Anyone ridden one? Taking a test ride on Saturday, because why not. Popped into the local dealer to see how the refurb was going and got offered a test ride. Funnily enough they aren't selling and I was offered one with £4k off.
I've ridden one. And it had a cruise control fault. Apparently they have lots of electronic issues. Great bike, I really liked it. As fast as my Blade in the mid-range. Very aggressive brakes and suspension set up. I really liked it. But two things stopped me.. the wind blast (its a naked bike after all), and the unreliability (telling because people are selling theirs, and dealers can't shift 'em)
As a Superduke owner issues and reliability will be interesting. Realistically it's not going to replace the Duke unless it's outstanding. I've been up front and told them I'm not particularly interested, but I've had a relationship with them for 20 years or so and generally get offered rides on all sorts. As everyone keeps saying, I'd be more interested in the RS if they sorted the suspension or stuck the semi-active stuff on.
I doubt its a noticeably better bike than the Superduke. The Triumph's have a beautiful finish though. I considered buying a 1200RS and putting straight bars on. In the end, I prefer my Blade for now (even though I ache on longer rides).
I actually went from a matte black 2018 Blade, was the last of 8 Blades over the years, to a 1050 Speed. Kept it for a few months but it couldn't hustle as much as I wanted. Was nice a nice enough ride and build though. The SDR's just another level, shouldn't handle the way it does really. My local dealer's just gone bust and I'm not keen on the next nearest so I'm considering what next. May take an MT10SP out in the Spring but from what I'm hearing I'd like more tank range.
Great bike the Triumph but truly let down by the electronics, lack of low down drive, gearing is hideously tall, and the one I rode some time ago had a horrible gearbox and what felt like back lash in the drive system. The gearbox felt a lot smoother at higher RPM, virtually impossible to get into neutral. Chain tension was all good so wasn’t that causing the issue. My first ride out the dash froze and couldn’t change any settings! Very disappointed at the time. Apparently according to the tech guys the early models did have a few teething issues that were slowly improved on but not completely resolved. Rode another one the following year and still felt it had very similar issues. When you get it singing it feels spot on! Induction noise is intoxicating, very planted handling, especially the front, and under braking. Great looking bike with good build quality. If your a light guy you will definitely need to knock off some front and rear spring preload. Lots of positives but not as polished as the KTM. If your just ambling about at the speed limits it’s very frustrating bike to ride. Go get ago and see how it feels…..
Thanks @Dave dunlop, definitely a 10 stone lightweight. That's why the KTM works well for me being able to back off the suspension with the bit of extra travel. It's looking like 14c with sunny spells so I'm intending on giving it a hammering down the route I regularly do on the SDR. Plenty of mixed road surfaces in there with some fairly iffy B roads.
It will definitely feel good at speed, it's the more mundane riding when it feels awkward. After the KTM it will also feel pretty flat off the bottom. You need to get it singing in the sweat spot and work it. Be interested to hear your opinion....
Well I took the Speed RR for a test ride on Saturday and the long and short of it is it's a no from me. I think I really wanted to like it more than I did. The build quality is definitely there, liked to looks, the kit on it was decent and the brake/gearbox feel was nice. I didn't have any issue with the gearbox, in fact it had a nice change both up and down. The thing that was disappointing was the speed of the screen and transitions. It's just poor and they should be ashamed of that one. Felt like they bought the cheapest bunch of 10yr old CPUs they could find. The active suspension was also decent, took it down some properly gnarly B roads with it backed off to it's softest and it was OK. As everyone seems to be saying, if that was an option on the RS I'd be sorely tempted. The other thing I found disappointing was frontend feel, it was just missing for me. That could be down to the Pirelli SP's on coldish roads or me fannying around with the suspension, but I think there was just something lacking when pushing on. Talking of pushing on, I didn't mind the engine. Doesn't have the grunt of the SDR but I'd not expect it to match the big twin. It's sort of turbine smooth and winds-up easy enough. I could live with it, but I wouldn't want to as I the whole riding experience was compromised due to he riding position. I found it really wristy and it gave me properly achy hands due to the amount of traffic work and filtering I had to do. In fairness it was like riding through a hazard perception test for some reason on Saturday. Lots of unusual stationary traffic, tractors throwing potatoes all over the road, even had to avoid to steam engines being followed by a guy on a Penny Farthing on the way into one village. I did check when I got home and the mushrooms in the fridge were the usual sort. I think the most tempting thing with it was it looks great and they are knocking them out for £14.4k with the "premium" red paint. I had a cursory conversation and ran some figures, then walked when they said they wouldn't resell the Duke and offered an insulting figure through their underwriter. Yeah well, I didn't want it anyway. So I might go and ride the MT10SP next spring if they've managed to build some by then.
Good write up, Seems to me that it’s a little hit and miss with the ongoing gremlins. The dash delay is appalling in comparison with other manufacturers systems. I was left pretty disappointed. The KTM SD is a hard act to follow in most areas. Stick with the beast I think it will be a while before something better comes along. Having said that the BMW S1000R 2023 model on spec sounds like it could be a banger! About time they used the shift cam motor and make the most out of the potential grunt for more excitement. I rode the outgoing model from Barnstormers with the M forged wheels and the Akrapovic, again very disappointed in the engine department, everything else was great, just lacked any character and midrange grunt.
I am actually considering taking the S1000R for a ride next spring, but there are no close dealers. I've been there before and it becomes a ball ache. Might take a ride and see though.
The RR is so - yesterday Check this out ! Expensive though. The Super Duke is still a great bike and great value. Did he say this was likely £19k ? A bit out of my price league to be honest,
I bought the 1200rr For me, I have to have emotion with the bike. I need to desire it and look forward to riding it, cleaning it and generally eyeing it up like a 50 year old really shouldn’t. The bike is just beautiful, just as comfy as a 2019 blade for me, and as quick as you want it to be. The dynamic suspension is a real joy on real roads and the quick shifter is buttery smooth - certainly an improvement on the MT10 and Brutale 800 that I had previously. The TFT dash is ok for me - not tried the KTM so can’t compare. There are loads of deals out there but I think MCN’s Neevesy killed it for some, it was an overly harsh review and most other reviewers love it - if you can deal with the lower bars. It’s normally the hips that go first for me and I’ve been ok with this bike, the tank is quite high so you if you have any midriff padding you’ll be golden
