Yorick wrote: ↑Thu Aug 17, 2023 6:22 pm
I took out the GasGas version a while ago.
Dull, dull dull
As an owner, they need riding like they've been stolen. Feared I'd made a mistake buying mine for the first 200 miles, still not that impressed by it up til the 600 mile run in service, then after I'd had it serviced I started revving it above 6k and... Christ, it's a different bike above 6k!
The stock map is to blame... Specifically Euro5 is the problem. The bike runs crazy lean low down and they don't really come alive til about 6k+... Keep it above 6k, and even on the stock map the bike is superb, but a little tiring for sure. Everybody who's remapped theirs reports of much stronger midrange, proper power wheelies and a much more engaging ride when not riding it like you stole it.
Dull is my experience of the KTM singles, I thought it was just me because I'm used to two strokes with loads of character, but perhaps they are just dull then.
Kept below 6k, yeah it's pretty dull stock... Anything but dull above that! Ride it like a 2 stroke and it'll reward in spades! Now I've learnt how mine likes to be ridden, it's like a cheat code on certain roads. For reasons of being caught short, I was 10mins late for a ride out with mates the other week, said I'd just meet them at the cafe, I knew the route... These guys are all seriously competent riders, but it was a tight twisty route... I was on my SM700... Despite a 10min delay, I caught them up by half way there!
First impression;
F me that seat is hard
Stock seat is unbearably hard yeah... Even the "ergo" seat is barely any better... But ridden like you stole it, it doesn't matter, you're barely sat on it, and you're moving around a lot. The only reason my Gasgas is up for sale right now is I sadly can't ride it for a while, I have had repeated surgeries down there (due to complications with bowel cancer), so can't sit on it for some time basically!
Some owners have taken the stock seat and inserted a gel pad and reported much improved comfort mind. But it isn't a bike to sit in the same position on for long periods...
WTF does the ABS light keep flashing
It's an annoying KTM thing to remind you there's no ABS on the rear brake in mode 2... ABS works on the front, but you can lock the rear.
It's on MAP 2, IDK if thats full power, tried map 1, kinda difficult to tell them apart!
Both are full power... Map 2 removes the ABS from the rear brake (see above), and supposedly makes the throttle response a little sharper (I can't tell the difference here), but full power in both.
These forks are too soft. Thankfully as they are adjustable at the top, 2 more clicks on compression and it was a better
They have 210mm of travel. They're not too soft at all. You're just not used to that kind of travel. I'm over 90kg, the rear shock spring is too soft for sure, could do with being 10N/mm firmer, but I can't get near bottom the forks out on the stock settings so far!
It's not very fast, its OK but it WON'T wheelie
, like literally, 2nd gear, roll off the throttle, whack it open again and ...... well nothing.
Without wishing to sound like a broken record... It needs riding like you stole it. Proper old school 125 2t kinda commitment. If you can deal with this, on the right roads, it's the sharpest tool in the box! But its very unforgiving of a lazy riding style, and it doesn't like open roads.
That bike could also do a complete lap of the Brands Indy in one gear - handy for learning the circuit!
