Hello all,


I searched the forum and did not find anyone having a problem getting the seat to fit the bike. (2008 base US Super Duke) so I thought I would reach out to this great community and ask for HELP!

This is my 4th Super Duke so I am not a total newb, in fact I think my issue is self inflicted. I just bought a super clean 2008 and had some goodies sitting around the shop so yesterday we gave her a makeover. One of the items we installed was a set of MH tank brackets, despite the brackets and the bike having only 900 miles (as new condition) the tank was a major PIA to get the front bolt in, more so than most I would say. We did finaly get it in but now it appears the tank is sitting so far back on the brackets that the seat cant slide forward enough to get the pin behind the lock down in the sub. Any one had this issue? Solution without going through the tank dance again? I have thought about removing the pin from the seat or making the opening in the sub a little larger. I think both of these get the seat to latch however i know the J hooks are not sliding forward and locking into place so the thought of it not being totally locked in has me a bit nervous... I suspect the solution is to get the tank further forward on the MH brackets and wrestle the tank (again) but before I did so want some expert advice.


It's funny we did a significant amount of work/upgrades to the bike yesterday and about half way through I pointed out it was all going to well and certainly we would run into something that would slow us down.... Thought the tank was it but no instead the final and last thing (before test ride) turned out to be the deal breaker! Cant fit the fooking seat!!@!@ All day under the knife and the seat prevents a ride sad sad day....


List of Upgrades:
2008 Orange Super Duke 900 miles
CRG levers
MH Tank mounts
MH Airbox
Powder Coated (orange) Throttle Bodies no secondary flies
Powder Coated Engine/battery box Mounts
Powder Coated (Orange/black) Swingarm
Leo Vince Slip on system
Tune ECU with new map
Too many carbon/anodised items to list!!

To add in the next few weeks:
Powder Coated Wheels (Pearl Tangerine to match the other bits)
Akrapovic Full Ti system to replace the powder coated Leo's
Proper Dyno Tune

Ok all paitence is not my strong suit, especially when I have a tricked out Super Duke that just needs a seat and I can go for a little spin! After creating this post I sat for a moment and realised I didnt have a seat problem... I had a tank problem! Drilling subframe or molesting the seat pan seemed pretty silly even though I have spares... I just bit the bullet and with a big THANK YOU to Collyer and KTM666 it was really not that bad. I cut the bushings like KTM666 showed in the tank bolt thread, and used Collyers method of saving the prying for the pivot pins.. So 86 the MH brackets and 30 minutes later the results.....

Nice job! Not a big fan of the orange engine mounts, but the orange throttle bodies are nice! And very original, don't think I ever saw that before.
What did you use to plug the holes of the secundary fly shafts?

What did you pay to powder coat your various parts? Or do you have a compressor and related tools and did it yourself?

Powdercoat bill was $300 also included 2 wheels not on the bike (orange). Not bad for all the stuff they did IMO swingarm must have taken some time and I know the paint removal on the old wheels was a PIA, I watched them work on it for an hour or more. I bring them a lot of business so they take pretty good care of me. Flies are open not plugged yet, and I love the orange brackets, to each his own right? Anything has to be better than the raw aluminium that gets all nasty. Black would be cool as well.

I installed the MH brackets on my bike and didnt think the seat would snap back in but I just writched it around and beat the crap out of it till it latched and it has latched and unlatched fine ever since. Even with the MH brackets installed I still have to pry the pivot points to get the tank on. I still think KTM should give us all free tanks that fit