Here is my review/story so far with the Duke.
I have owned my 09 SDR for about 3 months now. I have managed to cover around 8000km’s so far.
I currently have a CBR 600RR and an Aprilia RSV factory 05 but the KTM is my only bike here in Japan. I have ridden bikes since I was 5 years old and started of with a Puch Magnum a long time ago.
I have had a bunch of KTM supermoto singles, DukeII, 640sm, 625sm and a 660smc. Since riding an Aprilia Tuono for a while I always wanted to be back on a twin powered naked bike again.
I moved back to Japan earlier this year and I needed a bike for both touring and track days. I was looking at the Cbr1000 and the Aprilia tuono factory but I know I hate the riding position of a superbike on the street and I already have an RSV so I didn’t feel to exited about getting a naked version of it.
Went of to the local KTM shop here in Tokyo to look at a used 07 SDR but unfortunately that bike was already spoken for. The dealer had a new 09 SDR sitting in the shop window and I was in love…
Just sitting on the bike felt perfect. The ergonomics are really good for me being 192cm’s at 110kg’s.
I bought the bike without even test riding it. Got it delivered to my house a few days later.
The first time I was out on the bike I was surprised about how sensitive the throttle was. It seemed impossible to cruise along in first or second gear without using the clutch. Next surprise was the seat…..really uncomfortable.
I also encountered the first problem the second day….Oil light came on when the bike was hot and idling. Called the dealer who had his mechanic zip over to my home and replace the oil pressure sensor. Bike was fixed within 1 hour of my call to them…only in Japan…
I rode the bike in this shape for about 5000km’s. The snatchy throttle kept bothering me a bit even after I learned to ride around it. At the track it almost got me into trouble a couple of time while going thru corners leaned over. Strong engine braking together with a throttle that seemed to have a mind of its own is a bad combination. When the throttle decided to go from slightly opened to fully shut it felt like I would lose the front mid corner.
Also when riding the hairpins up on the mountain roads around here I needed to slip the clutch to keep the bike from falling into corners.
I ordered a set of Acras and a PCIII from Munn racing in TX. About half the cost compared to buying it here in Japan.
I put the Acras on first with the baffles in and rode the bike like this for a while. The bike became slightly smoother even with the stock map.
Next I had the dealer install the Acra map and the bike ran great for a day or so before the ECU leaned out the fueling again.
I then installed the PCIII with the sensor eliminators and loaded up a custom map I received from Plipton (thank you).
Bike felt great after this. Throttle response is smooth but still punchier than stock. I can now go thru hairpins and use the throttle instead of the clutch and/or rear brake to set my speed.
The only downside is that with the big elevation changes on rides here I can feel the bike running different depending on altitude. I guess it has lost its ability to adapt with the Lambda sensors plugged.
I am very happy with the bike and it still makes me smile every time I ride it. It works great on track too where the ergonomics makes up for the performance handicap compared to the CBR1000 I used to have. Only on big tracks like Motegi do I miss more power on the straights. I have been on many camping trips and I would like to have a way to carry more luggage for that.
Summary of mods:
R&G crash bungs low and high
Round Acras
PCIII
Stiffer rear spring (200)
Touring screen
Gel seat cover
Zumo 550
KTM tankbag
Diablo Supercorsa race rubbers
Problems so far:
Oil pressure sensor (10km)
Graphite gasket blown out from header (6000km)
Used about 1.5ltrs of oil between services. I guess it isn’t so bad but still don’t like it. Seems to be using less now than from start though.
I always break my bikes in hard but without abuse.
/Andreas
I have owned my 09 SDR for about 3 months now. I have managed to cover around 8000km’s so far.
I currently have a CBR 600RR and an Aprilia RSV factory 05 but the KTM is my only bike here in Japan. I have ridden bikes since I was 5 years old and started of with a Puch Magnum a long time ago.
I have had a bunch of KTM supermoto singles, DukeII, 640sm, 625sm and a 660smc. Since riding an Aprilia Tuono for a while I always wanted to be back on a twin powered naked bike again.
I moved back to Japan earlier this year and I needed a bike for both touring and track days. I was looking at the Cbr1000 and the Aprilia tuono factory but I know I hate the riding position of a superbike on the street and I already have an RSV so I didn’t feel to exited about getting a naked version of it.
Went of to the local KTM shop here in Tokyo to look at a used 07 SDR but unfortunately that bike was already spoken for. The dealer had a new 09 SDR sitting in the shop window and I was in love…
Just sitting on the bike felt perfect. The ergonomics are really good for me being 192cm’s at 110kg’s.
I bought the bike without even test riding it. Got it delivered to my house a few days later.
The first time I was out on the bike I was surprised about how sensitive the throttle was. It seemed impossible to cruise along in first or second gear without using the clutch. Next surprise was the seat…..really uncomfortable.
I also encountered the first problem the second day….Oil light came on when the bike was hot and idling. Called the dealer who had his mechanic zip over to my home and replace the oil pressure sensor. Bike was fixed within 1 hour of my call to them…only in Japan…
I rode the bike in this shape for about 5000km’s. The snatchy throttle kept bothering me a bit even after I learned to ride around it. At the track it almost got me into trouble a couple of time while going thru corners leaned over. Strong engine braking together with a throttle that seemed to have a mind of its own is a bad combination. When the throttle decided to go from slightly opened to fully shut it felt like I would lose the front mid corner.
Also when riding the hairpins up on the mountain roads around here I needed to slip the clutch to keep the bike from falling into corners.
I ordered a set of Acras and a PCIII from Munn racing in TX. About half the cost compared to buying it here in Japan.
I put the Acras on first with the baffles in and rode the bike like this for a while. The bike became slightly smoother even with the stock map.
Next I had the dealer install the Acra map and the bike ran great for a day or so before the ECU leaned out the fueling again.
I then installed the PCIII with the sensor eliminators and loaded up a custom map I received from Plipton (thank you).
Bike felt great after this. Throttle response is smooth but still punchier than stock. I can now go thru hairpins and use the throttle instead of the clutch and/or rear brake to set my speed.
The only downside is that with the big elevation changes on rides here I can feel the bike running different depending on altitude. I guess it has lost its ability to adapt with the Lambda sensors plugged.
I am very happy with the bike and it still makes me smile every time I ride it. It works great on track too where the ergonomics makes up for the performance handicap compared to the CBR1000 I used to have. Only on big tracks like Motegi do I miss more power on the straights. I have been on many camping trips and I would like to have a way to carry more luggage for that.
Summary of mods:
R&G crash bungs low and high
Round Acras
PCIII
Stiffer rear spring (200)
Touring screen
Gel seat cover
Zumo 550
KTM tankbag
Diablo Supercorsa race rubbers
Problems so far:
Oil pressure sensor (10km)
Graphite gasket blown out from header (6000km)
Used about 1.5ltrs of oil between services. I guess it isn’t so bad but still don’t like it. Seems to be using less now than from start though.
I always break my bikes in hard but without abuse.
/Andreas