Discussion
Never ridden one - what are they like, they seem to be loved and are supposed to be all about being a hooligan?
My previous bikes have been mainly large nakeds, currently considering a Duke 890R but these SMC’s keep appearing and I’m curious :-)
I like to commute on mine plus mainly hooning, never really go on long rides
My previous bikes have been mainly large nakeds, currently considering a Duke 890R but these SMC’s keep appearing and I’m curious :-)
I like to commute on mine plus mainly hooning, never really go on long rides
I think most are loved intensely...but not for long, a know plenty of people who have owned one, some raced them, I briefly had thoughts of owning one after a blat around Whilton Locks cart track but my friends one by one left the sport.
Most of us have to spend a little time riding on the long boring bits to thrash a bike for any distance down a twisty country road.
The more interesting ones are more fragile ..
Having one alongside a roadbike I think works well but as a only bike, I think they grow tiresome pretty quickly.
Most of us have to spend a little time riding on the long boring bits to thrash a bike for any distance down a twisty country road.
The more interesting ones are more fragile ..
Having one alongside a roadbike I think works well but as a only bike, I think they grow tiresome pretty quickly.
I've had my Hypermotard 796 for 8 yrs now and absolutely love it. It is not quite a raw 'supermoto' as things like the SMC, but pretty close. It's not my only bike, but it is the one I ride the most.
Stick a Kregia pack on the rear seat and you can tour for a few days, 150 miles per day (give or take), but as others have said, much more than that and it's hard work.
The only thing I'd say about the Hyper is the width of the mirrors (early bikes only)!
Stick a Kregia pack on the rear seat and you can tour for a few days, 150 miles per day (give or take), but as others have said, much more than that and it's hard work.
The only thing I'd say about the Hyper is the width of the mirrors (early bikes only)!
KTM 690 SMC R here. Brilliant fun: extremely light, excellent brakes, loves lapping roundabouts, amazing on twisty B roads. Hopeless for long distance/touring, even with an Ergo seat. Reliability OK, apart from the known clutch slave cylinder issue which I now believe has been dealt with.
An excellent way to blow off steam on a sunny Sunday.
An excellent way to blow off steam on a sunny Sunday.
Bought a new KTM SMC 660 new in '05.
Plus points - Huge, huge fun and wheelies everywhere. I could go faster down smaller roads than I could with my Fireblade
Minus points - no leccy starter and had to kick everytime (that meant getting off - you wont kick it sat on it); could be (and usually was) a pig to start, hot or cold. The seat was like some kind of medieval torture device.
Loved it and regret selling it.
Plus points - Huge, huge fun and wheelies everywhere. I could go faster down smaller roads than I could with my Fireblade
Minus points - no leccy starter and had to kick everytime (that meant getting off - you wont kick it sat on it); could be (and usually was) a pig to start, hot or cold. The seat was like some kind of medieval torture device.
Loved it and regret selling it.
Killboy said:
While a little chonkier than the "true" SMs, this is by far the most fun bike I've ever ridden. And I've owned it for nearly 9 years.
Ooooh............ I wish KTM still made these - really nice! I saw a bloke ride off a 10 year old one from a dealer a while back - mint condition with Akra exhaust that sounded mega.........Killboy said:
While a little chonkier than the "true" SMs, this is by far the most fun bike I've ever ridden. And I've owned it for nearly 9 years.
I had a 950SM, absolutely brilliant thing, it was like a heavy SM, you could chuck it around and be a hooligan, but also do big miles, I went all the way to Misano on mine.Freakuk said:
I had a 950SM, absolutely brilliant thing, it was like a heavy SM, you could chuck it around and be a hooligan, but also do big miles, I went all the way to Misano on mine.
We are doing a mega euro tour and I'm taking this (I've decided this needs to get to the Alps). I've fitted a SuperDuke engine too it, so its got slightly wilder cams but still running carbs. I think it does mileage fairly well.It depends on the bike but as mentioned, as a toy for an hour's thrashing on a summer's evening, the right one can't be beaten IMO for smiles / mile
I have a 525 which is circa 100kg and you have to try to keep the front wheel on the tarmac - it's fantastic fun
The 690 SM / SMR / SMRC are approx 50kg heavier and aren't as much fun but I'll ride them much further / faster and they last a lot longer. The 690 Duke (08-11) is frequently cheaper and better on the road IME the later Duke is cheaper again but not really an SM IMO
I've never been brave enough to buy an SXV
The various low powered / heavier bikes aren't in the same league
A 950 / 990 SM is a great bike - for longer distances - it's almost double the weight of a proper SM and what I use for "touring" duties
I have a 525 which is circa 100kg and you have to try to keep the front wheel on the tarmac - it's fantastic fun
The 690 SM / SMR / SMRC are approx 50kg heavier and aren't as much fun but I'll ride them much further / faster and they last a lot longer. The 690 Duke (08-11) is frequently cheaper and better on the road IME the later Duke is cheaper again but not really an SM IMO
I've never been brave enough to buy an SXV
The various low powered / heavier bikes aren't in the same league
A 950 / 990 SM is a great bike - for longer distances - it's almost double the weight of a proper SM and what I use for "touring" duties
Had a brief fling with an Aprilia Dorsoduro 750, bought on a whim while I was waiting for a knee op and couldn't physically ride a sports bike. I absolutely loved it although oddly never really gelled with it at the same time, the riding style and position never clicked for me after years of sportsbikes so I never got the hang of pressing on with it. Just ended up treating it like a very fast armchair, it coped with the road conditions much better than anything else I've had previously I'll say that much.
Similarly I’ve got a Dorsoduro 750 (with my own seat and exhaust mods) and love it to bits, riding position is perfect for me at 6’3” and coming from mx bikes in my youth the riding position is like wearing my favourite pair of pants.
But at 180kg it’s too heavy to compare to an SM and isn’t anywhere near as hooligan.
I’d probably have a 350 SM for back lanes and green lanes but wary of the more mental 450 mx bikes or 625 KTMs as unless you’re very competent they’re so keen to pop a front wheel (or you off the back) that they can be tiring to keep tamed IMO.
But at 180kg it’s too heavy to compare to an SM and isn’t anywhere near as hooligan.
I’d probably have a 350 SM for back lanes and green lanes but wary of the more mental 450 mx bikes or 625 KTMs as unless you’re very competent they’re so keen to pop a front wheel (or you off the back) that they can be tiring to keep tamed IMO.
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