Bike consolidation

[Tricky]

Just feels a bit under steery and flappy on occasions. It’s ok though, I just don’t love the bike as I thought I would. I like it but don’t love it. I’m just looking for excuses to get something new

That sounds so similar to the view I had of mine - I had the 950 SM R. When I bought it, it was really as so many people on TRC (or may have even been VD) raved about them, and I loved the looks, and V twins in general so thought it would be my perfect bike
I think some of the problem was that I also had a Tuono at the time, and decent as it was, the KTM engine was a bit lacking compared to the Rotax V60 , even with the X-Bikes tune.
Mine was also very twitchy too and would wobble and weave quite scarily north of 100- I fannied around playing with suspension, fork and ride height etc and swapping tyres, but the high-speed scariness was always there, I strongly suspect due to the front mudguard, albeit I never proved it, as looks aside, the bike was just a bit meh for me and didn't stick around that long as a result

[dern]

Took the back roads to Chichester from Newbury on the 950 today to see an rc8. On the way there I was genuinely having second thoughts about selling it as it was handling really well and was great fun. On the way back I was getting cold and tired as I’d been out for about four hours by then, my gear changes were getting sloppy and I was really starting to get annoyed at the gearbox and would have sold it in a heartbeat

The rc8 was lovely although had issues with the paint in places. I couldn’t take it for a test ride as his insurance wouldn’t cover it which is odd for a small dealer but there you are. I rode it around the yard and the bike feels like it was made for me in terms of fit and feel. I don’t think I’ll consider buying that one as I don’t want to buy a bike I can’t ride first but an rc8 is what I want to be on come spring.

[Couchy]

Just feels a bit under steery and flappy on occasions. It’s ok though, I just don’t love the bike as I thought I would. I like it but don’t love it. I’m just looking for excuses to get something new

That sounds so similar to the view I had of mine - I had the 950 SM R. When I bought it, it was really as so many people on TRC (or may have even been VD) raved about them, and I loved the looks, and V twins in general so thought it would be my perfect bike
I think some of the problem was that I also had a Tuono at the time, and decent as it was, the KTM engine was a bit lacking compared to the Rotax V60 , even with the X-Bikes tune.
Mine was also very twitchy too and would wobble and weave quite scarily north of 100- I fannied around playing with suspension, fork and ride height etc and swapping tyres, but the high-speed scariness was always there, I strongly suspect due to the front mudguard, albeit I never proved it, as looks aside, the bike was just a bit meh for me and didn't stick around that long as a result

That’s how all my 950SM have been, they are fine up to about 80 and on twisty back roads. I always thought the handuards as well as mudguards were to blame but never got round to fixing it if indeed it was possible.

[Whysub]

Took the back roads to Chichester from Newbury on the 950 today to see an rc8. On the way there I was genuinely having second thoughts about selling it as it was handling really well and was great fun. On the way back I was getting cold and tired as I’d been out for about four hours by then, my gear changes were getting sloppy and I was really starting to get annoyed at the gearbox and would have sold it in a heartbeat

The rc8 was lovely although had issues with the paint in places. I couldn’t take it for a test ride as his insurance wouldn’t cover it which is odd for a small dealer but there you are. I rode it around the yard and the bike feels like it was made for me in terms of fit and feel. I don’t think I’ll consider buying that one as I don’t want to buy a bike I can’t ride first but an rc8 is what I want to be on come spring.

I owned an RC8 and an RC8R at the same time. The RC8R with lighter wheels and different suspension components seemed to handle that bit better on tight corners, but both were excellent overall.

The seat padding maybe thin, but is perfectly shaped to make it comfortable enough for 8 hours riding day after day.

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[mangocrazy]

Just feels a bit under steery and flappy on occasions. It’s ok though, I just don’t love the bike as I thought I would. I like it but don’t love it. I’m just looking for excuses to get something new

That sounds so similar to the view I had of mine - I had the 950 SM R. When I bought it, it was really as so many people on TRC (or may have even been VD) raved about them, and I loved the looks, and V twins in general so thought it would be my perfect bike
I think some of the problem was that I also had a Tuono at the time, and decent as it was, the KTM engine was a bit lacking compared to the Rotax V60 , even with the X-Bikes tune.
Mine was also very twitchy too and would wobble and weave quite scarily north of 100- I fannied around playing with suspension, fork and ride height etc and swapping tyres, but the high-speed scariness was always there, I strongly suspect due to the front mudguard, albeit I never proved it, as looks aside, the bike was just a bit meh for me and didn't stick around that long as a result

That’s how all my 950SM have been, they are fine up to about 80 and on twisty back roads. I always thought the handuards as well as mudguards were to blame but never got round to fixing it if indeed it was possible.

I'd point the finger of suspicion at the wide bars on most KTMs. The extra leverage they give makes it easy to change direction, but it also magnifies any unintended or clumsy inputs. When I first got my Duke 690 I had to consciously relax my grip on the bars to avoid provoking some instability.

[dern]

I owned an RC8 and an RC8R at the same time. The RC8R with lighter wheels and different suspension components seemed to handle that bit better on tight corners, but both were excellent overall.

The seat padding maybe thin, but is perfectly shaped to make it comfortable enough for 8 hours riding day after day.

