Equally, I only booked the 390 cos I couldn't get an MT (of any size), and R7 or a CB1000!!
Turned up and said to the guy that if he had a SuperDuke available, I'd prefer to try one of those - or at least something bigger than the 390.
He said - well, you can try the 990 Duke
Probably about 7 or 8 years ago I had a test ride on a 690 - got off the 390 and on to the 690 (also had a TLs and a ZX10r so I wasn't always riding the 390). I really really didn't like the 690. I can't remember now why not but I know I got back to the dealer thinking "well that sucked, and it should have been way better!" (mostly cos a few of these parts had said how great the 690 was!!)
Anyway - the 990 Duke. Well, WOW. And probably double WOW!!! Seriously bloody enjoyed that
We rode for about 45 mins, part (very slow) motorway then some good country roads. Lots of roundabouts. Quite a few twisty bits. Apart from the motorway traffic, it was a great little test route.Pluses -
What a responsive engine!! I preferred it in Street mode for the test ride, in sport it was too jerky for my shoulder. But that was partly not knowing the road and the guy in front of me being a little random occasionally, well, probably not random, just not what I was expecting!! And not knowing the roads was a bit interesting, even behind the 'instructor' (they said monitor but basically, the KTM guy that was leading us all!!)
The steering was fab even with a spazzy arm! Ok, when I got on and looked at the bars I was like "bloody hell they're wide, how am I gonna manage that!!!". But, turns out it was alright - ok when I looked at everyone else they were sitting much more upright than me - I was leaning forward a bit which made my arm more comfy, but I think I used to ride the 390 like that, probably cos I'd always ridden sports bikes! :lol
But with the spazzyness, it just makes things more comfy. But, it was a lot lighter to turn than I expected. Awesome 
It's very revvy - totally needs RIDING
You don't just sit, you need to commit to get the best (I'd forgotten about riding like that!) I suspect the standard seat might get a little less comfy on a long trip, but it wasn't obviously a problem, and for the 45 mins it was perfectly fine.
I grinned a lot! It was FUN!!
(You can tell I've not ridden a lot, can't think of much else to say!!)
Negatives -
I now have two bikes on the top of The List!!
It low geared (think that's right) so I kept putting it up a gear too high for what we were doing (don't think I got past 4th gear!!
). But if I remember rightly the 390 was like that - and i have a background of big IL4's and a big V-twin, even the TLs was more forgiving about gearing. The IL4's were so easy that when you have to actually RIDE a bike like the 990 it takes a bit more than 45 mins (for me) to get used to that!!It has (apparently) a quickshifter - I've never used one, so just changed gear like the dinosaur that I am!!
I can't afford one!!!
Definitely going to try and go to the bike show next year as well but book a bit earlier and try some other bikes
