![]() | #3091 | ||||
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cochin
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[quote=ebonho;3566031] Wow! You've picked possibly the worst seat in the RE stable as an example of a comfortable seat. Yes, I owned a C5 too, rode it for 3000 uninspiring kms before jumping at the first good offer that came my way, and me and my biker buddy from Australia (also a veteran biker, who owns a number of big superbikes back home in Melbourne) were unanimous that this was a horrendous seat, which was neither comfortable nore gave you any feel or control for hard riding. When I was comparing the 390's seat to that of Bullets, I was speaking about the proper stepped saddles that have been duty on Bullets for decades now, and which have always been considered to be the most Indian bum-friendly saddles traditionally. The seat of the Dukes is better. I have no doubt about it. /QUOTE] I think I will have to agree to disagree on that. Why not? I think they are. Again agreeing to dis ![]() Quote:
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1. It should have very comfy saddles, pliant suspension , seating position which reduces fatigue, a long stroke, large capacity engine, with good bottom end torque, nice long wind shield, large capacity tank, long wheel base etc 2. It must be good for long distance cruising at consistent speeds. I think the keyword is comfortable. I don't find 390 a good cruiser, because it doesn't have the first point. | ||||
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![]() | #3092 | |||||||
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pune
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The Avenger again is a variant of the TBird seat. Personally, I have always found the standard Bullet seats better than the TBird ones. Quote:
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I am telling you a Duke 200 outclimbs EASILY modded Bullet 500s in the ghats. INCLUDING out of switchbacks. That there is bottom end torque. Caveat: I do not know if a Duke 200 can do the same two up against the same modded Bullet 500s two up. But then, I always ride alone. So that comparison would be largely academic for me. Quote:
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You are geting tyres that bikes 4 times the price sometimes get. The harley that's twice the price of the Duke gets MRF's!!!! How can you complain? Or even crib? Quote:
The 390 is never going to be the above. If you wanted the above, you should have never bought the 390. There is no middle ground here. Really! Last edited by ebonho : 28th October 2014 at 15:20. | |||||||
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![]() | #3093 | |
BHPian Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Bangalore
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![]() So do you always carry them for any long distance touring (I mean 400-500kms and above in a day) ? | |
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![]() | #3094 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pune
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| ![]() Nope. I just got these. Except for the mountains, and only in some sectors, there is really no place in India where you would need to carry enough fuel for 400-500 kms. |
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![]() | #3095 | |||
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cochin
Posts: 304
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Again it was someone else who wanted it!!!! If I ever buy a Harley, I will go for the street 750 or the sportster models. Not the sofa types like soft tail classic. If I go for Triumph, I will go for the Bonneville. | |||
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![]() | #3096 | |||
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pune
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I am talking Bullets because the Bullet is all that you want the 390 to be - lazy, long stroked, big capacity, relaxed, low rpm. What if anything does idling rpm have to do with bottom end torque? A Bullet is the epitome of bottom end torque amongst Indian bikes. And the baby Duke has its number on the road in all in which bottom end torque comes into play. You say you want bottom end torque. Great. What do you plan to do with that bottom end torque? Rip from standstill or tear up a steep hill road? Or lope along at 20 kmph in top gear, with the engine just above stall speed, and want it to pull cleanly from there without knock or chain snatch? Quote:
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![]() | #3097 |
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kolkata
Posts: 446
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| ![]() At no point really from Mithunvvijayan's post did I get the impression that he either wanted his duke to have active like comfort or enfield type engine lugging characteristic(though from current crop , only the 500cc bullet is worth any with its 10.5 ? kg crank , the thunderbird is nothing special in this dept. , also I disagree here as I personally find low rpm lugging better in traffic where one finds themselves constantly modulating speed , on a highway the advantage offered is negligible and the duke is anyday better because of lower vibrations ) . He is merely presenting forward his own impressions about the bike in reference to a question about duke's touring capability and why he feels certain characteristics and features can be limiting be it mentally or by design for the purpose of touring . Switching tires for a week or carrying extra jerry cans are botheration which I guess few if not many wish to avoid , he did purchase the bike so he was literally sold out over the bike's many qualities hence suggesting CBR or enfield to him is not fair in my opinion . Suggest them to the person who asked the question about touring . Also the term touring in general is vague - we have the 1000km ladakh trips and then 200-300km trips to nearby attraction , personally no reason why one cannot or should not undertake the 300km trip on any bike . The 1000km+ trips are more than just bike , they require a different breed of bikers and respect to them all be it on a splendor or duke or enfield or harley . Last edited by basuroy : 28th October 2014 at 18:33. |
