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test report from driving SDR battle series bike

66 posts · Started by fredrik · 06 Dec 2008

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Post 1 by fredrik,

#1
Woke up this morning to a very nice day with sun and dry roads. Figured it was a good time to finally test drive an SDR. So I headed down to Bracken where they have a few of the battle series bikes for sale. The one I tested belonged to Jon Pearson, bike number 23. Here it is from when at brands:
Image

First impression was that it's like sitting on a wooden chair. I drove off and was very surprised to find that first gear geared to speads well above 70mph, strange... a few moments later I realised why, the bike was set up for race with first gear up and the rest down. So what I thought was first gear was in fact second. Good thing I didn't try to shift from "first" to "second"

Once I figured out the gear order I still didn't like the gearing, it was definitely higher geared than my bike, first gear (the real first this time) hit 60mph. This is the first thing that I'd change if I buy it.

I do like that wooden chair seat though, it never felt uncomfortable during the 40minute test drive. Instead it felt very maneuverable. Also the ride height is significantly higher than my bike due to the taller rear suspension. This increased rear height results in very noticeable sharpening of the steering -nice! +At 6'4" I'll take any increase in ride height I can get...

Now on to the engine. It's definitely more powerful than my 07SD, but not as much as I was expecting. There's a bit more snatch but I've never had a problem with mine and don't mind the aggressive throttle response. I would have no problems commuting each day with it. The deep sound of the round akras positively surprised me, despite having the baffles in they sounded almost as much as my evo's without the baffles. Also, the bike popped all the time love those pops on the overrun!

So are the differences that big? Yes and no. Right after I got back on my bike it felt like going from a sports car to a comfy mercedes. But after a couple of miles I was once again smiling and enjoying my bike -which is one hell of a bike! But I do prefer the SDR so I've asked the sales guy to give me a quote for my bike in exchange. Should find out Monday what they can do. If it's decent I'll become more orange shortly

Post 2 by SDSmurf,

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Good luck with that bike, I heard the superbike crew (JP) had some problems with it...

Post 3 by fredrik,

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Post 4 by SDSmurf,

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Post 5 by fredrik,

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Post 6 by Ducati Pete,

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Post 7 by fredrik,

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Post 8 by Ducati Pete,

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Post 9 by flatout1966,

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Post 10 by couchcommando,

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Post 11 by ShadeTheChangingMan,

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same as above got to remember its been caned from day one, but if you only planing to keep it for a couple of year and add 10,000 miles say dont think it will be your problem, not the right thing to do but who ever buys it of you or who ever you trade it in with do they need to know it was a race bike??? i dont think i would buy an ex race bike? for £6600 but we are all diffrent would be a funny old world if we wanted the same.

Post 12 by Sam,

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Post 13 by flatout1966,

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Post 14 by fredrik,

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I would go for it, any race team would run them in first and as most teams never got the bikes until 2 weeks before the first round they don't have many miles on them.

So good I bought the AOR 08 Battle Bike

Post 15 by fredrik,

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Post 16 by fredrik,

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Post 17 by ShadeTheChangingMan,

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Post 18 by warh0rn,

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Post 19 by fredrik,

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Post 20 by fredrik,

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Post 21 by warh0rn,

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Post 22 by warh0rn,

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Post 23 by fredrik,

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Post 24 by fredrik,

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Post 25 by fredrik,

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Post 26 by Sam,

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Post 27 by Sam,

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Post 28 by fredrik,

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Post 29 by Sam,

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Post 30 by fredrik,

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Sorry folks my bad, I was moving though and did not pay attention... Please excuse me gents..

Post 31 by ShadeTheChangingMan,

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Post 32 by Stupid Luke,

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Post 33 by Sam,

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Post 34 by Sam,

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Post 35 by fredrik,

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Post 36 by Sam,

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Post 37 by fredrik,

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Post 38 by fredrik,

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Just the maps that are different, the physical PCIII is the same.

The wheels were an option for the battle bikes for about an extra £1k in the package.

I have a spare set for wets and recently found a rear to put a slick on, but like Luke I'm still looking for a front. Might have to dust off the mill and make a GSXR Marchesini one fit

Post 39 by Stupid Luke,

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Post 40 by fredrik,

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Post 41 by ShadeTheChangingMan,

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Post 42 by Sam,

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uh-oh.....you've been absorbed into the hive mind of the dealer....step away from the cheque book:!:

Its a lot like Stockholm Syndrome....the dealer treats you bad and after a period of trying to negotiate you come to a subconcious realisation that you like being treated like crap and not only go along with it but start to actually defend their ill treatment and bad practise....mainly because they are dangling a gorgeous SDR in front of you!

Remember this: How much grief/shit/work did you have to go through to earn your money?

Do Bracken have the right to take it from you without similar efforts?

Post 43 by ShadeTheChangingMan,

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Bare in mind this ex Battle SDR sold for £5900 with spare wheels only 10 days ago....

Post 44 by flatout1966,

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Post 45 by fredrik,

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Post 46 by Stupid Luke,

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Post 47 by flatout1966,

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Post 48 by Stupid Luke,

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well done fred orange frame is the way forward and there faster

Post 49 by fredrik,

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Glad you got it sorted Fredrik

Is yours an 08 or 97 SDR flatout1966 ?

I had a run in with Laguna back in the Summer over p/ex prices and wrote to KTM. The MD (cant remember his name) finally replied and said he thought it acceptable for a dealer to be looking to make £1,000 on a p/ex but £750 was more realistic.

I agree with that but dont forget they are already making that sort of money (or more) on the bike they are selling you. I havent had much to do with Ducati dealers, So it is only KTM that are pulling my pants down.

Maybe it is more of a shock to me as I have only dealt with Aprilia and Jap bike dealers in the past. The thing I have always felt is that bad deals make bad feeling. I am not happy to spend anything at Laguna (the worst dealer in the western world) because of their piss take p/ex offer, and their general incompetence. If I have to travel 50 miles to another dealer so be it.

Lets see how smug the KTM dealers are when the Ducati SF is readily available.

Post 50 by Sam,

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Thanks guys! can't wait to take it to the track some time this spring

Post 51 by fredrik,

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Post 52 by flatout1966,

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Post 53 by fredrik,

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Post 54 by fredrik,

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Post 55 by Sam,

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Post 56 by flatout1966,

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Picked her up yesterday. Took out the baffles straight away and the result was a much deeper sound, love it! Wonder if it's the headers or the round akras that are doing that -much better sounding than my old which had evos.

I rode it to work this morning, had one guy on an R1 ride up to me at a light saying "what is that? I love it, really cool"

here's a pic from the garage, -will get some better photos this weekend

Image

Post 57 by LGCabrera,

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Looks Great

Post 58 by fredrik,

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Post 59 by Sam,

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Post 60 by Silverback,

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Post 61 by fredrik,

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I've now had a few days on this bad boy. It's amazing! such a good bike! It's better in every way compared to my old one, super aggressive no compromises -the way I like it.

One of my friends took it for a spin the other day -right after getting off the bike he jumped in his car, drove to bracken and bought number 44.
-as you can see I'm doing my best to make it a more orange world

Post 62 by Sam,

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Post 63 by Silverback,

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Post 64 by flatout1966,

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