Just a thought. The Pikes Peak race could be a good opportunity for KTM to put their money where their mouth is and race the new SDR against the Ducati Multistradas. I presume they'd be in the same class. Get Guy Martin on board and it could be a great spectacle. What do you guys think? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OTiTPAusog ... TiTPAusog4

Good idea but I would pay Belstaf to do it if I were KTM.

Nobody knows the bike better and from what I can tell the old boy still has bit of pace left in him

That's hell of a race, was watching that video and glimpsed this one, gives a perspective of the turns and at the end of the video the danger..wow..
and I thought I went a long way when I went off a cliff in Turkey!! (on a KTM)

You are both wrong. You get Carlin Dunne to ride the thing. There is nobody faster on two wheels going up that mountain than Carlin and he is basically an independent. He rode a Ducati in 2012 because he owns a Ducati shop, not because they sponsored him. His bike came right off the showroom floor. Last year he beat everyone on an electric monstrosity. The second place finisher, on a MS 1200, was nearly 20 seconds slower. Are you listening KTM?

Dunne is fast (I've been on track with the guy a number of times), but I don't believe his 2012 'Strada was a roller off the floor ... At the very least, the suspension was well set-up, with personal attention to the project by Paul Thedes. It's no secret that there was re-mapping done as well ... At the end of the day, he's no AMA Superbike grade rider however. Greg Tracy in many ways is a better rider (who was the first guy to pwn the Peak on a 'Strada), but no kid at this point.

Not unlike IoM, there is significant course knowledge involved in succeeding at the Peak ... And now that it's entirely paved, it's only a matter of time before liter-class superbikes re-define people's expectations on just how fast it can be run. For some, it's like the TT, LeMans, or Tour de France - the one race event all year that they principally focus on.

The question is, who has the stones, AND a racing contract that allows them to do it? While I could see Josh Hayes having a go (or Jeremy Toye, Mark Miller, Michael Barnes, and some other truly crazy bastards - any of which would leave Dunne for dead), I don't know that he'd even be allowed to ... Which would probably leave it to the Irish roadrace crowd - and then, only if the sponsors come forward: That would mean factory involvement. I don't see the conservative big 4 getting involved, if for no other reason than the concern over the negative PR should there be a tragedy ... Which leaves the European brands (BMW, KTM, Ducati, Aprilia).

It has to be on KTM's radar, but I'd be surprised (pleasantly) if they put in a solid effort on this ...

I think it would be interesting if they threw money at HMC (Chris Fillmore) to roll up the hill - on a 1290 of course! That would just be good PR IMO.

Fillmore would be a fine idea

Fillmore or Eslick
The Peak would be a great place to show their talent and the bikes capability.
Hell, I'd like to see Tead out there.

ha! if KTM cant be bothered to show up at the intermot shows, why would they bother with this?!

i have to say Harley really does a hell of a lot to bring in customers. i went to the DC Intermot show this weekend and im always amazed at the show Harley puts on. they have a wide glide with the front end fixed to the floor, the back wheel on rollers.
they invite newbies to learn how to operate a motorcycle, they have the person sit on the bike and explain how everything works, then walk them through actual operation, real time. i tell ya all you see is grins on the people, mostly women too!

second they demo how to pick a bike up when it tips over, again mostly women. thing is it takes away alot of the intimidation factor right there and plants a seed in the persons head, "maybe... yes, i can do this!"

last thing i noticed was a Fat Boy sitting there, again with the front on a stand holding it upright but no handlebars. im like what the??...
then i see a dealer walking back to it with a handlebar assbly, he just dropped it in place, and had the guy sit on the bike. behind him was a rack with diff bar/bends to try out right there.

i tell you, to own a Harley has never been on my radar, but they sure do a great job at drawing people in and making them feel comfortable.
BMW is pretty good at it too. they practically force you to take a test ride when you step into a dealer. we have one here that i stopped at (because, get this, there was a Super Duke up on the sidewalk...).
so i was talking to the KTM owner, a mechanic there, and then wandered in side to look at the then new S1000RR. next thing i know the dealer was offering me a helmet, gloves and a jacket, from a whole wall of demo gear.
15 minutes later im tooling out for a 1/2hr ride!

KTM could take note here, it couldnt hurt. i still get maybe 8 out of 10 people thinking KTM only makes dirt bikes!
and god help you if you want to see one in the flesh, here i have to drive 200miles or more to get to a dealer, and youd better call ahead because most deal only in off road stuff

Dealer near me just picked up KTM as well as Duc, BMW,Guzzi, Indian they
canned the Aprilia line however,,,,

from my experience I dont rate any KTM dealers Ive dealt with , different ball park altogether when it comes to customer service or anything else.
It certainly needs addressing in the north west where i live.

Yes. My last bike was a Duc. Before that a BMW.
I am trying to learn more about the KTMs and it is interesting to read history.
My Diavel was sweet except for lean angle and the fact that I was hit.
The F800 was fun, but it had a few niggles too, although nothing too upsetting. Very reliable.
I'm not going into this blind, but I am trying to be optimistic and yielding to experienced KTM owners.
Still....that doesn't make me ignorant of the process or the related experiences. These are still motorcycles on two wheels.

I tried to get NWORD and they found it offensive and shut me down

I don't think KTM USA gives a damn about a "once a year sprint race" to the top of some godforsaken mountain,,be serious,,this is for some privatier to show them that they could use a little support for next years romp to the top, if of course they place at all,,KTM USA cares more about MX racing and dirt bikes, thats where their big sales here are, perhaps a bit towards Fillmore as a sideshow,,,,

Hey, Triumph is backing Jason DeSalvo to break the LSR in a Triumph streamliner. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/dis ... alt-flats/ I see the ads monthly in nearly all, if not all, my subscriptions. I still didn't buy the Trumpet.

Probably 'cause you don't ride real fast in a straight line on a salt bed too often.

By the way Lux, you have found SD.net's gem thread haven't you? viewtopic.php?f=8&t=15278 CAUTION NSFW = Not safe for work or not safe for wife.

Hell yes I did.

You wouldn't happen to be from Luxor, PA would you Lux? If so, I know that area well.

Pa is a long way from Pikes Peak,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo5GBbBJkdk