Delivery alert.

Took delivery from the Kanjurmarg showroom last evening. Rode back along the eastern exp highway back to Thane, and was taking care to ride sensibly, exploring the entire rev range(<=7000rpm for now) in each gear without staying at any rpm/gear for an extended period of time. The engine temperature stayed at 6 bars throughout, and I could hear the fan coming on intermittently. The preload was set at setting 5, I would have preferred 7, as I am heavier, though the looser chain for other guys was just perfect for my weight. The sprint from 0-50 and 50-85kmph just makes it all worthwhile for now.
Notes:
1. Odo reading was 28kms when I took delivery.
2. Coolant level was halfway between MIN/MAX, and stays there.
3. Gearshifts are firm and confident, I did not face trouble getting to neutral (It works better when I downshift from 2nd to neutral).
4. The front brake bites hard, but only when panic braking. With controlled deceleration and engine braking in combination with front brake application, the bike can be slowed/stopped without drama.
5. Sales guy repeats the line "keep it at 6000 rpm and 60kmph till first service". In 4th gear at 6000 rpm, I was doing ~82-84kmph.
6. Move a little behind in the seat, and 2nd gear wheelies are easily achieved, found this out to my surprise (after gsferrari pointed it out). I don't like wheelies. Unless I am watching them on the telly.
7. Seat is firm and seating position perfect (for me).
8. Haven't used the rear brake at speeds >25 kmph. Didn't need to.
9. Mirror stalks need to be adjusted, nearly unusable until I reposition them.
10. After ~30 kms of riding (5 city, 25 highway), the console shows 36kmpl.

Sales experience:
Kanjurmarg KTM did not contact me when my balance payment was due. I called them and forced the issue.
They didn't contact me when my bike was due for delivery. I visited and forced the issue.
They did not call back and inform me the regn number provided by Thane RTO, I had to call repeatedly to follow up.
They insisted on delivery post 7pm, I visited and forced it to be at 4pm.

The sales guys have very little idea of what they are selling, simply mouthing off some lines by rote. Perhaps I only communicated with their B-team. Case in point: the 6000 rpm/60kmph line. Also, apparently the rider seat must only be removed by a service technician, we shouldn't fiddle with it. The cable tension, suspension preload, coolant topup etc all routine activities usually done at home, must be done by taking an appointment with the service center. I did not bother debating any of this with them, it was clear they were simply repeating what was probably a prepared script. One redeeming point in their favour, they recommended applying a motul chain cleaner after every 20 days of riding, but stopped short of actual instructions on how to do that. (on a bike with no center stand, sold by a showroom not selling paddock stands, you'd think they would have mentioned something, even marketed a paddock stand as an aid to cleaning the bike/chain etc).

I have no cause for complaint though, as I could clearly get my way each time, with a little soft talk and some velvet glove-iron fist stuff, so I rate them 6/10 overall. At least they had 2 guys at hand to clean the bikes, remove the plastic covers, rub off the chalk markings on the seats, set up the ramp, move the bikes etc, and those two guys were diligent, careful and effecient.

Looking forward to the next few hundred kms when I'll get to know the Duke more intimately. For now though, I've injected a lot of madness into my life

Noise

Mileage recorded under city riding conditions is 39kmpl,...

I took it for a hill drive and it dint disappoint, superb climbing and leaning power, but while comng downhill I switched off the engine, and was welcomed with peculiar noises

1) I hear a constant churning kinda noise, like the same sound I used to get in my uncles RX135 the reason for which as told by them was the "WORM" is malfunctioning..(anyone else experienced somethin lik tat ?)

2) Both the brakes are making squeeling sound at the hair pins when sharply applied.

