Having a lower back pain issue too I thought the same and chopped my gsxr1000 in for a KTM Superduke, don't get me wrong it was a superb machine, sounded the business with the akros but made my back much worse - struggled to make a 50 mile trip !! So got rid and picked up a R1 - and have stuck with sports bikes ever since (RSV4 Factory now) and find it much easier on my back. I think as you're leaning forward all the weight is on my shoulders/wrists where as on the Superduke being much more upright the weight was concentrated on pushing down on my spine. But never tried a CB1000 but did a 675 street triple and that was painful too! As already mentioned test ride, test ride, test ride !! Good luck !!
Hahahahaha!!!!! You've got some awesome descriptions in there!! Do like the sound of the triple but not sure on the looks......will see if I can find one to take for a blast, may stop caring about looks at that point. Run into a slight problem with test riding the cb, they went and sold it on Saturday :'( Though I'm definitely one who loves a test ride, is all I used to do before I could actually afford to buy one
Also dude forgot to mention you need to test ride any bike that you are thinking about buying at least twice. Reason for that being is as follows - Test Ride 1 - This is a lot like a one night stand it feels great whilst you're balls deep in happy town and all of the rapture and thrills of riding a new bike simply blow your mind and you'll be like yes this is the one for me! Test Ride 2 - Ok so you've woken up next to it the morning after. Now if there are any cracks they will show themselves now and there will be several things I am sure that you will think hmm I don't like that and it was really lacking grip in that corner or its turned my testicles to mash potato. Even so this is where you decide that the niggles you have found don't outweigh the awesome fun that you had on your first test ride if they don't then congratulations my friend you have got yourself a marriage sure it might not be perfect but you can always work on it to make it better. However if your cons outweigh your pros then you know that bike belongs in the no call back pile and quietly collecting your belongings and leave before it notices... Just basically don't end up like this guy....
Thanks for all the help, A few test rides later and a pretty good deal I now have a speed triple to blast around on. It really is in a different league to the blade but still a lot of fun and gives me a bit better chance of avoiding points, etc
I did the reverse No mor daily commuting for me and I work out of London, not in Central London, so went from a Street a Triple R to the blade
I thought about this last year so went on a few test rides,the cbr1000r being one of them Fantastic bike far better than I ever expected,I would defiantly buy one then once I rode the blade home again I changed my mind the blade is so much fun If I had the money I would still buy a cbr1000r just so I could take the wife out,but keep the blade for my fun
Been reading this with interest, thinking about having a change myself for similar reasons. Has anyone tried an MT09 yet?
A mate of mine test rode one said he preferred the MT07 which he rode previous to that said the MT09 wasn't fun at all and he turned round after just 5 miles on the test ride saying that the bike had boiled his testicles and that was the end of that lol. He really recommended the smaller version though but if you want upright fun I would recommend the KTM superduke if it's just a fun toy that thing looks bloody awesome...
That's interesting, I'll bear that in mind. A mate has a 690 superduke and I had a go, so much fun! And extremely well put together, I was really surprised by the build quality.
Yep i test rode one. When i was looking for my CB (Which i now have), i visited a Yamaha dealer who had a used one in and test rode it .... did not buy that one !!! They also had an MT-09 and he offered to let me out on it as it had just arrived that day.... it was ok, but.... i did not like the fueling or the seat position, with the CB (and one of the things i really do like about it) your locked into the tank, your bits and bobs ! Are right on the tank, with the MT-09 your far away, its like some kind of straight seated off road thing, not for me. The fuel mapping in A and standard was just too all over the place so you would need to budget for a power commander straight away, it did have loads of torque and although the build quality for the price was good, it was not the same as the CB and to be honest when you had them side by side, the CB's paint and general looks shone through.
I've test ridden a ktm superduke what a bike would love one in my garage a real hooligans bike, But I think I'd get into more trouble on that then I would my blade !!!!
