Started KTM

[Tetge]

Good idea. The luggage would have to be refrigerated but you could run some kind of generator off of the rear tire, kind of like those generators that you would "flip and lock" against the tire of your ten speed.

Naturally I would need ice. But, I think that I could just pack the bags with ice before each ride as a fridge would weigh too much and take too much power. And, if I had bags of ice, as it melted I could strategically let some of the melt water out behind my bike to wipe out any persistent competition that some how managed to stay with the mighty 690 Duke.

Oh? Did my drain water take you out? So sorry. Does it hurt much? How about a drink to help dull the pain?

[xbacksideslider]

That bike's so slow, it goes backward, so . . . . you'd fall down on your own drain water.

[Tetge]

That bike's so slow, it goes backward, so . . . . you'd fall down on your own drain water.

It is not the bike that is slow, as it has a reasonably decent power to weight ratio even with my massive bulk aboard. It is the rider that is slow. I'd mention that the 690 Duke ate your KTM up in a drag race and on the top end and everywhere, and, I would bet that it would chew up that Norton as well. But, your other bikes no doubt would be too fast for it, although if the road were correct that ancient Suzuki might not be as adroit as the KTM. But, your 1000RR would rule. Of course, I'd have to hire a rider if the KTM were going to keep up even with the slower bikes.

But, one doesn't buy a KTM 690 Duke to compete with the fast bikes. It is not about that, it is about the big thumper and a stately pace. Fine European craftsmanship and all that. It is not really ready to race as that is just a company slogan and not the truth about the soft 690 Duke. I just got it for the image.

[xbacksideslider]

European crafted stately paint shaker?

[Tetge]

European crafted stately paint shaker?

Many have stated that the vibes are not bad for a big single. So, as with many things involving motorcycles, it may be yet another case of me being too critical and not having sufficient skill to understand the entire picture when it comes to KTM. It also seems, from what people are posting, that there have been a lot of issues with the new 2016 model, which all say is quite smooth, but, which has had a lot of relatively serious issues. So, my last of its model line, 2015, is not all bad, as they had time to shake a lot of the obvious bugs out of it.

So, it has that fine European class that old Brit bikes had and old Jags. Prince of darkness, oil leaks, dubious long term reliability, and all that. And, the KTM throws in a good measure of shaking as a bonus. Why do you think that they cost more? But, it is very light, and they say it cranks out 62 HP at the wheel, so it does have some attitude, and, one tends to forget about the shaking if one uses the power, as it is a lot faster than a DR-Z. In fact, after 6 years with a DR-Z, I see the KTM as Busa like.

[xbacksideslider]

Well . . . . at least it's a fine European crated paint shaker . . . that could deliver shaken drinks if you outfit it for that

and, it's good, I guess, that it shakes so much that KTM " . . . had time to shake a lot of the obvious bugs out of it".

and, " . . . it has that fine European class that old Brit bikes had , , , , Prince of darkness, oil leaks, dubious long term reliability, and all that . . . . "

And, out of sympathy I will re open my offer to take it off your hands; wouldn't want you to get stuck out in the dark, or slip and fall on the oil that it leaves around.

[Tetge]

.........And, out of sympathy I will re open my offer to take it off your hands; wouldn't want you to get stuck out in the dark, or slip and fall on the oil that it leaves around.........

It actually doesn't drip oil, but, when run hard it eats, as would any fine European machine. And, it only uses Swiss oil that cost well over $20 a liter. It even has a sticker on the case advertising the oil. But $20+ a quart oil is not surprising as European quality and craftsmanship is known to come at a price. And, high end German machines always are expensive to service and maintain. But, it has a cool orange frame.

I would sell it in a heart beat, and get some nice reliable Japanese cruiser, but, it would be hard to sell since it is a niche machine and not a big seller. So, I am stuck with it. And, I do not even ride it much since it forecast to be 110*+ tomorrow and all my favorite roads are on fire. Also it scares me as it seems to want to exceed the speed limit, which I would never do. But, it takes constant vigilance to stay legal all the time. I would not be having these issues were I to be riding a 17 HP, at the crank, Velocette 350 MAC, for instance.

Speaking of riding, when will you be able to ride again? This assumes that you lie and tell the surgeon that you are a safe and sane Sunday rider who just cruises around and enjoys the fresh air and scenery.

[xbacksideslider]

Not ready for any 50 mile rides yet. I am now almost 4 months out from date of surgery and they said recuperation is 6 months. While I do feel up to riding, my neck tires quickly, especially when I lean my head forward.

The muscles that the surgeon had to cut are all in the back of my neck and some minor ones, it seems, were cut for good. That means that other muscles have to be re-tasked to handle the cut muscles' former duties and that is where the fatigue and achy overuse sort of pain comes in. When that pain starts, it comes in it low and easy but soon spikes to the point of saying "stop what you are doing, stop it now!" But they are still getting better everyday and my multi time a day neck exercises are working.

I have played two rounds of golf, riding in a cart, not walking/pulling bag as before, and at about 14th hole, my neck starts complaining, especially when putting, because putting requires bending the head forward for a more prolonged period. Curiously, the rest of it, the body rotation under a stationary head, is OK.

[jhwalker]

Sounds like recovery to this cripple
I'm still over-doing it and then am worthless the next 8 hours.

Tomorrow I start an 11 session "Power Plate" program.
https://powerplate.com/
11 sessions , $20 a session for 11 sessions.

Desperation rules.

Swimming 2 days a week
rebounding 1 day a week
power plate 2 days a week
core work -- 4 days a week
arms etc 3 days a week
Want to start biking, finally, this week meow

[Tetge]

If you purchased a KTM instead of a Ducati you would not have needed a powerplate as the KTM vibrates in 100's of directions at no extra cost. You could have been riding for therapy.