that should have all the answers for you.

very comprehensive forum.

Some basics though......

the newer racier stuff like aprilia sxv's, husky 510's andto a lesser extent the 690smc require "much" more maintenance than your average jap or euro street bike.

They are generally to be treated as second bikes as to try and commute on one could be enough to put some people off all together.

The good ones are very very focussed and if that focus does not make up the significant majority of your riding then dont bother getting one.

Having said all that......if you really want one you're going to get one [/url]

Cool. Thank you. Road legal is what I need. The neighbors would be pissed if I used their yards to get to the woods!

For the true road hooligan... photo compliments of Freeman G.

for the more sensible you... photo compliments of Mitterbauer H.


just my 2 senseless choices. (I know you may have LC8 Itice!!).

to me these are fine art in motion.

Joe,

You haven't ridden a 690 SMC have you?

I had a 640 Supermoto, I was fortunate to have a friend let me break in his new 690SMC, the new 690 motor delivers beyond impressive power for a light weight single.

Here's mine

had the same needs + enduro. check any SMC 660

Good friend just had his 1098s and 690SMC at Thunder Hill CA:


No mention of fueling issues. He dumped the stock cat for a Leo can and did the basic ECU reset.

The big(ish) V twins don't really qualify as supermotos, but they can be ridden like one, and they look 100% like a SM. But, a SM is about handling & absolute flickability. If you follow any SM racing at all, you know that the 450s are MUCH faster than the open class (singles up to 700cc), because of weight/rotating mass/etc. The best performing (road legal) SM is going to be a converted WR450/CRX/KX etc, whilst a factory SM (690SMC/530SMR/640&660SMC) will be very, very good, and reliable/street legal from day 1. You always trade-off reliability for performance at this level, so choose your poison.
FOr more of a road-going (only) SM-style bike with street manners, the Duke II (I had 2) is a great used buy. I miss mine, until I hit a straightaway on the SD.
As a hijack - anyone here own a 690 Duke and a Duke II? I wonder how different they are, as I'd like to get a big single back in the garage, and I'm curious to what someone who's owned both has to say........
TIA.