No way!

Like Kruz pointed out, the Japanese are not that looney. The closest thing to the Duke is probably the Tuono or the Speed Triple and how many years in a row the Street fighter has been best in class. The Japanese do a lot of things well but Naked bikes are not part of the list. 1300cc's, 189 kg, Super Moto ABS (you can lock the rear but won't lock the front). You can't beat that. The Euros know how to make a hooligan bike. Licenses expectancy are going to drop big time lol.

I just got back from the BMW/Triumph dealership and somehow I feel better on the 675R compared to the Beemer. On the 675 I can tuck better under the tiny windscreen. The seat is longer it seems. The only problem with the Triumph would be that even the R is not sprung for a 230 rider. I could buy a 675 without the R and upgrade it but that will bring it to BMW $$. If I bought the Beemer, I would be able to leave it alone for a couple of years before upgrading it for track duties.

Best bang for the Buck = ZX-10
Best for the Purist = Triumph 675R
Guilty Pleasure = BMW S1000RR

I'm not in a hurry as I'm still waiting for the new Yamaha. Also I like the 2012 colors better when it comes to the beemer.

BTW, Triumph boasts to be the manufacturers with the best QC.

I think the closest thing to the new 1290 Duke would be the discontinued Suzuki B-King. The King is heavier, yes, but does have 1 more horsepower and 2 extra "torques' over the KTM.

I loved my B-King but decided that fairings were pretty important at that performance level, hence the ZX14 in my garage.

Something very sexy about the KTM. I always liked the Bking, but that KTM is fast and looks mean! I would grab a KTM all day long and thrice on Sunday. How u enjoying the move to your faired monsta?

The ZX14 takes me back to my Hayabusa days. Very enjoyable!

Dragking, ZX-10R with the full Ivan's performance package, ECU re-flash, PCV, custom map and Akrapovic full system, is the way to go, look at that torque curve, BMW killer! Why can't KHI do this out of the box? BMW would be out of business....lol!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 6/26/2014 @ 6:05 AM *

I think the closest thing to the new 1290 Duke would be the discontinued Suzuki B-King. The King is heavier, yes, but does have 1 more horsepower and 2 extra "torques' over the KTM.

Dragking, ZX-10R with the full Ivan's performance package, ECU re-flash, PCV, custom map and Akrapovic full system, is the way to go, look at that torque curve, BMW killer! Why can't KHI do this out of the box? BMW would be out of business....lol!

* Last updated by: dragking on 6/26/2014 @ 8:01 PM *

Rode this Ducati 899 Panigale today...

... it was unlike anything I've ever ridden before. There is so much violence coming from the engine it felt like a war going on between my legs! The noise from the stock exhaust is deafening and the relentless pounding of the pistons under you make you feel as worn out after a ride as a female porn star at the end of a 10 hour shift.

Absolutely brutal machine.

I can see the attraction though... every ride would be a celebration of internal combustion, just going down to the store would be an unforgettable event! The bike is not for me but I certainly understand the Ducati mystique.

This is the bike you should have bought, Kruz... it's the anti-christ compared to that easy-going Fireblade.

Awesome description!!!

You heard that Kruz? no more PG13 bikes time to go X-rated. lol

Youz guys are killing me...lol!

LOVE the small panigale. I do think I prefer the white evo 848 looks a bit more tho. a tiny bit more red with the frame and a few other black accents really spice it up. I'm sure the 899 is a better bike, however.

Great description. I'd love to give one a go.

It would be different for sure.

Check the torn up torx head, right lower h/bar clamp.

The 1190 is unforgiving in the handling dept.
The 1290 is forgiving and is a wheelie monster.
Single swingarm was pretty trick but you have to remove the ex-pipe to get the wheel off.
Dual 02 which means these are [test ride] gray market imports ktm owns.
Using a racing ecu is how you loophole the closed loop system.

There were a few torx bolts all wrinkled, so no hex heads or allen bolts but torx throughout.

Good "spy" report Hub. I wonder what they had to do that! Like the bike is not peculiar (original) enough. I hate those bolts. I guess those can be replaced fairly easily but still.

Thank, drag, but notice the combined torx/6-point wrench head peppered around some. Brake calipers and handlebar clamps are better off service wise in a bolt situation, but if we are overall in weight loss I get the point.

"Rode this Ducati 899 Panigale today..."

"every ride would be a celebration of internal combustion, just going down to the store would be an unforgettable event!"

That's how I feel when I ride my 748 although it's not nearly as powerful as the 899. I love the raw mechanical feel. The zx14 is so smooth and comfortable, the Ducati is a nice contrast.

Hub bought a new 1290 Super Duke?

No, Kruz, I'll make a tour at the dealer show, see what's new? I still have the ape and am just sitting on it. I need to get off my rump and sell it or trade it in on ???

I said it a year ago and I'll say it again: the 1290 is the madman.

Only other scooter I would consider owning.

Agreed!

So it's no secret I've been lusting over the 1290 Super Duke either... What a sexy lady she is... So I found a local KTM dealer that actually had a demo bike and would let an speed freak like me ride it! I showed up with my helmet and they were fine with it. I was like a kid on Christmas and when he handed me the key it was like a slow motion deal with angels singing! Then through all the music the sales guy says SO you will follow me?? WTH? I had to play follow the leader with a guy that had only been riding for three years? Are you kidding me? Then he says the bike has to stay on the street setting. What? It was killing me. About a mile into it I changed it to track setting and she felt better for sure. The bike felt nice for sure but with this slow ass guy killing me I couldn't really tell much. But I will say she is sexy as hell.....

lol, I hate when you can tell the salesman is just going off of a brochure. I did demo with kawasaki and BMW and all both guys told me is to wait a little before changing modes. I bet that guy doesn't sell a lot of bikes lol.

I suppose at one time they were very enthused about bikes and had all the latest knowledge. As the years pass, they get beaten down and end up getting jobs just because they have a history in the business. I recently met a very nice salesperson and I was a little embarrassed for him. He came to me and asked if I needed help and it was pretty obvious to us both that I could carry on a conversation about sportbikes with greater efficacy than he could. Talk about role reversal. What sucks is that I applied for that job twice and never even got an interview. I even bought a %$#@# bike from them! Glad I bought the busa from somewhere else.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/12/2014 @ 10:27 PM *

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/2015-yamaha-yzf-r1-spy-photo/#more-67337

This will work.

I'll believe it when I see it Hub, the Big Four has lost the plot if my new CBR is any indication, nice road bike but way down on power compared to the HP4. I bet we get bold new graphics on all of the Japanese offerings for 2015.

My prediction is BMW will rule the liter roost forever, no one has an answer whether Japanese or Italian, the bike has all the boxes ticked. A 230 HP cross plane crank R1 would make a terrible road machine and I doubt Yamaha would release it unless it had decent longevity.