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DanInBow
Original Poster
50 posts
16 months
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Hi there,
I am looking at getting a supermoto- namely a KTM 640 LC4 or a DRZ400. I am wanting it mainly to tackle the London commute, something which is reliable on the whole and falls into my 2000 budget. Another main reason for getting it is i am turning my R6 into more of a track toy and my Vespa is slowly falling apart.
My question/s is has any one lived with either of these bikes- experiences?
Is the KTM 640 LC4 kick start and electric start or one or the other?
And most importantly- will the DRZ wheelie off the power? - on private land OFC.
I tried the search function, however the BB crew don't seem to big on supermotos?
Cheers.
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Dog Star
2,684 posts
37 months
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Not directly helpful to you - but relevant in terms of riding in traffic. I've got a 2006 Honda CRF450R supermoto and it's a beast  It's very very bling (think anodised red/gold everywhere, carbon fibre and titanium everywhere else, Akrapovic pipe, mahoosive brakes etc etc) and very very loud  For riding around fiddly roads and hacking through traffic it is absolutely amazing - so light and so torquey - off the throttle wheelies in just about any gear. So slim you can just slurp through gaps. Disadvantages: no mirrors and no fan so a couple of minutes stopped and it starts pissing coolant. Supermotos - ultimate commuter machine IMO.
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marcgti6
373 posts
82 months
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Supermotos are ace! I've not ridden either the KTM or the DRZ but I'm pretty sure that the KTM 640's are kickstart only. If they're anything like my mates KTM 525 SXC Supermoto then it'll be a bugger to kick as well. You do know that DRZ's are for girls, don't you? Only kidding but it's true that they are considered a bit wet amongst S'Moto fans. To be fair though, I've never ridden one. I'd be surprised if they wheelie off the throttle in anything but 1st gear to be honest. Aren't they about 40bhp? I had a Husky SM610 till it was nicked and if you're lucky you should be able to find a 2005+ model for not much over £2,000.00 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Husqvarna-2005-SM610-Sup... - I got mine for a bargain a few years ago for £1,800.00 and it was mint. I'd well recommend them. Mine was reliable, pretty quick, look beastly and was a demon in the twisties. Everyone who had a go loved in, including superbike owners. I'm looking at getting a KTM 690 SMR shortly. They look like muchos fun. You might want to have a look at this thread - http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...There's not a massive amount of Supermoto discussion in here so you may want to check out a dedicated forum like Supermoto Junkie - http://www.supermotojunkie.com/forum.php
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DanInBow
Original Poster
50 posts
16 months
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Dog Star said: Not directly helpful to you - but relevant in terms of riding in traffic. I've got a 2006 Honda CRF450R supermoto and it's a beast It's very very bling (think anodised red/gold everywhere, carbon fibre and titanium everywhere else, Akrapovic pipe, mahoosive brakes etc etc) and very very loud For riding around fiddly roads and hacking through traffic it is absolutely amazing - so light and so torquey - off the throttle wheelies in just about any gear. So slim you can just slurp through gaps. Disadvantages: no mirrors and no fan so a couple of minutes stopped and it starts pissing coolant. Supermotos - ultimate commuter machine IMO. I have a friend with a CRF450 R, which has been highly modified- it is because of this bike i would like to get a supermoto. I will attach a picture when i find out how to! The only thing that puts me off is the high maintenance. However they do look fantastic.
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DanInBow
Original Poster
50 posts
16 months
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marcgti6 said: Supermotos are ace! I've not ridden either the KTM or the DRZ but I'm pretty sure that the KTM 640's are kickstart only. If they're anything like my mates KTM 525 SXC Supermoto then it'll be a bugger to kick as well. You do know that DRZ's are for girls, don't you? Only kidding but it's true that they are considered a bit wet amongst S'Moto fans. To be fair though, I've never ridden one. I'd be surprised if they wheelie off the throttle in anything but 1st gear to be honest. Aren't they about 40bhp? I had a Husky SM610 till it was nicked and if you're lucky you should be able to find a 2005+ model for not much over £2,000.00 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Husqvarna-2005-SM610-Sup... - I got mine for a bargain a few years ago for £1,800.00 and it was mint. I'd well recommend them. Mine was reliable, pretty quick, look beastly and was a demon in the twisties. Everyone who had a go loved in, including superbike owners. I'm looking at getting a KTM 690 SMR shortly. They look like muchos fun. You might want to have a look at this thread - http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...There's not a massive amount of Supermoto discussion in here so you may want to check out a dedicated forum like Supermoto Junkie - http://www.supermotojunkie.com/forum.phpI have looked futher into it and some of the KTM 640's are kickstart and some are both kickstart and electric start. I am aware of the stereotype with DRZ's and in all honestly i was going towards to KTM if anything. Right now i am really drawn into the KTM 690 LC4.. may have to up the budget. Cheers for the replies guys.
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shanes
819 posts
24 months
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DRZ are crap go for a KTM SMC 690 there are the best around
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3doorPete
6,862 posts
103 months
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shanes said: DRZ are crap go for a KTM SMC 690 there are the best around +1 - the maintenance is easier on the 690s than the MX/Enduro derived SMs that are the true competition SMs. If you get a KTM 525 or 530 SM derived from an EXC, it'll have electric and kick start. Even on soft knobblies, my 525EXC is ridiculous fun at low speeds on the road and will wheelie off the throttle in 4th gear if you sit back.
