SD v SDR

Hi

Selling my BMW K1300R (anyone want it ?) Thought not

Had a 2006 SD and want to return to the best bike I ever had

I know it has been covered in various threads previously but could someone please remind me of the pros and cons of an SDR compared to the standard model

I weigh 11.5 stone and seem to recall that the suspension is a little harsh on GB roads if you are not slightly more portly

Good people please advise

SDR looks nicer, has marginally more power but most have crappy fueling and a single seat.

SD is marginally cheaper, slightly softer and many people say better for the road.

The diferences are so slight I would just buy the one you like the look of best that falls within your budget and then book into crashfest for some mutual tyre shredding

Thank you for finding the original threads

I had even posted on one of them 4 years ago
Head has now overruled heart

Standard SD it is then

So whose selling a good one ????

Whatever my Beemer is worth

£8k ish

There's a few about at the moment, prices have rallied from the last couple of years IMO…. but 8k will give you the pick of what you want…. Go forth at get your retail fix!

….. see you at crashfest….?

There was an 08 SDR that went for 4.5k on KTM recently. That was a bargain. The problem with SDR's is they are seriously uncomfortable and nothing you do will change that. I have 3 seats and a softer rear shock spring in mine and it is still an hour to haemorroids bike. I did 300 miles in a (longish)day on std Superduke.

Other than the 08 SDR the bike hasnt improved though, dont be fool enough to pay more for a newer number on the reg plate. If you get that money for the BM (I doubt it) bank half and buy the best specced bike you can for 4k.

Thats good advice.

I would probably say 5k is a good figure to get a nice one. Should be a good choice of private sales at that price.

Agree with all above.

5K will get you a great low milage '07+ bike. Get one with exhausts, airbox mods and all the sensible upgrades. I'd just look for a one or two owner bike that's been well looked after.

The ones advertised by dealers are often a bit on the high side, look for private sales.

Thanks for all the info re this but can someone please clarify one last thing ..................

I'm assuming that the negative press towards the SDR's harsh ride refers to the earlier models and that the last evolution of the 990 in its SDR form with the twin seat is more user friendly and would be a sensible purchase

If this is the case I am keen to try and source one so any help would be appreciated

Thanks in anticipation

I never found my SDR had a harsh ride. One day I set the suspension settings all the way to Comfort as listed in the handbook and it was super soft - so soft I didn't like it at all. There's a huge range of adjustment in the SDR suspension - comfort was never an issue. But the fuelling really does suck. Now I've got an RC8 to compare it with I've realised just how bad it was. Even with an aftermarket pipe, airbox and mapping, it was still snatchy until 4000 rpm. Definitely makes you a better rider but its painful at low speeds.

Remember that the latest 2012 "SDR" with the dual seat is actually an end of line parts bin special that KTM put together to use up bits before the launch of the 1290. It does not have an SDR spec engine so it is actually a standard SD with an orange frame.

Doesn't make it a bad bike though.

But don't get conned by a seller that it is a full-fat model and use this to haggle the price down.

Rode 190 miles home on 2011 SDR after now regrettable purchase - oddly enough no complaints about comfort. Nice turn in on brakes. Compliant on corner exit under modest power. Fueling is atrocious, like running on gravel but nothing that can't be fixed. Great bike on the face of it, shit company though. Keep your eyes peeled, it'll be for sale soon through Laguna "we'll ignore you till hell freezes over" motorcycles very soon. 323 miles from new & mangled front tank mount thread courtesy of swollen tank & AMS motorcycles. GN12 FMD this bitch is tainted but you could bag yourself a bargain.

I rode the SD and loved it. I sold my 950 Supermoto and started looking for a Super Duke. I found a SDR on Craig's List in Denver, flew out and bought it. I rode it back to Minnesota, and yeah it's not as nice a road bike as the SD. Now that I've ridden both, I would have been happier with a SD over a SDR. For me, what ever performance up grade the SDR offers over the SD isn't worth the penalty in comfort.

But, that being said, it's a really fun bike. And the orange frame just makes me happy.

The fueling truly does suck.