About time you took the proper bike out isnt it ;) :D :D. 

 

Yeahhhhh, one of the guys at work with a vespa has invited me out with the scooter club, it's like everyone has forgotten I have a proper bike too :D  I have almost got it out, but when I do I need to tax it, so I'm waiting till I will be able to ride it a reasonable amount. I think once we get towards the end of Feb and the weather isn't freezing then it'll come out. 

 

In the meantime I need to get cracking down the gym so I can get some new bike bits in spring (I've been putting it off for a while, dont want to spend money and it not fit in a few months. 

About time you took the proper bike out isnt it ;) :D :D.

Pot, kettle, black...

Pot, kettle, black...

Theres no tractor section on here mate...

Fixed the sticking rear brakes. Wheel off , drums apart de grease and re grease pins , working a treat now 

Actually managed to drag it out for a couple of hours yesterday.

first time it's turned a wheel since September.

Yes, I know, I should be ashamed of myself.

2 hours ago, CFB said:

Actually managed to drag it out for a couple of hours yesterday.

first time it's turned a wheel since September.

Yes, I know, I should be ashamed of myself.

 

Hmm. All too common though. 

 

Mines been away since october n hasnt moved yet. I think theres another month yet :( 

Sad isn't it, really.

I think my lack of riding in the cold and wet comes from riding for work all year round, in all weathers for 7 years.

It took the enjoyment out of it.

Now I have the choice, I'm more inclined to take the car when it's yuk out there.

1 minute ago, CFB said:

Sad isn't it, really.

I think my lack of riding in the cold and wet comes from riding for work all year round, in all weathers for 7 years.

It took the enjoyment out of it.

Now I have the choice, I'm more inclined to take the car when it's yuk out there.

 

Yeah same here mate. Used to ride all year round but wouldnt anymore. 

 

Whats the point when the cars nice n warm n cosey? Haha 

3 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Yeah same here mate. Used to ride all year round but wouldnt anymore. 

 

Whats the point when the cars nice n warm n cosey? Haha 

 

Hehe, heated seats are a bitch! 

Checked it was still under the covers then proceeded to scan internet for second bikes .... Tiger sport v Kawasaki Z1000sx at the moment...

 

2 hours ago, jerbear said:

Checked it was still under the covers then proceeded to scan internet for second bikes .... Tiger sport v Kawasaki Z1000sx at the moment...

 

 

Have you ridden a Tiger Sport before mate?

 

i test rode one last August

8 hours ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Have you ridden a Tiger Sport before mate?

 

i test rode one last August

Not yet, going to test when weather better. My mates got a Z1000SX so I carn try his.

 

What did you think of the Tiger Sport ? . It will be an early singled sided swing arm model 13/14 plate that's within my budget. 

Edited 8 February, 20179 yr by jerbear

2 hours ago, jerbear said:

Not yet, going to test when weather better. My mates got a Z1000SX so I carn try his.

 

What did you think of the Tiger Sport ? . It will be an early singled sided swing arm model 13/14 plate that's within my budget. 

 

Thats the model i was looking at buying. 

 

I test rode a brand new one, because it was easier. Tbh, i wasnt that impressed. The engines not bad and didnt disapoint, but the gearbox felt abit vague and the throttle (it was fly by wire on the new one i rode) just felt detached from the engine. 

 

Its quite a big bus n can be thrown around no mither though. It would be comfy for longer trips.. i just couldnt get over the feel of the gearbox or the gearbox lever. 

 

Might of just been me, because of the new throttle or whatever but i just didnt feel involved with it really. Triumph dealer didnt seem surprised when i went back. Don't think he was expecting me to like it. 

 

I went around a few used ones on 13/14 plates and their seemed to be quite alot of corrosion, especially around the rear shock and brakes. Couldnt find a single one without a pitted rear shock even though theyd only done a few K miles. 

 

It might of just seen a bad bunch tbf. But it drove me away and thats when i test rode the Tracer 'expecting' to be disapointed . 

