KTM 950 Supermoto: It says a lot for a machine if, when riding it in the worst of conditions, it is a joy and pleasure. Conditions for our test of the KTM 950 Supermoto could not have been much worse. An Irish spring day - rain, sleet and snow. The sort of day when any right-thinking person would be toasting crumpets in front of a roaring log fire.
A host of factors went into this really enjoyable ride. The machine, in the black livery (we confess not to appreciating the other choice, a sort of agricultural orange) looks good, indeed was pronounced 'cool' by our pillion tester.
The riding position is well thought out, with everything comfortably where it should be. Despite a seemingly high seat height of 835mm, the fact that the seat is narrow means that few riders would experience any difficulty. It is, for its engine size, a light machine, claimed to be the lightest in its class.
Both front brake and clutch levers are adjustable. The LCD instrument panel is clear and readable, although there is no tachometer. There is no fuel gauge, just a fuel warning light which has the disconcerting habit of staying on for a while after you have filled up. The rather weirdly shaped mirrors give a decent enough view once finely adjusted.
Given the conditions in which we were riding, it would have been appreciated if there had been hand-guards and heated grips.
The seat looks as if it would be somewhat of a trial. To our surprise it turned out to be comfortable enough, at least for 100 miles, though before the 200 mark we'd have been glad of a break.
All the controls, throttle, brake lever and pedal, clutch and gear change proved to be light, positive and vice free. The front brakes are extremely powerful, the rear are light, progressive and grab-free.
The LCB engine always started first time, the twin Kehlin constant pressure carburettors needing just a touch of choke from cold. It incorporates a multi-function shaft which carries the timing chain, starting gear, water pump, and also provides a balancing effect.
The engine, which is dry-sump lubricated, weighs just 58kg. It has all the best characteristics of a well-designed V-twin, a meaty throbbing sound and every bit as much torque as you could wish for. The gear ratios are particularly well chosen, nicely spaced and encourage full use of all six gears.
This style of machine (KTM call it a Supermoto but in reality a thoroughly good, road-going, all-rounder) is certainly the pick of the litter as far as KTM's extensive range goes and it can hold its own with the best of the competition.
It is especially well-suited to Irish road conditions: the long travel suspension copes very well with everything from atrocious rural and potholed, patched-up small town roads, to the newest stretches of motorway. It absolutely delights in the challenge of twisty, switchback roads and proved to be as good a canyon carver as one could wish for. On a twisty back road it's as near to flying as you can get.
From point A to point B, on all save a long motorway stretch with blatant disregard of limits, it is as fast, if not faster, and 10 times more comfortable than a typical sports bike. Indeed it makes you wonder why you would want to be cramped up in a near foetal position on a sports bike.
It seemed to be just as happy with the sort of commuter type of riding as it was with the weekend spin territory. It felt no less at home on the motorway but is, admittedly, a naked machine, and long periods of wind-blast would be tiring. But it is not a motorway machine. It just has the happy knack of turning almost any road, in any conditions, into a real riding pleasure.
There is provision for a pillion passenger who would appreciate the man-sized grab handles on the rear. It is a much more practical two-up mount than any sports bike, although no machine of this type is at its best with the added load of a passenger.
If every machine we tested proved to be as much fun and as enjoyable we could even get to like rain, hail, sleet and snow.