Video: KTM SMT v Honda VFR800 v Suzuki GSX-R750 v BMW GS

VFR heavy and scrapes everything on the track and thererfore over 10 secs of the pace on a 50+ secs lap. I don't see much scraping going on in the video at 01:53 and 02:02. Looks more like you are commuting to work (which is probably what that bike is best at). If you would have said, due to lack of confidence, especially in grip of the front tyre on stock tyre and suspension, I can at least understand it. I say 1min55 should be do-able (but I guess everything is possible from the sofa ... meaning me)

I agree with alot of the comments, for a start the VFR is old hat!!! why not use the triumph sprint?? a much more modern up to date bike than the ageing vfr, the ktm looks really good and i dont doubt for a minute that it is, the thing is, on our roads at least, it dont matter what bike you're on, you can only go so fast, i had to borrow my old mans aprilia, the sports tourer type, similar to the vfr and triumph...anyhow i rode the wheels off it all day, kept up with my pals zx 10 and 09 R1 while my R1 was being repaired, and i had alot of fun on it ( comfortable too!!) its all in your head, me personally, i can enjoy a day out on any bike really.

The ktm needs a bigger tank range to be considered for cross europe road trips i think, if they put that right, i think they would really have a good seller, and i could possibly have one, its got the main ingredient missing from the beemer......Excitement!!, and before anybody replies, i've ridden a GS, fantastic bike but a little boring after a sportsbike.

I rode my honda SP2 into europe and my old R1, hardcore sports bikes??? well they coped no problem, and i had masses off fun along the way ;-0

British mags do place to much emphasis on track times and track handling...but....the bikes are built with one thing in mind nowadays...race wins first..everything thing else comes after, plus britain is one of the largest sportsbike markets in the world, and trackdays are happening every day of the week at one track or another. I think to take an "all rounder" test onto a track is a little pointless really, the type of guy who rides an "all rounder" is probably not interested in lap times ??? and all the track nuts will more than likely have an old track bike...