Which arse-kicking KTM?

[idleidolidyll]

missed out the poll; try again

[James Deuce]

What a horrible affliction! (Jim2 wants a 690SM for a commuter and is jealous of your active addiction)

Stick with the 690s mate. The Duke looks great and will have a seat you can live with all day. So long as your arse is like a Sedish supermodel's.

[idleidolidyll]

Here's the scenario: You're a KTM addict (and I am). You don't like buzzy fours and you like being the underdog. You don't cruise at high speed and you're not interested in doing 250kph ever. In fact, once you've overtaken that car or bike, you almost always settle back to a cruising speed that's only just illegal.

However, once the canyons and mountain roads are reached, a synapse fires in your brain and you turn into a drug addict on wheels addicted to the G forces, spinning or sliding tyres and to blowing away your riding partners on their sport bikes.

Which KTM do you buy? Why?

690SM: the basic supermoto
690SMC: the underslung fuel tank but 3 less HP
690SMR: the top of the line customer supermoto racer
690 Prestige: all the bells and whistles
690 Duke: the road bike with much shorter suspension, underslung muffler and comfy seat
950/990 supermoto: same feel as the little supermotos but more power and more weight
990 Superduke: road bike with attitude

[Coyote]

Too difficult. They're all seemingly good.

Best advice I can give, if you're not a hard out racer and love corners, one of the singles would be a better choice I think.

[idleidolidyll]

Lets give the poll some roads to consider:

Clevedon - Kaiaua - Clevedon loop
Coromandel Loop
Raglan back roads
Paraparas
Opotiki to Gisborne through the gorge or round the cape
Upper Hutt to Featherston
Queen Charlotte Sounds
Buller Gorge
Banks Peninsula
Haast to Wanaka

Got the picture?

[koba]

What is each one worth?
Any NZ prices yet?
Just read a write up on the new crop in the latest BRM great writeup made me want (dream) o buying one.
Thats alots power out of a single!

[BarBender]

Lets give the poll some roads to consider:

Clevedon - Kaiaua - Clevedon loop
Coromandel Loop
Raglan back roads
Paraparas
Opotiki to Gisborne through the gorge or round the cape
Upper Hutt to Featherston
Queen Charlotte Sounds
Buller Gorge
Banks Peninsula
Haast to Wanaka

Got the picture?

In that case - the 990SD.

[SPman]

In that case - the 990SD.
Well - it has a proven track - er - road record. I had an indignant text from a mate a few weeks ago about being totally dicked by a mate on his 990 SD on the Coro GP - er - loop.

But

the 690 SD looks good.

[FlangMasterJ]

Which year are we talking here?

Because the 08 SMR is the Woodywood Pecker along with the Prestige. The SMC is the racier, lighter and traditional looking supermoto.

If I had a choice it would definately be the 2008 SMC.

[jimmy 2006]

second that :drool: no question 2008 smc:drool::drool::drool: if only i could skip my learners, i would buy one of those tomorrow. at the moment i can't be bothered owning a 250, will just wait out my time.

[Dazza]

Well I'm a little biased as I voted Super Duke, but saying that I had a wee incident on my SD & ended up riding my mates brand new 950SM & really enjoyed afew days hooning around on it so I'd really like to try out the new 990SM or then again the new RC8, I know that wasn't what you asked for & @ $30800NZD it's not too bad a price. My 05 Duper Duke now has 43500k's on the clock & is going as hard as ever !:niceone:

[FlangMasterJ]

Just whipped this up in Photoshop.

[Dazza]

Just whipped this up in Photoshop.

Your a feckin genius, like it :cool:

[madmal64]

Where is the RC8? Hell if the Superduke is in the mix the RC8 should/could be too!

[qldzxr250a]

sd all da way......damn i want one...

[idleidolidyll]

What is each one worth?
Any NZ prices yet?
Just read a write up on the new crop in the latest BRM great writeup made me want (dream) o buying one.
Thats alots power out of a single!

about $17,000 for the expensive 690'ss and a few grand less for the others

the 950 or 990 versions are $24,000 plus

[idleidolidyll]

interesting so far.

FYI: I'm SELLING a 950SM to go with the 690's.
From past experience, I know the 690's will kick the arses of both the big bikes on the roads mentioned (given equal rider ability)

I only put the big ones in to see how many addicts would disregard the little singles thinking that heavy bikes with more horsepower would be a better prospect: I'm so over big bikes (see my explanation earlier in the thread re speeds etc)

The RC8 was left out because it isn't available yet.

