| Author | Message | ||
     Rick_A |
Holy s**t...that looks like a giant toy motorcycle. Is that a big snowmobile motor? I love the Duke. I'm temped to buy one, lower it, do some engine mods and use it for a track bike. | ||
| Redstripe |
Rick; Once busy, perhaps it's more adviseable to buy a "slightly used" LC4. The Duke's an expensive bastard! A used LC4 can be picked up quite a bit cheaper then that, and You'll mod' it anyways? | ||
| Rick_A |
Used Duke II's are going for around the same price as older Pre-Thunderstorm Buells. It's far better than previous Duke versions in many respects. What I like about them is they are extremely lightweight, have a lot of premium components, are relatively inexpensive to hop up, are very durable, and to me looks like it has a ton of potential. The day I buy a vehicle new... Seems they have the same Buell resale problems...owners love 'em, but when the time comes to sell nobody wants the things. | ||
| Redstripe |
Too True...  Yet I'll keep mine, and add some Ooooomph!  Keep Your eye on the dyno-specs, I'll have the bike back in about three weeks time. Yesss! Jilles. | ||
| Lornce |
Redstripe n' Rick-A, Local Toronto dealer has brand new '02 LC4 Super-Motard reps for about $5.4k US. Hmmmn.... Lornce (maybe with a bike or two for sale ) | ||
| Sportyeric |
I'm gonna hold out for this one.Chrylser's superbike?  | ||
| Mikej |
But does it corner? | ||
| Rick_A |
I did a little something with the Duke above.  That's how I'd like it  | ||
| Rick_A |
Prototype KTM Duke 950 review | ||
| Ray_Maines |
An interesting article about a very interesting motorcycle. Some good quotes:
I’ve not yet ridden a XB9S to judge the way it feels but it just doesn’t look substantial. I wonder if there is any “substance” to this?
The Lightning’s numbers are 92 bhp and 385 lbs (175kg) dry
That sounds like a personal jab at Buell to me
Buell = 3.7 gal / 14 liters. If the XB gets 50mpg and the KTM gets 40 mpg the range should be about the same, but three point seven sure seems small. Too bad the KTM is so darn ugly. An origami motorcycle made of orange and black paper. | ||
| Court |
>>>Too bad the KTM is so darn ugly. An origami motorcycle made of orange and black paper. Ugly enough to scratch my name from the list. Im going the Road Thing modified Honda SuperMotard route instead. | ||
| Road_Thing |
Court: Thanks, I'm glad you like it!  For those of you who tuned in late, it's a '94 XR600R with 17" wheels and a street-legal kit from Baja Designs. I wouldn't want to make a long trip on it, but it's muy divertido for short hops around town! r-t | ||
| Rick_A |
I thought the prototype looked better than the original show bike. It is still a bit ugly. I don't think that write-up in any way took a personal jab at Buell. It was a jab at all bikes. The KTM still uses a fairly conventional steering geometry and wheelbase. IMO the chassis is not in the XB league. I'm sure it'll be a scorcher...but after researching all the worlds supermoto's...I still like the KTM Duke II best. Anyone hear much about the Cannondale S440 super motard?  It has an 11,600 RPM soft rev limiter! Incredible. I wonder about the $$price$$ | ||
| Ray_Maines |
And speaking of price... Just wait 'till the KTM hits the showroom floor. It's going to make a 10G Lightning look like a giveaway. I'm guessing $14,000, maybe more. | ||
| Peter |
>>>Too bad the KTM is so darn ugly. An origami motorcycle made of orange and black paper. Ugly enough to scratch my name from the list. You lot have no taste. It looks great! However, the RS1200 is ugly... PPiA | ||
| Court |
>>>However, the RS1200 is ugly... Whhaaaaaaaaaaaaaattt? You left your taste in Oz! | ||
| Jrh |
Other than the styling of the tank,the radiator cover,and the fairing that prototype KTM is exactly what i want.Man,with that engine+chassis that bikes gonna be a big success.Between now and production maybe they'll tone down the excess plastics a little,still compared to the new Kaw Z or the Aprilia i could live with the looks til i figured out how to change 'em. | ||
| Snowdave |
One way to make the KTM styling better would be to take the new KTM engine and drop it in a tube frame Buell....now that would be a bike I would buy!!! | ||
| Elvis |
I'm afraid I just don't get it. I rode a "dual purpose" bike once and if felt like a marshmallow on stilts. It just plain didn't feel right, and I had to really work to get any kind of speed out of the thing. Admittedly I'm not a dirt bike guy, but I just have no interest in the KTM (or anything like it). | ||
| Rick_A |
These guys would probably disagree:   The guys who race 'em claim that they handle better than any street-based steed. I like it. Looks like fun rippin' around on a bike that's down almost 200lbs from most streetbikes, with huge torque and decent horsepower. They have almost limitless cornering clearance and the more serious guys lower and stiffen the suspension some. | ||
| Elvis |
"They have almost limitless cornering clearance and the more serious guys lower and stiffen the suspension some." Well a lower, stiffer suspension on a light powerful bike would certainly be more interesting. As I said, my problem was it was up too high, and the suspension was too soft. There was limited road feedback and an inherent feeling of instability. The thing felt like it was going 100 mph when it was really only going 40. | ||
| Bomber |
Elvis . . . . .any similarity between the dual-purpose bike you road and the super motards was likely limited to the engine manufacturer . . . completely different suspensions altogether . . . . | ||
| Tripp |
how do ya post a pic? | ||
| Road_Thing |
 Looks like fun to me, too. Wish I could do a crossed-up wheelie like this one! r-t | ||
| Aesquire |
back in the dark ages... I helped mod up a yamaha 465 dirt bike with headlight & turn signals. strictly not legal, (but long ago enough to talk about  ) on/off road tires, and stiffer shocks/spacers in the forks. A real urban assault bike. I thought street tires overwhelmed the stock brakes, but still a real hoot. It got the owner in a lot of trouble & was sold after a year to be a cheater enduro machine. Suspensions & tires are a LOT better now. Wish I had room for another toy in the garage.  (what? no dear.. just kidding) | ||
| Xgecko |
Patrick that animated smiley is hilarious...and in keeping with my present home situation for a similar reason...not having a motorcycle to pour money into; I bought my dream Bicycle frame/fork (also a Motard of sorts) a Badd Racing 24" cruiser frame to build into an Urban assault bike. | ||
| Rick_A |
Funny how the craze started here and fizzled. It's taken off just about everywhere else. | ||
| Bads1 |
One of are members at Uke's races motard on a RM250.He entered it in battletrax last year.Man he could lay that thing down in a corner.My question would be how much are the wheels for the bikes,can't be cheap. | ||
| Road_Thing |
Bad: Buchanan's will lace rims to your hubs for around $450/wheel including shipping. r-t | ||
| Court |
>>>>Looks like fun to me, too. Wish I could do a crossed-up wheelie like this one! I can DO one and I suspicionate that you, like me, struggle more with re-entry than the take-off |
