i think we're becoming mainstream.....

[Steve Lake]

Reading the boring one make rag (MCN) this week, i was pleasantly suprised to read about a new KTM 690 single, sports bike, with a nce little aside from Dave Pearce of Tigraft politely pointing out he's been doing the same thing for years.
With an estimated 70bhp in standard form, it could be a little flyer.....Dave's comment about laptimes at pembury says it all, with the fastest supermono lapping in the same times as the 1000cc thunderbikes.  (was that you Andy?, i think we should be told)

[Andy M]

Reading the boring one make rag (MCN) this week, i was pleasantly suprised to read about a new KTM 690 single, sports bike, with a nce little aside from Dave Pearce of Tigraft politely pointing out he's been doing the same thing for years.
With an estimated 70bhp in standard form, it could be a little flyer.....Dave's comment about laptimes at pembury says it all, with the fastest supermono lapping in the same times as the 1000cc thunderbikes.  (was that you Andy?, i think we should be told)

They (MCN) will return to type. The next 600 supersports shootout article will have the KTM in there as an also ran before they declare the CBR600 the best thing since sliced knee sliders.

Best thing I've seen in there for a long time was the 100 greatest bikes ever (ended up reading it in some airport). Along with the usual suspect were (rightly) BMW GS's, the CX Plastic Maggot and the Honda C90. The baying of the sportsbike crowd (who thought something with a 180 mph top speed made within the last fortnight should win) on the letters page was just hysterical! Can't remember what won, might have been an early model Fireplace?

Andy

[guest27]

Tend to read the comic alot - for the sports pages mainly but some of the stuff by Kevin Ash is OK etc.  Have started to become bored withthe fact that the R1 will be the best bike, CBR600RRRR will be the best 600 etc etc.  Made me laugh when they had their coverage of the big Euro test thingy (again sports bikes on a track - but with real riders of note etc from the whole of Europe) the MV1000F4 either beat or ran the R1 close and only two rated anything other than the Triumph 675 as best 600 were (I think) the French guy who was a real fan of the rock hard Kwak, and MCN who went for the Honda.

KTM looks good, and it seems that Cagiva may be looking at the Mito 500 being a single rather than a twin afterall?

R