Love it.warps and all

Last outing for our long term KTM 790. And for Rockingham.

WE EXTENDED THE loan of the KTM 790 Duke test bike so that we could take it to our Rockingham trackday on 13 September, I really wanted a last track ride on the orange funster. The bike is fast enough for the twists and turns of the 1.7-mile National Circuit, using only second (for the hairpin), third and (briefly) fourth gears. It’s responsive and engaging, perfect for the entertainment of a road bike only trackday. A couple of others in the Bike team rode the 790 on track too, and at some point, possibly due to excess heat brought on by exuberantly heavy braking for the Yentwood right hander, one of the brake discs warped. Those vibrations are a bit off-putting when you’re hard on the anchors. It’s not the only issue we’ve had in the last few weeks. The to resort battery to bump stopped starting holding the charge bike (whiff and we of had throttle, you were second at the top gear), of which a hill. A was new only battery OK if from KTM fixed it. The snatchy low-speed throttle response is still irritating too. Two things improve it; firstly using Street mode instead of Sport, and secondly making I fiddling the 790, circuit parking. put I’m Sadly, bike’s it it quite which was back sure around that I’m been the happy to that not wasn’t opened last Sport hilarious. with joking. the to time just mode chain the forgive in we’ll 2001 We’ll the options for adjustment last all get is try Rockingham; being three time to in and ride Track that issues. find closed is at bang mode. we a Rockingham. new I The and got can’t on. rest venue turned to be ride of bothered for the The the into next time car year’s road bike only trackdays.