Congrats! One lucky chap you. We can just dream sitting down here :D Maybe if lucky we get a chance to swing it round the track at Chakan when launched.... Or maybe am dreaming too much ;)
Regards, Deepak On 3/4/09, Eric <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Friends, > > Now that none of us had anything to share about these, I went and > found a way to get a chance to ride just the Duke 690. > > The time came and I was too excited. The bike feels small and lighter > than a Karizma, but is quite high so shorties may face problems with > getting used to climbing and getting off this bike. The pickup was > what I witnessed almost immediately. This one gives you too much of a > punch to believe its just a Single cylinder 650cc engine! I got used > to this thing in almost no time and it was superfun riding it > especially with it loaded with an Akrapovic Exhaust system (I would > not call this a Silencer lol). Akrapovic is pronounced as Ak-ra-po- > vich. > > To manouver the bike was a breeze and could be ridden almost like an > RX-100. This one comes with slipper clutch too, so if you downshift > too much too early, there are still high chances that you've not made > contact with the ground. The Instrument console on that bike was not > functional for reasons I'm not aware of, so cant tell at what speeds > I travelled. But it was fun! > > When i came back, I was oogling at the Superduke 990 that stood > peacefully when I finally made up my mind to try out that monster too > just for some added fun and feel. Knowing that I am a karizma rider > who never even tried a 600 before, they were reluctant, but since > they saw I was fine with the Duke, they handed me the keys of the > Superduke. I started the bike and ......... that Exhaust note sent > shivers down my spine. I couldnt believe I was going to ride a 999cc > bike! I got onto this tallie too, waited for the FI to get the RPM > back to normal after warming up after which I revved ... its like > something I've never heard before. Offcourse this too was loaded with > 2 Akrapovic Exhaust Pipes. FYI this brand is one of the best > performing and sounding dabbas in the world. Costs some AED. 6500/- > approx for the pair and does not come stock. > > i was asked to be very careful as mistaken twists of the throttle > could prove very unforgiving. I carefully rolled off there at an RPM > as low as possible just to get the feel first. I didnt want to make > any mistakes. The first thing I noticed is that the bike sure is a > bit sluggish at such low RPM's because its not made for that. The > moment I went up, there was no turning back. Bike has RAW power, > feels excellent, and though heavy at around 180kgs handles fine. This > one did feel like a big bike! Then came time for me to take U turn > from the signal where I must have waited for around a minute. The > bike does feel HOT during idle. > > I was almost back in no time when I felt that now that I'm a bit used > to the bike, I must take it a bit further as the 2 laner was empty > too. It gave me a Maddening pickup and I was doing 130kmph in that 2 > laner in almost no time without knowing it!!!!!!!!!! Now thats the > fastest I've done on a bike and it was time to remind myself that I > need to slow down even though the monster didnt quite seem to feel > like doing so. In no time i was back to its home. The horn reminded > me of the Karizma's stock horn though this was a bit better. > > The rest of the day passed mostly with my eyes shut still imagining > me having a ball on the bike. > > Cost of :- > > 1) Brand New KTM Duke 690 (2009) 65 BHP - AED 42,000 > 2) Brand New KTM Superduke 990 (2009) 118 BHP - AED 57,000 > 3) Brand New KTM Superdule 990 (2008) 118 BHP - AED 53,000 > > These prices can be negotiated upon a bit. > > The superdukes also come in an 'R' version which means they get a > black bike with ORANGE chassis which looks a killer. It also has Race > oriented suspension, exhaust headers, a more powerful engine @ 130 > BHP and I think carbon fibre body too. > > A must mod for all owners is an Akrapovich kit. You'll know why when > you've heard it. Check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch? > v=GYaqxBUtGQo > > Readers inputs welcome. > > Regards, > Eric > > > > -- Sent from my mobile device
