NBT: The old keeper is going, meet the new one!

[Skub]

If none of that works out, it’ll be sold and I’ll buy a hypetmotard!

Just win one and save all that buying nonsense.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm to chicken shit to try that in case it didn't work.

To be fair, I discovered this by accident, and gradually built up trust in it, the first time I had the traction control do something was on gravel when I deliberately made the back wheel spin for fun, I expected a nice bit of sideways rear wheel steering, but what I got was the TC light flashing at me, a little spin followed by grip and acceleration.

[Taipan]

More for the benefit of the archives and fair play to zblavk widow ad I emailed them in the middle of the night snd they’ve already replied! Anyway, no decibel measurement but the 300 is notably quieter!

Hi Taipan,

We don't actually measure the decibel levels of our exhausts but I can confirm that the 300mm will definitely give you a quieter sound. We normally recommend the 300mm as it is a noticeable difference from the OEM system but will not annoy your neighbours.

The link you sent in your last email is exactly the same as the one you have currently with the only difference being that it is 300mm as opposed to 200mm.

Hope this helps!

[Taipan]

If none of that works out, it’ll be sold and I’ll buy a hypetmotard!

Just win one and save all that buying nonsense.

With a lot of time on my hands here, I’m trying to think what I would change the. MT for, but don’t really have an answer?

I’ve always liked the smaller engined hyper and did nearly pull the trigger on one a couple of times, but the Italian reliability and quality of finish thing nags me.

I could go another XT660X if need be, but I can’t really think of any bike I fancy over the mt!

[weeksy]

If none of that works out, it’ll be sold and I’ll buy a hypetmotard!

Just win one and save all that buying nonsense.

With a lot of time on my hands here, I’m trying to think what I would change the. MT for, but don’t really have an answer?

I’ve always liked the smaller engined hyper and did nearly pull the trigger on one a couple of times, but the Italian reliability and quality of finish thing nags me.

I could go another XT660X if need be, but I can’t really think of any bike I fancy over the mt!

The xt660x is great... plus will be easier for the knee reach.

But .... and of course i'm going to say this... the SMCR/701 husqvarna is better in every way.

In terms of costings though.... i'd buy a 660x all day IF....and it's a big if.... they made one that has 0/low miles.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155095908491 ... R-qOyojoYA

But when you think you can get a 2014-17 690smc for not that much more money...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295192154042 ... R7rj2ojoYA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144715077355 ... R7rj2ojoYA

[KungFooBob]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284955370672

[weeksy]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185544486321 ... R7zj2ojoYA

Then throwing this in at £7000..... Damn that's a lot of bike... full electronics, full WP suspension.... bargain.

[Taipan]

As much as I like KTMs, they sure as hell don’t like me! : Just not a risk I could imagine me taking again?

I really liked my F800R, and in some ways as much as the MT as after the reflash it was flawless in its fuelling, but it was ponderous compared to the surprisingly agile MT!

If I am forced off the MT it probably would be an XTX and I’d be happy with it, but I reckon I’d be barked at giving up the MT…

[Supermofo]

The thing is and I'm finding this with the GSX is that now I'm older and not going mental everywhere it does the stuff that the 690 did but allows me to go aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh batshit mental for the occasional mad minute. So I don't miss the 690 or find the GSX as OTT as I thought I would. Sure it doesn't steer as fast or is as light but it handles nicely for a 210kg bike.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That MV is a lot of bike for the money - but it's still an MV, who made my Husqvarna 610, which was great but fell apart.

[Taipan]

The thing is and I'm finding this with the GSX is that now I'm older and not going mental everywhere it does the stuff that the 690 did but allows me to go aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh batshit mental for the occasional mad minute. So I don't miss the 690 or find the GSX as OTT as I thought I would. Sure it doesn't steer as fast or is as light but it handles nicely for a 210kg bike.

I never thought bigger bikes were for me and found that back in the day I enjoyed caning a mid sized bike through the gears. On bigger bikes I was always wary of breaking the rear tyre away when exiting a corner, or a bit of SGWF (slip grip wheelie flip)!

But the 900. (850?) mt doesn’t give me those worries, mainly because I don’t ride like that anymore, but also the traction control would help save my untalented arse! Cold Dunlop’s (ack spit, alaesys hated dunlops) saw the orange li the t flickering a few times in the rain the other day and I finally understood what B mode was for!

The joy of that sized engine is the effortless power to blat through gaps and perform overtakes I’d have to change down on with smaller engined bikes. So im enjoying bikes in a whole new way!

[Supermofo]

Yeah I've had 2 Dunlops. D207 back in 1999 on my Fazer 600 and D214 on my GSXS as OE and I didn't like either. I know some Dunlop tyres get highly rated but it's a no from me.

Having ridden the MT the GSXS is similar even though it's an IL4 by way of it's really torquey engine. 2nd to 4th it doesn't really matter where you are in the rev range it just goes so you can roll through a village at 30 in 4th with the engine smooth as only an IL4 can be and then just open it up and it pulls like a good un.

[Taipan]

:lBlack widow are a good firm. Quick reply to emails and I went to order the new can thinking delivery worked be next week, but no it’s next working day delivery. So I had to wait until tonight to order it! Be here Monday but it may have to disappear into the loft-of-plenty until I’m fit enough to crawl on the floor snd fit it! Things get lost in that loft…

[KungFooBob]

Monday!

Will it fit an SH300, the MT will be gone by then :p

[Taipan]

More like…

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 787312639/

[KungFooBob]

My old Peugeot Vox was a Chinese copy of one of those. IIRC all the plastics fit straight on. The difference was cast wheels and carb rather than EFI.

[Taipan]

Hard to find anything that isn’t exdeliveroo!! Only looking at the moment as can’t drive the camper or even have the rack on it. Will probably pay to have one fitted. Then find a bike…

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I had a set of Black Widow race front pipes on my FZR400, they were supposed to be a replica of the Yamaha race kit ones and did away with the EXUP valve, they were well made and worked very well, no mid range and it made power to 16000 rpm, exactly what you wanted from a race pipe.

[Taipan]

The hideous Dunlops on the bike were brand new when it came to me and I'd decided to suffer them for the winter and replace them in spring, if they last that long. I've never liked Dunlops and always found any of them bordering on dangerous in the cold and wet, but as the bike has a rain mode I thought i'd see how I get on. However, I must admit, as I have a puncture I'm kinda tempted to use that as an excuse to just ditch them and get something else on there! I'm hoping to plug thetyre today but if it doesn'ttake for any reason, I'll be looking for a mobile tyre fitter that cover sarf Essex?

Whilst I'm out there today I'm hoping to put the new 300mm silencer on. I don't think I'll have problem getting on the floor to do it, but not sure I'll be able to roll it back into position to lock it onto the ground anchor again! D'oh!

As others have attested before, these bikes are notorious for spray covering you when in wet weather. A guy on the MT page reckons the Pyramid Plastics universal splash guard really helps with this. So fo te sake of £22 I thought i'd try one.Its look as ugly as it does ridiculous, but I could careless if it works?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

It'll make a handy snow shovel