2011 Ktm Sx on 2040-motos

Moto blog

EICMA 2011: KTM 690 Duke Unveiled

First, the good news: KTM has taken the covers off the 690 Duke at the EICMA show in Milan this morning. The machine is almost entirely all-new from the ground up and, KTM says, brings the company back to its street bike beginnings. KTM’s venerable 690cc LC4 single-cylinder engine is the obvious choice for power, only now it puts out a claimed 70hp and 51 lbs.-ft.

KTM RC8R: The first month

First impressions are everything so the gearbox niggles on the first RC8s meant I didn’t become an instant fan. There was never a problem for normal road riding but when the pace was increased on track days false neutrals were found and gears were missed. Ironically I might have been able to help here as KTM signed me up for pre-production shakedown testing before I got sidelined with appendicitis.

Riding round the north of Scotland

I’m ashamed to say that until last week, I had no idea what incredible roads and scenery the North West of Scotland had to offer. Starting at Helensburgh just west of Glasgow, ten of us (including ex racers Duffus, MacPherson, Morrison and Simpson,) rode 600 miles round the coast then back down to Inverness. On mostly empty but immaculate roads we lost count of the mountains, lochs and sandy beaches along the way.