Goldilocks: The Story of Me and My New KTM (Updated: Bike is Home!!!)

[R Doug]

Updated:  See Reply # 16 below...

Let's see, how's the story go of Goldilocks and the Three Bears??? This porridge is too hot, this one is too cold, this one is just right...  Well, I just found the bike that is JUST RIGHT for me.

I just finalized the acquisition of my newest bike today.  I’ve been riding ever since my parents purchased me a 50cc Honda dirt bike back in the day.  During college I had a Suzuki GS650 (SJM) and “graduated” to a Harley Sportster for a few years before meeting my (to-be) wife who asked me to get rid of it.

Several years later, I got back into motorcycling and didn’t know what I was missing.  In 2005, A friend of mine had a Sprint ST and told me I should look into sport-touring bikes.  I was looking at Yamaha cruisers at the time and never really thought about sport bikes.  After much research and after a few test rides, I decided on a Ducati ST3.  So, in 2005, that’s what I purchased.  

Not long after having the Duc, I acquired a Honda F4i track bike.  I used to do track days in cars and was even an instructor of performance driving.  So, it was inevitable that I would get into performance riding to improve my skills.  Seeing how much fun a 600 cc was on the track, I had to get one for the street.  So, I sold the track bike and traded in the Duc for a Triumph Daytona 675.  Then, I saved up a bit more to get a bike I could tour on.  That bike ended up being a Yamaha FZ1 w/ hard luggage.  

Perfect, I thought.  I had a garage which would allow for track days (675), fun day-rides in the twisties (675), weekend trips (675), comfortable cruising rides on new roads (FZ1), and extended weekend to week-long touring trips (FZ1).  Add a trail bike later down the road and all my bases would be covered.  Unfortunately, I made the mistake of accepting a test ride on a KTM Super Duke back in May of 2007.  

http:// http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,8424.0.html

Since that day, I have not been able to get the SD out of my head.  I thought maybe someday I would be lucky enough to trade in the 675 for it and still have the FZ for touring.  But, then I found a nice luggage system for the SD by Ventura and it was all over in my head.  I was going to sell both of my bikes and get the SD.  With the Ventura Luggage system, I could have up to 100 liters of storage ability on the tail of the bike plus whatever tank bag I end up getting.  So, I’ll be able to have the best of both worlds all on this one bike.  I absolutely love it!  Where one bike was too big and the other was too sporty and the other was too soft….  I found one that was just right just as Golilocks did in the story of the Three Bears.  

The 675 and FZ1 sold in about a week’s time so today I went back to my KTM dealer where I put a deposit on a demo bike and completed the transaction.  Since it was a demo bike, I got a smok’n deal and negotiated a 48 month KTM Care extended warranty.  

The SD has 1,000 miles on it and it has never seen anything past 7k rpm.  How do I know?  We’ll, there’s actually something wrong w/ the ECM and a second throttle valve on the bike right now that won’t let it go past 7k.  During my test ride I though I hit the rev limiter.   But, it was this ECM issue.  The bike actually has a 2nd valve in the throttle body that opens electronically to help smooth out the power curve.  For some reason, it's shutting off air at just under 7k rpm and not opening.  Right now my local shop has already tried a new ECM sent down by KTM, but it didn’t work.  So tomorrow, they are getting a new throttle body which should fix the problem.  

Finger’s crossed, the bike should be ready for pick up this Wednesday.  Expect a ride report from me soon w/ some pictures.  For now, here’s the picture of the very bike I purchased today.  This picture was taken during my test ride back in May of this year… (since it doesn’t exist w/o pictures)

[garry]

Just curious, but has anyone out there put a pillion on a SD? Wondering if it's wildly uncomfortable (like a sportbike) or a bit more reasonable? The SD is high on my list of potential "next bikes", especially if my wife could suffer through an hour on the back...

[R Doug]

Just curious, but has anyone out there put a pillion on a SD? Wondering if it's wildly uncomfortable (like a sportbike) or a bit more reasonable? The SD is high on my list of potential "next bikes", especially if my wife could suffer through an hour on the back...

