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Beer Baron
Beer Baron UltimaDork
7/22/13 5:50 p.m.

Only knock I can throw at it is a near total lack of seat padding. I need something a little more than a chamois pad under my butt if I'm on the street.

SEADave
SEADave Reader
7/22/13 7:39 p.m.
Beer Baron wrote: Only knock I can throw at it is a near total lack of seat padding. I need something a little more than a chamois pad under my butt if I'm on the street.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the one in the picture the racing version? I would expect that the street version would have a different seat. If so, I think the same might apply to the earlier comment about bar and peg arrangement.

In any case, if this thing has a proper adjustable cartridge fork that alone would justify choosing it over the Honda.

I once bought an SV650S brand new. Great bike, but the suspension was a total let down. Damping rod fork and the only way to fix it was cartridge emulators or complete GSXR front-end. Sold that thing and told myself I would never own another sport bike without a modern adjustable fork.

pilotbraden
pilotbraden SuperDork
7/24/13 3:17 p.m.

I vowed to never own a factory new piece of machinery. I may break my vow.

Cotton
Cotton SuperDork
7/24/13 4:10 p.m.
Beer Baron wrote: Only knock I can throw at it is a near total lack of seat padding. I need something a little more than a chamois pad under my butt if I'm on the street.

The factory seat on my k1200s sucked....I learned this about 20 miles into my 700 mile ride home when I flew out to buy it. Bought a used corbin not long after I got it home. Not saying corbin will make a seat for this bike, but any decent upholstery shop could add some memory foam to it or something.

motomoron
motomoron Dork
7/25/13 5:55 p.m.
stroker wrote: I'll stick with RD400 or RZ350LC, thanks.

I'm down to 2 bikes:

  • 1979 Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special.

  • 2008 KTM 690 SMC.

I'll offer that even mine which has been restored down to the last fastener and has totally fresh forks w/ Progressive springs, Ikon shocks, bronze swing arm bushings and good tires - is still a 1970s chassis.

The KTM on the other hand makes about 65hp, weighs under 300 (w/ an intake and Ti exhaust) and has the best suspension/grip/brakes/cornering clearance of anything I've ever ridden or raced.

RD for amusing my friends, making smoke and great sounds.

KTM for riding.

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt UltraDork
7/26/13 8:33 a.m.

Wow... that really came from out of nowhere. I wasn't expecting KTM to invade the small sport bike market... and it sure looks like they're doing a good job of it, too. This thing could end up being THE ANSWER to "What should I get as a first sport bike?"

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