Picking up my KTM :D

[Buggles]

Saturday morning was D-Day, time to pick up my new KTM (Wee Jack's old one) in Glasgow.

I had to get the 05.30am tube to get to Gatwick, not many people around that early



After what felt like waiting forever, I finally arrived at Glasgow airport and was picked up by the guys from Avuss.

In the showroom were a couple of choppers they're selling on behalf of a customer... This one cost £67,000 to build and is going for £44,000 (a bargain if you ask me).



I should have taken a picture of my KTM waiting there for me, but forgot all about it in the excitement, after parting with a painful amount of money, and getting the bike explained to me, I was off...

From the start I realised that it would take some getting used to. The KTM doesn't have a real throttle, it's more like an on/off switch, and a very sensitive one. The throttle is also very, very light, a huge change from the Triumph, so there was a lot of surging forward in the beginning (i'm getting better now though).

Having the entire bank holiday weekend at my disposal, I figured I might as well see some sights, and made my way to the Falkirk Wheel.

I thought it'd be bigger . Even though it's an engineering wonder, I thought the wheel would be bigger, it's only big enough to accomodate those narrow canal boats. Still, I got to see it in action, that was pretty cool.



It started raining, so I made my way back to the bike, eager to get going again.

Isn't she pretty?

I was riding along and spotted this massive building towering over the landscape, so I decided to go see what it was about. It turned out to be the Wallace Monument.


Built to honour Sir William Wallace, one of Scotland's most famous ancestors.

The view you get is incredible, but it get warm climbing 247 steps to the top in your full bike gear...


Then it was off again, pointing the KTM at the mountains... I started to get used to the bike more. It's a very different beast from the Tiger. You can actually feel the engine working under the saddle, but not in a vibey or tiring way, it just feels reassuring. That said, I had to pay a lot more attention to what gear I was in, as the Tiger would go no matter what gear it was in, the KTM is a bit more sensitive to proper shifting. And shift it does, the gearbox is so smooth, sometimes I'd wonder if I'd hit the lever at all. It sounds wonderful as well when you roll on the throttle, especially at higher revs it's very impressive (even without the Akra cans).

Fuel economy is definitely better on the Tiger and I soon found myself at a forecourt filling up both the tanks. Over the almost 700 miles I did Saturday & Sunday, it did almost 10 miles per litre (I think that's 44mpg). Not as good as the Tiger's 13 miles per litre, but no problem either.

One thing I noticed is that the KTM eschews pretty design, in favour of utilitarianism and solidity. Where the buttons on the tiger are rounded nicely (but feel a bit plasticy), KTM uses square solid switching gear. A lot of thought has gone into the layout of the machine and the instruments, and not a lot in making all that look pretty. Works for me

I found a spot somewhere in Scotland (don't ask me where, I wasn't paying attention to the signs, just the countryside & the throttle...) where I took pictures of the bike in it's natural surroundings...


I ended my trails Saturday hunting for a B&B to put my head down, not easy if you haven't booked anything on a bank holiday weekend.

I finally found somewhere, getting the last room in a hotel somewhere along the A7.

I started out on Sunday in very windy conditions and it only got worse... Determined not to let that spoil the day, I went down the A7 and across many tiny roads through the Dales. I'm getting used to the throttle (with only a minor scare when the bike surged forward while going down a 14% incline towards a hairpin turn).

I came across some stunning views, and decided to take some pics of the bike in said scenery...




The rain was getting worse, and when I got to the peak district I was getting soaked, the light drizzle that cuts through all your gear and turns one into a shivering mess...

I made a last-minute decision, encouraged by the weather forecast (rainy Monday in the peaks, while there were sunny intervals in London) to take the bike all the way home and found myself on the M6 in short order.

