"Cult status?"

Went for a blast to the Rock Store today....was having a chat with some friends when a group of Honda Hawks pulled in. Must have been 15 of them. They were all pretty facinated with the SD by the way.

Makes me wonder if the Superduke is headed for the same cult like status a few years down the road. If I had to venture a guess I would say yes.

I think we're already there.

Me Thinks so to, the early ones 05/06 and the SDR certainly, a bit like the old TL1000s

I do hope the forum does not degenerate to the level of the TL ones, that would be sad

I think the 05/06 Design is Growing old (Dis) gracefully ......which suits me fine

The bike has hardly changed since 05. I think this helps keeps us together.

Imagine how much a Jap model would have evolved in 6.5 years.

Cue drunken post:

AFAIAC.
All you folks on this thread. Actually have SDs of one model or another?
Many of the other forums are filled with "Wanabes".
This Forum has been active since 2005. KTM are still but a "Small fish" in the roadbike scenario.
The original emphasis on "Out there" advertising has changed.
The Japanese and "Ducati" . Still have it. Even though their sales are down.
The Sales market. Still favours them.
Plus the fact that they have an already solid Sales infrastructure.
KTM. Were in the bussness of selling "Offroad" bikes. Their forays into "Road Bikes". Were welcome by such a few prospective "Roadbike" buyers.
It is hardly surprising that so few bought them.
The only "Worldwide" advertising. Was within the 125 Moto GP scene.
Noone outside was aware of that.
The SD had made its European debut in 2005 and was a bike with an unknown "V" twin configuration.
Aprillia had tried and failed on the WWM. previously(Due to under exposure. New fish in big pond).
The SD. Is a great bike. But it is not revolutionary. The one thing that KTM were hanging onto was the idea that "This was what Bikers" wanted.
They tried optomising their engines by including an underdeveloped fuel injection system. With the hope that trials/feedback, with such would allow them to smooth things out and enable the "Global launch."
Unfortunatly. Due to various legislations in countries accross the Globe.
The idea of "A Hooligan bike"(Check the original ADs. out?)
Could not be feasable.
By the time KTM had launched the Superduke on the "World market" . They had to "Dumb it down". With the SDR launched as the bike recognised as the "Limited edition" bike that would satisfy those that had been following the progress of the SD but were unable to by the Original.
The "Original SDs and The Ltd SDRs are considered "Cult Bikes". Only by those who have heard of them. But were to scared to take the plunge to buy them, due to the unknown infrastructure within their market boundaries.
You are a "Sheep" or a "Wolf"?

KTM are/were. Wolfs. Who want to wear sheeps clothing.
That is Global sales for you?

It is no surprise. That the most expensive bike on the KTM brochure is the SMR. Everyone knows that that is what KTM can do.
Best bike is the SMT. Because it is "All things to all men".
SDs are in a wide field.
SDRs are Neither here nor there.
They cannot compete with sportsbikes on track and they are too hard for the road.
Only cult because nobody buys them? Except me. Doh!

What's a Honda Hawk?

Yeah thats right the Bros /Hawk was chain drive

....SP1 /SP2 Now you are talking ....another game all togeather sooo nice

I think the SD still looks sharp too.

the Hawk GT650 was a great little bike. i did my first wheelie on one. it was underpowered but a great handling bike never the less. there was a big aftermarket for them and many dudes raced them. i put a Supertrapp full system on it.
i remember having a hard time deciding because i think the 600 Hurricane was going for the same price. the Hawk was cool because it had a aluminium (or aluminium for you english dudes) frame and the single sided swing arm which was very cool to me then. in the end i did what i always do, opted for the Vtwin, just love that configuration. ive had inlines since but they just dont turn me on.

Throw in the relatively low volume of the SD with the very unique and distinctive design, and it might just develop the inexplicable 'cult' interest. Maybe its me, but I find bikes like the original Katana (Hans Muth - radical in its own time) to have enduring visual appeal.

In the end, I bought my SD to ride the piss out of it and will continue to do so. Its 'status' amongst non-owners is unimportant to me.[/quote]

thing about the SD is that it does look like nothing else out there, but it aslo just plain works. for me it gets the visual circuits going but also sounds great and i still look forward to riding it. this is the longest ive ever owned, and the most miles ive ever put one particular motorcycle.. and the one i think id kick myself for selling or trading it. the Streetfighter doesnt have that, nor the HyperM, the Toano, or any of the Triumphs. the bike i had the longest most miles before this was my LC4 and i wish i had that too!

wow, i just posted 3x in a row, make that 4!

... lets make it 5 just because!!

Keeping mine forever, love it too much.......... there will never be another TL1000s

Nope. The superduke is not a cult bike. It might be later on, but not now

Doooom and Glooom

There is room for different....if not we all have a classic just waiting to happen….

For me the duke is still amazing.The last one KTM imported to the states was 08 and it's still a looker.There are many new owners of this bike since the price is almost half of of what it was in 08.Many dealers still have the 08's and you can get them cheap.This bike still kicks ass you have to do some mods which I learned from many great guys on this forum.I do think we are a brotherhood because only the people who own this wonderful bike get it.The mags stopped writing about it even if it is still a bike that will hang with many of the 2012 machines.On the track if the bike is set up right you can go by bike that cost a shit load more.Everywhere I go people still see this bike as something they have never seen before and it's an 08.Sure you can get some bike that cost more have TC,ABS etc and maybe a few more ponies.I think the duke is in a class by itself the riding position is the best.Why it never took off like it should have (the mags loved it in 07-08) I think was the price like some have said you could get a sport bike for less back then.At 14 g's it was a large price to pay so they did not sell.KTM gave huge rebates to the dealers so they could sell them cheaper some did and they sold like hot cakes.I bought mine for the deal of death and spent a couple of g's to make it almost perfect.Bottom line is KTM makes a super product but they ask a super price.when the price came down they sold a ton of them.If KTM can find a way to make the bike so the average Joe can buy they will sell more units.
I know the duke comes with some of the best bling standard and that stuff is not cheap.I love mine it's fun to ride on the street and the track.I love KTM so much I bought a RC8 That bike is a great bike too but I bought it a great price .I can't afford to buy new KTM's but when the price comes down I am all over them because I know how good they are.I know you get state of the art stuff,the brakes are second to none.they come with good rubber and all kinds of great stuff.I think you will start seeing more dukes as the left overs get sold you will see more of them at the local M/C hangouts.
Once they are gone then they will become cult status.Just intime for the new model the duke 1200 another bike I will want but can't buy new.so when the nebe buys one and it scares the shit out of him and sells it I hope I will be ther so I can by it at half price.So we will start this cycle all over again.

I believe we are a Cult. We have limited followers and usualy have to push others to believe in our products. Plus we are all pretty crazy!