3) Saree guard had got loose and constantly hitting against the swing arm and chain guard, I removed it after coming home

And I think the throttle lag problem happens mainly when the tank is full, happened twice today ( 140kms ride)

Aha! Number EIGHT!
Where are our off-roading videos?
Wish we could have captured the speed breaker jumpings too

oh Shubz did? i mustve missed the earlier post, thanks alot, will try that...

umm no, i never had any leakage earlier either

yessss the exhaust note!!! take it out at night, after 11pm-12am, so as to get the pure sound, without being disturbed by other cars!!!

yes the "clunk" you speak of is something i experienced too... post service though its become smooth enough to now shift with a light foot too (before service remember we had to use a firm heavy foot to see it shifts properly right?)... now its smooth enough, so now i shift with such a light foot that i get carried away and make it too light and end up in neutral from 1st (yes, its sooo much easier goin into neutral from 1st now)

Hehe alright that's a relief!!! I was worried I wrecked my gears by shifting too quick on the first day :-) Congrats on completing the first service Aadil!!! Lucky you!!! But be caerful out there alright? i might just come to Marine lines tonight too around 11:30ish for a quick spin...

Yesterday I went to suryoday bajaj showroom in Mira Road. I saw two KTMs parked over there. Sales guy told that both the bikes have been booked and kept for the delivery. When I asked about the price he said 1,65,000.

When I told him it that people have got it for 1,35000 he said that there is a 6 month waiting period. So they are charging 30,000 premium on the bike..

yes u r rite even sub dealers are quoting this price saw the bike at a sub dealer in borvali(jayna) on sv road..

It is a lie, if you book now delivery will be in 90 days.

I guess a marketing strategy by the subdealers. (rathar a misleading one though)

BTW this bike is supposed to be sold from the PBK or KTM exclusive showrooms only, so how come the subdealers are selling it...

Just look for the authorized listed dealers on the KTM website the one I went o in Mumbai was in Kanjurmarg...although it is far away from where I live I booked it from there and got the bike on road within 134000!!! That too booked on Jan 24th 2012 (advance booking) and received delivery on 6th March this year so don't encourage these greedy dealers. Go get your bike at the right price without having to wait for 6 months. Its a good thing u checked here before ou made any deals with them.

sub-dealers,really?
no marketing strategy,they are here to make some quick bucks riding on ktm wave.

Congratulations

Can anyone explain to me about the engine temp indicator on the console...mine goes up within a kilometre

hey shubz...i met you and your friend on 24th and 1st of feb remember? we were waiting outside the showroom in a line...now we're riding our dukes

A very small review after 269 kilometers of riding.

1. Crowd magnet. A Duke owner will have difficult time in keeping people from trying to mount the bike.
2. Extremely light and flick-able. Easy to ride in most situations. People riding sports bikes all this while will take some time to get used to the open bar/wide bar position.
3. Gear shifts are smooth and there are no false neutrals. Clutch is light too.
4. Radiator fan can radiate a lot of heat on your legs.
5. Chain slaps against the swingarm. This seems like a common complaint. I have heard that the Bengaluru Duke owners got some bush installed that prevented the slap.
6. Lights are bright and good for night riding.
7. Suspension is not as soft as previously thought. Just right for our roads.
8. Engine has a lot of character. Pulls well in any gear and is rev happy too.
9. Exhaust has a distinctive sound. It is subjective; some like it, some dont.
10. Engine seems happy upside of 5K RPM. Above 5K, the engine goes really smooth; exhaust becomes silent too.
11. Brakes are simply wonderful. I haven't used the rear one since the front itself is very responsive and communicative.
12. Instrument cluster gets difficult to read sometimes.
13. Some noise from the front headlamp cluster was reported on some Dukes. That was attributed to cables and was fixed. Did not notice this on my Duke.
14. Ridiculously easy to keep ahead of the traffic even with the rev limit.
15. Now for the figure that people have been waiting for, the all important Fuel Efficiency. A tankful to tankful saw her doing 252 KM in 5.5 Litres exact. That works out to 45.82 Km/Lit. Outstanding!!

Now for the updates to my Duke:

1. Got a Keiti Carbon tankpad
2. Removed the front number plate mount and the plate too
3. Removed the rear hugger and the saree guard (of course)
4. Removed the pillion footrests since I ride alone all the time. Looks brilliantly awesome.

I have been reaching out for the KTM's keys over the other vehicles in my garage and that itself speaks out of the fun to ride factor associated with this bike.


Watch this space for more!!