Shopping time! New bike

**HEsch** · 5th March 2018, 21:06

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Yeah, fuck that. Not nearly enough motorcycle.

Have been well spoiled with the SV as a first bike.

Not downgrading now though haha

**Crasherfromwayback** · 5th March 2018, 21:08

Originally Posted by HEsch

Have been well spoiled with the SV as a first bike.

Not downgrading now though haha

Yeah, fuck going backwards. I'm not at work at the moment, so I'm not sure what they have there. I'll check in with them tomorrow, and let you know if they have anything that might blow your skirt up.

**OddDuck** · 5th March 2018, 21:31

Originally Posted by HEsch

I have a KTM Duke 390 this week - very generous friend has loaned it to me while away on holiday.
Picked it up tonight.

Do not like it. I reckon I would have loved it if I'd started on it, but after the SV it just feels... tinny. Wonderfully agile but somehow not much behind the initial take-off enthusiasm. If I was only riding around town it'd be a contender but I don't think I want to spend hours on the motorway on it.

I'll enjoy it for the week though

Understand the dislike... but your mate's awesome, sounds like the kind of friend to treasure.

**HEsch** · 5th March 2018, 22:06

Originally Posted by OddDuck

Understand the dislike... but your mate's awesome, sounds like the kind of friend to treasure.

I think he was trying to sell me the KTM dream. Unfortunately that's backfired on him as the Duke was actually ON my list of must-trys, and now it's off.
But yes, stellar bloke, and I'm very grateful.

**OddDuck** · 6th March 2018, 07:03

Originally Posted by HEsch

I think he was trying to sell me the KTM dream. Unfortunately that's backfired on him as the Duke was actually ON my list of must-trys, and now it's off.
But yes, stellar bloke, and I'm very grateful.

I had similar a while ago. Bike in bits getting the engine sorted, woke up one morning and found the car stolen... shit shit shit. A mate lent me his Monster for the duration and I've never forgotten the favour.

**HEsch** · 6th March 2018, 08:19

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Yeah, fuck going backwards. I'm not at work at the moment, so I'm not sure what they have there. I'll check in with them tomorrow, and let you know if they have anything that might blow your skirt up.

Thanks. Am in Wgtn next weekend with very limited spare time but if the fog in Hamilton this week is anything to go by, we may be driving not flying, in which case riding a bike back could be arranged .....

**WALRUS** · 6th March 2018, 09:15

Have you thought of/tried a smaller capacity Duc' Monster? the 620's are all LAMS approved I'm pretty sure (as are the 400's but don't do that to yourself). Or if you're close to getting off the LAMS restrictions, you could wait and have a look for an 821 Monster? Or maybe a Street Triple?

**HEsch** · 6th March 2018, 10:27

Originally Posted by WALRUS

Have you thought of/tried a smaller capacity Duc' Monster? the 620's are all LAMS approved I'm pretty sure (as are the 400's but don't do that to yourself). Or if you're close to getting off the LAMS restrictions, you could wait and have a look for an 821 Monster? Or maybe a Street Triple?

Haven't tried, but the 669s are on the LAMS list.
Hope to have some spare time this Friday and next to get round a few dealers and have a sit/play.

**HEsch** · 9th March 2018, 19:54

Tried the full power SV today.

I'm in looooooooove

grinning ear to ear even tootling along in second to get from the service lane to the main road. DAMMIT.

Then a Kawasaki 300 RN ?? Or something. It was OK. Second hand, might be a stop gap measure at best. I liked it better than the Duke.
They are going to get the 400 R and Z650 in next week so I can test ride those (nothing there today). They have a couple of old models going cheaper. Similar price to a new SV so they'd have to feel bloody good. Size wise the 3 650-something Kawasakis I sat on were ok.

Also sat on a Street Triple, the R version, which was lowered. First bike I've been able to put my feet flat on the ground haha. But bit out of budget and definitely not lams so I won't even test it.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 10th March 2018, 10:53

Originally Posted by HEsch

Tried the full power SV today.

I'm in looooooooove

grinning ear to ear even tootling along in second to get from the service lane to the main road. DAMMIT.

t.

We've got one of those, but noting LAMS approved sorry. Been meaning to come back to you, but a bit all over the place at the mo. Hope you find something asap.

**Swoop** · 12th March 2018, 13:32

Originally Posted by HEsch

Tried the full power SV today.

I'm in looooooooove

grinning ear to ear even tootling along in second to get from the service lane to the main road. DAMMIT.

Then a Kawasaki 300 RN ?? Or something. It was OK. Second hand, might be a stop gap measure at best. I liked it better than the Duke.
They are going to get the 400 R and Z650 in next week so I can test ride those (nothing there today). They have a couple of old models going cheaper. Similar price to a new SV so they'd have to feel bloody good. Size wise the 3 650-something Kawasakis I sat on were ok.

Also sat on a Street Triple, the R version, which was lowered. First bike I've been able to put my feet flat on the ground haha. But bit out of budget and definitely not lams so I won't even test it.

It's good fun looking though, eh?!

**HEsch** · 15th March 2018, 15:15

The SV I had my eye on as a fall-back option sold last Friday.

However, this statement on another thread was not fulfilled...

Originally Posted by Blackbird

More importantly, did you have Executive Permission?

So it was not sold after all on Monday

Today, it has been sold for real. I pick it up tomorrow.

May still upgrade the ECU in a few months time. Or get a different bike. But I couldn't go past the price, or the kms, or the condition of it. Might be looking at a city shift in the next month so decided life was too short to f*ck around deciding which bike I wanted to get.