new bike ???

sold my sv 650s - what do you guys think of a KTM duke 620 as a replacement. nothing wrong with the SV just like to change every so often.

I just did this switch the other way around!

One of the biggest reasons for the switch was financial - I have other bikes on a multi-bike policy and to add the SV was just a small admin fee.

For whatever reason, they wouldn't allow the Duke on it so I had to get a separate policy. What I paid for one year of Duke ownership in insurance and depreciation would have paid for the SV I have now!

If you are thinking seriously of getting one, go for a 2004 model on a 2005 plate. KTM lowered the price drastically (most dealers were doing deals at £4,300 to £4,500) to clear them but there was no difference in spec. You should be able to get one for less than £3,500.

Lots of low end grunt (it's nearly two coke cans of fuel/air getting ready to explode in one cylinder) but runs out of steam very quickly. Best used in town or twisty back lanes. It is a 'weapon' that I never really fully learned to utilise - even though there are plenty of online pictures of them being leant right over it never felt natural to me.

Although it is billed as "high quality", I thought the overall finish was average compared to other bikes I have owned and did need a lot of looking after (the swingarm and pipes will never recover once the finish degrades past a certain point in winter).

It was certainly an experience owning one but it was a short-term fling for me and one that I doubt I will return to. One final point - spares (apart from plastics) are expensive and a bitch to get hold of because they are generally KTM specific and its a low volume manufacturer.

Let me know if you want more details.