New bike day. 690SMC-R.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Having visited yours I think you've got the right bike for where you live, the roads aren't as open as here and visibility is the limiting factor to how fast you can go.

[Yorick]

IMG-20220814-WA0000.jpg (456.38 KiB) Viewed 537 times

[Jody]

The beauty of the 690 is you get all the fun but none of the being sick of it in 20 mins, well on the Duke at least. I'd rank the Duke as the most most comfortable bike I've owned

Really? I find my 690 seat very uncomfortable after an hour or so !

Out playing today.... yesterday had a light mist of rain and the bike felt horrible... so had to go out today to make me smile again..

2022-07-28_11-35-43 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Looks like you've cooked that rear tyre (trackday?) if there's one thing cooked tyres don't like it's rain/ wet. Get a couple 100 miles on them in the dry then try them in the wet, I'd lay bets it would feel so much better !

[weeksy]

Having visited yours I think you've got the right bike for where you live, the roads aren't as open as here and visibility is the limiting factor to how fast you can go.

Speaking of which, did you try the Brewery?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Having visited yours I think you've got the right bike for where you live, the roads aren't as open as here and visibility is the limiting factor to how fast you can go.

Speaking of which, did you try the Brewery?

No we went there, but it didn't look open, ended up with a very disappointing Burger King

[Dodgy69]

Out today reasonably early to miss most of the traffic and heat. But at 22+Deg it was far from cold that's for sure.

Was playing on roads I know, because, well, I never stray far from home, then 3 bikes came towards me and I thought "oooh should I turn and go after them..... Nah..... Yeah"

But sadly they didn't last long despite a 45s gap I was on them within a few minutes and being held up by them. But the roads were fun. I took the next turning the opposite direction to them and scooted on the back lanes again

Lots of enjoyment. Despite the fact I rarely get the bike out, I do really enjoy it when I do. Even still feeling a bit ropey from COVID.

2022-08-14_08-48-43 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Bet they thought we've got a right loon here.

[weeksy]

Out today reasonably early to miss most of the traffic and heat. But at 22+Deg it was far from cold that's for sure.

Was playing on roads I know, because, well, I never stray far from home, then 3 bikes came towards me and I thought "oooh should I turn and go after them..... Nah..... Yeah"

But sadly they didn't last long despite a 45s gap I was on them within a few minutes and being held up by them. But the roads were fun. I took the next turning the opposite direction to them and scooted on the back lanes again

Lots of enjoyment. Despite the fact I rarely get the bike out, I do really enjoy it when I do. Even still feeling a bit ropey from COVID.

2022-08-14_08-48-43 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Bet they thought we've got a right loon here.

You've seen me ride man, I'm quite tame these days. The only reason I turned around was their loud exhausts and a bit of tyre warming weave going on with one of them.

I was actually quite proud of my restraint though, on e upon a time I'd have pinned it past all of them

[weeksy]

Bit of a long one today... longest i've ridden in well, a long long time !!! I mean, i say long... but was 95 miles which is a trip to the shops for some.

Route was roughly, Poole, Ringwood, then the 338 to Salisbury, then the 338 through Fordingbridge and past Devises and over to Burbage, then Hungerford and home. I was quite shocked in places on the A338 that it's got an A in it's name... i thought i was on an MX track more than once gravel everywhere, the only break in the gravel bits was avoiding tractors laden with hay bales.

But the 690 was what the 690 is, really good fun and playful little toy... the seat was getting a bit unfriendly by the end of it though that's for sure.

I enjoyed myself though

[Skub]

The only stock bike seat that didn't have me wanting a break around 100 miles,was a GSXR1000K3. The seat was pure luxury compared to my old ZX9R C1.

[weeksy]

The only stock bike seat that didn't have me wanting a break around 100 miles,was a GSXR1000K3. The seat was pure luxury compared to my old ZX9R C1.

Yeah i'm not a big mile kind of rider anyway. So no biggy.

One minor comment though.... this thing is bloody unstable at 90mph on the wrong surface... once you get a wiggle going you can't power through it easily, you have to let off a bit !!!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

95 miles on a Supermoto sounds pretty good, most get painful after 20 minutes, and unstable at 90 - it's a Supermoto, it's what they do

[weeksy]

95 miles on a Supermoto sounds pretty good, most get painful after 20 minutes, and unstable at 90 - it's a Supermoto, it's what they do

I guess it's more supermoto than an xt660x but it's still a tame-moto in comparison to a true SM. But it's even more real world than an xt660 as it's got light weight the xt660 doesn't have but retains the service intervals being sensible.

What it lacks though I guess is grunt. It's revvy more than grunty. It slides smoothly through the box rather than yanking your arms off. But that me being real picky with it there.

