As the owner of a Husaberg FS570 (and before that, a 2010 Speed Triple SE), I am well-acquainted with the world of hooliganism, but I found myself wanting to do some longer rides and have the option of going two-up. So enter the search for a KTM SMR 990. Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, I'd have better luck looking for a unicorn. I expanded my parameters to include the SMT, though I wasn't sold on the looks. Planned on swapping the fairing for the SMR headlight/fender, and then I'd have an SMR with a better fuel range!
I actually was about 20 seconds from hopping on a plane to fly 200 miles to pick one up, before I got an email from Carproof saying there was still a lien on it, and one the buyer had neglected to tell me about!
Anyways, during my searches for a SMT/R, I noticed a whole lot of 2007 Dukes going up for sale across Canada, most of them at ridiculous prices. I spotted one really nice one, but the seller was asking 9200 - light years away from a fair market price. Well, I watched it for a couple months, then sent the seller a couple examples of Dukes that had sold, and their prices.
Well, he bit. Came down massively, though it was still too high for my tastes. I agreed to make the four-hour drive to check it out, and ... damn. It was damn-near mint.
Every one of the usual mods - Motohooligan airbox, Rottweiler intake, Rc8 stacks, Dynojet programmer + O2 plugs, custom rearsets, Vance and Hines exhaust .. yada yada. Plus a custom paint job and powder coated frame, bars and pipes.
This is from the ad:
This was me two days after getting it:
Gratuitous Berg shot:
Soo ... a 15-minute test ride was enough. I came back, pretended to dicker, and proceeded to hand over more money than I had planned to, but I don't care! I'd fallen in love, and love makes you do stupid things. Apart from the test ride, the first time I'd actually really ridden it was at the track. Took it easy, being new to me, learning the ways of this bad-ass girl, and learned a couple things:
- I love the sound. Even more than my speed triple, which seems like blasphemy to admit.
- Hello, ebay! I need a slipper clutch! (brand reccos and reviews welcome) Having my nuts slammed into my lungs the first couple times I downshifted made me think I should get one, and then the hopping all over the place sealed it.
Seller claimed it put out 134 at the wheel on the dyno, so I don't know if I'll do any more mods ... but you never know.
Glad to be here, and I'm sure the seller (he had TWO RC8s in his garage) is a member here. So, thanks! And be happy knowing that you got the most money for a Duke in BC this year! lol
I'm a member of a bunch of different forums, under the same handle, but decided I needed a new one: General Lee. Why, you ask? Well, I'm one of them now!
