950SM and Super Duke testride report.

In a vain attempt to narrow down the wide and varied list of bikes i might want i decided to start test riding today. Rang up Brackens and went down to have a crack on the KTM 950SM and the KTM Super Duke. Unfortunately i was a little delayed when riding along the embankment on the Husaberg i thought “I wonder if it needs fuel?” about 10secs before it cut out. Bugger. No fuel guage and a black tank make this easier than it sound sand it was always going to happen at some point so much waiting in the cold for the RAC to turn up as i managed to run out no where near a petrol station. What he did do very nicely though was bring Optimax at my request!

When i finally arrived at Bracken in SE1 it was sort of trying to rain like it has been all day but the roads weren’t exactly wet so straight out onto the 950SM:

Bear in mind the bike i ride at the moment weighs 112kg, is geared to do 100mph in 6th and makes 63bhp from a single cylinder so anything was going to feel a bit weird. The first thing you notice is the massive width of the tank area and how bulky it felt in general. However, one on the move the weight is pretty much forgotten and it steers very nicely and quickly tucking into bends and generally feeling, to me at least, quite mature.
Now this may be because of what i am used to but it felt kind of like what i imagined a sports tourer to feel like except that when you want to play it can do that too. I cant imagine why anyone would buy a BMW GS if they had test ridden one of these first. It was comfortable, fast enough, and if i could only have one bike i would buy this. A true allrounder. This bike is not a supermoto in anything other than name although can be hussled like one. If you are in the market for a true sporting do-it-all bike then this may be the one and i urge you to test ride it. You will almost certainly disagree with my opinion but then i am used to to my berg.
You could quite seriously go touring on this bike and i would if i had one. A blat to the alps would do it nicely…

Now the super duke and i had been looking forward to this. Even at idle you can tell its a meaner machine and it feels great when on the move. To get the negatives out of the way its very snatchy at low speeds in 1st but then so is the berg. It also has a really hard clutch lever which got a bit tiring in traffic. This bike wasnt designed for central london though.
Back out to the test track (not docklands obviously, with those straights and roundabouts…) and it really came alive. Fast (20bhp up on the SM) and fun, good feedback, nice soundtrack (but still needs Akras) and i was impressed. The riding position took a little getting used to after my bike but was spacious and comfortable and i soon didnt even think about it. I was really impressed with the SD and it is now definitely on my shortlist.

Geoff at Brackens was very helpfull and a really nice guy so if you have even thought about either of these two bikes or any KTM give him a ring and have a go. Both are good but for me one was better.

Next up to try: Triumph 675, Kwak 636ZXR, Aprillia RSV, and maybe an R1.

The weirdest part of the whole day was the first mile back on my bike. It just felt so odd in shape, upright and hard on the backside but that was soon forgotten.

My conclusion from today was that i already own one of the looniest bikes on the planet and it is not going anywhere. It makes you ride like a tw*t but you’ll be loving it right up until you wheelie past a police car. It is one of the purest hits available in motorcycling anywhere.

Nice report. Hope you like the missiles that you are going to test as well.

On yer Triumph in Aston Clinton had a nice red 675 sitting on the forecourt today doing nothing…

Thx for the report - it was interesting as I am thinking of buying the KTM 950 or 990 and will be booking a test ride next week at the same place. By the way, how long did the let you have the bike for on your tester run?

Nice report.

Fitting the Akros to the sooperduke removes the cat box which is strangling the bike. The fuel mapping is also compromised to get through emissions regs.

Fitting the cans and remapping with KTM’s map specific to those cans Removes the snatchy low down throttle response. It also liberates additional power right through the rev-range. (It really spins up quicker.)

The bonus is the fuel economy also improves!

I don’t really have to mention the sound of a big twin with pipes.

BTW - if you decide you’re gonna buy the SD990 - while you’re haggling bear in mind the first service isn’t free and takes a fair amount of time. Try and get it thrown in, and get written proof too.

The test run was run on a “No one else is booked in all day, its got plenty of fuel, have fun” kind of basis. He also said if you want another go just come back.

Pete the Akras would definitely be bought at the same time as the bike. I think a second hand one might be on the cards but is it worth having the 990 as opposed to the 950? They had a nice black 950 there 3000miles and crash bungs fitted… Nearly put a deposit on the spot! I’d probably be tempted to slightly shorten the gearing too, i kept trying to bang it down only to find i was already in 1st! Im sure i’d get used to it though.

Andrew i think unfortunately for you it would have to grey although it looks good in red in fast bikes this month and wins the group road test. Only ducatis should be red though. I think i’ll pop down to Jack Linney (if thats what they are called?) in vauxhall next week and have a crack on their demo then its up to collin collins for all the other plastic rockets.

Dunno about ‘Linneys’ but there’s a Jack Lilleys nr Staines where I got my GREY ( ) one from.

You sound like you’re getting off on the SMs tho… sure a whacky-placky is gonna be your thing? Mebbe book a Speed Triple ride too

The Superduke has what they call a self learning EFI system. Which means the engine can set it self up for operating conditions based on recorded engine and environmental parameters.

Basically what this means in plain english is, if you change something you can set it all up by letting the bike run at idle for 15 minutes then hey presto it’s working perfectly again.

I’m aware of the EFI system “learning”. I’m positive my dealer has a new “BASE” map to download to the ECU though. There have been revisions to the std base map to cure the Cutting out at idle problems early models had.

Are you saying that isn’t the case? If so what’s your source please?

Year One, you asked if it’s worth having the 990SD over the 950SM.

I don’t think it’s really like that TBH. I think the models are pretty different and and as such have different appeals.

I regard the 950SM as the better bike around town. It’s easier to wheelie. I suspect the weight distribution is a bit different. The head angle and trail are different.

I really don’t ride in town much, and I prefered the skinnier SD.

These sites are nice:

www.990superduke.com

www.950supermoto.com

I would have thought any new or used 990 purchased from bracken will have had the new base map

loaded. Even so, the initialisation procedure should be carried out whenever there are changes eg;

At every engine service, after valves adjusted, after air filter replacement, even if there are extreme changes in weather.

The source of my info, KTM.

I agree with you Sparky.

I just wanted to confirm that the 15 minute thing was in addition to the mapping.

Do you have one of 'em?

No, but would love one!

The info I’ve given was on the latest tech bullitin. Bracken is one of my customers I’ve been doing their alarms and other electronic devices since 1993. But, I’m up there next week and will confirm it.

I (think) i was told today that for the Akras a new map was downloaded and then it was also left to idle for 20mins to self learn…

Does that make any sense?

YES!