Comments on: MD First Look: 2012 KTM Duke (Bike Reports) (News) http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/ Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews Thu, 23 May 2013 19:35:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: morpheous http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-32844 morpheous Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:21:20 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-32844 Well put RD, and as having owned both the SV650 (33,000 mi) and then the Duke III690 (27,000mi) in that order in the last 6 years, I can verify all your statements. The Duke is hands down the best motorcycle I have ever owned and ridden. I deeply regret selling it recently and will pursue this new one when its available to the US market. I like the changes, still hate the headlight, the Superduke headlight looks much better on it! ;-) Well put RD, and as having owned both the SV650 (33,000 mi) and then the Duke III690 (27,000mi) in that order in the last 6 years, I can verify all your statements. The Duke is hands down the best motorcycle I have ever owned and ridden. I deeply regret selling it recently and will pursue this new one when its available to the US market. I like the changes, still hate the headlight, the Superduke headlight looks much better on it! ;-)

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]]> By: CBR250R http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-32623 CBR250R Sat, 26 Nov 2011 21:53:08 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-32623 Chris - not sure what you are getting at, as your reply wasn't communicated very clearly. Perhaps my original message wasn't clear either. I was merely stating that I would like to see the KTM 690 Duke offered in a more super-sport-like setup (i.e., like the rumored KTM RC4) with ergonomics that would allow for more comfortable city riding as well. The CBR600RR for instance, has a more upright riding position (compared to other supersports) that makes it more comfortable for city riding. I have a WR250R that is very comfortable to ride with a nice, very upright riding position like the 690 Duke. My CBR250R has a more aggressive riding position (though still relatively upright) that makes it slightly less comfortable to ride than the Yamaha - but on the street - I much prefer this riding position, as it makes the CBR250R so much more fun to ride than the WR250R. Mike Chris – not sure what you are getting at, as your reply wasn’t communicated very clearly. Perhaps my original message wasn’t clear either. I was merely stating that I would like to see the KTM 690 Duke offered in a more super-sport-like setup (i.e., like the rumored KTM RC4) with ergonomics that would allow for more comfortable city riding as well. The CBR600RR for instance, has a more upright riding position (compared to other supersports) that makes it more comfortable for city riding. I have a WR250R that is very comfortable to ride with a nice, very upright riding position like the 690 Duke. My CBR250R has a more aggressive riding position (though still relatively upright) that makes it slightly less comfortable to ride than the Yamaha – but on the street – I much prefer this riding position, as it makes the CBR250R so much more fun to ride than the WR250R.

Mike

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]]> By: Chris http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31972 Chris Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:11:26 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31972 Mike your confused and I bet new to motorcycles. You want a sexy bike (to you) wraped in plastic with an upright seating position. All the sudden the bars start to get in the way of the upper fairing (to make it comfy) or look cool in your opinion. Let me compare. Would you rather have a woman that was good looking, smart, good job, outstanding cook and a nimpho in the sack or.....a really smoking hot chick that nags on you all the time, can't cook and is lame in bed. Sure the hot one is cool to show off to your buddies but if your into than your not gonna ever get my point. Ride because the way it makes you feel, not how cool you look. Mike your confused and I bet new to motorcycles. You want a sexy bike (to you) wraped in plastic with an upright seating position. All the sudden the bars start to get in the way of the upper fairing (to make it comfy) or look cool in your opinion. Let me compare. Would you rather have a woman that was good looking, smart, good job, outstanding cook and a nimpho in the sack or…..a really smoking hot chick that nags on you all the time, can’t cook and is lame in bed. Sure the hot one is cool to show off to your buddies but if your into than your not gonna ever get my point. Ride because the way it makes you feel, not how cool you look.

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]]> By: Scott in the UK http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31905 Scott in the UK Tue, 15 Nov 2011 07:03:01 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31905 Good comments mate but this was when I lived in Australia - a country that makes the USA look well crowded and overpopulated. :-) Yeah its no great shakes to go that far I'll agree, but a lot of people say you cant tour on the singles, and they would be wrong. You can, but it will probably be a different kind of touring to Gold Wing / Electra Glide touring. all the best, Scott The Aussie (in the UK) Good comments mate but this was when I lived in Australia – a country that makes the USA look well crowded and overpopulated. :-)

Yeah its no great shakes to go that far I’ll agree, but a lot of people say you cant tour on the singles, and they would be wrong. You can, but it will probably be a different kind of touring to Gold Wing / Electra Glide touring.

all the best,

Scott The Aussie (in the UK)

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]]> By: Jack http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31788 Jack Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:28:33 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31788 Used to own a Duke II and it was a great bike in the terrible streets of Houston. Stolen but very fun. I test rode a Duke 690 and really liked that bike and will probably be my next bike. Love the looks of the new Duke but I guess they figure the US market won't support it. Top notch. Shame it won't be coming here. Used to own a Duke II and it was a great bike in the terrible streets of Houston. Stolen but very fun. I test rode a Duke 690 and really liked that bike and will probably be my next bike. Love the looks of the new Duke but I guess they figure the US market won’t support it. Top notch. Shame it won’t be coming here.

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]]> By: Scott in the UK http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31778 Scott in the UK Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:46:26 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31778 I wish you had told me that 16 years ago when I took my SRX 600 on 2400km tour over 8 days. :-) I don't like motorways, they are a necessary evil. But for people in many parts of the world its possible have a more interesting ride, and avoid them. If the new Duke was available now in the UK and I fitted on it (I'm pretty short) AND I had the spare cash to have a second bike after the Guzzi, I'd get one tomorrow. RD350 is right - there are bikes aimed at enthusiasts for single cyclinder bikes, and there are a few of us about. I wish you had told me that 16 years ago when I took my SRX 600 on 2400km tour over 8 days. :-)

I don’t like motorways, they are a necessary evil. But for people in many parts of the world its possible have a more interesting ride, and avoid them. If the new Duke was available now in the UK and I fitted on it (I’m pretty short) AND I had the spare cash to have a second bike after the Guzzi, I’d get one tomorrow. RD350 is right – there are bikes aimed at enthusiasts for single cyclinder bikes, and there are a few of us about.

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]]> By: CBR250R http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31724 CBR250R Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:20:22 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31724 Well said RD350. Well said. Mike Well said RD350. Well said.

Mike

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]]> By: tdm850 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31713 tdm850 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:50:07 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31713 I'm going to borrow this from Beavis for a second, "Booooiiinnnnggg!!" I’m going to borrow this from Beavis for a second, “Booooiiinnnnggg!!”

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]]> By: jason http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31682 jason Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:21:57 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31682 At least this one has a real seat. Just in time for it not to sell in the US. At least this one has a real seat. Just in time for it not to sell in the US.

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]]> By: John http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/11/md-first-look-2012-ktm-duke/comment-page-1/#comment-31641 John Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:52:58 +0000 http://www.motorcycledaily.com/?p=18580#comment-31641 The real problem is price. The duke costs around $9K. For a single?? There are alot of bikes in that price range. That bike should have been priced like an SV650, which is aimed at the same customer. The real problem is price. The duke costs around $9K. For a single?? There are alot of bikes in that price range. That bike should have been priced like an SV650, which is aimed at the same customer.

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