Hilarious test: Rock Bagorosh lent KTM 200 and 690 Duke
(Iz Avto magazine 03/2013.)
fate: Matevzh Gribar, above the fog: Sasha Kapetanovich
VIDEO: Rock Bagorosh lent us his tricks KTM 200 and 690 Duke
Rock began weighing emails about half a century ago. Practice on a scooter, on ice, on the golf course (video can be found here), and can any of this be presented to the public through our media. And we sent. And Mura ran ...
In January of this year, I noticed on Rock's Facebook page that he mentioned training on the coast. And this time I turned the phone: "Hey, it's cold in Ljubljana and Gorenjsk ... Would you give your two KTMs in one lap?" Two days before Slovenia was covered with snow, Rok and I met on a date. Sasha with a camera, Alyos with a camera, little Cosmo Tina with a dictaphone (you will read the article through the eyes of a cheerful motorcyclist in Cosmopolitan) and me with Goproyka and full motorcycle equipment. On the coast there is really wet asphalt and fog. "The engine will have nothing to fall, just look at yourself", - says the blonde Prekmurek to join the morning sports life.
You have already read the 125cc Duke test in the Auto store and on the website www.moto-magazin.si, so about 200 cc versions In a nutshell: this is currently the most fashionable motorcycle in a simplified version in its class. Reasonably and without exaggeration. When designing the road warrior, KTM stuck to its “ready to race” philosophy while at the same time getting into the pocket of a teenager (or their parents) with a price tag. Of course, this is not a race car, but among cars with license plates, it is one of the sportiest. But Rokov has no Duke plate - no backlight, no standard exhaust system.
This is a purebred stunt "machine"! When we wrote in a test last year: “On the same basis, KTM is preparing even larger models, currently 200 cubic meters. It can be a very nice bike. It will probably also go on the rear wheel, which is not possible with such a completely original Duk 125. How the hell does this Bagoros do ?!We hit black. Two hundred "cubic meters" in combination with a reduced gear ratio jumps to the rear wheel without any problems!
In a standing position and with the help of "bleeding" the suspension and the correct movement of the body "wheelie" can be performed in second gear without using the clutch. We are surprised that it is installed on a motorcycle. serial front brake - because once you try the kit from the "power parts" catalog on the Duke 690, the brakes on the younger brother are unlikely to be worthy of their name ...
So let's move on to the bigger beast. My colleague Peter has already written about this (read the test here), and I myself shed a tear over previous generations in a brief opinion. The 2012 Duke is no longer a supermoto, he is naked, which is what customers love. I'm sticking with mine, which doesn't mean this car is non-toxic. Can you imagine a cooler bike than KTM's redesigned stunt car? Hard.
Sharp lines, flashy orange frame color, gritty graphics... That Rock can do what he knows best with him is a gimmick, so he ended up in the factory with Rock's help. processed like this: two jaws grab the rear disc, one of which works on the left side of the steering wheel. Vital parts, especially the engine, are protected by steel tubes (protective cage) on the front wheel axle, and instead of pedals for the passenger, we find thick tubes with a rough surface for better grip of the outsole when doing standing and reversing stunts.
An Akrapovic exhaust (anyway!) for better torque and a nicer "setup" and the engine electronics are tuned to the wishes of the 1989 born Slovene. The seat is stiffer, upholstered in a more durable and less slippery fabric and designed to provide glute grip even in positions not originally intended for driving, and there is an additional carbon fiber seat on the modified fuel tank. Behind the rear seat, instead of a wing, there is a steel bar for performing tricks while standing on the rear wheel. The steering wheel is slightly wider and more open. The front and rear suspensions are taken from a KTM racing showcase. Instead of a contact lock, the classic on/off switch is hidden in plastic at the head of the case. The rear sprocket is larger and some details can be found. A few scratches suited him perfectly.
In the first few meters, while heating the cylinder and the surrounding liquid, I have an unusual surprise: the engine does not work well! In the explanation I will write an explanation of Bagoros: “On the KTM, they started the engine first and had a short-travel sport throttle on the handlebars. I almost killed myself! Then, after a full day of testing in Austria, we tuned the engine to respond gently to the addition of gas. It is now much easier to control the movement of the motorcycle on the rear wheel. " And indeed - as soon as I squeeze the throttle to the stop, the front wheel jerks into the air. Ah, enough power. In fact, a bit too much for wet coastal asphalt.
Rear wheel traction with the new Sava radial tires (available in the spring!) is still sufficient, even after the first wheel after the tire warms up it runs smoothly. In short, the brakes are great, as is the suspension, which doesn't even squeal a little after the rear wheel hits the ground hard after a "stoppy". However, I still believe that the SMC 690 supermotor makes it easier and more manageable to ride on the rear wheel, so it's up to The Rock to test it as soon as possible. Maybe memory is deceptive or to blame for the fact that the new Duke, as the former owner of two KTM LC4s, is alien to me. The only major comment I found after a good hour-long session of adrenaline was the difficulty of finding the gearbox at idle. I would say that he knows the hard hours.
What I've done? Without excuses, on a wet surface, I only completed the ones that came with both Dukoms. basic techniques: riding on the rear wheel while sitting, standing and with one foot on the "handrail", stopping with the rear wheel raised, trying to get on the seat and lower the steering wheel (for a second or two it went, no more), drifted a little and turned one Carniola tire into smoke. The rest should be done by the one who knows it.
I experienced the highlight of the day when Rock grabbed the throttle. Let's face it - a motorcycle (this is the climax), although an ignorant viewer of the two guys in a difficult position might suspect something more than just friendship ... I got behind the wheel and grabbed the steering wheel in the middle, and Rock stepped on the 'passenger pedals. "Give it first." And instead of parking, I saw a foggy sky that began to whirl around us in the rhythm of a four-bar symphony. Confidence in the driver overcame fear, and the short ride, the first of its kind in my motorcycle career, turned into a real concentrate of adrenaline party.
Deadlines are proof that it is possible. Yes yes, hard times up or down. These dreams are valid and achievable, but not without effort and failure. Otherwise, his motto speaks volumes: dream a lot and never give up (dream and never give up). Kdo si upa?
