Ducati Monster Forum

Seems like we've discussed these before.  Will this bike ever come to America?!

I'm a fan of the DR400SM but would love to have the dual pipes and the 660cc's. 


yamaha xt 660 superłomot 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2PfRpNDL2Y#)


yamaha xt660x ,pipewerx exhausts! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqLOu7LVVL4#)


XT 660 MOTARD .Comandantes do asfalto!!! HD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDHbtYcRCCE#)



I guess I should look at the KTM for a comparable bike?

Out of the current KTM line up, you'd be looking at the 2012+ SMC-R - it's a full 690 single (previous versions were named 690, but displaced 654cc).

Once my 08 isn't a set of pieces you can some take a peak. Not a fast bike, I've managed to sqeak it to just over 100 at the end of the Summit point - Shenandoah straight. But I'm running it at a middle of the pack intermediate pace at Shenny where torque can make up for being down on HP.

 

I was just looking at that bike on their website.  There's a shop here in Austin and back in Phoenix.

Are KTMs comparable to Suzuki, etc. to work on and for service prices?  My old DR350 was cheap and easy.  [cheeky]  Couple oil changes and that was it for 15K miles. 

occasionally you can find the MZ Baghira here stateside and that is the same 660cc motor that Yamaha has made for years and put into tons of 4 wheelers and so forth...might also be a worthy candidate!

Can't speak to hourly labor rates - but as you might expect KTM is a bit more Duc like vs something like the DR400SM. No idea about that yammy you posted though.

At least with the 08+, probably to the current there are some quirks that aren't bad to address but need it
- Bad bearings in valve rockers - 08 issue only
- Tendency to dirty up the fuel filter fast. Don't know what the long term is on this, but the first filters on these needs to be replaced after only a couple thousand miles. I replced mine at 45XX and it could have stood for it well before when I got a look. DIY labor fix $15 is for a new filter
- Fuel line routing - a zip tie fixes this. But the fuel line runs near the exposed end of a bolt that will cut it if not addressed
- Fan tends to rub on the rad - $2 worth of foam edge trim is the fix there
- Cam chain tensioner - the CCT is hydraulic and tends to get sloppy once the bike is hot and the oil pressure is lower as a result. A manual replacement is available @ about $120.
- Stock suspension settings are rubbish. Takes some sorting out, but can be dealt with. The recommendations are just way over damped, so it's like riding a plank with a poor front brake. For example, recommended 'sport' is 10 clicks back from the most damped position in the forks. I'm running 18 clicks back for THE TRACK. DIY fix, $0 potentially.
- Factory mappings like the Ducs are quite lean  - but there's free software for altering mappings and some folks who have done quite a bit of work turning some of the available maps or making their research available for other DIYers. I'm running a map based on someone else research and it's MUCH better than when I got the bike - though it was running the factory map, with a slip-on and K&N filter
- KTM really wants you to use one particular type of oil... pregnant dog of it is that it's about $18 a liter. Good thing is a change is under 2L. But for a lot less oil, changes on the KTM are about the same cost at the M900s

One thing to consider is the seat height. Short jokes aside, the 690's are tall in the saddle. With a 32" inseam and boots i'm hardly of the seat, flat foot. Really my pants are probably still touching the bike.

Look up the Duke, I think it might be shorter in the saddle. The Duke and the SMC share a lot,

Another thing - what'd you use it for? Gotta say it sucks a bit on a busy highway. You're up enough and it's light enough that if you're on a busy highway, the DC beltway for example, all that turbulent air buffets and knocks you around a good bit more than even on a Monster.

Get off those roads where things are more still and you don't notice that exposure. But on a busy highway, moving at 65-70... not so thrilling

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=843800 (http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=843800)

that's the bike for ya IZ...

Thanks for all the info SP! [thumbsup]  [thumbsup]

I'll check out that bike too Zooom. Thanks for he heads up!

I'll be using the bike like my Monsters..commuting and being a bit of a hooligan.  Not too much long distance riding (will get a street bike for that).  I'd like to take my son on the dirt roads and trails within the next couple years too.  I'm looking for inexpensive though cuz I still want a streetbike in the garage.

My '97 DR350 had a high seat height too..as does the 350SM.  The DR650 is better for the shorter inseam.  

??  Can't see it.  I guess I have to become a member there.

Riding up to KTM in a few minutes.  ;)

If you're planning on off road you might look at the 690 Enduro. It's easy to fit 17" wheels to the Enduro, but not so easy to fit the 18/21 wheels to the SMC. But, with the 18/21 wheels you pick up about 1.5" at the saddle. Taaaaallll

But the 690 is BIG and heavy for proper offroad at least compared to a real dirt bike. Might think of it like a light/nippy ADV bike

06 Ninja 650 exploration bike in VA
I built it but don't seem to ride it so here it is for sale. As pictured here except it has a spoked 21 inch front wheel with knobbie tire. I chronicled the whole build on here but here is a list of features:

SW Motech crash bars, skid plate and rear rack
WP forks
fat bars w/ handguards
Powermadd bar risers
KTM spoked hubs, cush hub rear
Versys foot pegs and controls

The bike has some minor scrapes from its previous life as a downed sportbike but it runs like a sewing machine and should run forever. Its pretty nimble offroad for a 400 pound bike. The riding position is pretty upright and its easy to stand while riding the rough stuff.

True mileage unknown because the original gauge cluster is damaged. I have put about 1500 trouble free miles on it. There are no weird noises, leaks or emissions indicating anything other than a fine running machine. I still have the damaged cluster for you if you can figure out how to get it to power up to see the mileage.

I'm pretty close to Dulles airport if you want to fly in and ride it home.
(http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr10/dentvet/49FC9264-6249-4924-8687-B643AB19DC13-208-00000122E8AE1A77.jpg)

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/forumdisplay.php?43-KTM (http://www.supermotojunkie.com/forumdisplay.php?43-KTM)

Funs on the 690

(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/54837_245494228911870_2078559537_o.jpg)

Though they do look a bit sad in this state
(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481848_10151165897148843_128468713_n.jpg)

 [thumbsup]

So you went to the KTM dealer aaaand?

Bought the Duke and then decided I'd take the Red Bull RC8 as well.  ;)

None of these bikes are hobbit approved.

And what did you really do?

I disagree about the oil change cost.

I use ktm filters and moble 1 synthetic car oil. Zero issues on my 450 or my 950. 14,000 on the 950 so far. A friend has 50,000 on his 950 and has had zero issues (I started doing it after talking to him)

I've only put maybe 1000 on the 450 so far but I don't expect it to explode because I don't buy Motorex oil for $70 a gallon.

I don't drink the bike oil koolaid.