New 390 Duke or S/H MT03?

[UnknownStuntm...]

For about £4k, you can get either. Lowish miles yam, or noughtish miles KTM. I've read about both, and 'Borg's low opinion of the KTM is justified to a point.

As bikes, they have similar power, but the KTM obviously has less weight and less torque. I'm not a lardass, but I think the difference would be noticeable with a 90kg rider.

What's the massive's opinion then? If guess people will be chucking about different models, but best in mind I'm looking for something with character and presence, and fun. Hornet is too boring, SV is too mainstream. I already have a Sunday toy for razzing about on, too.

[stevo as b4]

I've never owned or ridden either, but If 125cc KTM's have terrible build quality and level of finish issues, then you'd be taking a gamble on the 390cc being any better?

The Yam would be my choice by far, but then it's a rare bird, though interesting and has that MT street style that I quite like. The problem with spending £4k on a s/h MT-03 is even though it should be mint, it's a heavy bike for it's size and engine power, and though it doesn't look badly put together, it's still got fairly budget suspension and brakes that might not get the most out of it as std?

Also everyone is right in that £4k will buy you a lot more bike in terms of performance and capabilities than the Yam, whilst still being in good condition.

Oh and given the choice of an MT-03 or SV650 I'd choose the Yamaha every time, but maybe that's because of the Anti SV movement?

[G]

[UnknownStuntm...]

[Rogerborg]

[Fladdem]

INB4 F&FW

I would go for a proper supermoto, I was talking to a guy with a 'Berg 650 that pulled up outside Bikers World while I was buying a lid, that looked like an animal, but not daily transport, I would guess.

I also met the most stereotypical man in the world with about 93K on a CB500, he wanted to have a willy waving contest with me with the chicken strips on my 400, which were identical to his , he then insisted his bike would leave sports bikes in the twisties, I swear to god, the next guy that tells me his bike will keep up/leave sports bikes in the bends is getting a smack. If so many different bikes can keep up with them, I've had deauville owners, CB500, maxi-scooter riders, supermoto riders, which I vaguely believe, and all sorts... What the hell is the point of them and why would they design racetracks with corners when a 500 commuter will keep pace?

Anyway, back on topic, I would go for MT-03 because the Tenere 660 was a lot of fun when I had a spin on one and it looks really good, I keep thinking of one to replace my Kwak, but then I look at Duke II's and get tempted away.
____________________
Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[G]

In this case, I think I'd recommend and SV650 painted pink .
Ticks all the boxes - at least for someone that thinks these medium/big "my first bike" singles will have 'character'!

[stevo as b4]

I used to find it easy to go faster at times on a CB500 than my ZX6R, especially until I raised the rear ride height. (It used to run on wide in sweeping bends) But crap rider on a bike with non optimised suspension alert!

The thing is until you start running out of ground clearance for tight or fast corners the CB500's etc are not really limited handling wise, on the road against sports bikes in a way. If both rider's stuck to the same top speed 70mph? then the best rider would be either ahead or relaxing behind the slower/less confident/capable rider.

There's too many variables on the road to even out all the differences between different bikes and rider's of different levels of skill/sense/ability.

There are BCF member's that talk about now you have 190bhp litre bikes with TCS/Anti Wheelie/ABS etc that you can use nearly all of their engine power on the road, where as 20year's ago Blade and R1 rider's could not, with 60bhp less.

I don't buy that argument personally, but it does make me wonder what electronics are doing for bikes these days?

It's the same with cars in that you can have these Mega hatchbacks now with 300-370bhp, and apparently they are useable on the road and the power can be put down to the road effectively?

Coming from the owner of a shit handling torque steer central Rover 220 fwd'er, I don't see how the above is possible? More weight dampening everything down maybe? Or have tyres and electronics come on so much since the 90's it's un-recognisable?

[G]

[Fladdem]

Yeah, but that's boring though, ain't it?

The new Type R is fast, but linear with no torque-steer nor character. It's why I preferred my Micra to the Fiat Stilo, because there was no PAS, cable operated clutch, skinny little wheels, basic brakes, and even had torque-steer and lift-off over-steer! The Fiat was too advanced to be fun. And started getting too fast before it felt like you were pushing it to the edge. Give me an old Rover any day of the week. In fact someone traded in an F reg 216 at work but I was told I couldn't have it because it was already assigned to auction and it couldn't be pulled out. They wrongly assumed that no one would be interested in it.

[G]

[Matt B]

Back to the question - a lot of the 2nd hand MT03s I've seen have been pretty rough and scabby. Not sure that they hold up too well in the long term.

Spend half your £4k and have more fun. I just spent a day at Santa Pod having a lot of giggles on a 1200 bandit.
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[P.]

4k is Street Triple cash. That's entertainment and a nice package in 1 go.

[SQL]

MT-03 is great fun at legal speeds, I love mine!

[badgermat]

Caveat - this is based on running a Duke 390 for 2 years, and a couple of hours larking around on an MT-03.

If your primary kicks come from an RGV, I'd go for the MT03 for contrast and comfort.

The Duke 390 is a bit frantic, and not massive fun at less than 5k RPM. The MT just chugs along, barely troubling you to change gear.

The MT actually has an upholstered seat too (the Duke just has a vinyl covered plank), and is probably the only choice if you're over 6ft.

Reliability-wise, it probably has to be the Yamaha too, even though the KTM isn't nearly as bad as some suggest. The only problems I had with mine were a faulty dash (replaced under warranty) and comedically poor fuelling, which seems to be endemic but can be ridden around.

bm

[grr666]

I'm with Paddy on this one.
Wish I'd bought a triple as my first bike, I recently took a 2015 one out and ragged it something rotten and can't wait
until there's one in my shed, probably going to wait until winter now as deals are better usually, I'm looking for 2013
onward really. Don't suppose OP fancies a VERY low miles 2013 ER6F as a daily? It's in your budget
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[UnknownStuntm...]

[stevo as b4]

Have you considered the older but pretty KTM Duke's 620/640 like the nice one that Iain used to have?

You never see them around, but it did seem like a nice bike, and had a good suspension and brake spec too, with over 55bhp, so should have been fun enough!

[Alawson68]

i brought a brand new Duke 390, absolutely love everything about it. Rides well, handles well, love the styling 80-90 mpg what's not to like.
Ignore the the haters and put a smile on your face.
2 year warranty, so why should reliability trouble you, also a little bit more unusual than your average jap bike. As for build quality, on par with my friends Ducati scrambler

[G]

[Diggs]

You'd get your fun on one of these - and it'd be worth more than you paid for it at the end...
____________________
Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[deadwolf]

[UnknownStuntm...]

[G]

[Rogerborg]