KTM SMT 2011 - Ongoing Impressions For My Second Bike

[kaivalagi]

Well I've had the bike out 2 days on the trot and fuelled her up once so I figured I'd start a thread giving my thoughts on it.

First some pics:






Pros:

• Low down torque and the rapid surge out of corners is grin inspiring...I can be lazy too and leave the bike in top gear and still overtake at will.
• The ride height is a very good thing, it provides nice visibility and sense of control, I've already done a bit of filtering (without panniers) and it's nice for that job and you can see a path further ahead easier
• Very very comfy as you would expect...and if you do need to stretch just stand up for a bit....
• Cornering feels great, I am still no way doing what this bike can do and wont be for a long time if ever but the bikes suspension and brakes fill me with confidence which is what I was after most of all for a replacement after the SV. I doubt I'll ever get my knee down but instead will be leaning back and into the corners which just feels right to me (for now).
• Braking power and the ABS, the brakes on this thing are one of the main reasons I liked the bike, they also saved me from my new found hooliganism today in a couple of situations. As for the ABS system, I've been trying to get it to kick in to no avail...admittedly it's been dry but I think this ABS system is possibly the best arround right now and wont get involved until absolutely necessary unlike some other systems out there. Any ABS haters get no choice in having the ABS or not but you can turn the feature off
• The gearbox feels gorgeous, so smooth. Gear changing is great, the gearbox hasn't played up yet and I've been changing gears a LOT this last 2 days
• A very big turn angle, although I am still to get to grips with the bikes abilities after having such limited turn angle on a sports bike
• It has a power adapter and it is a standard car one too and not the mini hella type, big plus for me and my tomtom which I've fitted using the ram mount kit I got with the bike
• The panniers are excellent, sturdy, metal and look the part, as does the bracket system.
• The under the seat toolbag is awesome and orange

Cons:

• MPG...admittedly the first tank refill is off the back of me giving the bike a proper run in...getting the revs up and varied for the first tank of fuel but I only got 33mpg...to be expected if you gun it I suppose
• Still early days but I am stretched for the floor (31" inside leg) in some situations, it's a tall bike...but I will have the option to raise the forks through the yoke and match with the back to lower the thing a little if need be...I just want to get the suspension bedded in before any long term adjustments are made...the dealership will help me with this (they race bikes so are good for the task)
• Hitting 3 figure speeds the buffeting can be quite high which I am not used to (but this could be a good thing...it makes me stop and think!)...I have had a small wobble on the front at high speed but I think this is a short term thing until the suspension is setup right for me
• No fuel gauge which is a surprise considering the bikes cost although once you get used to the tank range you're better going by that anyway I'd say
• Previous models are known to be snatchy at low speeds but this is okay so long as you keep in low end revs around town, trying to go 40 in 2nd is a bit surge-y.

If I come up with any more worthwhile points to make, I'll add them to the above lists as I go. I'll also try to keep a journal of sorts, highlighting the best and worst I discover with the bike.

Any questions, suggestions, pic requests etc just say

Cheers

I would definitely get the dealership to look into that wheel wobble and don't brush it under the carpet, it may need a steering damper? looks lovely, did you take the superduke out? I take it they share the same engine? The brembo break are fudging awesome, v-twins aren't economical especially the larger ones, you'll get used to it shortly just don't push yourself or the bike too much until you are used to it fully, leave the ABS on, it's probably working but so advanced you don;t realise.

Well chuffed for ya KTM's are great bikes solid, but obviously do have some minor issues but the dealers are really helpful, give em a call and book it in to have the wheel wobble look at or at least get some advise.

Good luck may see you hooning around on the back roads one day.

[kaivalagi]

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

I would definitely get the dealership to look into that wheel wobble and don't brush it under the carpet, it may need a steering damper?

I got a proper wobble on with the demo bike and made it clear that it wouldn't be acceptable for mine and was told it was just suspension setup as he'd softened up the suspension a great deal to help deal with floor reach in the short term rather than do what was probably required with the front forks being raised a little....I got, as part of the deal, the option to get a damper fitted at trade price with no labour costs, if I thought it was needed. That said I think the dealer is going to look after me, he has said that I need to bring the bike back in before or at first service with a view to tuning the suspension properly when the bike is bedded in. Like I said he races bikes and so knows what to do without detriment to bike's performance.

