After losing my R1 a few weeks ago I’m looking at getting something vaguely supermoto style for A. the winter and B. as a second bike for when I get a new R1 and don’t want to ride it in snow/ice etc.
Looking at various options - Mainly:
Suzuki DR-Z 400
Yamaha WR 450 F
Honda (goodness knows which one - They have loads and I haven’t figured out what the differences are!)
KTM 450 SMR (or I’m quite tempted to splash out a little more and go for a 625 SMC or 640 LC4)
Not sure if I want new or used, probably used if possible.
Anybody got any ideas of what’s good and bad in this genre of bike?
When I was looking for one I concerned with the vibes, you soon learn to live with them, and even manage to ride them without your eyeballs rattling.
I went for the 625 LC4 after much debating, and this is why. I wanted the Yam XT660X this was my first choice, stunning bike, but a bit expensive for me as a second bike. So, I looked at KTM and considered a DRZ400. After speaking to a guy that was changing his DRZ for the XT I ruled out the DRZ based on what he said, so ride it and make your own mind up on that one. With the KTM I really only considered two of them, they were the Duke II and the 625 LC4. They were both in my price range as they can be got for less than £3000 if there a few years old. I went to Brackens and took both out. The Duke is slightly better on the road, it had better lights, slightly more comfortable, slightly less vibes. But, I liked the styling of the LC4, and thought the effort it would take to learn to ride the duke would be the same as the effort it would take to learn to ride the LC4 and I’d get the styling I preferred.
OK, I’d decided on the bike and I started looking for one. Back in June this year there were a few on the market around the 3K point, they seemed to be 02-03 bike with various bit to offer. I ended up buying mine off eBay, and it came with some really nice bits. The air box mod had been done (plus some) along with the FCR carb and it had a brembo MC along with all the original kit, it had 3000 miles on the clock and I got a spare set of body work for it as part of the deal. Now, the not so good bits are that I pick up 3 points 15 minutes after I’d picked it up. It’s a moto X conversion and has a moto x front axle and brake (2 pot calliper = sh!t), I’ve since fitted a 4 pot braking calliper and disc, it a bit better but not great. I also got a bit pissed of with filling it up every 70-80 miles, so it now has an 18lt tank.
I totally love riding the bike, it’s so much fun, especially when you get the out of town. If you’ve any question let me know and I’ll see if I can help.
I could write an essay but I cant be fooked
Have P.M’d you
Give me a call and I will point you in the right direction according to your needs
PS The WR is a great bike as long as you dont mind quite a lot of maintenance
ell
I went to a couple of bike shops last night and I think I found a nice candidate.
It’s a late '04 KTM 640 Supermoto (LC4). It has a competition pipe, gel seat and extended tank. Datatool system 3 already installed. just under 3K miles on the clock. Looks quite tidy. All black in colour.
It’s marked up at £3995 but hopefully I can get them down a little from that - it’s a bit more expensive than I was thinking of but I think it could be worth it. I’ll have to take it for a test ride though as I rode Timmy’s Duke and, although it was a nice bike, was a bit uncertain about it.
Would LOVE to get the 950 supermoto or even the 990 super duke, but I don’t think I can justify the expense as this will eventually be my ‘second bike’ after I get another R1 next year sometime.
I doubt if you go back to a spurt bike after supermoto
You can buy a brand new ktm 660 smc for 3995.00
I know of a lot of second hand bikes for sale from people I trust
eg. KTM 660 SMC, 04 model, low mileage (970 miles) usual Full Ti Akrapovic, re-jetted etc. Also, standard system supplied, it is currently on sorn and is not taxed. Will be goin on ebay Thursday, serious buyers welcome to place bids I have set a very realistic reserve price. Prob bout £3500
DRZ: ok bike, looks nice but 35bhp!!! Not a bad commuter moto but I reckon it will lack power and torque for that true motard exp. approx 35hp and 135kg
WR450: Compition bike and needs to be treated like it. Very light and much better power than a DRZ, I think about 45 as standard, but with a bit of work can get into the mid 50’s I think. However its not a road bike and wasn’t designed to be ridden at the constant high revs that you would do on the road. Guys on VD seem to service theres about once every 500 miles! so bear that in mind. If you can handle all that its a mental fooking bike. Think about 115kg
450 SMR as above just Orange!
LC4 is the perfect road tard about 48hp and 150kg a lot more torque than the 450’s. 3000 mile services proven reliability and it ain’t the CBR6 of the motard world for no reason. Built for the road and requires little work to get power into the low 50’s. Don’t sound like much but it is good, once you get used to ridding it properly and use it on the right roads. Tank range 80-90miles
625/660 SMC Basically more track orented versions of the LC4. Weight is down to 135kg and power is up to the mid 50’s as standard. 660 is kick start only, has more torque and a little bit more power, low 60’s for sorted ones with no major work required. 625 is leecy start and after system/airbox/ and set up mine punts out 57bhp at the back wheel. 625 is 3000mile services, but I do mine every 1000 as it only holds 2 litres of oil and it gets worked hard. Not sure about the 660 but think its 1500 recommened. Tank range 50-60miles
Personally I would buy a new 660 04 model for £3999. Or a sorted (system/airbox mods) second hand 660/625/LC4. If you don’t mind kick start that 660 that Ell mentioned would be hard to beat. Akro systems are £750 for a start. Avoid 05 model 625SMC’s as they are about 15kg heavier than 04.
Me I went 625SMC (mainly for leccy start)and fookin love it. I sold my last sports bike 3 years ago for a KTM DUKEII haven’t looked back at a sportsbike since.
I think I already ruled out the DRZ as I’d have to buy a new DRZ400SM, or pay for the SM conversion, pushing the cost up, and I think I won’t be able to stand the lack of power.
Also ruled out the WR450 for the maintenance and cost.
I like the look of the 04 KTM LC4s (the exhaust on one side, rather than the newer two upswept ones). Definitely couldn’t handle a 660 as I’m a weakling and need the electric start!
Can’t really get my head around the differences between the 625 and 640. Can anyone educate me a bit more?
Not sure why I’m test riding the 950 - probably just for the experience as I don’t think I want to spend that much on a new one!
A lot of people are saying I won’t go back to sports bikes after a supermoto, but I’m more cautious. I really loved that R1! The plan now is to get an average supermoto (i.e. LC4) for winter/rain and then next spring I’ll either upgrade to a bigger one, or buy a new R1 (and keep it well away from London!)
Yeah it can be confusing with the diff KTM models. Here goes though, hope it helps.
LC4 640 = Road Moto. This is acutally a 625cc engine, called a 640 cos…well cos it is!! Power approx 48hp weight 150kg.
625 SMC. = Road/Track Moto This is a 625cc hence being called the 625!!Bascially this is a LC4 with 53hp and 135kg. The engine has a little less torque than the LC4 but it has more power. What I found is the 625 lacks a little bottom end, but has a much stronger mid-top end rush. It has a flat sided carb, revs quicker, has a diff engine apparently with subtile changes, The seat is narrower and harder, the tail peice is narrower, the tank is 9lt rather than 12.5lt, no lockable filler cap, it comes with brush gauards as standard, the headlight is a diff shape and size, the switch gear looks v. minimal and cheap with a horn in the most in accessable place ever (the button points away from you!). Essentially the SMC is a more hardcore verson of the LC4 that will still commute etc. The SMC also handles better (less weight) is quicker but is less stable and given a handfully can lift the front easily or make the front a little flappy!
Personally I would go for the SMC unless you do a lot of longer trips, but to put it into perspective I have been using mine for a 60 miles round commute with no issues what so ever… well except having to fill up every trip!
I’ll take a look at the differences you pointed out when I’m at the showroom tomorrow. Still can’t make my mind up, but at least now I understand the differences between them!
Biggest diff is if you sit on an LC4, then sit on the 04 Model SMC. You will notice straight away how much harrower the bike feels as the tank is tiny. You will also notice the ****e switch gear but don’t let that put you off.
Hi Dave, If you go into topic “BIKES” and look for GIXXER101’s post, i’ve replied about the supermoto i’ve got in my garage at home. Any more info you may need then just shout. Also noticed in your post someone mentioned that they wanted one of these !
I actually did the deed this morning. A friend of mine knows the sales director at the bike shop where this KTM was and gave him a call for me so I got a pretty good deal (Actually a VERY good deal ). I’m now the proud owner of an 04 640 LC4 Supermoto!
LC4 sound slike the right choice for you although the 625SMC is recomended if you can for-go the pillion. I was looking at an SMC when i bought my 2004 Husaberg 650. It weighs 114kg stock with the heavy exhaust, makes around 60bhp and is simply awesome. 6pot berringer front brake too and WP suspension. However i dont use my bike for anything other than play. The seat is made of concrete, you cant tell how much fuel is in it, it wont go into neutral at standstill with the engine running, and needs very regular oil changes. Having said that i wouldnt change it for the world and you can commute on it, leccy start which works every time and oil changes are so simple. Ride one and you wont go back!
The bloke who you brought it from might not happen to have a name being with “J” would it ; ) He is a top bloke and sorted me out even when I didn’t know him from Adam.
Bergs are the nuts, esp in that black colour. When I nearly brough one they were a nasty Yellow and Blue. If they weren’t quite so maintence heavy and the fact I only have 1 bike I would have got one, but as it is I went SMC route as more of a halfway house.
I couldnt handle the blue and yellow and was all set to go orange when i stumbled accross the berg. Couldnt wait and bought it. Only been used for 25hrs/1000miles and was so shiney and new!