I've got used to the weird riding position now I think and going ok on it. Had a play with a newish BMW m* today who wanted to show off his new car. But the little KTM played well and hung in there until traffic got in the way and the KTM disappeared.

[Bigyin]

You will remember Abel from VD days. He has had a SMC for a while now but its finally been chopped in for an 890 as "it was a fun bike for short rides but not much use for anything more than that especially with luggage"

Ideal for your needs but a bit limited

[weeksy]

You will remember Abel from VD days. He has had a SMC for a while now but its finally been chopped in for an 890 as "it was a fun bike for short rides but not much use for anything more than that especially with luggage"

Ideal for your needs but a bit limited

Yeah I'd agree. There were times today I'd have loved to be on the xsr900. But not that many times.

It's deffo up there with my favourite bikes of all time. But so is the xsr arguably.

I don't see me doing the long 150+ mile days though irrespective of what I own.

[mangocrazy]

The beauty of the 690 is you get all the fun but none of the being sick of it in 20 mins, well on the Duke at least. I'd rank the Duke as the most most comfortable bike I've owned

Really? I find my 690 seat very uncomfortable after an hour or so !

I agree - I had to get my 690 seat re-upholstered. It was really uncomfortable for anything more than about 30-40 miles. Now it's been given the plumptious treatment it's fine.

But then I do have a bony arse (not sure if that's too much information?)...

[Skub]

But then I do have a bony arse (not sure if that's too much information?)...

I just heard a scramble for the hat....

[Mr. Dazzle]

95 miles on a Supermoto sounds pretty good, most get painful after 20 minutes, and unstable at 90 - it's a Supermoto, it's what they do

Plus you need to factor in the engine rebuild half way through the trip.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

95 miles on a Supermoto sounds pretty good, most get painful after 20 minutes, and unstable at 90 - it's a Supermoto, it's what they do

I guess it's more supermoto than an xt660x but it's still a tame-moto in comparison to a true SM. But it's even more real world than an xt660 as it's got light weight the xt660 doesn't have but retains the service intervals being sensible.

What it lacks though I guess is grunt. It's revvy more than grunty. It slides smoothly through the box rather than yanking your arms off. But that me being real picky with it there.

I've got used to the weird riding position now I think and going ok on it. Had a play with a newish BMW m* today who wanted to show off his new car. But the little KTM played well and hung in there until traffic got in the way and the KTM disappeared.

I've sat on a 690 SMC, I can't remember what the riding position was like, which makes me think it was normal for a supermoto, bars feel like they're too close, but I do remember thinking the seat was wide for a dirt bike.

I've also sat on a Ducati Hypermotard, they've got a really good riding position and would have more grunt than the 690.

[weeksy]

95 miles on a Supermoto sounds pretty good, most get painful after 20 minutes, and unstable at 90 - it's a Supermoto, it's what they do

I guess it's more supermoto than an xt660x but it's still a tame-moto in comparison to a true SM. But it's even more real world than an xt660 as it's got light weight the xt660 doesn't have but retains the service intervals being sensible.

What it lacks though I guess is grunt. It's revvy more than grunty. It slides smoothly through the box rather than yanking your arms off. But that me being real picky with it there.

I've got used to the weird riding position now I think and going ok on it. Had a play with a newish BMW m* today who wanted to show off his new car. But the little KTM played well and hung in there until traffic got in the way and the KTM disappeared.

I've sat on a 690 SMC, I can't remember what the riding position was like, which makes me think it was normal for a supermoto, bars feel like they're too close, but I do remember thinking the seat was wide for a dirt bike.

I've also sat on a Ducati Hypermotard, they've got a really good riding position and would have more grunt than the 690.

Yeah the Hyper would arguably be a more refined place to be i'd bet... But the newer ones don't have the same appeal to me. The older ones suffer with paint/quality issues.

[Supermofo]

The beauty of the 690 is you get all the fun but none of the being sick of it in 20 mins, well on the Duke at least. I'd rank the Duke as the most most comfortable bike I've owned

Really? I find my 690 seat very uncomfortable after an hour or so !

I agree - I had to get my 690 seat re-upholstered. It was really uncomfortable for anything more than about 30-40 miles. Now it's been given the plumptious treatment it's fine.

But then I do have a bony arse (not sure if that's too much information?)...

Must just be me then, I managed easily 2 hours+ at a time and going on a long ride I managed about 4 hrs before a proper break. I found I could shift about easily and on longer roads the little bump stop at the back made it easy to brace against at higher speeds. When I bought it I thought about the comfort seat but never found the OE uncomfortable so stuck with it