Discussion
Have you ever bought a bike then realised you’d made a mistake?
Mine was a Triumph Sprint GT.
Lovely looking bike in a champagne colour scheme, went well but it was bloody heavy and it seemed to carry its weight really high. It was marketed as a sports tourer but even with risers I’d still get back/neck ache.
I used to take Mrs S pillion and with the 2 of us and the top box (which was ridiculously heavy on its own btw) and I’d come home completely knackered.
I was sitting on a picnic bench at the side of Loch Lomond during the summer and contemplating / dreading another 80 miles to get home when I decided to give up on it and get something else.
So I traded it in for a GS 1200 and it was the best move I’ve ever made.
Anyone else bought the wrong bike?
Suzuki SV1000S.
I wanted something more sporty than my 1200 bandit, when in reality it was just less comfortable!
Had it a couple of years, modified it with higher bars which made my legs and arse hurt more.
Replaced it with a speed triple which was the bike I should have bought in the first place!
I wanted something more sporty than my 1200 bandit, when in reality it was just less comfortable!
Had it a couple of years, modified it with higher bars which made my legs and arse hurt more.
Replaced it with a speed triple which was the bike I should have bought in the first place!
Recently bought a Tiger 1050
I love my KTM 990 SM and wanted something similar to do longer trips on, better mpg and ABS seemed sensible. I'd recently owned a Speed Triple and loved the 1050 engine and the decent finish / fixings
Spec says the Tiger has the same engine and isn't much heavier than the 990
It feels 50kg heavier and the engine doesn't feel the same either, it just seems to lack character, I'm going to do some more miles but I don't think I'll be keeping it
I love my KTM 990 SM and wanted something similar to do longer trips on, better mpg and ABS seemed sensible. I'd recently owned a Speed Triple and loved the 1050 engine and the decent finish / fixings
Spec says the Tiger has the same engine and isn't much heavier than the 990
It feels 50kg heavier and the engine doesn't feel the same either, it just seems to lack character, I'm going to do some more miles but I don't think I'll be keeping it
KTMsm said:
Recently bought a Tiger 1050
I love my KTM 990 SM and wanted something similar to do longer trips on, better mpg and ABS seemed sensible. I'd recently owned a Speed Triple and loved the 1050 engine and the decent finish / fixings
Spec says the Tiger has the same engine and isn't much heavier than the 990
It feels 50kg heavier and the engine doesn't feel the same either, it just seems to lack character, I'm going to do some more miles but I don't think I'll be keeping it
Funny you should say that, I traded my 2013 Street R for a Tiger 1050 back in August 2016, was great for the trip I did down through France into Spain, 2000 plus miles in a week. But after that I barely used it like I would have done the Street Triple due to it being heavier and not as much fun to ride. The following May I traded it back in for the then New 2017 Street Triple RS which I still have to this day with 20k niles on it and have toured France/Spain/Scotland etc. It just suits me better/ I love my KTM 990 SM and wanted something similar to do longer trips on, better mpg and ABS seemed sensible. I'd recently owned a Speed Triple and loved the 1050 engine and the decent finish / fixings
Spec says the Tiger has the same engine and isn't much heavier than the 990
It feels 50kg heavier and the engine doesn't feel the same either, it just seems to lack character, I'm going to do some more miles but I don't think I'll be keeping it
the handlebars on that thing were ridiculous, it'll be a big fat tourer for me next time.Bought a 2004 GSXR600 from a dealer on finance (daft i know) before i'd passed my test at 50 years old (last year), thought i'd made a massive mistake first time taking it out, i was in agony, back, wrists, neck, even my ankles ached after just 20 minutes, kept stalling it as i was frightened to use the throttle, 4000 miles later i'm a lot better with it but it's still torture, did a 150 mile round trip recently and my back was done in for a week.
Thankfully i now have other bikes i can use, a Monster 696 and a Hayabusa which are a lot more comfortable.
Thankfully i now have other bikes i can use, a Monster 696 and a Hayabusa which are a lot more comfortable.
Abdul Abulbul Amir said:
Looks like the OP is aware of that threat....Mine was an 06 Fireblade. I was excited for my first proper superbike after years of sports tourers and commuters.
Hated it, it was way too uncomfortable, I could manage about 30 minutes before I had to get off. I changed the seat and rearsets hoping that would improve it but it made no difference. It was good fun at stupid speeds but dead boring below 80mph. I think I kept it for a month before getting rid.
Hated it, it was way too uncomfortable, I could manage about 30 minutes before I had to get off. I changed the seat and rearsets hoping that would improve it but it made no difference. It was good fun at stupid speeds but dead boring below 80mph. I think I kept it for a month before getting rid.
Probably my current bike a 2015 Kawasaki ZX6R 636 Performance Edition that I bought at a year old. It was between this an a pre registered new Honda VFR800.
Whilst the Kawasaki performs faultlessly, in my 40’s I would be more suited to a more touring type of motorcycle.
Ultimately though it was the looks of the Kawasaki that won the day. I must get round to having a serious look at the Kawasaki Z1000 SX.
Whilst the Kawasaki performs faultlessly, in my 40’s I would be more suited to a more touring type of motorcycle.
Ultimately though it was the looks of the Kawasaki that won the day. I must get round to having a serious look at the Kawasaki Z1000 SX.
KTMsm said:
Recently bought a Tiger 1050
I love my KTM 990 SM and wanted something similar to do longer trips on, better mpg and ABS seemed sensible. I'd recently owned a Speed Triple and loved the 1050 engine and the decent finish / fixings
Spec says the Tiger has the same engine and isn't much heavier than the 990
It feels 50kg heavier and the engine doesn't feel the same either, it just seems to lack character, I'm going to do some more miles but I don't think I'll be keeping it
I took my IAM test on it yesterday, I chose to ride this bike as it's a bit dull and the easiest to ride at low speeds, with a big speedo in your field of view, as excessive speed is my main issue.I love my KTM 990 SM and wanted something similar to do longer trips on, better mpg and ABS seemed sensible. I'd recently owned a Speed Triple and loved the 1050 engine and the decent finish / fixings
Spec says the Tiger has the same engine and isn't much heavier than the 990
It feels 50kg heavier and the engine doesn't feel the same either, it just seems to lack character, I'm going to do some more miles but I don't think I'll be keeping it
I focused on riding slower for the last 2 sessions - I bloody failed for riding the B road too cautiously
Slightly pissed off, I rode home flat out and TBH I was surprised just how well the Tiger covered the ground - it might be better than I thought
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