Today's steed (S1000XR)

[richtea]

... the KTM is very interesting but never going to appeal to the pipe/slipper/belt/bracers brigade cuz there’s that element of it could all end in tears

I was about to rail against your harsh and cutting description, Chris. 
However, I've got my slippers on. Heating's not on, and it's nippy out there! 

Last rideout tomorrow for a while - for me at least. Back to the push-iron (actually push-ion!) for my two-wheeled kicks.

[chriscanning]

Oh blimey yes..right at the start of lock down swapped this



For that



My other half bought a Whyte 150s we've done close on a 1000 miles.

As for the KTM just about to get the usual fuelling and wheels treatment.

[Belco100]

Well I have to say I love mine. I had one and got rid of it for a 1250GSA and had that for 18 months. A great bike to ride but I never really liked owning it - GS owners are obsessed with metal panniers that look like bread bins and giant bolt on side stand feet.

I recently went back to a 2019 XR Triple Black. So smooth, comfortable, handles well and can really move when needed.

[Phmode]

Perhaps the XR appeals to those who have 'not quite' decided into which niche their riding enjoyment falls...

If you want an 'almost' great bike to commute, cruise, race and pose on, then it might not 'not quite' live up to your 'not quite' firm expectations. Almost!

If I want to kick back and cruise the field margins and impassable lanes of our 'not quite' United Kingdom then I'll take the 24bhp Honda out...

If I want to pose I'll put on my pouch and stand in the middle of the road...

If I want to race I'll upgrade the battery in my mobility scooter...

And if I want to get total involvement and enjoyment on the roads, I'll either take the car out at the dead of night and scare the bejeezus out of the doggers and other nocturnal wildlife or I'll go for a spin on the 'not quite' great at everything but quite great at the niche into which I fall, middleweight sports touring...the almost incomparable K.

But that is the conviction that comes from having been riding since 1964 and driving since 1966. And don't dare ask me what I went through in the intervening years to arrive at my conviction.

So, perfect car...Audi RS6. Enormously overwhelming and hugely capable but for a single guy with no dog, no income and few car related passions?

Perfect bike...well, I'm still living in the past, so it is a K13S until I can afford to upgrade or BMW (or someone else) produces a better bike that I can afford second hand in a few years.

But a 'not quite' bike. No thanks.

[Matt]

My neighbour at the flat had a new rs6 avant on the never never back in... I'm going to say 2016. Took me out in it once and yeah, it's mad! But Jesus's cart is the only vehicle that needs 58 inch wheels, big tourers should have 18s max and nice thick sidewalls please! S500 I reckon .

[Phmode]

It was interesting to see it get trashed by a Lambourghini summatorother (hugeRange Rover lookalike) on Top Gear last week. I fail to see how Audi can let their sports car division have a car that demolishes the beast that is the RS6.

And if a neighbour offers you a lift in one, first google 'RS6 Crash' and take a look at the first set of photos. You will convince yourself that two RS6's had a massive coming together. Eventually you will realise, unbelievable as it seems, that that is really one RS6 and a tree. OK, two halves of an RS6 held together by an exhaust system and a couple of lengths of wiring loom.

Oh, and guy on the phone to his brother is the driver. It was his brother's car...

[chriscanning]

Here's mine 4 years and on 



But blimey its a close run thing with this...

[richtea]

I'd keep the KTM, Chris, were you to have storage problems in the garage. 

And that RS6 crash - lucky it was LHD on the continent. Any passenger / RHD would have been deaded.

[armstrongracer]

Well lush Chris.  Thought seriously about one as a step up from my 950sm but would be putting too much all weather miles and depreciation into it. Went for K1300s mainly because of shaft drive. More manufacturers need to produce shaft drive sports-tourers. They are missing a trick in my opinion.

[chriscanning]

I'd keep the KTM, Chris, were you to have storage problems in the garage. 

Your a braver man than me then cuz I'd be going with the X/R,KTM ownership can be precarious at best but more trinkets to go on this lock down

[chriscanning]

Well lush Chris.  Thought seriously about one as a step up from my 950sm but would be putting too much all weather miles and depreciation into it. Went for K1300s mainly because of shaft drive. More manufacturers need to produce shaft drive sports-tourers. They are missing a trick in my opinion.

The one thing I'll say about that 1290...only bike I've ridden makes not a jot of difference if I'm one up or two up.

[armstrongracer]

Not even propensity to wheelie 

[black-k1]

I'd keep the KTM, Chris, were you to have storage problems in the garage. 

Your a braver man than me then cuz I'd be going with the X/R,KTM ownership can be precarious at best but more trinkets to go on this lock down

Ooh!  Nice wheel.

[richtea]

Nice K1300S wheel. I think?

[chriscanning]

It’s for the KTM, over the years i’ve Had one blip away from Dymag when they went bust and I put carbon BST’s on the K, the reality is...I managed to improve the lack of input required on the K with all its mods by 30%+ but the reality is there’s no getting away from the K is a big old tank and that is all there is too it.

I’m more than happy riding the K in isolation, but up against a modern day bike that is when one gets the light bulb moment of Oh S*** things have moved on’ and that is up against a stock X/R or GT never mind where i’m Going.