Motard section...

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 20:09

Originally Posted by gav

General chat is for everyone, and even if its in the racing section, it doesnt have to be all about racing, check out the bucket forum, plenty of stuff happening there? Would people be happy to have a seperate forum located under Competition Riding similar to the Bucket forum?

A central motard forum under Competition Riding would be awesome. At least it's a place to start...

Like I said, I was just trying to get support. Hadn't considered much else...

Hopefully the others will add their views too...

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 20:12

Originally Posted by FlangMasterJ

Anyone here got the new 690SMC or ridden one?

What's the guts?

I rode the fugly Spy vs Spy version a while back and didn't think much of it.

I liked some aspects of it, mainly the power.

The riding position would take some fiddling and time to get used to...

My opinions in the bike review section... Or, an attempt at a review...

**gav** · 2nd September 2008, 20:31

Originally Posted by AlBundy

A central motard forum under Competition Riding would be awesome. At least it's a place to start...

Like I said, I was just trying to get support. Hadn't considered much else...

Hopefully the others will add their views too...

Ok, I'm one of the Racing mods, see what I can do ......

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 20:50

Originally Posted by gav

Ok, I'm one of the Racing mods, see what I can do ......

You're a legend!

We still need support though, which I'm trying to get.

I'm not good with computers, so just mailing people, lol...

Someone asked about a poll earlier... I figured if it was put in site stuff, we'd not get much more support than this thread...

Maybe I'm wrong... Don't know...

But anyway, thanks for your input Gav. Much appreciated.

**idleidolidyll** · 2nd September 2008, 20:53

Originally Posted by AlBundy

I agree, it is tricky. There are a lot of people who have them for road bikes too. There are many with DRZ400SM's, a few with the newer KTM690's etc.

Yep, my 690smc is a road bike. I retired from racing many years ago.

Maybe i'll do a club day for laughs but the beast will remain a road bike

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 20:57

Originally Posted by idleidolidyll

Yep, my 690smc is a road bike. I retired from racing many years ago.

Maybe i'll do a club day for laughs but the beast will remain a road bike

I couldn't find much info on the SMC. The KTM.au site only has the SM.

How does it compare to the SM? Obviously lighter, as you stated earlier. Is the engine in the same state of tune or higher?

One things for sure, it looks loads better....

**idleidolidyll** · 2nd September 2008, 20:58

Originally Posted by FlangMasterJ

Anyone here got the new 690SMC or ridden one?

What's the guts?

I rode the fugly Spy vs Spy version a while back and didn't think much of it.

it's all about what you want to do.

I had the old 640SM a few years ago and for the most part, was rarely passed except on very long straights.

The new smc is smoother, lighter, better handling, has the slipper clutch etc: as a day's sport ride or a hoon bike it's pretty much an R1 beater in all but the open straights. Around the Coromandel, on 22 or over the Rimutakas it'll slay any road bike ridden by the same guy.
as a commuter or a tourer.......well i have a couple of other bikes that are way better

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 21:00

I can see that.

It's so much easier to throw around the twisties than a liter bike...

Why isn't it a good commuter? Thought it would be ideal for that.

**idleidolidyll** · 2nd September 2008, 21:03

Originally Posted by AlBundy

I couldn't find much info on the SMC. The KTM.au site only has the SM.

How does it compare to the SM? Obviously lighter, as you stated earlier. Is the engine in the same state of tune or higher?

One things for sure, it looks loads better....

The engine is pretty much the same but with the single pipe it is about 3hp less. The lower weight more than makes that up though and with a few mods it seems close to 70hp is not out of the question.

Mine's still only 1200km old or so and i'm not about to mess with it until i'm sure it won't run too lean and blow. However, once it's loose, i'll get a tune boy or similar and start changing pipes, air filter, remove air box cover etc etc. All the work will be done by the dealer though; i don't want to invalidate my warranty.

First thing to go is the muffler of course; a hoon bike that goes chuff chuff is a joke........or a hondog, yamahahaha or spewzuki

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 21:10

Originally Posted by idleidolidyll

The engine is pretty much the same but with the single pipe it is about 3hp less. The lower weight more than makes that up though and with a few mods it seems close to 70hp is not out of the question.

Mine's still only 1200km old or so and i'm not about to mess with it until i'm sure it won't run too lean and blow. However, once it's loose, i'll get a tune boy or similar and start changing pipes, air filter, remove air box cover etc etc. All the work will be done by the dealer though; i don't want to invalidate my warranty.

First thing to go is the muffler of course; a hoon bike that goes chuff chuff is a joke........or a hondog, yamahahaha or spewzuki

Sounds very good.

I liked the engine of the SM, so if this is similar minus the weight, it can only be heaps more fun.

I actually liked the stealthy sound of the SM. One would be able to play undetected... A little louder yes but not too much actually...

Suppose the suspension would be better though, the SM being a bit more road biased, the SMC more motard...

Mmmm, Gonna have to investigate. Thanks. Sounds like a fun bike.

**idleidolidyll** · 2nd September 2008, 21:18

Originally Posted by AlBundy

Sounds very good.

I liked the engine of the SM, so if this is similar minus the weight, it can only be heaps more fun.

I actually liked the stealthy sound of the SM. One would be able to play undetected... A little louder yes but not too much actually...

Suppose the suspension would be better though, the SM being a bit more road biased, the SMC more motard...

Mmmm, Gonna have to investigate. Thanks. Sounds like a fun bike.

I've ridden the prestige (basically the smr), the smc and the duke and i prefer the smc on the road by far.
NZ roads being what they are; potholes, gravel, hollows, bumps made by trucks on corners etc; the extra long travel suspension of the smc is my cuppa tea.

mind you, if you're not used to long travel road bikes you'll possibly screw up and crash. The deal is to forget about demon late braking and just chop down a few gears letting the back end and compression drag the speed down then gas it up early on the exit (a single will get on the power way earlier than pretty much any multi without breaking traction).
If you do use the front brakes hard they CAN be awesome but you would be crazy to slam them on (front would dive slamming the fork into itself, loading the front up and lifting the rear wheel off the ground). Best to feed them in carefully at first until the front has compressed then squeeze harder and harder. It helps to know that with the light weight, you can outbrake pretty much any road bike if you have the balls.

**AlBundy** · 2nd September 2008, 21:24

Originally Posted by idleidolidyll

I've ridden the prestige (basically the smr), the smc and the duke and i prefer the smc on the road by far.
NZ roads being what they are; potholes, gravel, hollows, bumps made by trucks on corners etc; the extra long travel suspension of the smc is my cuppa tea.

mind you, if you're not used to long travel road bikes you'll possibly screw up and crash. The deal is to forget about demon late braking and just chop down a few gears letting the back end and compression drag the speed down then gas it up early on the exit (a single will get on the power way earlier than pretty much any multi without breaking traction).
If you do use the front brakes hard they CAN be awesome but you would be crazy to slam them on (front would dive slamming the fork into itself, loading the front up and lifting the rear wheel off the ground). Best to feed them in carefully at first until the front has compressed then squeeze harder and harder. It helps to know that with the light weight, you can outbrake pretty much any road bike if you have the balls.

Well, I ride one of them DRZ motards and it's a blast in the twisties.... Seriously lacks power though.
But, what you say is true, more the slow in, fast out principle...

Mmmm, rolling stoppies come to mind when you talk about the brakes like that, lol....