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The engine, a 900 parallel twin, has plenty of useable torque but was smooth and pulled nicely through the rev range. To ride it was as comfortable a bike as I've ever sat on, in terms of bum comfort and ergonomics. Heated seat and grips as standard are a nice touch. Plenty of rider aids chucked in, including a forward-looking camera that records to the app on your phone once all set up. Ditto the phone mirroring that allows Google Maps etc. on the big TFT screen. Hand guards and engine bars look a little industrial, but solid metal construction. Blind spot eliminators on the mirrors, though I found they were a touch sensitive and kept giving false positives. I'd keep looking over shoulders personally.
Bad points: the gear selector just seemed a little too much of a hoik upwards IMO. Maybe just takes getting used to. Plus the gearbox wasn't the most refined I've ever used. A touch clunky. Handlebar switchgear didn't feel as refined as on my old Tiger and oddly, despite lower capacity bikes having an adjustable screen, the SRT doesn't. Bizarre oversight and one I found annoying, as at motorway speed my head was getting buffeted by the wind, with all the noise it creates to boot.
Given that it comes with a three-piece aluminium luggage set, the price of £7,700 (plus some vague OTR costs) seems too good to be true. Obviously you then have to factor the unknown depreciation, availability of parts (and you're talking to an ex-Aprilia owner, so a subject I know well!) and a pretty pathetic 4k mile service interval.
Not keen on the colour combo of that particular bike, but it looks good in black with the gold wheels (which are standard on the SX - get the S model and you get cast wheels and that's the only difference)
It is a very tempting proposition if you're not a badge snob.
