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Sports bike ergos are dumb and KTM makes SAVAGE machines.

Karbon

Karbon

Hyper hoñorary
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Location
Santa Cruizin'
Moto(s)
superchicken, BRP SM, GSXR750
Had the misfortune/fortune of riding a KTM 690r for 2 weeks. Aside from the bike ruining me with its tits awesome handling, power, brakes, and "presence", it being a savage beast of an endouro, it really drove the point (as you have always known) that sports bike ergos for street riding are kind of dumb. And maybe you are OK with it and that's cool, I suppose.

You can handlebar your SS all you want, but it highly doubtful that you can come close to what an endouro or supermoto can offer in terms of feeling that you are "riding the front wheel" and level of control you have over the machine. It seriously does feel like you are, intuitively, dancing with the bike.

Anyway, ironically, my point is to keep an open mind about expanding your riding experience. Maybe that beat looking, $2k craigslist listed, strong running, ugly, uncool endouro or dual sport is what will really tickle your balls.

:ride on...
 
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Until you get on the highway, which you most likely have to take to get to awesomer roads...
 
But they don't look at me the same way when I roll up at Starbucks on a dual sport. :(

The 690 does just fine on the highway imo
 
I'd love to get a supermoto, but ironically because of my back, the sportbikes are far more comfortable for me to ride. Leaning forward puts a more tranverse shock load on your back instead of straight up your spine like riding traditional bikes do, and riding a standard and hitting a bump was like "owww!" whereas the same bump at twice the speed on my sportbike was just a "whoop" with no pain...

It might sound odd also, but when cornering, it feels more natural to lead with my head :)
 
Karbon said:
Had the misfortune/fortune of riding a KTM 690r for 2 weeks. Aside from the bike ruining me with its tits awesome handling, power, brakes, and "presence", it being a savage beast of an endouro, it really drove the point (as you have always known) that sports bike ergos for street riding are kind of dumb. And maybe you are OK with it and that's cool, I suppose.

You can handlebar your SS all you want, but it highly doubtful that you can come close to what an endouro or supermoto can offer in terms of feeling that you are "riding the front wheel" and level of control you have over the machine. It seriously does feel like you are, intuitively, dancing with the bike.

Anyway, ironically, my point is to keep an open mind about expanding your riding experience. Maybe that beat looking, $2k craigslist listed, strong running, ugly, uncool endouro or dual sport is what will really tickle your balls.

:ride on...
Click to expand...

Try riding the RC8 for a couple weeks next time. You might feel differently.
 
I have two upright street bikes but they can't replace the thrill and challenge of riding a sportbike well.
 
Karbon said:
Had the misfortune/fortune of riding a KTM 690r for 2 weeks. Aside from the bike ruining me with its tits awesome handling, power, brakes, and "presence", it being a savage beast of an endouro, it really drove the point (as you have always known) that sports bike ergos for street riding are kind of dumb. And maybe you are OK with it and that's cool, I suppose.

You can handlebar your SS all you want, but it highly doubtful that you can come close to what an endouro or supermoto can offer in terms of feeling that you are "riding the front wheel" and level of control you have over the machine. It seriously does feel like you are, intuitively, dancing with the bike.

Anyway, ironically, my point is to keep an open mind about expanding your riding experience. Maybe that beat looking, $2k craigslist listed, strong running, ugly, uncool endouro or dual sport is what will really tickle your balls.

:ride on...
Click to expand...

I tend to agree :D Its also nice to be able to see over the top of SUVs. A little windscreen and supermoto gearing helps on the freeway and a new seat is a must unless you have buns of steel. I need not mention how much fun it is in the hills :ride

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P.S. If you buy one new ask the dealer to throw in the SMC wheels, Tri Valley gave them to me for cost ($600 at the time).
 
I've always thought riding my XR400 was a lot more fun than riding my SV650. Two different kinds of thrills for sure though.
 
@The Deanster:

This is a conversation I had at the junction (mines rd.) with a guy about that very bike in your pics:

Me: Yeah I'd like to get something like that KTM there... you know...

BMW GS guy: "No...(shaking head)... that's a GO DIRECTLY to JAIL bike."

I still laugh at that line. :laughing
 
Feanor said:
I'd love to get a supermoto, but ironically because of my back, the sportbikes are far more comfortable for me to ride. Leaning forward puts a more tranverse shock load on your back instead of straight up your spine like riding traditional bikes do, and riding a standard and hitting a bump was like "owww!" whereas the same bump at twice the speed on my sportbike was just a "whoop" with no pain...
Click to expand...
When you have a foot of suspension travel available you don't even notice bumps like that. I seek out speed bumps in parking lots to hit at speed on my XR650L because it absorbs them so well. :laughing

The one thing that I like about riding a dual sport on the street is that I feel more "at one with the bike".
 
Being a hooligan is fun.

The freeway isn't the most fun in the world, but it's just a matter of not being a primadona and going out and doing it. Not to mention that a boring ride on the freeway pays off ten fold when you're blasting around in the hills.
 
You have to be a retard to ride an enduro on the street with their skinny little tires, lawnmower engine and a single brake rotor with a tiny caliper. There is no way you'd be able to spank sportbiles in the twisties with their 150hp, sticky race rubber and massive monoblock brembos.
 
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