Thought I'd put up a little "how is the bike holding up" type post as people were interested earlier on with it being an Indian built machine rather than Austrian. For me, it's holding up perfectly. Admittedly it's only on 1250 miles on the clocks, but apart from the odd stone mark or little marks from various things, it's as good as it came out of the factory. Chain hasn't needed tensioning at all and is still fine etc. Had sprocket cover off today to clean the engine protector and behind the sprocket cover etc. All good.
I chased a 1290 on the way back from Lemans a few months back. They go really well for an upright. And the sound! It's like one of zeus's farts!
Awesome, sounds like you are enjoying it! What MPG are u actually getting now it's run in? I would like one for commuting as it's more interesting, hoping there will be some used ones on the market next spring. I live in west Berks also so agree with u on the roads thing, my 848 just only worked when u were out for a 'blast' where as so far I'm finding the 899 to be much more flexible
You know what mate, I don't actually know. It has a thing on the dash which is all alien to me I think it's L / 100km or L/ 100 miles or something daft. The consensus on the forum is 55-70mpg depending on who owns it and how/where they're riding etc. If you're considering one, make sure it's a 2015 model. There's about 20 updates compared to the 2013/14 but out of them half a dozen are exceptionally important ones.
I was out weekend before last with a mate on a Superduke and a Tiger 800. The little thing was still brilliant ! OK, so over 90mph it's lacking anything... but it gets there quickly enough. At times you could see the bigger bikes have the grunt, but in honesty I never felt I needed 'more'.
Me too mate, just too hard and focused for road stuff, the suspension on the Duke needed the preload setting to a bit firmer but it's pretty damn good out of the crate. you're more than welcome to come test ride mine for the day, or I can arrange a test ride on PRemier Bikes demo bike and i'll come out with you on mine
I admire your courage. No one really needs more than 400-500 cc on the road. I remember touring Europe on an old Honda 500 two up into the mountains etc. Bike never missed a beat.
I followed a 390 on my SMT on the A30 between Shaftesbury and Salisbury the other day. He was giving it some beans. That's quite a fast road but he was making smart progress without going much past 80 mph by holding good corner speed. Just how it should be with a good single. He wouldn't have looked too shabby if he'd been on the 690. Wasn't you was it Weeksy? Talking of Dukes, I had hoped there might be a 1290 SMT on the way (as long as its not just a styling exercise and they keep it light and nimble like the original). But it looks like they're ploughing their resources into an 800 parallel twin instead. To compete with MT-09s and middleweight MVs I guess. Jolly nice too, no doubt, but I'd rather have the 1290..
i really wished they'd do a new smt type bike but it's looking like the 1190 adventure is what they're sticking at for that market
No sir, wasn't me. But sounds very much like a ride a few weekends ago down the A4 to Hungerford. I was overtaken when doing 95 by a gsxr-1000, so I just held it wide open for the next 8 miles.... 95-103 pinned... kept him just ahead of me as he slowed on a few sections, I held it.... as we came into Hungerford I did some aggressive filtering and went past him for the win It was an absolute BLAST. Now I've ridden this section lots of times and you can often get to the end of it a bit bored... because on a big bike you're cruising at them speeds, whereas on the 390 I was just holding it wide open and hanging on
As we're discussing it though, i'll add in this from yesterday Well, that's a bit interesting. Company called MNNTHBX did some testing today with the following results 8.6bhp in the mid-range gained ! without any mapping done, just plug in the Bazzaz and go
