OK so recently somebody on here spotted an almost new RC8R that had been turned into a SD type bike for sale on ebay and I really liked it. It was way too new and too expensive for me but it did get me thinking.....

You can easily get an early RC8 for less than 6K (a lot less in some cases) If I could find one with scruffy bodywork or even some bodywork damage a much lower figure would probably be possible.

My 06 perfect black SD with only 6K miles and the round Arka’s ought to be worth 4K ish. In fact if I put the std exhaust back on and sold the others separately something over 4.5K should be possible.

I would then need some flat bars and perhaps some messing around with bodywork / headlight and a respray and hey presto I have an 1190 SD clone with 150+ RWHP and a good time will be had by all.

I just wondered if anybody here had actually done this, how much they spent, how easy / hard it turned out to be and their opinion of weather it was all worth the hassle. Obviously the bike would be virtually unsalable after being neither an RC8 or an SD but I don’t care about that if it’s enough fun.

Seems strange to me that I haven’t heard about this as it seems an obvious game to play. Will be interested to hear the collective SD mind on the matter.

Try a PM to Tripoddave. He got part way to this type of project until 2 months ago

Good thinking although as he has just had a heart attack and is in full recovery mode I hesitate to bother him with anything at the moment.

Been looking through all the online images I can find and I'm beginning to see why it's not a more common conversion. The only ones that look really nice leave almost all the body work in place and just add risers and new bars. That has the advantage of looking nice and being simple but its nor really anything like an 1190 SD is it?

There was a white one with custom side tank fairings that retained the ram air and hid the plumbing well but they were a one off custom fabrication and I have neither the skills or the patience for that.

150 hp is a lot on a bike with out wind protection...but what ever fills you sails...

Yes I had seen them and I like both the white ones but not so much theGerman one.

I just wondered if anybody here had actually done the job themselves and what their thoughts were.

I'm probably too lazy althought the thought of just putting some higher wider bars on an RC8 is quite an amusing one.....

That all makes perfect sense to me

I nearly bought an SMT last week. One owner, quite high miles in the mid 20K's but great condition with all the extras. Sold for under 5k. I need something for two up short tours but decided to test ride one first.

I suspect you're right, nice but ultimately pointless idea. I'm actually strangely find of the SD and have a feeling I might just end up keeping in and adding something else to the garage to keep it company.

How about this one,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://www.ktmforums.com/forums/attachm ... ktmcf4.jpg