I'll certainly buy one of the singles but I'm not sure which. When I have bought one, I'm gonna have fun riding around as many of those big bikes as I can find. :finger: :spanking:

[2_SL0]

Mate I have a similar dilemma, however I have choosen to hold off till the new Aprilia is released, then try them all. http://www.aprilia.com/smv750dorsoduro.asp?lin2=eng

[idleidolidyll]

i rode the shiver and wasn't all that impressed

lots of power but like a 4 cyl; only a couple of thousand revs worth using

the fuel injection was a bit like the first model ktmsuperduke: not well sorted

the shiver also weighs about the same as the ktm 950sm

good on yer but it aint for me and i've worked in an aprilia dealership: i've seen their parts prices and maintenance costs!

[banditrider]

I think the 690SM would do me. I might go too silly on a supaduke. Been drooling over one at the local dealer. Anyone know Saturday night's (this Sat, not last) lotto numbers?

[idleidolidyll]

Interesting: about 50/50 split re the vee twins versus the singles

[Stampy]

Superduke 'R' one horny piece of Kit!!:yes::yes:

[Gremlin]

You plick... at least you've ridden the 950 (and owned) and I believe you ride it mighty well too...

I can't even get my hot paws on a 990 sd or 990 sm (in this case, it hasn't arrived in nz yet) to test ride. 990 sm looks firken good to me, as its the 950 (a winner already) with FI and a larger tank (over the 950sm) and better suspension travel (than a s'duke)

Stampy: check with dmntd if you want, but he has said the R is too hard for nz roads...

I really want to ride a 990sm :drool:

[idleidolidyll]

I wondered what was different between the Prestige and the SMR. After talking to Stephen Briggs yesterday it turns out its nothing more than a paint job and a name change. The Prestige name is being dropped in favour of SMR.
All Prestige votes are hereby transferred to the SMR. :banana:

[Dazza]

Stampy: check with dmntd if you want, but he has said the R is too hard for nz roads...

I really want to ride a 990sm :drool:DMNTD needed to harden up apparently,I know another Dude who has one & loves it. With you on a test ride on the 990SM & as you said about the changes fm. the 950-990 the 950 is heaps of fun so bring the 990 on. I'm just hanging out for the RC8 powered naked bike, maybe the venom :sweatdrop

[avgas]

FYI: I'm SELLING a 950SM to go with the 690's.
From past experience, I know the 690's will kick the arses of both the big bikes on the roads mentioned (given equal rider ability)
Sounds all to familiar to me, i am looking really keenly at the Duke 690.......i have always been a fan and now the big single is nearing mark of "acceptable engine size" for me.
Not to mention its damn hot looking.
You had the old duke didn't ya? what was the top speed of that 600cc beast?
Will the new one come with a forged piston? as i wouldn't mind a turbo running 8-9 psi on one.

[hellkat]

Another vote for the Duke 690, albeit from a member of the short-arse brigade :niceone:

[HornetBoy]

+1 for the 690 :cool: in black of course

[Gremlin]

Can confirm the 5 min I had on a 690 prestige, off public roads of course... (coz I'm not allowed anywhere else on it :whistle:) were indeed quite fun.

Very limited space, but it did a real nice stoppie, single front disc is amazingly good, not sure how it will handle higher speeds, or high speed cornering... but made me interested enough to include it with the 990 sd and sm when I get my license back :clap:

[glice]

690 duke for me. if I some how get the money for one thats what I want next.

[avgas]

What is the price of the KTM Duke 690? KTM NZ sucks

[HenryDorsetCase]

or wait for the RC4???? ????

[idleidolidyll]

What is the price of the KTM Duke 690? KTM NZ sucks

Yep, they want to rip us off for about $16,000 when the same bike in the US sells for about US$9500 (NZ$12,200) http://www.ktm-parts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=08690DUKEW.

$3800 extra for shipping to NZ? BULLSHIT! KTM NZ is ripping us off for new bikes and at the other end of ownership, doesn't support second hand value.


Boycott KTM for a year or two and the importer will lose the franchise hopefully to a company that cares for its customers.

Or perhaps those interested should get together and buy a bunch from the USA..........

[avgas]

Yep, they want to rip us off for about $16,000
Hmmm that XT660 doesn't sound so expensive anymore
Why is the 690 only 4g cheaper than the 990??? Even the Kwaka EN6N is only 10K

[Devil]

Hmmm that XT660 doesn't sound so expensive anymore
Why is the 690 only 4g cheaper than the 990??? Even the Kwaka EN6N is only 10K

Just cos it's got a smaller engine doesn't mean it's less of a bike...

