In a lot less time than it takes to tell...

[pritch]

For some time there has been an empty shop in the local village.
Nothing to be seen except a real estate sign on the window.

A couple of weeks ago suddenly a pair of KTMs appeared inside. Interesting.

It took a week or two for things to develop but last Saturday was the grand opening of the new KTM dealership in town. Being something of a closet KTM fan I have developed the habit of shooting a glance in the door as I go past on my way home for lunch or after work.

Accelerating away from the lights Thursday evening on my homeward way I looked at the shop then back at the road. Holy shit! The other traffic had stopped and I was on a rapid collision course with the rear number plate of a Ford Sierra. The moped developed a pronounced high frequency twitch caused by a death grip on the brakes, in conflict with some major indecision in the command post.

Staring at that rapidly approaching number plate, the realisation dawned that there was no way the SJ50 drum brakes could stop me between here and there. At that point I decided to look somewhere more profitable, like along the side of the car. Finally the Suzuki pulled up beside the driver's door of the Sierra, I looked down at the driver who had a little grin on his face. Perhaps he had been watching the entertainment in his rear vision mirror.

Visiting the KTM dealer is now a priority so that I can eliminate any and all curiosity about what's in there, and I will no longer need to look in as I go past. After all, we know what curiosity did to the cat.

[wbks]

Gods way of telling you to get a real bike

[PirateJafa]

He has a real bike, he just wasn't riding it.

[pritch]

Gods way of telling you to get a real bike

God's way of telling me to keep my bloody mind on the job more like

Now I've been and I've seen. There's a lot of KTM bikes, there are KTM toasters even, and there are Pirelli tyres. There's some clothing, lubricants and other things of the type you'd expect to see in any dealer. There is a selection of helmets including, for those with deep pockets, Schuberth helmets.

While I admire KTM bikes and what the factory does on the racing scene, I don't really see myself owning one. I do, however, wish Northwest Motorcycles well in their new venture.

[wbks]

Are you talking ktm MotoGP or MX/SX? 'Cause they aren't too impressive compared to the jap brands in the later two. Well atleast in the proracing scene

[pritch]

I was thinking of GP, and SBK if they actually do that thing...

Moto X is a dark mystery to me, I only see it if channel surf across a race on TV. I will have to look closer at how KTM are doing, although I did have a hazy idea that they'd had their successes in the past.

[Fatt Max]

Scarry shit mate,

I've been riding now for 3 years or so and still the old mind drifts to 'Off Riding' subjects such as:

Jeez, shes git tits like a dead heat in a zeppelin race
Look at the top bollocks on that
F**k me sideways, they look like two kittens fighting on a sack
Blub Blub Blub
I wonder what's for dinner?
Oh look, a new pie shop
Jeez, will you look at the tits on that
etc etc....

Seriously though, a couple of seconds of wondering and la merde can come into contact with the oscillationg forced ventilation mechanism somewhat lively.

There is a great post on here somewhere that explains in milliseconds the stopping distances increased when you are not thinking for any length of time. its a calculation something like:

Time not thinking x distance to object / (Jeez look at the tits on that + new bike shop) = F**k it, i'ce gawn and crashed etc etc.

Take it easy out there

Nice one for escaping though...onya..!!!

[wbks]

I was thinking of GP, and SBK if they actually do that thing...

Moto X is a dark mystery to me, I only see it if channel surf across a race on TV. I will have to look closer at how KTM are doing, although I did have a hazy idea that they'd had their successes in the past.

Never really followed SBK but I'm pretty sure they aren't in (GP 125 and 250 tho) that and as for motocross...Their successes are few and far between They are renowned for having the shittest suspension in MX...Instead of running a linkage for the rear shock like the big four, they have a shock direct to their swing arm...Best engines in class, though.

[pritch]

KTM had a team in Superstock this year, this has been reported as preparation for mounting a full tilt at Superbike in 2010.

I just looked at the KTM website and they are claiming to have won the World Championship in MX2, as well as second, fourth, and fifth, which doesn't seem too bad.

They also claim to have won the MX3.

I may have to take more interest in the off road stuff. ( Heads off to search SKY magazine...)

[klingon]

...
I may have to take more interest in the off road stuff. ( Heads off to search SKY magazine...)

I think the lesson here is to take more interest in the on road stuff while you're moving and save the off road stuff until after you've safely parked.

[martybabe]

Well done Pritch, good slight inattention survival skills.

Not a KTM fan either really but like you I wish them all the very best, you can never have enough bike shops. Choice is good eh.

[Movistar]

I too have been known to stare in at every motorbike shop en route to where ever I may be roaming to.

Maybe I should heed your call and rather than peer in with the possibility of being struck from the front by a stationary vehicle, stop in and no doubt relieve my wallet of some pressure...

Excuses such as 'But dear, I either had to spend $200.00 on this motor biking accessory, or I would have had to pay out insurance excess, plus lose our no claims bonus! This was a far cheaper alternative.'