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The bikes I rode before buying the speed 3
Some of you may have seen my first post just saying hello.
I thought I would share the list of bikes I rode to make my final decision.
I was looking for another screw you bike to replace my Ducati S4 I sold a couple years ago, something I could still do 300-400 mile days of mostly twisties and not be dying in pain when I got home.
I really want another V-twin but I was being opened except for the fact that I did not want another Japanese bike since I have almost always had one ion the garage. It needed to be different.
So here goes, in order of test rides:
1- 1995 Speed triple: my friend let me take her out, great sound, handled well and felt very comfy and very much like my '01 FZ1.
2 - 2005? MV Agusta Brutale 910 I think. Same friend and wow, sound was intoxicating, not much power down low but up around 8 g's look out. Handled great but my knees were way to cramped. this bike knocked out.
3 - 2008 Tuono R: ( I was more interested in the Factory version but I figured this would give me a good feel) Holy ****!!! Power, handling, surprisingly decent wind protection, "fricking A man" what is this missing.....After riding 10 minutes and wiping the grin off my face I realized my knees were above my head (slight exageration) and I could not deal with this bike for an all day ride.
With my head hung low I returned to the dealer and told them sorry but I might as well buy the crotch rocket version and throw my belly over the tank to ride. Seeya!
NEXT!
4 - 2008 Ducati S4Rs: Hmmmmm back home on a Ducati is what I was feeling....power was a hoot, handling was effing awesome, brakes comfort, looks.......looks.......dated....getting long in the tooth. OK, this bike made the list but knowing it would prolly not make the garage.
5 - 2008 Ducati Multistrada S: Wow again, very comfy ...ok power, great handling 3rd gear wheelies.....looks....hmm well lets just say the bike grew on me and made the list above the S4Rs.
6 - 2008 Ducati S2R 1000 - Very nice bike but the right heel hits the heel guard for the exhaust and puts your foot at a real wierd angle, also noticed this on the S4Rs. I liked the Multistrada better.
No list.
7- 2009 KTM Super Duke R: HOLY EFFING ****!!!! I raced back to the dealer and put a hundy down on this beast. It was a v-win, handled like nothing I have ridden ('cept for my friends regular duke but with gobs of power) brakes were great, BUT....it felt tiny......is that a bad thing??? Not sure but it was the bike that did it for me up to that point.
This bike topped the list with el Multifafa coming in second.
8- 2009 Speed triple. Went to the dealer with the feeling like, well it will be like my friends '95.
They had a blazing orange and a flat black, I really wanted a gloss black.
They rolled the bike out, I saw it for the first time and needed a new set of boxers.
After a quick trip to Walmart for boxers I took it for a ride and withing 5 miles I knew this was the bike.
Get this, the salesman leads the way on his GSXR1000 and is tearing up the road. I really got a feel for the bike although I was worried since this was the first place that someone actually went out with me. I figured we would be puttin up and down a highway.
By the end I was testing the lightness of the front end.
Gave the man a deposit, done deal.
Now to get my money back for the KTM....no problem, a simple call and it was handled.
Thats it in a quick slightly boring summary.
gator
Just to add as an after thought. I could not believe how many bikes I was able to road test.
20 years , hell even 10 years ago there was no such thing as a test ride.
So many thanks to all the dealers who participate in this, mega kudos to you all.
Last edited by ibthegator; 09-13-2008 at 05:17 PM.
Reason: senior moment
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Thanks for the road test
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