Edited 8 February, 20179 yr by fabiamk2SE

I will have to try one and see. I will look out for corrosion after what you say. I'm 6'2" and 17 stone so like "big" bikes.

 

I will prob try a Tracer 900 too, heard good reports, just struggle with the look of the headlights etc.

There are a few good second hand ones about, just creeping into my price bracket too.

 

Either way it will be nice to try a few different bikes out when the weather picks up, it was late November since I have been out :(

31 minutes ago, jerbear said:

I will have to try one and see. I will look out for corrosion after what you say. I'm 6'2" and 17 stone so like "big" bikes.

 

I will prob try a Tracer 900 too, heard good reports, just struggle with the look of the headlights etc.

There are a few good second hand ones about, just creeping into my price bracket too.

 

Either way it will be nice to try a few different bikes out when the weather picks up, it was late November since I have been out :(

 

Generally just all the nuts and bolts n what not i'd look for. You can tell when ones been looked after. I went to look at one at CMC on a 13 plate with 6k on the clock and it was horrific. Had a brake fluid leak and the lot . 

 

I have seen good examples since i was looking though and its worth mentioning that im probably the most fussy person in the world . 

 

I wasn't going to try the Tracer but their really isnt that many bikes that ticked all the boxes.. so i tried it for the sake of it really. Was well impressed, even after riding the aprilia it wasn't disappointing. 

 

You're somewhat bigger than me.. im only about 5, 8 or 9 so maybe something like a GS might suit even? The Tracer is really light... abit like whacking 115bhp in a mountain bike. Seemed just as fast, if not abit faster than the 1050. 

 

Funny you say that.. my favourite bit is the headlights i think . They're quite impressive at night too. 

 

Theres no other way than just searching around n doing your thing is there. It's the only way you'll really know what suits you :). Plus its great fun thrashing a dealers bike for them  

Roll on summer

Edited 8 February, 20179 yr by jerbear

Finally all got all the bits I've been after; Rottweiler air filter system inc billet trumpets, fuel dongles with exhaust bungs, SAS removal kit and engine bash guard.

Hopefully this weekend I can start striping the bike down and remove the tank. I'll give it good going over with ACF50 too whilst it's stripped down.

Feedback from others really rate this mod with good gains throughout the rev range without the need for a remap. 

 

Had forgotten just how good silk and pseudo-silk, under gloves, head and neck liner plus the thermals are.  These days weigh next to nothing but make a huge difference in riding comfort.

 

Double bubble screen fitted so that helps a bit too.

 

All delivered from Amazon at great prices and timescales.

I've spent the weekend in the garage, which wasn't the warmest of places, fitting the bits in my previous post. Since it's taken me all weekend, I don't really need to say how much work was involved. 

Starting with getter the tank off just so I could get to the air box. It's a bit of a monster, thankfully it was near empty. 

 

 

just so I could get to lungs of the beast. 

 

 

Well we won't be needing any of that now or the SAS pipework either. The O2 sensors have also been removed and fuel dongles fitted instead. 

 

 

Base plate and tuned velocity stack fitted along with debri guard

 

 

Now with proper performance lungs fitted

 

 

Whilst I was at it I sprayed the bike with ACF50 which was a pig of a job in the cold as it came out too thick and I spent more time cleaning it up than applying it. Also fitted the KTM bash plate which is seriously heavy duty at 6mm thick. 

 

 

After getting all the plastics fitted again I've only managed to take it as far as the driveway as it's trying to snow  but boy does it sound good. The induction and exhaust noise really make your nerves tingle. The neighbour, also a biker, came out for listen and appreciated a few twist of the throttle. Not sure the other neighbours were as appreciative. 

I can't wait to get out on the roads to give it a proper testing. 

Looks good that. Proper write up too, nice one. 

 

Whats the aim then? an extra couple of BHP, a better low to mid range n just generally allow the engine to breathe better without the emissions crap?

 

Is it likely to actually go off road then?  

The air filter and stack gives around a 10-12bhp along with another 9ftlbs of torque too with gains throughout the rev range which is through better breathing. Better MPG too. 

