Supermofo wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 8:57 am
Whereas this is a Hypermotard BUT IT'S ONLY A SINGLE. And that's always the reason singles struggle to sell, people can't get their heads around a bike only having 1 cylinder when they can get a twin, triple etc for the same money. I've no idea why but this seems to be a thing.
I'd add 'in the UK' to that comment. On the Continent (certainly in France) singles are highly regarded and sell far better than over here. I think in the UK people lump singles in with old, slow, vibey British iron and regard them as old-fashioned. Anyone who's ridden a 690 Duke knows that assumption is way off beam, they've been reinvented as a totally different animal.
There are hundreds of bikes here as you can ride all year round.
Can't ever remember seeing a big single. They all love IL4s.
mangocrazy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:21 am
Can't comment on life in the Canaries, but round our way in the Sarf of France, there are plenty of big singles to be seen.
mangocrazy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:21 am
Can't comment on life in the Canaries, but round our way in the Sarf of France, there are plenty of big singles to be seen.
Aye, the French do like to be different
They did invert motards though.
Singles are something you either get or you don't, personally I love them.
mangocrazy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 10:21 am
Can't comment on life in the Canaries, but round our way in the Sarf of France, there are plenty of big singles to be seen.
Aye, the French do like to be different
They did invert motards though.
Singles are something you either get or you don't, personally I love them.
Bigjawa wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 2:33 pm
Singles are something you either get or you don't, personally I love them.
That's it in a nut shell. As one of the afflicted I'd always have space in my garage for a thumper.
I think the best one I've had was my XT660, a proper thumper but civilised enough that it was lovely to ride.
Well, the best adventure type that is, the best thumper ever is my 500 Rudge single TT replica, that's epic old school thumper.
I loved my XTX too, its a very useable bike and made a great commuter. To me the 690 was like xtx on steroids or whatever saying means its just it's mad bastard cousin! The 690 would get on my nerves every ride as commuting through a city is not a suitable habitat for it. The 690 only seemed to make sense when you were caning it and then it was great fun as it was that bit sharper, as in faster, quicker turning, more flickable etc. I suspect if i had a garage with both in, the xtx would get more use, unless there was a hyper there as well...
Taipan wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 11:55 am
To me the 690 was like xtx on steroids or whatever saying means its just it's mad bastard cousin! The 690 would get on my nerves every ride as commuting through a city is not a suitable habitat for it. The 690 only seemed to make sense when you were caning it and then it was great fun as it was that bit sharper, as in faster, quicker turning, more flickable etc.
Opinions differ on this, but when I had my 690 remapped it completely transformed its low rpm behaviour and made it completely useable in traffic. I took mine to BSD in Peterborough and Andy smoothed out the low down fuelling and made the throttle maps in first and second a lot less aggressive, so pulling away was easy and smooth, whereas prior to that it could take off a bit sharpish. I really notice it when driving the bike up the ramp into the van, it's now beautifully controllable. It's still a mad bastard nutter where you want it to be in the higher gears and throttle openings but has a far more relaxed character when you need it to be, at low speeds.
Last edited by mangocrazy on Sat Nov 04, 2023 12:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Taipan wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2023 11:55 am
To me the 690 was like xtx on steroids or whatever saying means its just it's mad bastard cousin! The 690 would get on my nerves every ride as commuting through a city is not a suitable habitat for it. The 690 only seemed to make sense when you were caning it and then it was great fun as it was that bit sharper, as in faster, quicker turning, more flickable etc.
Opinions differ on this, but when I had my 690 remapped it completely transformed its low rpm behaviour and made it completely useable in traffic. I took mine to BSD in Peterborough and Andy smoothed out the low down fuelling and made the throttle maps in first and second a lot less aggressive, so pulling away was easy and smooth, whereas prior to that it could take off a bit sharpish. I really notice it when driving the bike up the ramp into the van, it's now beautifully controllable. It's till a mad bastard nutter where you want it to be in the higher gears and throttle openings but has a far more relaxed character when you need it to be, at low speeds.
Supermofo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 6:28 pm
Nice review here
The way Ducati (& KTM) are exploiting the electronics / rider aids etc. makes you realise that you don't compete in MotoGP/WBK just to sell race reps these days.
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:27 pm
If you need electronics to help with backing it in and wheelies you probably shouldn't be backing it in or doing wheelies.
Yeah, but that's the point - the Ducati SQM dumbs the whole thing down via electronics so anyone can do it, as long as they trust the electronics. I wasn't saying it's a good thing, I'm just saying it's a Thing.