Here the difference between the Tiger & KTM really comes to the fore. The wind protection on the KTM is good, but the Tiger's is excellent. I was pleasantly surprised by the KTM because the buffeting wasn't as bad as I had expected, but there was a lot more pressure on my arms and shoulders (I have a sore neck and arms this morning). Something I'm sure I'll get used to (I'm sure I'll have a neck like a bull by the time TLD2010 comes around). The seat is ok, not great (then neither is the Triumphs) but I did 130 miles in one sitting with some shifting around, but no urgent need to stop and stretch my legs.

I got home at 9.30pm having been on the bike from 10am in the morning and covering 409 miles that day.

At the end of that trip I still need to get used to the throttle a bit (I'll work on that some more today ), but what a bike!

The Tiger and KTM are two massively different bikes. If you're going to be doing a lot of high speed touring and motorways, the Tiger is definitely the more comfortable option, and with oodles of power in the 955 engine, it's also great fun.

However, once you get off the motorway and onto the smaller roads, the KTM really comes into its own. The engine has loads of torque, the bike feels confident in all situations (more so when I replace the front tire) and rolling on the throttle (GENTLY) makes me grin from ear to ear!

I'm off today to ride her some more!

JB

[russt1969]

Great ride report and like the pictures.
Nice looking beast you have there Buggles

[Wigan Chris]

good write up mate, and some good comparisons too, very interesting.

[Alba]

One very nice looking bike and excellent observations on the differences

[Wee Jack]

J.B.

I'm so glad you're enjoying the new bike. The throttle control is a skill you will aquire , when you do , other bike throttles will feel "wooden".

I found it very addictive and more than a bit childish to race up to corners and roll of the throttle just to hear the sound she makes on the over run.

Don't be tempted to buy Akras they are just a very expensive way of making noise @ £770 !!!!, and they kick the backside out of your fuel comsumption figures.

When you run with the boxes off you will get around 47 - 50 MPG. The Akras return around 40 MPG.

[StumpyFingers]

Great report, some fantastic scenery as well.
I will one day have to get up to see the Falkirk wheel for myself.
Glad you like the bike.

[Buggles]

J.B.

The throttle control is a skill you will aquire , when you do , other bike throttles will feel "wooden".

I'm sure they will, right now all that feels wooden is my backside The control is coming along though, still a bit unsure in slow sharp turns, but other than that...

good write up mate, and some good comparisons too, very interesting.

I'll be doing a full comparison between the two when I've done some commuting on the KTM. Dunno where I'll post it, probably in the Product Reviews section...

JB

[arborist]

Welcome to the "sensitive throttle hand club" Buggles!!

Once you get accustomed to the throttle the big Katoom will more than repay the effort! The grin factor is addictive and it is definitely a bike everyone should own at least once in their life!

Mine has a touring screen and gel seat and I find long distance comfort excellent (no numb bits on TLD ) If you are at Ullapool you are welcome to give it a try and see what you think

Thanks for the great ride report, its not long to the National then we can all enjoy some of those fine Scottish roads and beautiful scenery!!

Cheers

[Buggles]

Welcome to the "sensitive throttle hand club" Buggles!!

Once you get accustomed to the throttle the big Katoom will more than repay the effort! The grin factor is addictive and it is definitely a bike everyone should own at least once in their life!

Mine has a touring screen and gel seat and I find long distance comfort excellent (no numb bits on TLD ) If you are at Ullapool you are welcome to give it a try and see what you think

Thanks for the great ride report, its not long to the National then we can all enjoy some of those fine Scottish roads and beautiful scenery!!

Cheers

Hi Arborist,

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the National due to work obligations...

The touring screen sounds interesting, do you have a link? The seat just requires some getting used to probably...

I rode it to work today, filtering through traffic... I definitely need to pay more attention when doing that, but great fun once I get to the front at the traffic lights

Enjoy Scotland, the scenery is amazing! Wish I could be there at Ullapool, if only for the food

JB

[digitalcaptive]

Great ride report.....If anything it has made me remember just how much I loved my Tiger