Joined
·
17 Posts
So about a year ago, I rode the Diavel 1260S and the Multistrada Pikes Peak, both were phenomenal bikes and I was truly split between functional (Multistrada) and sex appeal (Diavel).
Long story short I couldn’t decide between the two and ended up with a KTM 1290 Super Duke GT. Same story with the KTMs, between the R aka Beast and wheelie monster and the GT, basically an R with removable bags (stock), windshield, heated grips, same engine and electronic suspension. While the R was exhilarating, the GT just checked all the boxes for me and gave me a blend between the functional and sex appeal I was looking for.
Fast forward, I’m back at the Ducati dealership checking out the new Multistrada V4S, some Panigale’s, and Streetfighters. I asked if they had a demo bike to test ride, as my dealer is really cool about test rides, meaning copy of license, sign the waiver and you get the keys and half a tank of gas. I don’t know if it’s just my luck or the dealer is well connected, but their demo bikes are always the top models with accessories, like the previous Diavel 1260s and Multistrada Pikes Peak, so why would this time be any different. The salesman proceeds to roll out a Streetfighter V4S with the $5k Akrapovic exhaust and hands me keys to their “demo” bike. I laughed and said this would be like going to Ford and telling them you want to test drive “a” mustang and they say ok, well all we got is this Shelby GT-500, lol.
So he cranks it up and I knew immediately why the exhaust was priced at $5k, it was absolutely nauseating, but in a good way. No YouTube video could ever do that thing justice. So I took off and rode that thing like a mad man, hey it ain’t mine and I had gas to burn, lol. I got it up to ‘Mexico’ speed limits and felt like a wind sail with no windshield, but the sound of the up shifting and down shifting through that Akrapovic was nothing short of controlled violence. My GAWD.
I didn’t get a chance to ride the Panigale, as there were no demo models, knowing my luck it would be a Superleggra demo, lol. But seriously, I’m curious now about the Panigale V4, as the Streetfighter with all the power it has, made me feel like I would never be able to experience it fully opened up because at 136 mph, I felt like I was about to be ripped off of it from the wind.
The worst part came after the ride, when I had to ride my stock exhaust Super Duke GT back home, where I promptly ordered an Austin Racing De-Cat belly exit exhaust system, lol.
Long story short I couldn’t decide between the two and ended up with a KTM 1290 Super Duke GT. Same story with the KTMs, between the R aka Beast and wheelie monster and the GT, basically an R with removable bags (stock), windshield, heated grips, same engine and electronic suspension. While the R was exhilarating, the GT just checked all the boxes for me and gave me a blend between the functional and sex appeal I was looking for.
Fast forward, I’m back at the Ducati dealership checking out the new Multistrada V4S, some Panigale’s, and Streetfighters. I asked if they had a demo bike to test ride, as my dealer is really cool about test rides, meaning copy of license, sign the waiver and you get the keys and half a tank of gas. I don’t know if it’s just my luck or the dealer is well connected, but their demo bikes are always the top models with accessories, like the previous Diavel 1260s and Multistrada Pikes Peak, so why would this time be any different. The salesman proceeds to roll out a Streetfighter V4S with the $5k Akrapovic exhaust and hands me keys to their “demo” bike. I laughed and said this would be like going to Ford and telling them you want to test drive “a” mustang and they say ok, well all we got is this Shelby GT-500, lol.
So he cranks it up and I knew immediately why the exhaust was priced at $5k, it was absolutely nauseating, but in a good way. No YouTube video could ever do that thing justice. So I took off and rode that thing like a mad man, hey it ain’t mine and I had gas to burn, lol. I got it up to ‘Mexico’ speed limits and felt like a wind sail with no windshield, but the sound of the up shifting and down shifting through that Akrapovic was nothing short of controlled violence. My GAWD.
I didn’t get a chance to ride the Panigale, as there were no demo models, knowing my luck it would be a Superleggra demo, lol. But seriously, I’m curious now about the Panigale V4, as the Streetfighter with all the power it has, made me feel like I would never be able to experience it fully opened up because at 136 mph, I felt like I was about to be ripped off of it from the wind.
The worst part came after the ride, when I had to ride my stock exhaust Super Duke GT back home, where I promptly ordered an Austin Racing De-Cat belly exit exhaust system, lol.