Garry, you're more than welcome to test ride mine anytime you want.  But, I'm not going to get get on the back and let you know what it's like.    From the looks of it in person, the seat does not look like it offers a lot of room or comfort.  

BTW, if you do get one, the black ones are the fastest.

[atypical1]

Sweet bike! Man, those things look fun!

james

[DNA]

Cool!
Please come to a NoVa ride and let us drool all over it.

[maddjack]

Sweet ride ,now you are one of us Sport-tour naked folks,I think you'll love it

[R Doug]

Sweet bike! Man, those things look fun!

james

Thanks, it's a hoot!  I must say, if it wasn't for the fact my Duc dealer is 90 miles away, it would have been a close call between this twin and the Multi S.  I like the fact you can still get hard bags for the Multi!

Cool!
Please come to a NoVa ride and let us drool all over it.

Will there be pie!?  

Sweet ride ,now you are one of us Sport-tour naked folks,I think you'll love it

You touring on that Speed Trip is what inspired me.  

[timmybob4]

One word comes to mind: "Wicked"

[SuperHans]

Bike whore.  

[goldylocks303]

You rang?

eD

[MK96xj]

You rang?

eD

This i understand.  

Anyone that knows Doug is still about the Goldiocks thing. For those that do not. This   is what the top of doug's head looks like

Congrats on the purchase. Looking forward to some action shots.

Mike

[AJP]

Awesome bike, Doug.  Looks HOT.

Have any pictures of the luggage system?

[R Doug]

Awesome bike, Doug.  Looks HOT.

Have any pictures of the luggage system?

Thanks.

This is from Ventura's US homepage... (the bags I ordered are black)





When you're not using the luggage system, you put the grab handle bar on it...

[Mr.Awesome]

Very cool Doug Congratulations on the new ride.  

Looking forward to a ride report.

[Brad1445]

I want one!

[FlowBee]

Just curious, but has anyone out there put a pillion on a SD? Wondering if it's wildly uncomfortable (like a sportbike) or a bit more reasonable? The SD is high on my list of potential "next bikes", especially if my wife could suffer through an hour on the back...

The mufflers contains catalysts, so they run HOT!!  Not muffler hot, but damned blowtorch HOT. I got a really nice blister on my pinky the first day of ownership of the SM from slightly brushing against a muffler.   I can feel the heat radiating off of them on warm days.  Some day soon I'll replace them with aftermarket pipes, if only to lose the thermonuclear heat factory.

I would never even think of asking my lovely wife to put her thighs (let alone her fingers!)  that close to something that hot.  Pillions are a NO-NO until aftermarket pipes are installed.  At the least.

[R Doug]

After a few days, my local dealer had a visit from a KTM tech from KTM North America.  He spent three days on it and could not find out why the second throttle valve was shutting.  So, we uploaded some data to KTM (Austria) and too the bike in his van back to KTM North America's HQ in Cleveland, OH.  After one day up there, he found the problem and fixed it.

The bike was shipped back from KTM North America today.  The KTM tech found out that the SD has a broken valve spring retainer on the rear cylinder intake valve.  It was fixed, tested, and is now home.

I picked it up today after work and put a few miles on it before it got too dark. Tomorrow, the wife and I depart for vacation so I'll ride it more once I get back and post up a few ride reports.  But, after today's little ride, all I have to say is... riding this bike is the MOST FUN I have ever had on two wheels.    

The ergos are perfect, the engine is wonderful, the sound is intoxicating, the suspension is smooth, the mirrors actually work, the brakes could stop a train, the torque is addictive, and the handling is spot on.  The only problem I forsee is trying to keep my licence.    

Picking it up at dealer today...





Home in the garage...

[R.Markus]

 

[AV8OR]

looks like you finally took that nekid bike advice!! Still should have waited for that Aprilia demo day next weekend ......nice ride man!

[st2sam]

Good luck with her.
Whats the range on a tank of fuel? Valve adjustments? Will it  wheelee e  e   e eee?