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![]() | #3098 | ||||
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cochin
Posts: 304
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That is why modern Bullets cannot be taken into consideration when comparing bottom end torque. Quote:
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![]() | #3099 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bangalore
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| ![]() sorry to barge in, I think a mixture of 390 and classic 500 would work well in this context, and the triumph bonnie comes very very close to it. good low end/ high end speed, good torque, relaxed ergonomics, good seat, larger tank capacity, better alloys, butter smooth engine, comfortable for pillion as well, good handling & braking. They even have metzs. (confession: i have been convincing my self to sell the bullet and 390 for the bonnie ![]() Downside being the price and lack of abs. :( So there still seems good scope for a dedicated touring segment bike keeping the indian riding conditions in mind, priced at around 2.5L. What the hell happened to the 390 adventure version? |
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![]() | #3100 | |
BHPian Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kolkata
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![]() Adventure was ruled out recently by someone from KTM management during an RC series related event. RC this year , 2015 or 2016(my guess is '16 , '15 we would have heard some rumors by now) maybe 690 or as someone recently posted on this forum( no reference provided if I recall correctly) , KTM are working on 2 twin cylinder bikes in the capacity of 500 and 790 cc which will replace the single cylinder 690 and they will be manufactured here . | |
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![]() | #3101 | ||
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cochin
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![]() | #3102 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Delhi
Posts: 1,534
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You do not have to search far to find complaints (especially the first lot) on re-starting an engine showing a high temperature. And thats precisely what I was referring to. Let me know if you are unable to locate those "issues" on the web. Will be happy to help. In the meantime - get started with this : Last edited by Urban_Nomad : 28th October 2014 at 23:05. | |
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![]() | #3103 |
BHPian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 159
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| ![]() Ah! Some lovely conversations up there, too much fun ![]() I did the Ladakh ride on a TBTS. If I do it again, it will be on a 390, because it handles much better, brakes are more reliable, and it has a comfortable seat. The "Cruiser" variety are generally better for arrow straight roads or roads with curves (as opposed to sharp turns). Initial 500 kilometres, the Duke posture was uncomfortable since I was used to the TBTS, but now the Duke feels perfect because the posture matches it's abilities. It is as versatile as you want it to be: Ride sedate and keep it below 5000 rpm or push above, when the Hyde in you wins over Dr. Jekyll. Come corners and entertainment begins, open stretch and you are at three digits simply because you kept shifting up through the gears. Do not get me wrong, I enjoy my TBTS too. Just that I wonder if it would be better to do 400 Kms with fun, entertainment and the opportunity to decide the pace, versus riding wiith my legs stretched out and the bike telling me at 80 kmph that I should pre plan all overtaking, braking and cornering. Actually, avoid cornering! (comparison made, keeping in mind the comparable budget for both bikes) By the way the Duke has better support just above the tail bone versus the TBTS because of the raised pillion seat. Classic 500 seat is generally agreed to be less comfortable for long rides versus other bullets/Enfields, though it is a lovely looking bike. I have had my Duke for almost 2 months and planning that the next 2000 Km ride should be on it versus the Bird simply because I choose (i.e. the bike gives me multiple options) to cruise Or lean into corners as per the mood. Bottom line is: if enough people think like you, there is a profitable market to tap, and Dukes or "cruisers" or customised bikes are just a market demand and revenue to the supplier, equation. Thank God for the choices and thank you KTM for the technology and Bajaj for the pricing! |
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![]() | #3104 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cochin
Posts: 304
Thanked: 125 Times
| ![]() I have contacted one of my classmates in my eng college, who has been working at Bajaj R&D division for the past 12 years. I have presented the unique heat sensitive stalling problem of my bike to him. He said that he will get back to me by tomorrow. Fingers crossed ![]() |
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![]() | #3105 | |
Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 2,696
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