690 SMR

All right, it all started with the first pics of the new Duke 690 in the other thread.

Yesterday I've ordered the very first 690 SMR in NL!!

It won't win any beauty contest but the oddball design did start to grow on me when I saw the new SMR in Paris next to the Duke that just didn't do it for me. Or as a friend put it, it's a bit like David Beckham. Too smooth, too slick, too polished, too pretty. Girly I wrote in the other thread.

I'm very happy to be on a big KTM single again soon. The SD was an unbelievable good bike. The very best and most insane bike I've ever had! But also very 'serious' and extremely fast. By its specs but even more by its character as you all know... I was riding around like a total lunatic at crazy speeds all the time, everywhere. I think my health and/or my driving licence wouldn't have lasted much longer that way. And it didn't give the simple fun of an LC4 single riding around the city being a loon and doing silly things (at less than lightspeed). Like I always did on my Duke and SMC. Or dancing through a mountain-pass hunting down 'big bikes'.

So ugly it may be. Or weird looking at best. But the 690 SMR just has that something that fascinates and makes me wanna have and ride one. I've ordered it with the full Ti Akra race system that brings a huge improvement performance and looks-wise. And with a K&N air filter.

Production of the SMR starts in feb. 08 so I have a LONG wait ahead of me till march or so... A few pics.








This is not an SMR but shows the Akra system. The silly screens in the exits won't make it to my bike...

I think those are called spark arrestors? so you dont catch the forests on fire?
Max, actually....I feel alot about the same way of the 990 SD, the speed and crazyness and all, but on my 06 950 sm it was even more so, crazy that is.

so the little duke with the ss swingarm is what I am eyeballing, was that the stunt? and the wheels likened to the newer honda RR's,

but realisticly, and not completely sure why? I think after this stupid ass black out, that should be enough to calm me down a little?

My wife, daughter and mother all ganged up on me yesterday about MC riding, like joe....are you really goin to ride again? after all that has happened? yep, is the only reply they could get.

Frank,

Just 'too pretty' is putting it simple but that's a part of it. The Duke simply didn't triggered my greed to want one. It's gorgeous but not for me, that's all.

On the specs side things turned out to be different than in the past. Geometry wise the Duke got a milder/slower setup than the SMR. That's a first. Maybe to make it more friendly and appealing for a wider audience, I don't know.

The steering head angle is 0,5 degree slower with more trail. The Duke also has a 12mm longer wheelbase than the SMR. It is some 4KGs lighter but this is down to the huge & heavy twin silencer setup of the SMR. The Ti Akra will take care of that...

Last thing is the suspension. 140mm front & rear on the Duke against 210mm f & R for the SMR. Funny thing is, with 60mm difference in travel there's only 10mm difference in seat height...
140mm rear travel of the Duke is (very) short by KTM standards. Even the 'stiff' SD has 160mm. On the SMR it's fully adjustable, on the Duke it's not.

But I guess the bottom line is, both will great bikes!

SMC for me

The SMC must be a brilliant hooligan tool...

Little less power than the others though. But a bid too hardcore and narrow minded as an only bike for me.

Here she is>>

I reckon if you replaced the light/bill unit with the SD or Duke mask and light unit and then put a full front mudgaurd on it would tidy up the front nicely!