‘I wanted comfort and a sporty side’
Andy Thompson commutes in all weathers on two wheels, as well as enjoying weekend blasts and short trips away with his wife on the back. Late last year, he purchased a new KTM 1290 Super Duke GT, moving away from his favoured sportsbike genre to provide more comfort for both his passengers and himself and to pursue a growing interest in touring adventures.
He said: “On my previous 2016 Kawasaki ZX-10R, I was getting off after a few hours with quite a few aches and pains. Over the last few years, my urge to go touring has grown, so I wanted some comfort and a bike capable of taking a decent amount of luggage.
“The Ninja was good fun, but very single-minded and I didn’t find that many roads I could use it on, as it’s ridiculously quick. My wife likes going on the bike as well and the Kawasaki was no fun for her at all. So, I decided it was time for a change and started to look around for a suitable tool.
“The KTM appealed to me and when I saw one with the luggage thrown in (worth £675), I couldn’t resist going for it.
“It has taken a bit of getting used to as I’ve owned inline fourcylinder bikes for most of my riding life. I started out wondering whether certain things were issues with the bike, or just me not understanding the nuances of a big V-twin. But once I’d got used to the funny noises it made when starting (see panel) and the tallness of the bike, it soon started to win me over. “There have been annoying little niggles along the way, but the power of the meaty V-twin has impressed me. It’s great to be able to load it up for a weekend and go a long distance in relative comfort, always knowing that there’s plenty of power on tap if you need it.
“I still love the look and character of the bike, although I think KTM have missed a trick by giving it a lovely looking single-sided swingarm and then covering it up with a massive end can. “There were a few niggles in the first 12 months and the brake recall (see panel) has been a bit of a pain, but the work has all been done for free under warranty and the dealer has sorted any problems I’ve had straight away without quibbling. I feel like the silly little things are fixed now and I should get a troublefree year from here. I will keep it for a while and plan a European tour this summer.”
‘There have been a few niggles but it’s all been sorted without any quibbles’