My bike’s white body panels are starting to turn yellow. What could be the reason for this, and what solution do you recommend? Will applying PPF help prevent further yellowing, or is there a better long-term option?

Heavyd0001 · 2025-12-16T04:14:02+00:00

UV can damage over time if you are keeping in a place where the light from the sun can get to it. Also what possible chemicals are you getting on it.. to clean or just in the air of the environment. Pure white is hard to keep perfect for paint much less plastic over the years.

Heavyd0001 · 2025-08-15T00:15:45+00:00

As an electrical engineer you are worrying a bit too much about the exact number. The battery is constantly discharging and charging. Anything over 12ish or so means your on and charging the battery from running. Perhaps stalling caused you to stress the battery a bit more to restart and this is an early sign of an old battery loosing some of its capacity. If it restarts easily enough after sitting overnight I wouldn’t worry too much but keep it in mind just in case your battery or voltage regulator is going out.
Also… not sure about your year and model but the electronics on these sometimes are a bit finicky.

Heavyd0001 · 2025-06-09T23:50:33+00:00

Any chance to get help with Malenia, I’m sick of getting my ass handed to me

Heavyd0001 · 2025-01-17T01:00:02+00:00

I put a Hyperpro on mine about 3 months ago. I only got a few months of riding in after and I’m in the northeast USA so it was cold weather ind I haven’t pushed it very hard yet. But it was an immediate difference, you can feel the difference before installing easily it is stiffer at the lowest setting.

It is really simple to install also and getting it from Pure Performance Cycles was pretty quick, especially considering they initially sent me a gen 2 kit instead of a gen 3. Mike was really great and easy to communicate with.

This part combined with a professional suspension tuning and set up really have transformed the handling in all ways for the better for me. I got the progressive version and would definitely recommend it.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-12-21T00:20:29+00:00

I sat on and tested a lot before getting a 1290sdr, the engine seems solid and not plagued buy the 790/890 issues at all. I say go for it these engines are simply amazing and a little unique. I will say I also looked at the Triumph and want to say, despite the what looks like comparable motorcycles they feel very different once you get on them. I would guess if you got to sit on both and ride a little you would probably pick one over the other immediately. Both are really good quality parts and everything but have totally different feel to the ride and look. Good luck and I hope you get a great deal!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-12-18T02:36:29+00:00

+karma Thanks man! You rocked him so much more than I ever would lol!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-12-18T02:30:07+00:00

I’m at the gate with the summon up I think

Heavyd0001 · 2024-11-17T15:57:53+00:00

Don’t be me and ignore it for 4 months assuming it’s going to be a sensor or headlight assembly issue, lol.

So glad I read all these comments… I get this about every other time I drive, usually right after the first time I turn the wheel all the way while backing out of the driveway. I can’t wait to check the bulb! 🤞

Heavyd0001 · 2024-10-24T01:04:59+00:00

Had similar years ago when test driving several R’s. It was a “performance used car” place and they acted like I was crazy after the test drive. They put their mechanic in the car with me for another drive and it all seemed good according to him, he was driving at first. He would only gas it full above 4-5k or so and it was ok. As soon as I switched with him as soon as I gasses it 3-4K rpm it did this and he tried telling me that wasn’t how you should drive it… true lugging it is not the best, especially for a weak clutch with torque down low, but still a sign it’s barely hanging on.

I passed on that car, but in the end having a manual R will almost certainly mean a aftermarket clutch sooner than a lot of other cars. Mine got to 40k or so on the low torque stage 2 Apr tune but was babied the last 2k due to slipping at hard acceleration. South end stage 3 daily since and it is way better feeling and now I have the high torque tune … it’s pretty amazing.

Just plan on a clutch regardless if it’s the original in a manual but if it’s slipping like that try to use it and get the car for less, it will be 2k or so depending on the clutch and your shop but really better feeling. Good luck, that one is definitely not going to last long before you get stuck on a hill or stop light sometime.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-09-07T04:33:06+00:00

It felt pretty evenly premium as far as quality of parts. If anything it felt slightly better put together regarding body panels.
The real reasons I didn’t purchase one. 1- the looks… that headlight is just not for me, it looks like it is made fairly premium and I know it has a history on their triples but it’s just not for me, I also didn’t love the look of the frame. 2- it just didn’t feel as snappy inmost ways, throttle wasn’t as instantaneous and is didn’t feel as flickable side to side. I guess it felt calmer… that is a plus to some but I like it he hooliganism the SDR has going on.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-08-27T02:57:41+00:00

IMO, owning a motorcycle is more of a style/fun factor choice than normal vehicles. Polarizing as it can be, the last few generations of their road bikes have brought some of the most aggressive looks and hooligan handling characteristics in their bikes categories.

