luckily, when I got to the dealers (about 15 miles away) it was sunny with a clear blue sky Very Happy

Anyway, the first first thing that struck me about the Superduke was the riding position. It felt very similar to the KTM 640cc LC4 Supermoto that I rode at the bike show in November - very upright. So, I knocked it into first gear and with five people watching.... stalled it! Embarassed

Second attempt was successful and I buggered off up the road.

Due to the upright position the bike is incredibly flickable and low speeds, much like the LC4. But it doesn't seem to sacrifice any high speed stability or manouverability because of it. I was lobbing it into roundabouts and it felt completely planted.

The most impressive thing I found though were the front brakes. I thought they seemed good, so I gave a fistful at a set of red lights and, as hoped, the back wheel came off the ground Cool

I would never have attempted that on my GSXR 10 minutes after jumping on it!

The power delivery is a little strange to me as I'm normally used to riding 4-cylinder bikes and this is a twin. It redlines at 9,500rpm, so I kept hitting the rev limiter accidently (the GSXR is 14,000rpm). It certainly goes though, and I had 130mph out of it and although it didn't have much left it got there quickly enough. Another surprising thing was that the windblast was not too bad at that speed.

Overall I'm very impressed, although it's an expensive bike at £8400 (ish) and there are only 200 coming into the country this year (and it has to be the black one!)

Riding home saw me coming through the rain again, and this time a bloody hailstorm - you know it's bad when you can feel them through your leathers. Riding position felt really cramped when I'd got back on the GSXR Laughing

Anyway, like I say it seems like a very good bike on first impressions Thumbs Up

Black Knight · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Not the prettist thing i've ever seen!

dibbster · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Karma :

Not keen on the shape; it looks a bit half-finished. Confused

____________________
Suzuki RF 600 - The two wheeled Testarossa (Deceased)
Suzuki GSXR - Now stops on a sixpence; SBK3's Thumbs Up

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Flip · Super Spammer Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Karma :

Looks like a prototype. One of those bikes when you think 'don't make that'. Laughing

Silver · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Karma :

It looks a lot better in real life (and even more better in black!) believe me!

Visitor Q · $25 whore Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Karma :

paulthewitt · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2004 Karma :

that pictur is awful. i saw one of these in fowkers (bristol) the other day. it is gorgeous.

glad you had fun!

Paul

Silver · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Oct 2004 Karma :

Liverpoolrobb... · Crazy Courier Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Karma :

it looks like a DNA but bigger cc

jonboy · Trackday Trickster Joined: 02 Jul 2004 Karma :

Good write up - but you're wrong about one thing - it should be in orange, not black! Laughing

How did you find the smoothness of the motor after a 4 cylinder? I've been considering a big twin for a while (tuono then superduke) but do like a smooth throttle response and am a bit wary of snatchiness with a twin. I've only ever ridden 4 cylinder bikes, but having said that, found a ktm duke ok on a test ride.
And the gsxr seems pretty cramped after getting off my cbr600! My first ride out of the garage on the supermoto was comedy - couldn't find the pegs with my feet.. Embarassed