366 replies to this topic

[NikhilB]

He is finally home

(Night time photography and mobile cameras aren't the best of friends)

Only 70kms done...

Sadistically prevented myself from taking a test ride
But had to practically re-learn riding for the first 20 kms. It's that different from my ZMA.

Dislikes:
Small rear brake lever. Can only use the big toe to apply the rear brakes. Shoes slip off the lever if pressure is applied by the entire foot. - Have to come up with a new technique.
Would have liked some feedback from the indicator switches. Have to practically check the console to see if they are blinking.
Have to go the N by upshifting to 2nd and then a tap.

Likes:
Rev-happy Engine. My first reaction - Whoa!!! WTF!!
7.5k rpm limit for first 1k kms - I want a 7th gear!!!
Raspy exhaust - Very evil!
Doesn't feel top heavy even with a full tank - I like!
Build quality looks good, but only time will tell.
Front brakes not as grabby as I feared.
Rest are as everyone mentioned.

@ crazyyogi
My gears were too soft, almost no feedback (missed the "thunk" of slotting into the 1st gear). But has improved over the last 30 kms. So, expecting it to be fine by the end of the run-in.

PS: My thighs were still buzzing for 30 minutes after the 15km morning ride to office - Niice!

[pulsurge]

Arey waaaah....congrats congrats

[crazyyogi]

Congrats Nikhil.

One superb click dude ..... i got all of my pics uploaded o Facebook, will upload few good one soon .........
with regards to the gears hardness enquired with Deepak and showroom guys .........it will go with the run in period .......

The bike Rocks .......My KTM i calling it Crazy-Nomad ...........

yesterday when i rode my avenger for a short ride i really felt like m really sitting on SOFA compared to the Crazy_Nomad.
both r different segments altogther .......... and today while on Activa, i was feeling like a kiddo riding it for the first time ..........hahahahah .....

Todat met Amit (Deepak & Sanket's frnd) with his KTM at RTO with 5 other lots at Andheri ......... more organe to rock the roads soon....

Would love to do a ride with group - a dhaba ride to kholpoli or breakfast ride to lonavala or anyother place

cya soon guys

[ShamikB]

One of my close pals in Delhi ran had to refill from a tankful within 350kms. And I know for sure, he is following the run in rev limits, etc. as mentioned by the showroom folks. Razorblades would know him, his name is Sparsh.

Cheers,
Shamik

[satyenpoojary]

Congratulations Nikhil! Worth the wait I suppose!

Did I tell you about this cheap running in service I know someone does

[NikhilB]

satyenpoojary, on 07 March 2012 - 07:41 PM, said:

Congratulations Nikhil! Worth the wait I suppose!

Did I tell you about this cheap running in service I know someone does

And I know of a good exchange programme... Too bad, the spark has already completed run-in....
But i'm sure the guy will be ready to compromise

[crazyyogi]

ShamikB, on 07 March 2012 - 07:26 PM, said:

One of my close pals in Delhi ran had to refill from a tankful within 350kms. And I know for sure, he is following the run in rev limits, etc. as mentioned by the showroom folks. Razorblades would know him, his name is Sparsh.

Cheers,
Shamik

if am not mistaken th guy in Delhi is Sparsh Arun ..........

[samschenker]

After the long wait got mine delivered yesterday.


The way revs build up is totally different to what I have been used to & very aggressive compared to my 125cc bike I have been riding. Engine does heat up in traffic, typical of a liquid cooled engine(?)

Cant wait for the weekend to come

[satyenpoojary]

Would happen for a while untill the first few services, then it gets better...

[ShamikB]

satyenpoojary, on 08 March 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

Would happen for a while untill the first few services, then it gets better...

Why would that happen technically? Or is that the rider get used to the heat dissipation after a few thousand kms on the bike?

crazyyogi, on 07 March 2012 - 08:18 PM, said:

if am not mistaken th guy in Delhi is Sparsh Arun ..........

Yes, thats him.

[NikhilB]

ShamikB, on 08 March 2012 - 06:19 PM, said:

Why would that happen technically? Or is that the rider get used to the heat dissipation after a few thousand kms on the bike?

Bikes usually run hotter during the run-in since the cylinder walls are literally being filed on the inside.

Took my bike to Igatpuri yesterday. Wanted to escape from Holi and couldn't bear the thought of building kids turning my bike to a pink Duke.



Had breakfast (some biscuits) at the top of Kasara Ghats.



Had a couple of runs up and down Kasara Ghats... Here's the result,
Front Tire


Rear tire


Rear tire (profile)


Link to the entire album.

Unlike Doc, I'm nowhere near the edge of the tire

Feedback:
Love the seat - Flat and wide. Not a sofa, but still comfortable for my "healthy" South Indian rear
Very forgiving - Mid corner line corrections and gear-changes do not unsettle the bike
Front suspension is stiffer than other Indian bikes - @LP I'm suspicious about its off-rading abilities due to this.
Lights - Good spread on the low and high beams.
Engine braking is good and quite powerful, thankfully not to the extent of getting jerky.

Question for all, Do i run the risk of glazing, if run-ins are done on highways?
I'm not at a particular rpm for more than a couple of minutes.
My routine, maintain 7k rpm at 6th for a couple of minutes then drop to around 4k rpm then accelerate back to 7k rpm; repeat the cycle. Also, occasionally drop down to 4k rpm in 5th and then accelerate.

[pulsurge]

Nice one Nikhil.

BTW saw Sanket's bike yday. He has removed the rear hugger/ saree guard and got orange racing stripes done on his mags from AH Helmets for 350 bucks with a KTM logo. Looks very very neat. Bike looks kickass.

[NikhilB]

pulsurge, on 09 March 2012 - 01:23 PM, said:

Nice one Nikhil.

BTW saw Sanket's bike yday. He has removed the rear hugger/ saree guard and got orange racing stripes done on his mags from AH Helmets for 350 bucks with a KTM logo. Looks very very neat. Bike looks kickass.

You mean rim tapes? Thanks for the info, will decide based on what KTM charges for the originals. Are they reflective?
Would go for them only if reflective, for safety reasons.

I personally feel reflective rim tapes are very useful to make your bike visible from a right angle.
(Imagine yourself coming from a dark alley onto an unlighted road in the night, an approaching vehicle will spot you very early because of the reflective tapes)   

[pulsurge]

Yeah its reflective...have asked Sanket to click a pic if possible. Will post it here.

[ShamikB]

Btw, read a blog entry from a Bangalore owner. Says the suspension setup isnt for off-roading, interesting

http://motorcyclesonly.wordpress.com/