2017 1290 first impressions. Mods to follow..

Well took my 2017 to Snetterton for the last 2 days. First impressions on track are.
TPMS is a pain in the arse! Couldn't find any way to change it and obvioulsy getting constant warning of low rear tyre pressure. Spoke to dealer and they are going to get back to me but I'm suspecting it will need plugging in to change the parameters. Something for them to do at first service.
Standard bars are shit for the track. No room to move around so ordered some LSL drag bars that should hopefully put me in a far better position for the track.
Seat is too low for me on track. Does the powerparts seat raise you up at all??
Metzeler M7 tyres are horrible on track, no great surprise there though. Bring on the Dunlop D212s!
You run out of 6.5k revs very quickly lol. Just 300 miles to go now though for the full power.
The auto blipper is in its element on the track. What an amazing job they have done with that! Faultless!
I dialled in KTMs recommended track settings for suspension. Hard to judge it really as the tyres were horrible and coming back from a sportsbike it was always going to feel soft. Bike should be run in for next outing and will probably take it to Cadwell where it should be in its element!

Funny you say that about M7's. A lot of people on this side of the Atlantic are just getting into Metzelers and have been raving about the M7's,

I'll stick with my Dunlops.

How's the flickability and turn in compared to your old 990? Does the chassis feel better?

M7s are street tyres that perform good on track . But not in comparison to a 212 or an supercorsa

Good to see your thoughts on the QS/Blipper

All of the online reviews you read just mention that it has one and not how good or bad it is.

Evotech tail tidy went on today. Instructions weren't great, missing a couple of stages but fantastic design. Not a cable to be seen and a much improved rear end. LSL drag bars over the weekend and hopefully the final 250 miles so I can get it serviced and full power. Race shift to install and then save for Rotty box and exhaust and a tune

Will it not be a noise limit issue with a different exhaust?

So first service done today. Track Pack turned on and tyre pressure warning deactivated. Loving the throttle response in track mode!!! Really aggressive which is so much better. On track this monday and tuesday at Cadwell and really looking forward to putting it through its paces.

Other mods are the Ecotech tail tidy which is a great bit of design work. All wires hidden.

LSL Drag bars installed. Hated the OEM ones. No room to move on the bike on track. These move me forward and down and like on the 990 are a huge improvement.







Race shift bracket installed. Instructions said it would only work with PP Rearsets which is frankly crap. Installed it and didn't even need all the bits supplied.

Standard seat replaced with PP seat. Lets face it the standard seat is shiiite! Way too slippy for track, felt like I was going to slide off the bike. PP one is so much better. Also Techspec Gripster Snake Skin on the tank for leg grip when hanging off.

Next is sorting the exhaust system. Plan is still to get Mark Hill of MHP to gut the CAT and weld it back up to act as a resonator box and create a link pipe to lift one of his Evo can above the wheel so I can remove the wheel without removing the can. Not sure I'm going to bother with an aftermarket airbox. Not convinced its worth the money for the few BHP it gives.

Nice. I actually like the headlight on this 1290. It's probably the only part of the 990 that is looking old - the massive headlight.

I got LSL flat bars too - going on this week.