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DanInBow
Original Poster
50 posts
16 months
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Now i am more confused. However i am going to up the budget and look to get a 690 LC4. The 690 SM may be a bit too much up keep for daily abuse. Hope the 690 LC4 likes to lift its front up!
Although the LC4 640's are pretty cheap these days. Predicament.
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pozi
788 posts
56 months
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Basically the road LC4 KTM's are like this;
640 SM - Electric and kick start, long range tank, comfy seat actually 624cc with a Mikuni CV carb and restrictive exhaust. 50HP
625 SMC - Electric and kick start, still 624cc but has a small tank, racing seat, better Keihin flat slide carb and free flowing exhaust. 55HP
660 SMC - Kick start only, 654cc, lightweight subframe but otherwise the same as a 625. 60HP
625 is the best and most 640's will be old enough that the owners have spent the money trying to turn them into 625's. As long as the valves are within tolerance all three are very easy to start with the kicker. They also all vibrate enough at low engine speeds to blur your vision which takes a little getting used to.
Then KTM had a redesign;
690 SM - Electric start only, confusingly it is 654cc but it had a new engine which gained fuel injection and 6 speeds. However it was unbelievably ugly and not many sold. 60HP
690 SMC, same engine as the above but it now looks like a supermoto.
690 SMCR, released in 2012, as above but it finally gets a 690cc engine with a twin spark head. 65HP
Depending on budget either get a 625 SMC or the 690 SMC.
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Dog Star
2,684 posts
37 months
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DanInBow said: I have a friend with a CRF450 R, which has been highly modified- it is because of this bike i would like to get a supermoto. I will attach a picture when i find out how to! The only thing that puts me off is the high maintenance. However they do look fantastic. Wibble!  
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DanInBow
Original Poster
50 posts
16 months
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pozi said: Basically the road LC4 KTM's are like this;
640 SM - Electric and kick start, long range tank, comfy seat actually 624cc with a Mikuni CV carb and restrictive exhaust. 50HP
625 SMC - Electric and kick start, still 624cc but has a small tank, racing seat, better Keihin flat slide carb and free flowing exhaust. 55HP
660 SMC - Kick start only, 654cc, lightweight subframe but otherwise the same as a 625. 60HP
625 is the best and most 640's will be old enough that the owners have spent the money trying to turn them into 625's. As long as the valves are within tolerance all three are very easy to start with the kicker. They also all vibrate enough at low engine speeds to blur your vision which takes a little getting used to.
Then KTM had a redesign;
690 SM - Electric start only, confusingly it is 654cc but it had a new engine which gained fuel injection and 6 speeds. However it was unbelievably ugly and not many sold. 60HP
690 SMC, same engine as the above but it now looks like a supermoto.
690 SMCR, released in 2012, as above but it finally gets a 690cc engine with a twin spark head. 65HP
Depending on budget either get a 625 SMC or the 690 SMC. Fantastic. As usual the piston heads lot have proved very resourceful. The above has made things a lot clearer. However I quiet like the 690 sm. I think it's those chimney looking zorsts
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Chicken Chaser
3,335 posts
93 months
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KTM 950 supermoto. Buy one you'll love it. Genuine all day long distance sm.
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BaronVonVTEC
248 posts
53 months
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Another vote for the 950SM, I've had mine for 3 years and just can't bring myself to part with it. It's such a good multipurpose bike!
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shakindog
174 posts
19 months
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Mate of mine had ccm Rc 30 and swears by supermoto's now sold that and got a drz 400 spent a bit making that faster nicer arrow can olins shock. Carb kit and went everywhere on it. Like he says moto's look cool not as fast as super bikes but corner far better.Only thing he doesnt like is tank range on motos .
Sold drz and got a Ducati hypermoto now they are nice things.
Got me into that style of bike. hopefully after my holiday will be cbt time and sort my dt 125 for the road. Not in the same league but I can't wait.
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Chicken Chaser
3,335 posts
93 months
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I tried the Ducati Hypermotard 750 and I thought it was a poor poor imitation of a KTM. No power, odd seating position and only the name Ducati to redeem itself. Jumped on the KTM and immediately had a connection with it. Terrific bike, check out the classifieds (you'll find mine in there!  )
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shakindog
174 posts
19 months
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His is bigger 1190 I think the build quality is awesome on them. He dunt seem too sure of it yet after few hundred miles. And he took it on a track day this week and bent gear shift cranking it over lol. Will start wi dt and work up moto range myself although some do seem high maintainence. All sound awesome too 
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FarQue
1,652 posts
67 months
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My home brewed XR650R sm had 600 mile oil change intervals and an 85 mile tank range. Good fun bike though.
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shanes
819 posts
24 months
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Dog Star said: DanInBow said: I have a friend with a CRF450 R, which has been highly modified- it is because of this bike i would like to get a supermoto. I will attach a picture when i find out how to! The only thing that puts me off is the high maintenance. However they do look fantastic. Wibble! KTM's are better :-}} my old race bikes from the Spanish championship . the guy who brought them is running them in the British and european championship this season 
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DanInBow
Original Poster
50 posts
16 months
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Chicken Chaser said: I tried the Ducati Hypermotard 750 and I thought it was a poor poor imitation of a KTM. No power, odd seating position and only the name Ducati to redeem itself. Jumped on the KTM and immediately had a connection with it. Terrific bike, check out the classifieds (you'll find mine in there! ) Which KTM do you have up for sale?
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Chicken Chaser
3,335 posts
93 months
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