Don rides the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S

 

KTM had arranged a day of demonstration rides of their KTM 1290 Super Adventure S - from Loomies cafe - on Saturday 17th July.

I rode out to Loomies on Ariel, on a hot late morning, glad that I was wearing my mesh jacket, which once moving - does a great job of keeping me cool, letting the cooling breeze through. Loomies was packed - always the case on a sunny day, but particularly due to the fact that KTM had taken over a good chunk of the parking area!

For our 12.15pm timeslot, I was one of  about seven pre-booked test riders. We were introduced to the bike: KTM 1290 Super Adventure S & told about its abilities & impressive electronics package that included Adaptive Cruise Control and Semi-active Suspension.

We spent around an hour in the saddle & covered 30+ miles, in speeds from stuck in traffic (it was a very busy Saturday!) to motorway speeds. The route was roughly Loomies, Bramdean, Winchester, Twyford, Bishops Waltham, back to Loomies.

So what was the bike like? I was hoping that I'd like it. We miss Holly my Crosstourer, & her ability to endlessly tour two up, with all the luggage. As much as I love Ariel my wonderful CB1000R+: two up (pillion) isn't great, and just forget luggage! It really would be fab to have a bike to tour on as well as Ariel the CB. Sadly although this bike is significantly more powerful then the Honda Crosstourer (134bhp for the Honda, 160bhp for the KTM), and there is a whole load of good stuff on the KTM, It wasn't a bike that would work for me. My notes:

PRO:

Brilliant electronics package

Fantastic easy to read TFT display

Easy to adjust windscreen

Great suspension, comfy ride

Weight is kept low using two low fuel tanks

Keyless start & fuel cap

Easy to access phone / glasses cubby

CONS:

Pronounced vibrations above 4k RPM (engine redlines @ 10k RPM)

Mirrors are blurry due to the vibes

Lots of buttons & functions to learn

Electronics: too much / what happens when they fail

KTM's reputation on reliability...

The vibes come from the powerful V Twin engine, and I just couldn't face days in the saddle having my fillings shaken out. Also, electronics, modes & gizmos, etc - don't do anything for me on a motorbike. I want to be & feel engaged. Much of the electronics nowadays makes me feel that the rider ends up as a passenger. Also, what happens when they break... 

Alternative view: here is a great video review of the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S by the good people at Knox. They put it though it's paces on & off road & genuinely seem to like it. Maybe it's just me then...

www.ktm.com

Piaggio MP3 - 3 wheel scooter. In a word "Nah"

 

I've recently had the "pleasure" of a couple of rides on a mate's Piaggio MP3 Scooter (3 wheels - 2 at the front). Well, that was an experience! 

Over the years, I've ridden most things: scooters, sport bikes, adventure, motocross, tourers, cruisers, etc. Usually (as you might have noticed) I enjoy most things two wheeled. This is the first bike that I've ever ridden where I was pleased to get off & hand it back!

Apart from the fact the engine cut out two or three times in one relatively short journey, the whole feel of this "bike" could be summed up as "vague". Sometimes in a corner, I felt the leaning front end suspension system doing it's thing - which actually was pretty cool. Most other times it just felt loose! Almost like there was a broken linkage, or a flat tyre on one side. Glad I was riding it in warm dry weather - wouldn't have been fun in wet / windy conditions! 

I thought that I'd try getting some heat into the tyres to see if that improved matters - using the good old controlled front end weave manoeuvre. Aaagh - that was scary - thought the bike was going to throw me off!

OK this bike was a "well used example" and that might account for some of my experience, but based on my experience, I honestly couldn't recommend one. While on the subject of 3 wheeled contraptions: I never got round to riding the Yamaha Nikken - most peeps who have ridden one loved it. But almost no-one bought one... I'll stick to two wheels I think!

Brilliant pre-birthday braaap to the New Forest - Sunday 13th June

 

Great ride yesterday! Met up with a schoolmate of mine - Ricky & 3 of his pals - at BP/Londis Botley. Then rode out through Southampton - past the cruise terminal, A31, A337 to the New Forest. A truly wonderful day for it: stunning weather, lots of horses & donkeys everywhere we went. Felt very blessed to be alive!

Today was my birthday. Yes before you ask: 21... Kim & I spent it with our dear friends Tracy & Bri in Gunwharf Quays, dejeuner at one of my favourite eateries: Cafe Rouge. Try the BEEF BOURGUIGNON BURGER - to die for!

Google Maps Timeline - why the straight lines?

 

Four of us went for a spin on the bikes yesterday. Jeff came up with the route & it was a cracker: Denmead, Clanfield, Chalton, Finchdean, South Harting, Hurst, etc. A lovely spring day for a fab ride in the beautiful Hampshire countryside!

As I have no sense of direction, nor any idea of where I am most of the time(!), I rely on SatNav, Google Maps etc. However, I've noticed that generally Google Maps doesn't track roads - it tends to draw straight lines. Last time I checked, not all roads are Roman roads!

