Are They Harder to Ride?

C/1/509 · 03-18-2007, 05:17 PM

My bike (2006 KTM 950 SM) isn't terribly heavy. The new SD is a little lighter, but not by a huge amount. But it feels like a huge amount. Granted, I haven't ridden the SD, but just picking it up off the sidestand the difference feels pretty major.

Sitting on the Touno has the same effect. It's lighter than the SM, but not by as much as it feels. It's like night and day. I've heard the SM (and ADV and the SE and some others) described as having a "narrow balance point" - and I understand it.

I've ridden my buddies R1 a couple of times, and it seems like all of the weight is down low and it wants to balance and turn at low speeds. My SM will too, but it seems less forgiving than the R1. I've had the bike six months and have a little more than 2000 miles on it. I'm not a great rider, but I'm not afraid to lean it either - that's the reason I bought it. I have about 1/2" of chicken strip on the right, and 1/4" or less on the left side of the rear tire. So I'm not hitting it too hard but I can get it leaned a bit. My R1 riding buddy said that my bike feels "scarier" to lean over because you're sitting so high. Maybe he's just not used to it.

So do I need to just STFU and ride it for another year and get it figured out, or is the SD or Touno really the bike I meant to buy but didn't?

Fitero · 03-18-2007, 06:50 PM

My take on it is a bit different.
I've been riding heavy bikes for so long, I had forgotten what it was to ride on something light like the SM. I still can't get over how light it feels. Makes me wonder what going even lighter would provide. It feels like a moped when I move it around!
Today's ride, was a mix of curvy, paved and gravel mountain roads. It flicked back and forth so easily. Exactly where I pointed it, and never wavered, even when slamming over bumps and pot-holes etc. Great fun.

I am getting used to the SM too, and am leaning more and more in the curves, as the days go on. I just came off of a Cagiva Gran Canyon, on which I would drag my feet frequently. The SM feels even more planted, and glued to the pavement than that bike.

I say, stay with it and learn as I am. I think this bike shows up how mediocre a rider I can be, but it rewards me brilliantly when I use it correctly.

Regards,
Peter

Dirtgrain · 03-19-2007, 05:23 AM

Just to be clear, when you sat on those other bikes, they had full tanks and all the fluids in them? I'm just asking because I remember sitting on bikes at the cycle show that felt lighter than they obviously would be with fluids in.

BikePilot · 03-20-2007, 10:53 AM

The sport-bike based machines won't feel lighter at speed. Sure they are lower and easier to handle at parking lot speed, but once underway nothing is easier to ride than an SM imho. It takes considerably more care/skill on the part of a rider to navigate twisties on a sport bike than a supermoto all else equal imho:)

C/1/509 · 03-20-2007, 05:21 PM

I appreciate the perspective. It does feel like a big dirt bike. My buds R1 feels pretty easy to ride to me, but I didn't really push it either.

03-18-2007, 05:17 PM	#1
C/1/509 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Oddometer: 333	Are They Harder to Ride? My bike (2006 KTM 950 SM) isn't terribly heavy. The new SD is a little lighter, but not by a huge amount. But it feels like a huge amount. Granted, I haven't ridden the SD, but just picking it up off the sidestand the difference feels pretty major. Sitting on the Touno has the same effect. It's lighter than the SM, but not by as much as it feels. It's like night and day. I've heard the SM (and ADV and the SE and some others) described as having a "narrow balance point" - and I understand it. I've ridden my buddies R1 a couple of times, and it seems like all of the weight is down low and it wants to balance and turn at low speeds. My SM will too, but it seems less forgiving than the R1. I've had the bike six months and have a little more than 2000 miles on it. I'm not a great rider, but I'm not afraid to lean it either - that's the reason I bought it. I have about 1/2" of chicken strip on the right, and 1/4" or less on the left side of the rear tire. So I'm not hitting it too hard but I can get it leaned a bit. My R1 riding buddy said that my bike feels "scarier" to lean over because you're sitting so high. Maybe he's just not used to it. So do I need to just STFU and ride it for another year and get it figured out, or is the SD or Touno really the bike I meant to buy but didn't?

03-19-2007, 05:23 AM	#3
Dirtgrain Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Oddometer: 309	Just to be clear, when you sat on those other bikes, they had full tanks and all the fluids in them? I'm just asking because I remember sitting on bikes at the cycle show that felt lighter than they obviously would be with fluids in. __________________ Don't laugh at my mule: http://new.wavlist.com/movies/176/afd-mule.wav

03-20-2007, 10:53 AM	#4
BikePilot Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Tampa Oddometer: 10,901	The sport-bike based machines won't feel lighter at speed. Sure they are lower and easier to handle at parking lot speed, but once underway nothing is easier to ride than an SM imho. It takes considerably more care/skill on the part of a rider to navigate twisties on a sport bike than a supermoto all else equal imho:) __________________ '09 Buell XB12XT, TL1000S, H1F, M620, CR250R, DR250SE, XR650R, Cota 315R Summer 2009 Ride Report http://advrider.com/forums/showthrea...1509c&t=507038 Summer 2008 RR. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367703

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03-18-2007, 06:50 PM	#2
Fitero Just One of Billions Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Portland. Oregon Oddometer: 218	My take on it is a bit different. I've been riding heavy bikes for so long, I had forgotten what it was to ride on something light like the SM. I still can't get over how light it feels. Makes me wonder what going even lighter would provide. It feels like a moped when I move it around! Today's ride, was a mix of curvy, paved and gravel mountain roads. It flicked back and forth so easily. Exactly where I pointed it, and never wavered, even when slamming over bumps and pot-holes etc. Great fun. I am getting used to the SM too, and am leaning more and more in the curves, as the days go on. I just came off of a Cagiva Gran Canyon, on which I would drag my feet frequently. The SM feels even more planted, and glued to the pavement than that bike. I say, stay with it and learn as I am. I think this bike shows up how mediocre a rider I can be, but it rewards me brilliantly when I use it correctly. Regards, Peter

03-20-2007, 05:21 PM	#5
C/1/509 ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Oddometer: 333	I appreciate the perspective. It does feel like a big dirt bike. My buds R1 feels pretty easy to ride to me, but I didn't really push it either.