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

looks lovely, did you take the superduke out? I take it they share the same engine? The brembo break are fudging awesome, v-twins aren't economical especially the larger ones, you'll get used to it shortly just don't push yourself or the bike too much until you are used to it fully, leave the ABS on, it's probably working but so advanced you don;t realise.

I didn't take a duke out, and yes it has the same LC8 engine although I suspect tuned ever-so-slighty differently....The duke wasn't what was in my final few in the end to test ride...just no good for longer distance and all day riding which I wanted too as I do want to get over into Spain next year and venture elsewhere later on....I just hope that if I play nice I get a better tank range, if not it will be a jerry can on the back too

I also took out a tiger 800 which was second in the list but just didn't like the rev ranges when compared to the sheer grunt that this thing has low down...the SV has inflicted me with v-twin-itess I think.

I was initially also looking at the VFR800 and the upcoming Crossrunner but the bike's dry and kerb weights put me off to be honest, great for the long haul but I also want something I know will have more than I ever need to scratch with if you know what I mean....I fully expect I get nowhere near the potential out of my bike, but that is an important point for me, I want a bike to keep and never have short comings for me either

The reason I didn't take out a duke, tuono or speed triple etc was, to be honest, that I was worried my wild side would get the better of me and I would just say f' it and get a great fun bike but then miss out on the practicalities I would want later....the SMT gave me both to be honest (except for the MPG but that's the price you pay). Definitely a "wolf in sheep's clothing" or a "practical sports bike" as people have called it.

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

Well chuffed for ya KTM's are great bikes solid, but obviously do have some minor issues but the dealers are really helpful, give em a call and book it in to have the wheel wobble look at or at least get some advise.

Thanks, to be honest I think whatever small issues there might have been raised in the past are mostly dealt with now...but if any do turn up they'll get dealt with easily enough and the bike is worth any small inconvieniences anyway. The slight wobble is the only small concern, it was more of a lightening of the front end in heavy wind which I had this time around, and I was gunning it hard to be fair. I will head to the dealers after I get some more bike time in so I can better explain what needs fixing anyway.....I will report back what goes on

Originally Posted by SUPERSTARDJ01

Good luck may see you hooning around on the back roads one day.

You never know, Milton Keynes aint that far away...

Oh and I fitted crash bars, bungs and frame protectors this afternoon...more pics to follow with the bike fully geared up.

I think I need to get a new crash helmet too, since chopping my long locks off I think I need to down size....might be a Shoei XR-1100 Symmetry TC-8 I think....it has a nice touch of orange on it

I'm now waiting for night to come so I can take it out in the dark I want to know how good or bad the lights are....I might just take it out now and stay out until then!

Yes, yes, but what does it smell like? Does it have that new bike smell still? ( am very envious ). Good on yer!

[kaivalagi]

Thanks! Yep, it smells very very new, everything has reached it's peak temperatures a few times now....I had a sniff after doing a quick jolly on it just now, you just can't help it can you

When the smell wears off I shall apply some ACF-50 or FS365 for an alternative smell sensation

I have really got to watch myself though, I am getting overrun by hooliganistic tenancies....I think it's the harmonics from the exhaust playing tricks with my head.....each time on get on it I am amazed more with what it can do...I am sure it's a similar deal with other v-twins of this size but it really does make me giggle far too much

Oh....the power! muhahahahaha!

edit: more bits arrived in the post later on today...a new ktm dealership opened up called AMS and had a 15% off thing going so I had to buy stuff, I got crash bars, crash bobbins and frame protectors...I was hesitant of the bars at first but they look good on the bike I think....better than 2 lots of R&G bungs sticking out in my opinion...

Crash Bars


Crash Bobbins


I'll take more shots of the bike tomorrow when I put the panniers back on again....it's getting dark now

very nice, but no fuel gauge, that's unforgivable lol

[kaivalagi]

I get a light come on and a mileage counter for reserve begins...far from the ideal. Still,l I don't think I will miss one, we all have to think ahead about mileage and refuelling on long trips anyway don't we?

ah well that's not too bad, obviously not a deal breaker, must admit it looks very nice, mind you it's not winter now is it lol.

Ive looked long and hard at the 950SM as I just cant afford a 990 but they look like good tools to work with. 33mpg sounds a bit heavy though and would put me off

33 is only if your hammering it, but you'd be very lucky to get 40 mpg.