Nice bikes. I think I'd be happy with either and am looking at bike condition mainly. I think that either would suit me as a road bike and definitely don't need the extra power of the later bike.

[KungFooBob]

I always thought the RC8 was a but fugly.

But this thread has made me look at them again with fresh eyes, they're growing on me.

The cheaper ones on ebay look dog rough tho', what do KTM make their fasteners from?

[dern]

The cheaper ones on ebay look dog rough tho', what do KTM make their fasteners from?

Not sure but my 950sm is the same. I went round it tidying it up before putting it up for sale and by and large it's looking pretty good considering it's 15 years old but many of the fasteners have corrosion on them and I'll replace them. I think that they must have improved later as my 2014 1190 adv doesn't suffer from the same thing even though I rarely wash it.

[weeksy]

Soo what is the sketchy handling re the 950SM?

My bars would start wobbling when you got moving on a bit. Never sorted it.

How odd - I did many miles up and down alpine passes on mine. The defining thing about 950 was how good the handling was and how stable it was

I've owned several 950s, my last one i sold as at 90mph it became a completely unrideable thing, death weave

[weeksy]

I always thought the RC8 was a but fugly.

But this thread has made me look at them again with fresh eyes, they're growing on me.

The cheaper ones on ebay look dog rough tho', what do KTM make their fasteners from?

The bolts are crap, but it's very easily sorted and not crazy money to resolve.

[KungFooBob]

The cheapest one one t'bay has horrific engine paint too, but all the others look fine.

[dern]

I've owned several 950s, my last one i sold as at 90mph it became a completely unrideable thing, death weave

Oh wow, mine's nothing like that and happy all the way up to a ton. I just find it unnerving on fast corners... it's probably just me getting used to it though as I had no problems with that aspect of it on Saturday.

[dern]

The cheapest one one t'bay has horrific engine paint too, but all the others look fine.

Odd isn't it but I guess there are scabby instances of everything. The one I saw was immaculate except there was a chip of paint missing on the tank in the fold and the paint in line with it was cracked. My guess was that someone had dropped it and it had landed on the tank pad/slider and flexed the tank. The rest looked like new though and that was a 2009.

[Skub]

I always thought the RC8 was a but fugly.
But this thread has made me look at them again with fresh eyes, they're growing on me.

Back when the RC8 was a new bike,rounded fairings and softer lines were the norm. Modern bikes with the transformer looks and sharp angles have made the RC8 less standout. Our eyes become accustomed to shapes if we see them often enough.

[Whysub]

I was going to say that RC8's still look "modern" today, despite the oldest models being 14 years old.

But then, visually, a 2008 GSX-R 1000 looks pretty much the same as a 2022 model.

[dern]

https://www.fastbikesmag.com/2018/12/09 ... cal-twins/

I want an rc8 *and* a mille now.

[Couchy]

That sounds so similar to the view I had of mine - I had the 950 SM R. When I bought it, it was really as so many people on TRC (or may have even been VD) raved about them, and I loved the looks, and V twins in general so thought it would be my perfect bike
I think some of the problem was that I also had a Tuono at the time, and decent as it was, the KTM engine was a bit lacking compared to the Rotax V60 , even with the X-Bikes tune.
Mine was also very twitchy too and would wobble and weave quite scarily north of 100- I fannied around playing with suspension, fork and ride height etc and swapping tyres, but the high-speed scariness was always there, I strongly suspect due to the front mudguard, albeit I never proved it, as looks aside, the bike was just a bit meh for me and didn't stick around that long as a result

That’s how all my 950SM have been, they are fine up to about 80 and on twisty back roads. I always thought the handuards as well as mudguards were to blame but never got round to fixing it if indeed it was possible.

I'd point the finger of suspicion at the wide bars on most KTMs. The extra leverage they give makes it easy to change direction, but it also magnifies any unintended or clumsy inputs. When I first got my Duke 690 I had to consciously relax my grip on the bars to avoid provoking some instability.

Ermmmm I wasn’t hanging on like a scared novice

[mangocrazy]

That’s how all my 950SM have been, they are fine up to about 80 and on twisty back roads. I always thought the handuards as well as mudguards were to blame but never got round to fixing it if indeed it was possible.

I'd point the finger of suspicion at the wide bars on most KTMs. The extra leverage they give makes it easy to change direction, but it also magnifies any unintended or clumsy inputs. When I first got my Duke 690 I had to consciously relax my grip on the bars to avoid provoking some instability.

Ermmmm I wasn’t hanging on like a scared novice

I wasn't trying to infer that you were... It was merely one of my very first observations about a bike (and a manufacturer) that was entirely new to me. I almost certainly was hanging on tighter than I should have been, but it was simply my observation that the bike was more sensitive to that than other bikes I've owned.

[Whysub]

Liked my Mille-it had been uprated with a rear Ohlins shock and fork internals. Handled like a pig. Took it to Daren at MCT to sort out the suspension. Needed no parts, just twiddling with. Best £99 I ever spent on a bike.

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Physically a big bike, big stretch to the bars for me. Sold it solely because I wanted a Dorsoduro 750, also a good bike.

[dern]

Has anyone got any experience of the kawasaki zx10r from 2010. Came across this bike on ebay and really like it. Rode the ktms again this weekend and a snickety slick gearbox would be a pleasant novelty .