Superduke vs. SMR

Who has ridden one, or has one, and has an opinion. I love my SD, but that SMR looks to be the ultimate hooligan machine. I'm not so worried about utilitarian purposes since I have a touring bike for carrying shit on long runs. this bike would be for pure fun and zipping around town. And maybe a mountain pass or two.


I know it's been discussed here before and I could search it, but I'm lazy and all you fookers that bitch about using the search function wouldnt have anything to do.

TBH and i know im going to be flamed for this but owning a hypermotard and a SD and having ridden a friends SMR as well as test riding one... I think you would be better off with a hypermotard as opposed to the smr.

as the ducati is just so easy to do the most stupid things concievable.

The 990 SM & SMR are superb bikes, with great chassis and handling, and on some super-twisty roads the SMR would whip the SDs arse with it's elbows-up, front end-command that the bike offers. Power and engine are about the same although the upright riding position makes it actually feel faster, so in terms of fun - you are bang on. It's a scream, and lots of dealers and KTM mechanics will tell you it's their favourite KTM to ride.

My main criticism would be scale. It's a very tall, top-heavy bike, so that's great for chucking into turns, but you do feel it's heavier than the SD (it's probably about the same tho), and if youre under 5'9" you might find it a pain manouvring around in parking spots, etc. It's a superb bike for tall city dwellers or people who live at the top of a mountain pass. Other negative would be the tiny fuel tank. I'd be surprised if you see 60 miles to the fuel light.

They are pretty though. If you buy one, can I have your wheels?

No idea about the Hypermotard. They are quite polarising and people love them or hate them. To me they look a little girly and effete next to the SMR, and a maybe bit over designed. They are very small and light though, so if you're under 5'9" it might be a better choice for rider vs bike weight. Engine appears to be from a 1970s tractor?

this is mine

Also the standard Ducati is pretty basic. Unless you buy the top of the range you won't be looking at Ohlins ect. But then we are talking about the SMR so the comparison probably isn't fair.

I rode the basic Hyper and wasn't that impressed tbh. The SMR with Akras on however was a different beast and on some twisties was awesome fun.

now the Aprilia has some "CUBES" 1200 of em..there is another bike in the mix....i love my 750 and thats quick enough..not ridden the 1200 yet but Inmoto have a loaner i might try out!

Depends how twisty... I've ridden a few tight British roads where I think it would be the fastest way to get down them compared to just about any bike. There are also supermoto tracks like Lydd where the SMR would be a better choice.

I was quite interested in seeing the new 1200 Aprilia, but now I have, I can tell you it's really huge, more like a big commuter traillie than anything sporty or supermotard. The tank is huge and wide too - it's all much bigger than it's 750 cousin.

yeah, i had the same problem with front end feel.

as for how the vehicles compare on a supermoto track. MCN did a test and found the Hyper to be the fastest, then the dorsoduro, then the SMR... was a bees dick in it but they said that the smr was just to big and heavy

I've owned a SD and SDR--and a Monster S4. Ridden a Hypermotard, Streetfighter, Speed Triple, Tuono, 750 Aprilia, Brutale (all just a little). I now have a SMR with Akro full system (-20 pounds), Motobox, custom tune (120 RWHP--and more torque than my similiarly set-up SDR until 7600 RPMs).

I knew I was on to something when I got off the Streefighter, which was my dream bike, and went: "Meh." I actually asked the Ducati rep if it had a map control and was it set soft (I rode it in an area where I really couldn't get it out of 3rd gear). It sure didn't feel like it would smoke a SMR--or SDR.

SMR is punchy but controlleable and fun (SDR was too twitchy). When I rode my SMR to the dealer to trade the SDR two weeks after I had the SMR, well--I am treading thin here, but I thought: "Good!--now back to my SMRl".

For fun, comfort, road vision (overlooked benefit), utility, punch and fun (yeah--twice), I'm good with the SMR. it just feels good to me for our roads and how I like to use a motorcycle (30 to 100 MPH, with massive braking). It's the Golden Retriever of Motorcycles.

I like the SMR, but for my money, the SDR just kills it. WAY better range (I would hate to have to stop for fuel every 70 or so miles), and if I wanted a supermoto, I'd be hammering around on a 690...

To be fair, the SMR I rode was a carb'd 950--so it sucked on the power front. But I'm still not convinced that more power would have made me jump on that band wagon...

I've certainly got no complaints about the motor in the SMR. Had my buddy install the Motobox. pipes and O2 eliminators and it rips..no doubt, but that front end is horrible. I'm trying to get him down here so we can drop the front end by 10mm and see if that improves things at all.

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the SMR is just one of those bikes that must be ridden.
I love my SD, the ride, the feel, and the sound! Especially the quizical looks of people trying to figure out what the hell it is. Sportbike riders included! SDs are fairly rare here in the states, I'm even stunned when I see another SD rolling around. Now an SMR? I have only seen 1, yes "one" on the road. Showroom excluded.

Not a SMR but a SM, pics from last summer. I ordered a motobox and bought a SMR fueltank from ebay. Also ordered a 690 SMC steeringbar.

Reading all this is making me want an old school carbed 950 SMR as a second bike for town and dirty wet roads... I forgot how much fun my old 950 SM was...

I have nothing to add, apart from the fact that I would love one of each in my stable. Even the 690SMC would do me just fine.

Dunno how I missed this. I was lent a SMR for a day when my SD was in for service. I expected to like it...
But I didn't. I hated it. Personally I found the ergos crucifyingly uncomfortable. I'm 6' 3" carrying most of my height in my back rather than my legs and it nearly crippled me. Getting back on the SD was a massive relief because of the comfort factor and as Lowrance pointed out there is no confidence from the front end on the SMR. I'm much quicker on the SD.
That said lots of people love em. Just not me.

I really liked to ride my m8's 950 SMR. It was fun and not as bumpy as the SD on the shite Hungarian roads..

Its a shame that the 990 SM that replaced the old 950 is not still made, you either got the SMT or SMR which is chalk and cheese. My brother nearly bought a 950SM last year and was about to exchange money at the dealers when he decided he should actually try the 990SM just in case. After doing so he realised it would have been a silly mistake not to have tried out the 990 as in his words the 990 was in a different class to its older sibling. The old 990SM is a bike I would really like to try but now this is not an option. Just last summer I was riding one of my favourite routes and a KTM of some sort appeared behind me in a 40 mph limit. When the national speed limit sign appeared, thats when I disappeared and at the end of this winding hilly 3 mile stretch I waited at the side of the road to see what it was that was following me. It was a 950SM with a disgruntled rider, having been a good 20 seconds back from me

got to say not ridden a superduke but have a smr and love it - it comes back this week with full akro, m/Hoolighan airbox, Superduke R ecu and injectors etc so cant wait to see the difference over my old map and akro end cans.
great toy to mess around on twisties etc, sedate enough when in town, crack the throttle and shes vert, the seat can be pretty uncomfortable when not hustling along however went to Ireland for 5 days last year and it was a breeze. Biggest difference made was the little touring fly screen certainly helps when up near or over triple figures!!
If you are still in the market for one my mate is selling his 2010 (can only have about 1500 miles on it) with Akros and crash bobbins etc stuff - desperate to sell so would prob take 8k for it - has it down at Tri-County Motorcycles in Bracknell.

What does a SD-R ecu add to the SM-R without the SD-R cilinderheads? Would be better to remap it with Tuneboy/Tuneecu