The 1190 and 1290 KTMs have suffered with a poorly sealing airbox allowing air through that's not been filtered. In dusty environments it's been known to destroy engines so a bit of peace of mind too. 

 

Using another shorter stack on the front would create more power but sacrifice torque. The mix of stack sizes I used before on the SM990 with a standard up front along with an RC1180 on the rear and it made a big difference. The tuned stack has actually been developed on the dyno using both different heights and opening angles to get the best of both worlds. Before we could only use what was available on other models using the same engine and throttle bodies. 

 

The removal of the O2 sensors and addition of the fuel dongles enriches the fuel mix at throttle opens of less than 20% which makes the power delivery smoother as they can be quite snatchie at lower revs. Side effect is slightly higher fuel consumption cancelling out the MPG gain from the air filter. 

 

The Secondary Air System injects air into the exhaust as part of the emissions lowering but a side effect is loud popping when you close the throttle. A very common mod on KTMs is to remove the SAS and blank off the ports. 

Should be good then, roll on a ride out. 

 

The KTM twins seem to be that smooth anyway, im not sure they're even twins? haha. 

 

Sounds a mod worth doing. Emissions crap holding things back again.. with other added bonus' by doing what you did too.  Always good. 

 

Snow here so its not fit for anything other than 4 wheels really. Even then its quite fun. 

The carb KTM's were smooth but the injected ones have always been a bit snatchie at low revs. KTM's just like to be ridden flat out everywhere they go. The 990 when I first got it would hunt at a steady throttle of around 3000rpm which is were it was when driving around town within the speed limits. The 1190 is way smoother but not like a carb bike, the removal of the O2 sensors makes it much closer. I intend to use the bike off-road and a snatchie throttle makes would make it harder work. I just need to wear down the road tyres first so I can fit something more dual purpose. 

I've ridden Honda, Ducati and Aprillia v-twins before and they've all been much smoother at low revs than the KTM.

 

Trickiest bit over the weekend was yesterday trying to fit a screw for the air deflector that's moves the hot air from the radiator away. Took nearly two hours to get to it screwed in due to the positioning of it. I could of left it but I'm not th type not do ensure it's 100% right. Happy to say not one tool was thrown but it does did push me to the limit. 

 

After nearly a full day in th cold garage handling even colder tools I could barely feel my hands seeing bits of snow in the air I wasn't too eager to go for a ride. It's been too wet for anything to stick but wouldn't be surprised to see a blanket of white in the morning. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, CWARD said:

The carb KTM's were smooth but the injected ones have always been a bit snatchie at low revs. KTM's just like to be ridden flat out everywhere they go. The 990 when I first got it would hunt at a steady throttle of around 3000rpm which is were it was when driving around town within the speed limits. The 1190 is way smoother but not like a carb bike, the removal of the O2 sensors makes it much closer. I intend to use the bike off-road and a snatchie throttle makes would make it harder work. I just need to wear down the road tyres first so I can fit something more dual purpose. 

I've ridden Honda, Ducati and Aprillia v-twins before and they've all been much smoother at low revs than the KTM.

 

Trickiest bit over the weekend was yesterday trying to fit a screw for the air deflector that's moves the hot air from the radiator away. Took nearly two hours to get to it screwed in due to the positioning of it. I could of left it but I'm not th type not do ensure it's 100% right. Happy to say not one tool was thrown but it does did push me to the limit. 

 

After nearly a full day in th cold garage handling even colder tools I could barely feel my hands seeing bits of snow in the air I wasn't too eager to go for a ride. It's been too wet for anything to stick but wouldn't be surprised to see a blanket of white in the morning. 

 

 

 

I think it was the 1290 KTM which seemed stupidly smooth for a twin tbh. Didn't even sound like a twin. A friend of mine has had a 2016 1290 super adventure thingy n then sold it for a 66 plate Super Duke GT thingy mabob. 

 

Aprilias are ****e at low revs but awesome at higher revs. Just want to go and tbf thats what makes them a less than ideal road bike. 

 

ahh you get used to the cold tools. But no, certainly not bike worthy at the moment.. on my way home today... 

 

 

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