Im still facing my dilemma. My doris is about to give birth to our first and I've got the green light to buy a new bike. I currently have a 2010 white 1098SF that I love to bits. I was hoping Ducati would do something with the 1199 and deliver a new Streetfighter or super-naked. I took a couple of rides on the Monster 1200S and its not a super naked by a long chalk, more cruiser, softer street bike and just not for me. I tried a Panigale but the riding position would piss me off after a while. That leaves the Super Duke R, S1000R, and Tuono I think. I've zero interest in the Japanese lot. But if you had to get shot of your Streetfighter what would you buy?
Tuono is an epic bike but then again so is the S1000r , can't comment on the 1290 sd as I haven't ridden it yet. The tuono has probably the best sound track and is set up more sporty in comparison to the s1000r (think rigid) I had a 2011 Aprc Tuono and loved it but tank range was piss poor and the ride was a tad harsh for me. The new 2013/14 abs model has a larger fuel tank and marginally comfier seat along with apparently softer suspension. I couldn't tell on the two very recent test rides I took but I still loved it, the only reason I didn't get it was because the mrs would rather me keep the multi as the tuono is shit for two up. I'd probably buy another but being honest I can't discount the S1000r just yet. The Tuono will always have a place reserved in my garage and I was so close to buying another before deciding against it just last week. I took the BMW out a few weeks back and actually really enjoyed it too, it's got slightly better road manners than the Aprilia and was comfier because although it's a lower seat height the pegs are positioned so your not as cramped. I'm pretty tall and if I took another tuono I'd have to lower the pegs this time unless on track. You can happily bumble along on the BMW as the engine is so tractable, I even found myself in 6th gear rolling happily past speed cameras at 30mph without the slightest engine complaint. That's not to say the s1000r isn't fast or sporty either but the suspension is without doubt plusher than the tuono if required but as it has the active HP4 electronic suspension you can quickly switch from rather plush road riding to balls out speed/track set up. Sound track wise it only had the stock can and it's never going to beat the aprilia on that count, nothing does IMO for a stock can, the aprilia is bonkers sounding even with the stock shite let alone when you whack a different pipe on and open the exhaust valve. I will say though that the BMW burbles nicely and sounds very good for a l4, so I presume with a full system it will sound awesome, it's just that I don't know whether the s1000rr full systems fit, somebody will find out soon enough. The BMW is very very good I can't deny, it just needs modding. At the moment they're very new so nobody has done anything yet. I've done some photoshopping and painted one dark grey/black, removed the mirrors etc and it starts to look very mean. It ain't ever going to be pretty but mean won't be a problem. I've seen all the mods to the tuono so it's biased to only think that way. One thing I will say is that there are more bmw dealers than aprilia ones, if you went aprilia just make sure you're happy with the dealer as there's quite some distance between them, the aprilia site makes out there's loads but half don't sell them anymore and half only do scooters. Depending how the mrs gets on with me and the multi this year I'll probably go for one of the two mentioned myself for next year, by then the bmw would have been out longer and more stuff availabe for modding. The sd1290 simply isn't worth £14k and IMO you'd be bonkers to pay that unless you didn't care about losing some money. If I could get one for nearer £11k then we'd be talking but when you can have the other two for £11k I can't for the life of me see why you'd spend the extra. As for the monster I'm with you, it simply won't compete with the other 3 and is miles over priced IMO for what's a relatively basic bike.
I'm on my second street fighter 1098 and still loving it. An MV dealer has just started close to me and I am tempted by the new models. Not sure about reliability though.
Ive had a tuono v4 aprc , fantastic bike ....like Damo says bit harsh on the suspension ...could be sorted out though .......it was just to much for me to beserk ,small tank range and one of the heavyest bikes on fuel ive had but if anyone fancys one i would say go for it . Not rode one of them bmw 1000 r ......last lot of bikes have been vee twins and when ive rode any inline 4 cyls the engines lack character .......yes fast and lots of bhp but not the torque of a vee twin and i think if your riding back roads torque is more important . Im going to see if any of them 1290 duke r turn up next year when there maybe used ones about or do what Ktm normally do and discount the new bike prices latter on whickh knocks on to the used ones . Like already said i dont see it as a 14 grand bike
Cheers guys. I'm booked for a ride on the super duke this weekend over at the KTM Centre in Hemel. I certainly agree that the bike is overpriced, I could absorb that if I really loved the bike - though since its the wrong badge (not Ducati) I cant see me doing so. The Tuono is an interesting prospect, there is a dealer relatively near me, again in Hemel Hempstead but a friend of mine who got a Capanord from them complains about lack of spares and wasn't very complimentary about their workshop which really put me off. I'll have to ride one though I'm 6'2" with long 34" leg so the peg position could be a problem. Panigale - nah. Rode one and hate the sportsbike ergo's. I did think about having another go as a cheap 2013 Panigale S in white (my colour) came up for £17k with 1000 miles but it'd piss me off. The BMW is the unknown quantity. My local BMW dealer in Hertford is getting a demo bike in soon I understand. Worry that it's going to lack character and be a little too dull as in noise, drama and feel. Will see. Keeping the Streetfighter. I was out on it over the weekend and I love the piss out of it... Keeping it is a serious temptation but I will be keeping it for a good while once the kid is born (in the next week or so)!
I honestly thought that they'd canned those! An old friend of mine had one of these a few years back. It was viciously explosive, a very good thing, then started to fall apart in front of his eyes! A right mess. Still, I never understood why they fitted front wheels to these things since it never wanted to use it. EDIT - Tuono and Super Duke test rides booked back to back Saturday.
I don't quite get this one, are you an eccentric millionaire or feeling a bit put out because a baby is going to arrive, and feel you need a present? This forum is full of posts where members regret selling their bikes, your current bike isn't exactly obsolete if you are bored but like your SF, why not keep it and if you have spare funds buy a KTM for green laneing or a cheap GSX track bike.
Nothing quite as exotic or exciting as that sadly; saved for a new Ducati supernaked hoping they'd release a bike on the 1199 platform. Unfortunately they didn't and the monster 1200 arrived. Now wondering what others would buy if they had to sell their Streetfighters.
An elephant. Thats what I'd buy if I had the money. A big huge African elephant. Imagine turning up to your local bike meet on that. There'd be no sniggering about your "reliability issues" then. He's just stamp on the fuckers
I was thinking of a wearing a couple of MP's as 'speed slippers', one foot in each of their tradesman's entrances. Dangle an expense form off the tip of me uncle Ron and I'll be the quickest tit on the block.
I thought about this a few times recently. I came very close to going for the MV Brulate Italia but in the end I decided I like the SF too much! Riding withdrawal syndrome is all it is!!
