KTM Clarificatoin??????????

[B.Curvin]

I'm wanting a KTM, BUT, I want lightness. Street & Trail. Long Range.

Here's the Dilema. I've narrowed it down to two bikes.
I will do 50/50 street trail (about)

Adventure: Great range (big tank)
Leccy start
Wind protection
will take any and all luggage

cons: weight
maybe/maybe not available 2005
Crap front fender on new ones




660 SMC: Light weight
would only have to get 21" front wheel/use rear off-road too
Big power

cons?: American version apparently different to everyone elses.
Is the sub-frame the same as the Adventure?
(rear fender is different)
will an Adventure rear fender and rack fit?
I would have to install Adventure Tank and Fairng $$$$$
I wouldn't have the instruments of the Adventure





Our 660 SMC



Everyone elses 660 SMC



I wonder which route would be cheaper?

Making an Adventure out of a motard
or vice-versa

Does our 660 have the same oil capacity as everyone elses?
Does it have a cush drive?

look! a chicken!


Thanks in advance for any replys

[Mack]

Unless you have connections, I expect you will have a real hard time finding a 660 SMC. There may be some 625 SMC's coming in this year, but there are possible problems with this as well. If the few that might make it here, are not yet spoken for (doubtfull) they may be very spendy. The dollar is going down the tubes, with a record $1.328usd to the Euro. Secondly I have yet to hear of a single SMC (660 or 625) owner that feels the bike works in single track, the suspension is just too stiff, and too short in travel. (These guys otherwise love their bikes, but don't recomend the SMC for D/S, 50-50, etc.)

[Mack]

Whoops, battery in the laptop ran outta juice. Continued....

For what you want, I would suggest a used 625 SXC, or a used 640 ADV. Both can be had for very reasonable price, especially an ADV. I think I speak for most of the guys here, when I say the 2003 was the high point of the model. If your going to be using it offroad, why pick up a new one, when there are plenty of well cared for, low mileage and often well equiped examples to choose from? The transformation from SMC to ADV would be very spendy, I would estimate about $2k usd, (not counting wheels, brakes, etc.) It is quite a bit cheaper to swap a ADV over to SXC/LC4E spec. A 625SXC with 17's would work pretty well on the street as well.

[B.Curvin]

Thank you, I agree with your insight. An Adv with 17s would be a hoot,

plus I can use it off road and it's got all the gauges. A little porky, but

I would rather have weight and longevity rather than a 525 that has to be rebuilt

twice a year. When I get ahold of a bike I like, I'll put 10 to 15,000 a year

on them.

Thanks for the input.

Mango

[markjenn]

It sounds like you're attracted to the SMC conversion option to save weight. I suspect once you convert either the trail or the road bike to the other's spec, you have about the same weight, so I don't see any advantage there - they're very similar bikes under the clothes.

- Mark

[Stobie]

Hi, Mango.

I'm about 1-1/2 hrs East of you with a 640 Adv that you can test-ride whenever you like.

I've only had it about 2 months, but I'm really enamored with it already. I got it because I wanted something dirt-worthy that I could ride to the dirt. It's quite a bit better on dirt than I expected, given the weight, and waaay better on the street than I thought it would be. If I had to give up one of my bikes right now, it would be the Beemer.

But, when it comes down to it, if the wind protection and fuel capacity of the Adv don't matter, the LC4-E and SXC will serve you just as well, if not better. It's a great motor in a great chassis. You just have to decide which bolt-ons are most important.