[avgas]

Just cos it's got a smaller engine doesn't mean it's less of a bike...
I actually think its alot of bike......but you do have to compare apples to apples and don't really think the maths fits when the "600" KTM's are running 4K (25%) higher than the rest of them. At $4K i could fit a turbo to a ER6N and eat the Duke for lunch in almost every way.

[dino3310]

Lets give the poll some roads to consider:

Clevedon - Kaiaua - Clevedon loop
Coromandel Loop
Raglan back roads
Paraparas
Opotiki to Gisborne through the gorge or round the cape
Upper Hutt to Featherston
Queen Charlotte Sounds
Buller Gorge
Banks Peninsula
Haast to Wanaka

Got the picture?

diffinately the KTM 950 Super Enduro

[Dazza]

I. At $4K i could fit a turbo to a ER6N and eat the Duke for lunch in almost every way.Sounds like a Tui add :shifty:

[Gremlin]

I actually think its alot of bike......but you do have to compare apples to apples and don't really think the maths fits when the "600" KTM's are running 4K (25%) higher than the rest of them. At $4K i could fit a turbo to a ER6N and eat the Duke for lunch in almost every way.
Remember... 1) Its euro, so its always more expensive than jap (just look at bmws) 2) you also get some very nice kit on them, usually brembo brakes (depends on model) WP suspension etc

Ultimately, if you don't think its worth it, don't buy. I'm holding out for one of their sales, so I can pick up what I want cheap :cool:

[848]

If you did proper research you would find that the 690 Duke is actually cheaper here than in Aussie. Aussie's don't know how to ride a good Austrian anyhow!!
Sales tax and registration is not on the RRP in the States either.
You would find after all of these costs the Duke would be over $14,000 in America.
Cost to ship over is only what airfare would cost you.......$1200.

So the price here is competitive....and we don't have 270 million yanks to share the roads with.....yeehaaaa
If you went to a dealer that looked after you than you would get a little discount too.....like I did!!!

Can't wait to cut you boys up on the loop!

[avgas]

very true but i dont think its a euro thing. BMW GS650 Dakar wasnt that expensive when it came out. Triumph Tiger is less than 20.....with allot bigger motor and abs etc.
I think i may wait a year and wait for a squid to scare himself and sell to me for $5K less.
However i have been talking to people about an XT660X Turbo.......

[AlBundy]

I don't understand the whole KTM thing... Is it like Harley owners, steadfastly believing their bikes are the best?

Or is there actually some merit in owning one?

[TLMAN]

Where is the RC8? Hell if the Superduke is in the mix the RC8 should/could be too!

The RC8 is the only one that looks any good and its not in the poll.

KTM's are fugly and overpriced:bleh:

[Dazza]

The RC8 is the only one that looks any good and its not in the poll.

KTM's are fugly and overpriced:bleh:Whatever floats your boat, I think mine is bootiful & she's cheap now :Punk:

[Scouse]

Wheres the option in the poll for " the one that is not going to be run out discounted for $6,000 less than what I payed"?

[avgas]

Wheres the option in the poll for " the one that is not going to be run out discounted for $6,000 less than what I payed"?
Another disgruntled triumph owner i see. I have to admit i just about shat the bed to see a brand new Daytona 955i for less than $20K!!!!!

[idleidolidyll]

If you did proper research you would find that the 690 Duke is actually cheaper here than in Aussie. Aussie's don't know how to ride a good Austrian anyhow!!
Sales tax and registration is not on the RRP in the States either.
You would find after all of these costs the Duke would be over $14,000 in America.
Cost to ship over is only what airfare would cost you.......$1200.

So the price here is competitive....and we don't have 270 million yanks to share the roads with.....yeehaaaa
If you went to a dealer that looked after you than you would get a little discount too.....like I did!!!

Can't wait to cut you boys up on the loop!

Lets see:
in NZ it costs $17495 (about ($1000 more than the new Ducati 696).
In the US they can be found for less but the recommeded retail is US$9498. Converted to NZ$ that's $12100 (so we pay 45% more than the Yanks do........45%!!!!!).

There's no way freight is more than $500 extra per unit and I'll add in another $500 for Vin and Reg. That still means we are being ripped off to the tune of $4500 and from experience with my last 2 KTM's, I know they'll undercut owners trying to sell used machines by thousands of $$$ as soon as the next shipment arrives.

I'd say I could save at least $2k buying from the US, probably $3k. The issue isn't Yanks getting that much of a better deal, it's about the importer ripping us for massive profits.

That said, as a double KTM owner I'm so pissed off with the importer I think I'll buy a Husky.