Yes i will ensure trials tyre will be on the rear, i would really like to get a Mitas one on her though , not sure if JD do them will be speaking to Rob later today, and i will check the fan situation and ensure one is fitted , thanks for the heads up
Well done Simon, you won't regret it. Trials rear, MT43 is fine and JD will probably swop it as part of the deal. Lower gearing, I run 12/52 which general opinion seams to be it's too low but I know is spot on if you ride trials style in the lanes and it will cruise at a comfortable 55mph on the road which is as much as a trials rear will take on a dry road with 10-11 psi. Take 2 of the Carb breather pipes up into the top rear of the Air Box to avoid the engine cutting out in deep water. Sorry to disagree with Andy but no need for the Fan if you don't leave the engine idling for long periods (cause you now have a reliable electric start )
Fit a slow action throttle tube to slow the initial throttle opening.
I think that's about it but call me if you want any more info, JD have my number.
Amazing, isnt it? Brand new off road bike, and you have to pay extra for a bash plate!!
You might want to make sure you've got decent heavy duty inner tubes in it aswell. It may not be the case with KTM, but I know someone who bought a brand new WR, and the tubes it came with were made by Durex!!
You might not need it, but I melt my right boot on the exhaust. KTM do a heat shield for a tenner.
Congratulations but sad to hear you've sold your Africa Twin.
Will be very interested to see what your experience with JD's is like once they've had your money for the bike? Bend over backwards to sell you a bike but don't want to seem to know afterwards. Touch wood this won't be the case for you.
Oh no Merlin there are a few more of us kickers lurking and will be around for some time to come. Anyhow I have noticed that a magic button often reduces importance that one places on fine clutch control, particularly in the more hairier of moments.
Rain Monkey is a kicker as well.... See your point about the fan but past experience led me to believe that the bikes needed a fan.
Sonny, have you ever bought a bike from JD's? I know your friend in Paignton had a bad experience but that was all his doing as JD's were trying to help and did sort it in the end. The person in question (Gary) is still buying parts from them.
I can only say that they have looked after me very well even though I didn't buy my KTM 950 Adventure from them. They did all the warranty work that the Devon KTM Dealer couldn't be bothered to do and that's why I bought my RC8 from them.
Is there anyone on this forum that's received bad after sales service from JD's?
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I do know where I'm going, but the track it will decide, It's not the destination, It's the glory of the ride!
I've had 4 new bikes from JDs and always been very well looked after. Robs very knowledgeable on all things KTM and Off Road and John the "new mechanic" who replaced Justin, is settling in very well and following the courses he's done, getting to know the KTMs as well as the BMWs he was used to.
Congratulations but sad to hear you've sold your Africa Twin.
Will be very interested to see what your experience with JD's is like once they've had your money for the bike? Bend over backwards to sell you a bike but don't want to seem to know afterwards. Touch wood this won't be the case for you.
Cheers Sonny , it was sad to see the Africa Twin go , but i was more than happy with the price i got for her , i could have sold it 20+ times ! after selling it within 3hrs of going onto ebay i had 1764 views on ebay by the following morning.
They truly are a sought after machine
Just finished on the phone with Rob at JD's ordering my extras , many thanks for everyones advice. HD Aluminium bash plate=Yes HD inner tubes = Yes HD Handguards=Yes Clutch saver =Yes 12f 52r = Yes slow action throttle tube= maybe will see how the standard feels as £100 notes is a lot if i dont like it Fan = No , with further advice it would seem that they will run on occasions for 5 mins plus when motor is stopped i now have the magic button so no excuse for leaving the motor running.
Customer service from Rob is 1st class so far ....................
Hi Sonny This all makes very interesting reading, however could you please tell me in what way have you based your allegation on our aftersales!! I could understand if you yourself have had a bad experience in dealing with us, but to my knowledge i dont think you have EVER purchased anything from us let alone a new bike. We have very many satisfied customers up and down the country that include several members of the TVTR If at any stage we have upset any-one then please post a message on the forum or call us at the shop and we will do our utmost to resolve any problems you might of had Regards to all Rob Deacon
Are you SURE you want 12/52 gearing? As Neil says, its is very low. Also, and I might have imagined this, or made it up possibly, but I think the smaller the front sprocket the quicker the chain wears out. Anyone know if this is true?
I've never bought a new bike from JD - I live in hope - but I've bought lots of bits and bats and they've always been brilliant.
This all makes very interesting reading, however could you please tell me in what way have you based your allegation on our aftersales!! Rob Deacon
I was asked to collect a spoke for a friend who lives in the East of the County. Due to circumstances i was unable to fulfill his request but got another mate to take time out and go collect it. When he turned up to collect it there wasn't one there? Even though a phone call was made to check that the item was available before anyone started making unneccessary journeys.
I've got 13/48. But thats largely irrelevant as the internal gearing on the 250 is not the same as the 400. The 250 has a closer ratio box than the 400 - less cc, so less grunt, so the gears are closer together.
Sonny, have you ever bought a bike from JD's? I know your friend in Paignton had a bad experience but that was all his doing as JD's were trying to help and did sort it in the end. The person in question (Gary) is still buying parts from them.
I can only say that they have looked after me very well even though I didn't buy my KTM 950 Adventure from them. They did all the warranty work that the Devon KTM Dealer couldn't be bothered to do and that's why I bought my RC8 from them.
Is there anyone on this forum that's received bad after sales service from JD's?
You've changed your tune. I wasn't that long ago that you were moaning on about the fact that there wasn't anyone qualified in JD's to work on your RC8 and that you were thinking of doing some course to do it yourself. And the saga of your water logged clocks that you were not happy about. A bit two faced Mr L.S.!!
No, I'm not two faced. I was upset that Justin left JD's as I consider him one of the best bike mechanics in the UK, as do KTM themselves. This meant that there wasn't a mechanic at JD's who'd been on the KTM RC8 course...John, their new mechanic, went on the course in February and has recently carried out the service bulletin work on my bike and it's running as sweet as it ever did. As for the misting up speedo, that's a KTM problem, nothing to do with aftersales service. Fixer
Well done simon, I'm running 13-49 and happy, it was 15-45 on an enduro rear tyre when I got it, awful in the lanes, quick up to 50ish still pulling at 90 (with belly resting on the bars to try and keep them still), but why would you run an enduro bike with gearing that high??
Replaced my chain and sprockets at 14 months and 3100 miles seem OK to me. would also recommend the optional Map switch it just softens the pick up a touch but this can be retro fitted easily if you think you need it. I would ask JDs to leave the original No Plate holder in place, it doesn't look cool but it should keep plod reasonably happy and it keeps a lot of crud off your back.
I'm VERY pleased with my 400 Simon, and I'm sure you will love yours. Have you ordered those special thumb guards? . Bob
As i said i am rather excited and yes thumbs guards have been ordered (with Alloy brace for that extra bit of protection)
And my most recent conversation with Rob at JD's has pleased me further you will hopefully all see why when you see the bike .............................
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