Finally pulled the trigger!

[Tricky Mike]

Congrats!
I thought those were impossible to get... or am I confusing models?

[taxonomy]

Continuing the move to smaller, lighter bikes!

We should have a ride for bikes that make less than 80 HP at the rear wheel. All you need and more.

Good move.

Adam

[Pittenger5]

Congrats!
I thought those were impossible to get... or am I confusing models?

I was told theres 9 total in the northeast.




And 2 on NESR haha

[Tricky Mike]

Yeah, didn't Dan have a deposit on one?
I called Cliff's, Freedom Cycle, etc a few months ago and just got laughed at...

[Pittenger5]

Yeah, didn't Dan have a deposit on one?
I called Cliff's, Freedom Cycle, etc a few months ago and just got laughed at...

Yup he did. Thats the one I bought. It hadnt sold since it came in, so I bought it off the floor.

[Paul_E_D]

I had been talking with Jerry at Valley about getting a new bike, and he mentioned the SMC right away. I was skeptical. He got 2 in (an smc and E) and they were spoken for. I looked at em and thought they looked a little longer than they should be. Then he got 2 more, and set one up for me to test ride. I pretty much told him I wanted it right after I stepped off it. That was friday, I rode the E on monday just to be sure I wanted the 17s, and bought the SMC on the spot.

He has an E left. I imagine they will trickle in as demand has been high. The KTM rep was there when I bought my bike and he said there are not many unspoken for.

He also said they will be releasing a solution for the melting blinkers soon. My shop put heat tape on the back of the blinker and it survived my first ride. He said they started drilling new mont holes on the tailpiece a little further back which angles the blinkers up out of the hot exhaust. Overall a very Ducati like situation there!

[Pittenger5]

Ive wanted a motard for so long, and once I heard the maintenace I was basically sold. Then I talked to one of the salesmen, happens to be a nesr folk, and asked how long itd be to get one in, and he mentioned one was in stock. The second I sat on it I knew I was buying it.

[schleppy]

Schleppy like, schleppy want.

[Tricky Mike]

Ha.
I'm glad there are two on the board... If availability had been better I was going to ditch my streetbike for one.
Paul, how does the ride/feel compare to the CFR, 520/525, etc motards?

[Paul_E_D]

Ha.
I'm glad there are two on the board... If availability had been better I was going to ditch my streetbike for one.
Paul, how does the ride/feel compare to the CFR, 520/525, etc motards?

It's much more of a streetbike, without being overly tame. It seems to have a lot more trail, making it stable. No need for a damper. The suspension is pretty close to roadcourse ready (read firm!) and the gearing is super tall for streetwork. It has a 6 speed gearbox and a slipper clutch from the factory.

The motor is strong, but not right off the bottom. It's kinda like having a DRZ under 5k and a 560 over 5K. But I haven't started exploring the limits yet. There may be even more waiting up high...

The brakes are the best I've sampled on a motard. hands down.

The seat is awesome for track antics because it goes all the way to the headstock. No fuel tank in the way. I find myself throwing the leg out on the street without even thinking about it.

It's just a very cool bike to ride.

[nt650hawk]

Is this going to be the next ULSB weapon?

What kind of HP and torque is she putting out?

6 speed and a slipper

[Pittenger5]

Ive heard its relatively heavy compared to the other KTMs people race, with not a lot of power extra to make up for it.
Course, I havent ridden THIS yet, or any other tard, so Im just going from what I hear.

[gregp]

That is a very nice bike! Congratulations!
I wish that these new light, fun singles would start arriving with more "General Street Duty" seats, though (read - wider, softer), and let the racer crowd spend the money for the more slender, harder, "upgrades", instead of the other way around.
I would also like to see more 350-500cc twins, in V or parallel configurations, slipped into these frames. IMO- This would make them more attractive as commuter bikes.
I still absolutely *love* the bike, though. The 620 RXC sitting in my garage is a beast that vibrates (and carburates) horribly, but I am sure that motor is much more refined and nothing like the old LC4.
Keep your license and registration handy! LOL!

[typeone]

holy crap i'm jealous. that thing is gorgeous. congrats, Paul!!

(i'm stewing with envy over here. must... have... MoTard... sooooon)

[Tricky Mike]

It's much more of a streetbike, without being overly tame. It seems to have a lot more trail, making it stable. No need for a damper. The suspension is pretty close to roadcourse ready (read firm!) and the gearing is super tall for streetwork. It has a 6 speed gearbox and a slipper clutch from the factory.

The motor is strong, but not right off the bottom. It's kinda like having a DRZ under 5k and a 560 over 5K. But I haven't started exploring the limits yet. There may be even more waiting up high...

The brakes are the best I've sampled on a motard. hands down.

The seat is awesome for track antics because it goes all the way to the headstock. No fuel tank in the way. I find myself throwing the leg out on the street without even thinking about it.

It's just a very cool bike to ride.

Sounds like they got it right. I was hoping it would be streetable and reasonably tame without losing the right motard "feel"

[TTD]

If I keep you away from mud... care to join our Dual Sport ride on Sunday?

[Crash Dummy Denno]

nice ride paul! i got to ride a motard a couple weekends ago and they are so much fun...hmmm my next street bike....

[typeone]

If I keep you away from mud... care to join our Dual Sport ride on Sunday?

mud? you should have seen Zsolt67 rip around Rocky Hill MX a few seasons ago on a muddy track with his KTM sumo and rain slicks. amazing to watch. my favorite quote from that day...

kid: "hey, you cant ride that here"

Zsolt: "oh, yeah. watch me."

[Paul_E_D]

I'm headed for 3 crushing days of mtbiking at the Kingdom Trails, so I can't make the ride. I will definitely be dirtroading this bike. Maybe after I shag the Supercorsas though...

p.s. Backed her in for the first time on my lunch break. This could get crazy...

[OreoGaborio]

p.s. Backed her in for the first time on my lunch break. This could get crazy...

HA! Awesome

Lookin forward to seeing some hooligan pics!

[schleppy]

What are the maintenance intervals like on that bike? When are valve adjusts, how hard/easy are oil changes? I know some of the KTMs have some interesting service procedures.

[Paul_E_D]

I don't even know, that's crap that jap bike guys worry about. Lol!

[schleppy]

I don't even know, that's crap that jap bike guys worry about. Lol!

Want to peek in the manual for me? This jap bike guy is thinking about getting a KTM, but doesn't want to deal with tons of services

[Pittenger5]

690SMC
4k oil changes
16k valves
Thats why I bought it

[Paul_E_D]

This thing has a built in hooligan setting. There are ten ignition maps that can be selected without tools. Just take the seat off and twist a little knob. Setting 2 should be labeled trouble... setting 3 for daily riding, setting 1 for newbs who want to ride your new bike.