If you were going to buy a liter sport bike 2019-20...

[Cormanus]

Watch to the end of Rboe's video.

[Henrik_imp]

I was looking for something new to add to the garage along these lines, and although I have not yet bought I have decided on the Ducati Supersport 939. I had a proper test on this a while back and absolutely loved it for the road. Clearly it is not a track bike, and so purely for track riding something sportier would be appropriate, but for riding on the road this bike is just amazing. It is comfortable, can be used for some seriously long rides (touring) and is very competent. It is more forgiving than some more extreme sport bikes, but I would recommend that you at least try and have a test on one before deciding on anything.

[pekingduck]

If I were to buy a liter sport bike, I'd chose the one that had the best resale value. After an hour of riding (probably less), I'd realize that I couldn't come close to riding it as it was intended. I'd change my pants, park it in the garage along with my ego, and put a cover and a for sale sign on it.

[Wisedrum]

Some years ago I met two riders in the north of Norway. One rode a BMW GS and his friend a Suzuki GSX 750, a sportbike.

I don't like both bikes. Nevertheless they told me, they do trips together on those bikes in and around Europe also on roads and off roads.

It was hard for me to imagine how the GSX would stand tracking because it already looked a bit confusing on 'normal' roads on which we met.

To each his own.

Wisedrum

[Novice_imp]

Thank you all for your comments so far! I watched FortNine's video. I've watched him before and like his video's. I think he captures the idea quite nicely! The Super Duke isn't a sport bike like a CBR, but with its' ridiculous power and torque I decided to throw it in the mix. It would be slightly more practical, but it doesn't seem to have the same level of Honda reliability from what I've read, and that's one hesitation I have. Both BMW and KTM make awesome bikes, but they don't seem to be up to the Japanese level of refinement. Maybe I'm wrong though.

I was looking for something new to add to the garage along these lines, and although I have not yet bought I have decided on the Ducati Supersport 939. I had a proper test on this a while back and absolutely loved it for the road. Clearly it is not a track bike, and so purely for track riding something sportier would be appropriate, but for riding on the road this bike is just amazing. It is comfortable, can be used for some seriously long rides (touring) and is very competent. It is more forgiving than some more extreme sport bikes, but I would recommend that you at least try and have a test on one before deciding on anything.

How did you find the powerband as far as usefullness? The information I have is that it's high in the rev range. Did you find that an issue or not?

[Henrik_imp]

Novice, I had no issue with the powerband as you say. Keep in mind that it is a twin and not a 4IL, so the torque delivery is different. It is true that you should not drop too low in the rpms as twins normally do not like that, but basically 80% of the torque is available as of 3'000 rpm and it will stay above 90% all the way to 9'000 rpm. I have a lot of history riding twins like this, and generally prefer this sort of delivery in sports bikes. During a somewhat spirited ride through a nice twisty road I really did not need to change gear much as the wide torque band took care of it. Mind you, with the powershifter on the S model I just love downshifting!

What I found with this bike was how ultimately versatile it really is. I found the position on it perfect, not too much weight on the wrists and the seat surprisingly comfortable. The two things that I did not like about the bike were the mirrors (not very useful, but then I find that on most sports bikes) and I hate the all digital dashboard. Sure, it gives a lot of information and can be customized, but being well in to my 50's I always prefer analog displays.

[Gone in 60]

Based on sound alone, I'd get an MT-10 or R1. Someone near my office has an MT-10 with a Two Brothers exhaust, and it's easily the sweetest sounding piece of machinery I've heard in a long time. He says it's a beast, but very manageable in normal riding.

[Novice_imp]

Based on sound alone, I'd get an MT-10 or R1. Someone near my office has an MT-10 with a Two Brothers exhaust, and it's easily the sweetest sounding piece of machinery I've heard in a long time. He says it's a beast, but very manageable in normal riding.

I took a look at one, on paper they are great, it fit me like a glove, but I'm having a hard time with the transformer look.
I will have to take a hard look at the Ducati based on al the positive posts!

[Gone in 60]

Yeah, I looked at several FZ and MT09s, and a few MT10s, and just couldn't get into the look of them.

[the Ferret]

My son and I test rode the MT 10's a couple years ago and fell in love with them. Unfortunately for my son they came out right after he got his FJ-09. My son couldn't get the MT-10 out of his head and bought one last week, and now his FJ-09 is up for sale. Easily the best sounding I-4 I have ever heard.