Yeah, my inseam lets me flat foot on pretty much anything.
I tour with an airhawk seat pad that adds 2" to the seat height, and I can still flat foot
The SD was more like a monster as far as ergos. Also, the fueling was bad. Very jerky from any throttle to off throttle. Occasionally I find myself a little hot in a corner and I'll ease off the throttle. Sometimes all the way off.
I know you're not supposed to but I can do it smoothly enough that I don't upset the bike. Generally Im trail braking too, so that helps mask any extra dive I might get from rolling off.
The SD was about impossible to do this smoothly. Rolling off the gas at higher rpm had me pitching toward the bars. Lots of complaints from 990 riders on the fuel issue. Not sure what they do to fix it since I have carbs and don't pay attention to the 990 guys.
I also found the Duke to be very buzzy in the bars and pegs. Also any part of the bike you manage to touch that's rigid (ie not a seat or something rubber mounted)
I found more legroom on the Supermoto. Additionally because of the dirt bike like seat, I can sit anywhere I want on it and still work all the controls.
I think the SM turned a lot better as well. I was wondering if i was going to put a knee down on the test ride. Im sure I wasn't close, but god damn did I have that thing leaned over.
The bike loves to turn. It's just frame geometry and width of bars. I find a little wobble at high speed on the slab, but not the kind of wobble id go do something about.
Some guys buy a steering damper but I think its a waste of money. Ive tried to induce wobble/head shake at 90mph and its no worse than it is at 70. It clears itself up no problem.
I like the looks of the Supermoto better. At the time I demod these bikes I went down to ride the SD.
Only 2 available and both were taken. All that was left was the SM. Ugliest bike I'd ever seen but I took it for a spin anyway.
I ended up loving it! It was the most fun I'd had on 2 wheels!
It's what I always wished my monster was. I used to rock a 2000 M900ie with CF high pipes, power commander, cut airbox w/k&n, very aggressive clipons, alum flywheel, Ohlins damper, 14/41 gearing.
It was a cool bike, don't get me wrong, but the SM did it better right out of the box. Excellent brakes (that the SD has as well), tons of power and great handling.
The memory of that test ride stayed with me for 2 years. Circumstance had me selling my 675 and I found my used (486 miles) 07 SMR for thousands less than a new one.
I demo'd the Ducati HM, but didn't like it as much. Especially with a 12 or 13k price compared to the 8300 I got my SMR for.
I've toured on the SMR, got it stuck in the woods (this is not a dual sport, don't let them fool you. Dirt roads yes, woods definitely not), jumped it, wheelies, stoppies, it seems to be easy on tires for a 950 twin etc. You get the point.
Damn. . .
Did I just type all that?!