This became really apparent when Kim & I were doing our West Coast road trip in 2018. One day Google / the odometer on the bike were dozens of miles out. When I looked at the Google Timeline - apparently we had ridden across the sea! Funny, I don't remember the wheels getting wet! 

So why does this happen? Here is an excellent article on GPS accuracy, drift & update intervals. An interesting read. Doesn't help with working out the route where one has been tho! Have to zoom in on the map & try to spot the roads, villages & places of interest we've travelled through...

www.google.com

And now for something completely different! Crosstourer to CB1000R+

I bought Holly our Honda Crosstourer Highlander back in 2014. Kim & I have loved our trips out on her - many local, but also Ireland, Wales & our Camino. However to every thing there is a season, and I felt that it was now time for something different...

As you may have noticed, I like to test bikes from the various dealerships around us, and came to a shortlist of two models: Indian FTR1200 and Honda CB1000R+. Although the Indian was a fab ride, I decided that the Honda was the bike for me. The CB1000R is (sort of) a naked FireBlade - which makes it a "cheeky little number"! The "+" is a special tricked out edition with a quickshifter, heated grips, rear seat cowl & some added aluminium bling. Usually "+" bikes are only available in black, I have one of the only CB1000R+ bikes in stunning metallic "candy chromosphere red".

Discussions were had with four Honda dealerships, and Paul Styles at Doble Honda came up with the best package. So on a distinctly wet Wednesday (8th July) morning I rode up to Coulsdon & traded in our lovely Holly for a very shiny CB1000R+ in red! The ride back was also wet, which (literally) took the shine off my lovely new bike. 1st thing I did when I got home was hose down the bike & dry her off!

I managed to get out for a spin at the weekend - on a sunny, warm Sunday afternoon - and enjoyed every second. Of course this is a hugely different motorcycle from the Crosstourer: over 60Kg lighter, faster, lower centre of gravity, sticky sport tyres, etc. What a blast!

Kim & I are going to miss the comfort of the Crosstourer (and the ability to do big distances), but ironically, getting a faster sportbike might save my license! Wind protection is much better on adventure bikes, gearing is much higher, so it is very easy to end up going "quickly" without realising it. On a naked sportbike, any speed feels quick - which oddly enough tends to slow one down!

Holly's new owner will hopefully enjoy her as much as we have: ~19k miles of wonderful, trouble free riding (of course - it's a Honda!). Over my ~6 years of ownership, I tweaked her significantly from original spec - so Holly's next owner should be able to enjoy adventures as soon as they can turn the key!

I've Christened the new bike "Ariel", and have so far added ASV C5 clutch & brake levers a Givi tank bag (that allows my phone to double as a SatNav), more farkles to follow! Watch this space...

www.honda.co.uk

Don tests the Indian FTR1200 - with Moore Speed Racing, Poole

Today, I took some time out of the office to visit Colin Moore & his colleagues at Moore Speed Racing in Poole. A great day to do ~100 miles: fine dry weather!

I love going to bike shops, playing with new toys (buying them too!). Usually the guys & gals who work in bike shops are nice peeps. Colin & his colleagues at Moore Speed have just raised the bar! Everyone who I chatted with (maybe a dozen people) was friendly, polite & helpful. Moore Speed have a fantastic selection of new & used bikes, upgrades, parts & clothing. Their engineering facilities are especially impressive - from bike customisation to bespoke product machining!

I was really impressed with the Indian FTR1200. Colin had two demo bikes: a standard stock machine (which I rode & loved) & his own one which had the entire toy shop thrown at it (stunning!). The FTR that I rode was a lot of fun! When most people think of an American motorcycle, they think Harley. This isn't a Harley! It is compact, sporty - most definitely not a cruiser! Powerful - with a V-Twin 1200cc engine. Crack the throttle & the response is immediate. Handling is light & dynamic, with superb road-holding. Build quality is great, finish is lovely.

So, to sum up. If you are around Poole, or just fancy a trip to the south coast - visit Moore Speed Racing for a real treat. If you are undecided about your next bike, do checkout the FTR - it's a truly superb machine - I'd love one. Here are some pix from my visit, including my lovely tin mug which reads "Indian Test Rider" :0).

www.moorespeedracing.co.uk

Holly the Crosstourer is in for a major service. Look what I have as a 2 day loaner!

Holly the Honda Crosstourer is in for a major service at Crescent Honda in Southampton. I had a fabulous journey to drop her off this morning! Sunny but cool, warm tarmac & tyres, happy days!

The kind chaps at Crescent have loaned my one of my favourite bikes while mine is in the shop: a CB1000R+. What's the "+" then? A few bits of bling (meh), and far more importantly: an Akrapovic zorst & up & down quickshifter! This is a truly great bike: well designed & built, powerful, fast, fun & nimble. A really rewarding ride, but being naked keeps one sensible(ish) ;0).

A fab ride to Loomies, then home, on this glorious day. 

It's good to be alive: thanks Lord!

www.honda.co.uk