Bike Six: KTM Superduke 1290GT

[black-k1]

Apart from filling the reservoir, the eScottOiler is pretty much 'fire and forget'!

[Phmode]

Ah see, there's the flaw. 'Someone' has to remember something. 

How much oil does the set up use David? I no longer have a chain bike and the oiler wouldn't work well for off-road machines, but I'm sure it is the way to go. I remember back in the day when they first became available, there was a lot of oil being flung all over the place because folks would just put any old tosh in there despite there being a proprietary formulation which most folks ignored.

[black-k1]

There are different size reservoir options. I've got the smaller one. I'd guess about 150-200ml. I fill it about every 1500ish miles although it won't get refilled on the Old Gits trip so I don't have to carry a bottle of oil. It will start full and I do carry a spray can of chain lube. (it's usable by others should it be needed were Scottoiler oil may not be.)

There is fling on the wheel etc. but it's less than there used to be on my old VTR1000F or Aprilia Futura when I just used spray can lubrication. It's also easier to clean off.

The control unit allows you to set the drip rate in seconds per drip (I normally set between 90 and 120) and the speed for cut off so that it's not dripping onto a chain travelling at really high speed where it likely will just get flung off.

As said previously, my last chain and sprockets, on a bike with nearly 220bhp at the wheel and 110lbft, lasted just over 30k miles of brisk, but not hooligan, riding. Personally, I don't think that's bad.

[Phmode]

I agree. I think the mileage on that chain was phenomenal and I'm sure I remember you saying you didn't need to adjust it between services and although the in-service oiling won't necessarily affect chain adjustment, it will most certainly affect chain and particularly sprocket life.

I remember a mate had an early Scottoiler when the adjustments were all manual and he was forever phaffing around with it and claimed it was more trouble than it was worth. It seems as though the digital age has reduced all that phaffing to a minimum amount of set up.

With all the buggering around that Matt had getting the drive sprocket off the KTM, if it were me I would have a Scottoiler on there in a flash even at the price of the eScottoiler, hint hint!

[Matt]

Stop encouraging me to stimulate the economy damn it! You should be wanting me to get a job and pay taxes :p.

The last chain lasted more or less 20,000 miles, including my abuse through all the OG until Croatia where it got its only lubrication. As I also don't really expect to do another 20k on it (pick emigrate or get tempted elsewhere), the cost benefit ain't ending in a purchase. For now. I think it's 2-300 for the fancy one David has.

This year I'm just bringing a tiny spray wax can thing with me . If I was commuting or otherwise earning I'd look more.

[Phmode]

So what's the chance of you getting another shaftie? Because if you sell your bike you keep your Scottoiler. Simples!

[Matt]

FSM knows!

Yesterday I completed changing the front pads (rears have 2mm, fyi future-me) which went splendidly, and after a quick run out to bed them in somewhat, I am immediately liking them a lot. They give more confidence than the OEM brembo pads, although I assume it's like tyres and new are always going to feel better than old/dead.

Hopefully I've nothing else to spend on it for a while now.

I did read someone altered the angle of the screen to vastly improve airflow and thus noise at speed. So if we get more dry days I'll experiment altering the screen spacers top and bottom to see if it helps. I also considered 3D printing strakes or vortex generators but not sure I care enough right now.

[Phmode]

Go in the car...

[Matt]

Go in the car...

Blame the GS for having spoiled me for a quiet cockpit area! It's only on the commute down there where it's a bit annoying. Mostly it's just something to keep faffing with. We all enjoy that!

[Matt]

About time for an update then!

We're about five thousand miles more into my ownership, having done a lovely OG24 trip to the Pyrenees, and a good old Welsh ramble.

The new Road 6 did me precisely 5,545 miles and it was actually properly done for. I am chuffed with that given some of the effort I put into it on the trip.
Little else of note happened, other than me loving it still, and Track Mode being hilarious. The brakes are fine, and the clutch I am paranoid about bit I think it's fine.

It's going into KTM for its 4th service, 26k miles in a week or so.


Fricking awesome Europe



Flipping delightful Wales

[black-k1]

That is one good looking bike^* Matt!   

* Parked with a SD1290GT and a K1300S MotorSport!

[richtea]

Lovely photos. But who's the fat bloke?

And good mileage. Maybe they're just as reliable as BMWs (damning with faint praise, etc).

When my K1300S is tired out (at 50k?) I'll try one out,. There will be a 1390GT by then I guess. Like it needs extra horses!

[Grumpy jase]

Why are you paranoid about the clutch?

Lovely photos, and 26k miles suggests you are getting full use out of it.  I watched one going round Castle Combe a few mo ths ago, and it indeed looked hilarious,  picking up the front wheel over the bumps more than anything else out there.

Very tempting

[Matt]

David: hah! Three good looking bikes!

Richard: I hope so. If there aren't any more gotchyas... And yeah, 1390R is out and GT in a few months. The only thing I'd want it for is the assumed better low rpm behaviour. Although even the 23 plate 1290SAS solved that.

Jase: Ah the/a weak point on the 1290 family is the clutch slave cylinder. And occasionally the master. Back a page or so you'll read about my slave being trouble in Albania and being replaced with an Oberon. Now I just worry the prime will go hehe.

And yeah, I loved riding the K1300 on Brands Hatch but I'd like to take the KTM around the 'ring one day!

Oh also Bri, related to six months ago post, I put a 5mm spacer on the bottom screen fixings and it did nothing, I moved it to the top the other day and it's made it quieter .

[Phmode]

Have you got the radio and the air-con working yet? I know the heated seat and backrest is going to take a bit of work...