Post
by WarBaby » Wed Dec 13, 2017 7:37 pm
Here is a compressed account of my 2017 Superduke R experience: I've owned about 40 motorcycles in my life (really) and ridden a couple hundred more (really). Yes, I'm older than dirt but I still ride hard and enjoy every second on my SDR. It is a special machine and, as an old drag-racer-turned-twisty-lover, I'm all about performance. Although expensive, the Superduke is great as it comes from the factory...and even greater as a starting platform for customization. Like most here, I modded it to make it more 'mine'. It is comfy for my brief rides (usually about 2 hours) with a lower LSL aluminum drag bar that shifts weight forward for improved feedback and braking and the BST carbon rims contribute to noticeably better handling with their magical, unsprung-weight loss of 10+ pounds total. My last two bikes were Ducati 821 Hypermotards with legendary handling but my SDR is now right there with the Ducs for weight and riding tight twisties but it has MUCH more power. The factory seat, which I keep slick with Armor All, allows me to easily slide my butt from side-to-side for riding the mountain curves that surround me in the Smoky Mountains. The Pirelli Supercorsa VP tires provide the dry grip I NEED at full lean even if they have shortened life compared to most sport bike tires. ***I never skimp on tires since those two tiny contact patches are all that exist between me and the ER or Pearly Gates.***
The Rottweiler intake and their other goodies uncork the engine and produce s-m-o-o-t-h, 'make-me-grin' power via a PCV (Rotti map) while exhaust gasses exit efficiently through an Arrow Ti muffler and mid-pipe (no cat) without any detectable loss of torque low in the power band. The sound is deliciously authoritative without being obnoxiously loud.
A concerted bike-diet removed no less than 36 real pounds without compromising anything of importance to me. Two or three times per week, I hang out at the Deals Gap Resort (at the famous 'Dragon', Hwy 129, TN/NC) during good weather and the bike always draws a group of other riders who want to look at and talk about it. SDR's just seem to reek of badness! Yep, my view of the SDR is heavily biased...for good reasons. My only regret is that it took an entire lifetime for the bike to arrive but it's here now and it's love. I'm content.
Cheers!
`17 - BST carbon rims, Supercorsa tires, Arrow Ti can/mid-pipe, 16-T, Rotti 80/80 intake w/PCV/SAS/De-Canister/Servo Stopper/Fuel dongles, Lith. battery, R&G Frame/axle sliders, Evotech Tail Tidy/Rad guard/Exhaust hanger, LSL drag bar. -36 pounds.