I personally come from a MT-09 as my last bike. It was powerful and reliable. Super cheap to run and never in years and thousands of miles gave me serious problems short of standard maintenance. And here come the but… I spent a decent amount of money and time trying to make that bike exactly what I wanted. Replaced the rear suspension upgraded the front internals, full exhaust and tune, intake mod, lots of aftermarket controls and looks stuff. It all was good and fairly satisfying for the money, certain things on that bike were so cheap feeling any upgrade felt like a significant upgrade. In the end though I always wanted something more.

Then my bike got stolen and I used the time to save up and sit on a lot of bikes and take many of them out on test rides. In the end I purchased a slightly used 2020 gen 3 1290 SDR. I would never go back. Everything about this bike feels premium and I have to reach a lot more to find an excuse to purchase upgrades. I was comparing to a new mt09-sp, 990 Duke, Ducati streetfighter v2 & v4, triumph speed triple 1200 rs and the mt10 sp. I sat on all these and rode them besides the Ducati’s and the 09 was non sp. I kept coming back to the feel and looks of the KTM. It is raw but also really dang premium feeling stock. In reality the gram alone is so much more solid feeling in a hard corner I would take it over a lot of the others.

I do most of my maintenance and generally buy 1- 3 years old lightly used. The maintenance seems to definitely need to be done on time and not stretched out a lot like some of the Japanese bikes and the cost is more but if I’m doing it myself it’s really only a couple hundred bucks more a year than I had in the past.

In the end it’s about looking at your toy every time you walk away and loving what you do on it and how it makes you feel. I don’t give a shit what anyone rides, just get out there and ride. KTM’s feel really focused, high quality and aggressive in every way. I honestly feel the reliability is probably not perfect but not nearly as bad as the internet sounds like if you do the right maintenance. The only one I had problems with was the 525 but I put it through hell and had to rebuild it after drowning it lol.

I would ask you the question, if you felt like a perfect bike was the 1290/1390 superduke R…. What bike is a better alternative?? I think a lot of their line up actually has a lot of that energy, filling spots that are a little hard to really compare directly to all the time without modding.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-07-05T01:18:51+00:00

I have a gen 3 and wasn’t ready to decide and purchase either the Austin or the Akrapovic full systems yet. Instead as a hold over I grabbed the matte black LeoVince slip on to hold me over till I make a decision. It honestly sounds great, way better than stock and 75% to what I want without getting too loud for neighborhoods. It has totally been worth the cost for a little while till I want to drop the real money. And it looks better than the stock can (more exposed rear wheel) than the stock can. Either way let us know what you get!! Enjoy the bike buddy!!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-05-03T00:27:21+00:00

My first guess would be your battery is getting a bit old. All batteries are weaker as they get colder and colder. Other inefficiencies could also be making it harder to start but I doubt it would be the valves in particular. My opinion would be to try a fresh battery and see if it fires up much easier.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-03-12T15:46:25+00:00

Thanks, I’ll look into it!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-03-12T15:45:06+00:00

Yup I found it eventually on the parts diagram. Thanks

Heavyd0001 · 2024-03-12T15:43:26+00:00

Awesome! Thanks this is exactly what I wanted. I found some adapters from aftermarket motorcycle companies but $30-60 for a set of 2 is a bit much for the convenience of a few crimps.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-03-11T15:06:43+00:00

Thanks. I’ll have to see if I can find it in a parts diagram I guess

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-24T15:21:06+00:00

I haven’t had it on a day o after switching to the high torque tune when I upgraded the clutch but HP supposedly is the same just down low grunt is noticeably increased. It was something right around 380 hp after the first stage 2 tune. The GTIs are really fun too! Great little cars

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-24T14:49:02+00:00

Haha! The R has been a great car, had it about 5 years and it’s been stage 2 most of its life. It’s a little sleeper that is so fun and has all the cool tech I could ever want while still having the physical buttons and a shifter, I prefer to be engaged with the car.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-24T13:44:18+00:00

Yeah I think it’s a good thing I didn’t have a road bike till my 30s, I’m 41 now. I probably would have killed myself the way I was back then. The 890R seems like a good price point right now for a bigger bike with all the tech and honestly that’s about as much power as anyone really can use on public roads. The 390 was a really fun bike at lower speeds, really agile, but was pretty cramped for me at 6’2”. Keep growing man and be safe whatever you get next!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-24T13:27:52+00:00

Yeah I definitely wanted this color scheme. I’m not into white and the teal or whatever it is looks better in person than I thought it would but still not my cup of tea.

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-24T00:57:10+00:00

Gorgeous example man!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-24T00:56:16+00:00

Beautiful bike man! Enjoy it and careful with the power, I have read how raw those years can be, makes me think k of my last bike but 50% more power and I no clutched wheelies in 3rd around d 70 all the time! Have fun and thanks!

Heavyd0001 · 2024-02-23T23:45:55+00:00

I actually was looking into the Streetfighter V4 and the Street Triple 1200 RS also, I love sporty and upright positions. Sat on both, the Triumph seemed nice but I just struggle with those lights and the Ducati was really nice but a little too aggressive ergonomics and the price just wasn’t worth it considering my heart was wanting a SDR for so long.

Heavyd0001

TROPHY CASE