This video made me want an SD even more when I first saw it a couple years ago. I can’t see myself ever selling my 2010 SD, bloody love the thing. They definitely aren’t for everyone though.
Nice to see you come back Tom, by the looks of it us 990SD owners are always hunting for stories to justify keeping this beast. Mine has been on-off the road for 3 years now (looking for a Fi gremlin...) I'm now changing the last part I haven't touched - so there is no way Im getting rid of it.
Yes you gotta be smooooooth. I do live on the west coast of NZ and 110KM of twisties right outside the door, I love it and grin like an idiot every time I ride it. It's a beast.....
Hey viewers if anyone's got one of these or an early rc8 this is what you have to do: install a Power Commander 5 a Rottweiler air intake and a free flowing exhaust system which deletes the cat. Also install a rear sprocket 4 teeth larger than standard. Get a dyno tune and remap. Back off the suspension preloads to the soft settings. Lighter fork oil and a higher profile rear tyre. Did all this to my 08 RC8 and its fucken fantastic. Still not a good town bike, but absolutely amazing on open roads and race tracks.
I love mine… since 2006, apart from the Akrapovič slip on and the shorter gearing my SD is completely stock. But I get you, she’s absolutely mental and not for everyone! It’s a proper hooligan bike. She’s like the tattooed, pink haired bombshell that every guy in the room wants to bang but no one wants to be seen with! About the swelling fuel tank: two years ago my dealer couldn’t get the tank back on after a service and to understand where the deformation was he tried to install a new old stock tank from 2006 that he had on the shelve and guess what… it didn’t fit either!? It’s not the fuel that triggers that swelling, it might just be the material itself.
Agree with most of your comments except re the fuel tank. I have 2008 model. Love it but as you say it's a bike you have to RIDE to enjoy. Not a casual/cruiser bike. Re the fuel tank I routinely get 30ish mpg and 130+ miles a tank with spirited riding. I've got as high as 170 miles with a lot of highway driving. Can't imagine how you'd get only 70 unless except in race mode or steady fuel leak.
Had mine since 2005, it’s a 4 stroke version of another bike I have which is a RD350 YPVS. Suspension sorted out by an expert and remapped at BSD, never selling this bike!
Sorry but totally disagree, bought one new in 2006 and had it for five years and 21000 miles. One hundred miles on full tank sometimes even more, took it all over Europe twice and never let me down. Best bike I've ever owned.
I've got a 990 SMT. The problems you had with gearing and throttle were familiar, BUT, they disappear the more you ride as you adapt to the bike. But I suppose that's not everybody's cup of tea.
So glad I watched this video... was considering this one and the Speed Triple as my second bike, after starting on a XT660X... I think the Triumph is more refined and I also prefer the looks. thanks
Thanks for sharing this. I read the MCN review after watching this and putting the two together makes me think this is not the bike for me. Saw one on a dealers site and was blown away by the looks, but the tank range and the throttle makes me think it would just be too much like hard work.
Hello my friend, I really want to buy this bike, can you tell me how it looks in terms of fuel consumption and general maintenance? Is it too expensive to maintain? Thank you very much and excellent video
Swapped a k 7 750 for one and it is a handful but after a tailored suspension set up the secondary butterfly mod and a gearing change it is much more friendly at low speed but that tank range is ridiculous and it brings out the idiot in you , and to think I thought this bike would calm me down 😂😂😂