Sports or Super Naked choices
Discussion
Tuono 1100 V4 or Superduke 1290.
The former is more polished, the latter more unhinged. The KTM never makes you feel totally at ease but that's somehow part of the fun. It doesn't exactly try and kill you but it lets you know to treat it right! I had one for a short while and it really was a love/hate relationship.
Without the stupidly restrictive stock exhaust it was super quick too. Sounded incredible.
I guess the Tuono is the logical choice. Easy to get around 20 more bhp too.
The former is more polished, the latter more unhinged. The KTM never makes you feel totally at ease but that's somehow part of the fun. It doesn't exactly try and kill you but it lets you know to treat it right! I had one for a short while and it really was a love/hate relationship.
Without the stupidly restrictive stock exhaust it was super quick too. Sounded incredible.
I guess the Tuono is the logical choice. Easy to get around 20 more bhp too.
The best fun bike for the roads is the latest 1290R Superduke, Beast 3.0
This is the only motorized vehicle that I have ever rented for a day (except for cars on abroad holidays), I was very impressed after a short test ride and really wanted to spend a day with this bike.
KTM really did not leave a stone unturned with 3.0
Very tractable engine that also works in slow city traffic at 2-3000rpm.
I even transported my gf to work in the morning, perfectly doable and she did not complain either.
At the same time copious amounts of torque everywhere.
The engine is superfun.
And no throttle snatchiness at any rpm, unlike my 2017 GSXR1000R (in A mode in particular).
The suspension is great, plush but not too soft or too hard, and fully adjustable front and rear now, with rear preload adjuster on the side (superpractical).
The handling is sublime, so easy to ride, so precise when cornering.
The front feels lighter than the front of my Speed Triple RS, probably a bit less weight on the front wheel and more upright position.
Loads of space for taller riders on KTM.
The first impression i got when I just took the Beast out on the hairpins was "wow, I sit on the front wheel and the back wheel at the same time!", it felt short and the front design is such that from the seat you see nothing beyond the really nice instrumentation, unlike Speed where you have the instrumentation and the lights cluster sticking out quite far forward. Funny thing, KTM is significantly longer than Speed RS but does not feel longer, such is its sharp handling.
Can be quiet, can be loud, depending on the rpm and gear.
Switchgear is good, I just did not like the turn indicator button, was hard to turn off because it is tiny and built like pyramid, thin on top, hard to press it properly, the turn button on Speed RS is much better.
Mirrors are ok but become useless with speed, which is important, because in Switzerland you need to see if you have police car behind you. :-)
Quickshifter/blipper are quite abrupt, much smoother on Speed RS, but then the KTM only had 100km on the clock, maybe it was too new and not "worn in", or maybe the abruptness is the feature of the 1.3L twin. No big deal, a bit jerky, but work fine up and down, no missed gears or false neutrals.
I am mighty impressed with Beast 3.0, my absolute favorite fun road bike now.
People also notice it, especially younger guys, KTM is popular here.
I did ride Tuono 1100 Factory a couple of years back, but as I remember the engine is not as smooth as KTMs at low revs and though I quite liked Tuono it did not impress me as Superduke did.
In Switzerland high power at high revs is sure-fire way to lose licence, bike, 10s of 1000s of CHF and get a rap sheet. KTM has 120nm @ like 3500rpm, it's an absolute hoot to play with without going high into revs or speeds.
I am very curious what the 1160 Speed will be like, but I doubt it will beat 1290R on fun factor.
1290R is a freaking force of nature. I want one.
Side note: what I like on Tuono is lean angle indicator, just like cruise control and heated grips I find lean angle indicator indispensable! My Speed does not have it, unfortunately, and KTM does not have it either. Cannot be that hard to implement, can it, KTM? Please, make it happen!
This is the only motorized vehicle that I have ever rented for a day (except for cars on abroad holidays), I was very impressed after a short test ride and really wanted to spend a day with this bike.
KTM really did not leave a stone unturned with 3.0
Very tractable engine that also works in slow city traffic at 2-3000rpm.
I even transported my gf to work in the morning, perfectly doable and she did not complain either.
At the same time copious amounts of torque everywhere.
The engine is superfun.
And no throttle snatchiness at any rpm, unlike my 2017 GSXR1000R (in A mode in particular).
The suspension is great, plush but not too soft or too hard, and fully adjustable front and rear now, with rear preload adjuster on the side (superpractical).
The handling is sublime, so easy to ride, so precise when cornering.
The front feels lighter than the front of my Speed Triple RS, probably a bit less weight on the front wheel and more upright position.
Loads of space for taller riders on KTM.
The first impression i got when I just took the Beast out on the hairpins was "wow, I sit on the front wheel and the back wheel at the same time!", it felt short and the front design is such that from the seat you see nothing beyond the really nice instrumentation, unlike Speed where you have the instrumentation and the lights cluster sticking out quite far forward. Funny thing, KTM is significantly longer than Speed RS but does not feel longer, such is its sharp handling.
Can be quiet, can be loud, depending on the rpm and gear.
Switchgear is good, I just did not like the turn indicator button, was hard to turn off because it is tiny and built like pyramid, thin on top, hard to press it properly, the turn button on Speed RS is much better.
Mirrors are ok but become useless with speed, which is important, because in Switzerland you need to see if you have police car behind you. :-)
Quickshifter/blipper are quite abrupt, much smoother on Speed RS, but then the KTM only had 100km on the clock, maybe it was too new and not "worn in", or maybe the abruptness is the feature of the 1.3L twin. No big deal, a bit jerky, but work fine up and down, no missed gears or false neutrals.
I am mighty impressed with Beast 3.0, my absolute favorite fun road bike now.
People also notice it, especially younger guys, KTM is popular here.
I did ride Tuono 1100 Factory a couple of years back, but as I remember the engine is not as smooth as KTMs at low revs and though I quite liked Tuono it did not impress me as Superduke did.
In Switzerland high power at high revs is sure-fire way to lose licence, bike, 10s of 1000s of CHF and get a rap sheet. KTM has 120nm @ like 3500rpm, it's an absolute hoot to play with without going high into revs or speeds.
I am very curious what the 1160 Speed will be like, but I doubt it will beat 1290R on fun factor.
1290R is a freaking force of nature. I want one.
Side note: what I like on Tuono is lean angle indicator, just like cruise control and heated grips I find lean angle indicator indispensable! My Speed does not have it, unfortunately, and KTM does not have it either. Cannot be that hard to implement, can it, KTM? Please, make it happen!
Edited by Ho Lee Kau on Thursday 15th April 23:58
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff