KTM SMC???? To Buy or not to buy....

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WR Riffton
05/12/2006 at 14:22
I'm in desperate need of an SM. Just come off the back of a nasty crash on my Z750 (written off) and I was pining after another SM anyway, so now's the time (the missus will kill me, but I'll cross that bridge.....)

Anyhow, I used to have an SM'd WR426 - 'kin loved it, but I needed to do some distance riding so it got sold. Now I want an SM that's in a similar vein to the WR, but one that will perhaps need less servicing. It's not gonna be for racing, just day to day scratching, and must take into account that I'll be riding and commuting on it everyday.

I wouldn't be happy with a DRZ or anything in that ilk - I want something really sharp and focused. I loved my WR, so another's on the cards, but would really like to try something different. So the KTM SMC (625/660?) seems to tick the boxes, but I can't find much info on them online.

Are the SMC's different machines than the LC4's altogether? Or are they similar to LC4's but with minor carb/body changes? Are the SMC's really sharp and focused or quite sloppy? And how would riding an SMC compare to my old WR?

Advice would be much appreciated, as I want to get myself a ride sorted preferably by Xmas, as my injuries should have sorted themselves out by then.

Cheers,

Riffter
forteh
05/12/2006 at 14:26
AFAIK
The smc is heavy and very vibey compared to the wr, more power but the weight offsets that. The smc is basically a tuned, lightened 640 LC4 with lower service intervals, 625 is more road friendly with 1500 mile oil change intervals and the 660 is lighter kick only and 1000 miles oil changes.

Have you considered one of the newer huskies? I believe theyre not too intensive for maintenance
feline pornographer
timberman
05/12/2006 at 14:35
Buy my vgc 660 , you know it makes sense .
http://www.visordown.com/members/images/157234/Signature_26120.jpgWHEN SHE SEE'S THIS I'M A DEAD MAN !!
supermofo
05/12/2006 at 14:38
The SMC is slightly lighter/quicker version of the LC4, it revs quicker and makes its power higher up the rev range, it also has flat sided carb. Tuned 625 SMC's make about 58-60bhp with pipe and airbox as opposed to about 53 for an LC4. 625SMC have 3000 mile service intervals same as the LC4, 660's 1500.

Personnally I reckon the 625 is a perfect mix of road manners and focused SM. I put 7000 miles on my 625 and it never missed a beat and was exactly what I was after. I'd recommend one but I'm biased

As compared to a 426, I dunno. I should imagine the SMC would have more power and torque, but would weight more, however I know people who service WR's every 300 miles so you can go 10 times further without fucking about on the KTM.

Look Ma! No Brains!

stoo
05/12/2006 at 14:39
forteh wrote
AFAIK
The smc is heavy and very vibey compared to the wr, more power but the weight offsets that. The smc is basically a tuned, lightened 640 LC4 with lower service intervals, 625 is more road friendly with 1500 mile oil change intervals and the 660 is lighter kick only and 1000 miles oil changes.

Have you considered one of the newer huskies? I believe theyre not too intensive for maintenance


Don't think the oil change intervals are as simple as that - some models are oil in frame, and some aren't, so they change a bit depending on year.

I couldn't get on with the vibes when I rode ell's 660. It's certainly not short of go once you wound it up, but it didn't have much grunt from low revs. Felt cumbersome compared to my XR650 too.

LH kickstart is also a showstopper for me, cos I couldn't get the fookin' thing going.
forteh
05/12/2006 at 14:50
Youre right I spooned the oil change intervals
feline pornographer
austinrocket
05/12/2006 at 15:11
If you're used to a WR426 you'll find SMC's heavy and very vibey I reckon. They go well but it depends on whether you can put up with the vibes or not.
huskydealer
05/12/2006 at 15:43
Go for a Husvarna SM 610 (Newer model) sharper than a lot of other road going SM's but decent service intervels
Husqvarna SM510 Ultimate Motard:burnout:

www.justbikes.org.uk


www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/mango/

Eat shit 8,000,000,000,000,000 Fly's can't be wrong or buy KTM all those sheep can't be wrong, or can they

Its all about the toe
Dutch
05/12/2006 at 15:59
625 SMC - Superb Bike, I ran mine as commuter, track day bike, B-road scratcher, ...pretty much anything that wasn't long distence or involving dual carriageways.

They are less vibey than the LC4, have flat side carb and less restrictive exhaust, lighter flywheel, and the engine spins up much faster, delivering power about 1000rpm up the rev range from the LC4.

They do vibrate, but only an issue if you're a big poof. It is a big single after all.

I'd buy another tomorrow.

The 660 us superb too, but I wouldn't commute on one with kickstart only and no ignition. I know plenty of poeple that do (or did) and I've witnessed too many swety kickstart moments to envy their +3bhp over my 625.

I've also owned an LC4. Great bike, but more vibes and less power.

In my opinion the only reliable alternatives for a big cc commuter tard that's still a proper tard with decent chassis and power would be the Husky 510 and 610.

(Official oil changes post 2003 are 3000 miles with oil in the frame.)

http://www.ktmforum.co.uk/customavatars/avatar1937_3.gif

www.thebikeshed.cc

Nige Harford
05/12/2006 at 19:38
660 SMC has oil in engine and it's only just over a litre, so it has short intervals for oil changes. Used to do mine every 300 miles.
Big and clever.
Sirus
05/12/2006 at 19:52
My 660 has it in the frame and has 1500mile changes, although I do them more frequently.

UK KTM Forum

SeventeenInches

525 EXC :burnout:             950 SuperMoto :burnout:
http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/sirushusky/th_DSC00874.jpghttp://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/sirushusky/th_DSC00877.jpghttp://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc217/sirushusky/th_DSCF0012.jpg <--- Sirus

stoo
05/12/2006 at 19:54
Sirus wrote
My 660 has it in the frame and has 1500mile changes, although I do them more frequently.


Once a year, whether you've made it to 200 miles or not, eh?

the grinder
05/12/2006 at 22:38
buy it try it if you dont like it fuckit try something else but it dont hurt as much as falling off a road bike for sure?
THE GRRRRINDER
WR Riffton
06/12/2006 at 00:16
Well I'm still scoobie'd to be honest. The SMC sounds good but also sounds heavy. What's drawing me away from more focused machines is the constant maintenance.

But saying that, the 426 only needed oil and filters every coupla weeks, which was no real strain - was nothing like what people kept warning me against - "it'll be nothing but trouble etc etc"

I mean I don't want anything as crazy as an SXV - changing pistons all the bleedin while! Do KTM do anything lighter and more focused that's road registered? Does the SMR come without lights/stator? I know bugger all about Katooms so I'm in the dark.

Apologies for the pedantic bullshit. I know I can't have the best of both worlds, but I want an SM before Xmas and I wanna make the right decision. My heart's with a WR450, but I'd rather a factory SM as opposed to a conversion for obvious reasons.
full
06/12/2006 at 01:25
new model Husky sm610 (the old model is a bit gutless) is somthing to think about, not as vibey (arigcultural) as the KTM LC4. both matched for power, i've had both, both great SM's. i perfer the SM610 as its a bit more refined (looks better aswell). Not so many 2nd hand husky's about as the KTM tho as they only been out a short while. If you getting a new one tho reccomend the SM610
austinrocket
06/12/2006 at 08:32
WR Riffton wrote
Well I'm still scoobie'd to be honest. The SMC sounds good but also sounds heavy. What's drawing me away from more focused machines is the constant maintenance.

But saying that, the 426 only needed oil and filters every coupla weeks, which was no real strain - was nothing like what people kept warning me against - "it'll be nothing but trouble etc etc"

I mean I don't want anything as crazy as an SXV - changing pistons all the bleedin while! Do KTM do anything lighter and more focused that's road registered? Does the SMR come without lights/stator? I know bugger all about Katooms so I'm in the dark.

Apologies for the pedantic bullshit. I know I can't have the best of both worlds, but I want an SM before Xmas and I wanna make the right decision. My heart's with a WR450, but I'd rather a factory SM as opposed to a conversion for obvious reasons.


Go for a WR450, I've had an LC4 and a WR426 and I know which was the better bike by a mile. Think I'll be after a WR450 next year when I've got some more cash.
timberman
06/12/2006 at 08:51
the grinder wrote
buy it try it if you dont like it fuckit try something else but it dont hurt as much as falling off a road bike for sure?




Yeh but does it hurt falling off a moto Mr Torvill & Dean ?
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supermofo
06/12/2006 at 09:06
Sounds like you might wanna check out the KTM 520/525 and also the Husky 450/510. The Husky is lighter than the LC4 but still comes with a 2 year warranty

Look Ma! No Brains!

AllanJ
06/12/2006 at 10:33
supermofo wrote
Sounds like you might wanna check out the KTM 520/525 and also the Husky 450/510. The Husky is lighter than the LC4 but still comes with a 2 year warranty



(I don't know too much about the new Huskies but it seems they are well worth checking out too - I definitely would if I was in the market for a new bike.)
WR Riffton
06/12/2006 at 22:10
Yeah, the SX525 conversion would be nice, but there seems to be so much more involved with doing the conversion (as opposed to converting an enduro), and money's a bit of an issue. My immediate plan is to get an SM now, and come March I'll be getting a Speed Triple (1050) (more brass coming in then, plus I don't really want to run the Trumpet in the salt). All in all I've got a 10-10.5k budget for both.

The SM would pretty much be my everyday runaround (I run bikes 365 days - my lady has the car, I never ever drive it) which is why I wanted a regular runner with not too much maintenance. But the SM has to be as fun and pretty light like the WR, 'cos that machine really was f**kin FUN! The only thing I've ridden that near matched the WR was a KTM I buggered about on that was at DK - it was an EXC400 SM conversion. Small, light and full 'o smiles! This is what's turned me on to KTM's.

So it's still between the WR and SMC. More so the 450. It will have a bit extra over the 426 I had, plus the lecky start'll be a huge bonus. My problem now though is finding a suitable conversion. Loadsa SMC's out there, no WR's, but at present I've got no wheels and I'm in need!! Ay Carumba!! Man without Bike = Woman.
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