Last year I learned to trust the GPS, besides a few early turns (my own fault), it has been reliable. Until yesterday. Routed me into truck euro crossing. Frustrating waste of time, but we survived.
First ever EuroTunnel Crossing. 25 minutes crossing at 110Euro, yes, but don’t forget the 45minute wait and boarding process. Great time for a power nap. Pretty slick operation!
Switching back to left hand side of road is not as seemless as one would expect. Lot to be said about attacking a roundabout from the right, althoughs locals seem to frown apon it!
Popped into Brands Hatch on our way up. Another awesome facility with multiple activities on the go. Petroldom is alive and well. Think we can hold off the, inevitable, battery brigade for some time to come!
Picked up supplies and tour guide from local KTM Dealer, nice store. Similar stats to ours. Always interesting sharing war stories.
Been asked how the 790 Duke is performing, which has me thinking…. Who buys a naked bike and why. Short answer, Europeans and Brits, because the can! Naked are perfect for town & twisty country riding, not the type of terrain we have in South Africa, unless you live llandudno or Hout Bay where any direction is twisty.
Although the 790 is capable of sustaining a respectable touring pace, besides the Autobahn, speed restrictions dictate very low average speeds, negating the need for wind protection. Extended periods over 130kph tend to become uncomfortable, as would any naked bike!
Parallel twin allows for a significantly smaller frame, offering surprising comfort, even on long distances as we are traveling. Tweaking the handlebar, clutch, brake and mirror position , improved comfort, handling and confidence. Setup correctly, the bike becomes and extension of your body. Thinking it through corners, slalom style.
Despite non adjustable suspension, plush ride for everyone, although serious impacts are felt in the teeth, as in most other bikes!
In house KTM developed brakes providing more than adequate stopping power.
First generation parallel twin motor is a gem. I want one. Not the fastest kid on the block, but definitely in its class.
Between quickshifter, plush suspension and great brakes, every on & off ramp conjure visions of (add your favorite MotoGP racer name here) as you stomp through the box, throttle pinned. Or late brake into the hairpin bend exit, before flicking it into the corner, knee down! (Ok, no knee down, just the odd boot scrape)
Electronics, the thing we all love to hate. A revelation of new generation bikes, bringing much value to the party!
Cornering ABS, safely grab a handful mid-corner, with no pickup, the bike simply holds its line and tracking the corner. Nice safety feature that, I’ll have one of those!
Personally not one to rtfm, but in this case it has been worth it. 4 drive modes cater for almost every mood, modulating the responsiveness of the throttle, depending on the mode. Rain, Street, Sport, Track. Each mode requiring less twist of the throttle to achieve the same power. Voodoo!
We have settled on Sport Mode for touring, where natural seating position provides around 130kph and nice overtaking acceleration. Relaxed riding. Whereas Street mode requires larger throttle inputs or same touring speed and acceleration. Tiring touring!
Turn on Track mode and Chucky comes out to play. Great throttle response, Revvy ready to go motor, in your face performance. Lovely on most days, but not touring in another country, trying to respect the speed limits! Track mode also provides configurable drive modes and traction control, brilliant!
A lot to take in, yes, not something that a simple test ride will illustrate. Further complicated by our own preferences. Depending on the ride mode, you may or may not fall in love with the bike. Like any other bike, you learn to ride around the quirks!
I am falling more and more in love with mine, I think I shall keep it.
P.s. It is not called “The Scalpel” for nothing. Handling implied….it’s in the name
