New bike day. 690SMC-R.

[Couchy]

Of course it makes it worth more. I'd bet a mars bar my zx6 is worth more any other 12,000 mile zx6 by at least £500 if not a grand. Ive seen other zx6 s with 5000 less miles I wouldn't value anywhere near mine

This is very Devils advocate, but could you have earnt more than £500 - £1000 in the time you spent cleaning the ZX6, if the answer is yes, then you've wasted your time cleaning it if your reason for cleaning it was financial.

But I know that you get pleasure from cleaning bikes.

If you’re on a fixed salary/hours how are you gonna earn money for the hour spent cleaning the bike ? Apply that logic why would you ever clean the house, mow the lawn, wash your clothes when you can get someone cheaper to do it ?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Unless you're in the armed forces you can have as many jobs as you want.

[weeksy]

Of course it makes it worth more. I'd bet a mars bar my zx6 is worth more any other 12,000 mile zx6 by at least £500 if not a grand. Ive seen other zx6 s with 5000 less miles I wouldn't value anywhere near mine

This is very Devils advocate, but could you have earnt more than £500 - £1000 in the time you spent cleaning the ZX6, if the answer is yes, then you've wasted your time cleaning it if your reason for cleaning it was financial.

But I know that you get pleasure from cleaning bikes.

Doing what? I've got a job. I don't want another

[weeksy]

Epic ride today.

Not the best shot, but I was eating bacon.

2022-09-17_08-12-46 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

I'm properly enjoyeing this as I'm now getting used to the riding position more and more. Took in many of my favourite roads and it's so light, nimble and fun!

[weeksy]

Back on to the actual bike thread, I do enjoy reading about the SMC-R ownership.

Good... I enjoy owning it... More so than most bikes i've had. I find it a very easy bike to like... It's got something the MT07 was missing which was 'character'. Sometimes coming out of a bend you're in the lumpy bit of the power by mistake, so you either chug chug for a few yards, or change do, but the thing is, it keeps you on your toes.... Other bikes like the Japanese MT07/XSR900, you didn't find yourself in those places, because they don't exist on them. You'd think that's a good thing, but it's not, it's part of what makes the ride interesting.

I was worried for a while about the death weave you get sometimes, sometimes it's 80mph, sometimes it's 90mph, sometimes you don't get it.... but again, it keeps you thinking, keeps you alert.
It could be argued it lacks something in terms of power/performance, riding the GS of @IanB showed that on Sat, that's got a proper grunty bottom end... but i'm OK with that.. i very very rarely ride and think "if only this had more power".

For winter i think it'll likely get some heated grips potentially and maybe a Wings exhaust if one comes up, but i can't think of any reason it won't still be living here next year.

[Mr Moofo]

That last statement will be it’s undoing

[Mr. Dazzle]

That last statement will be it’s undoing

Might as well have signed off with the eBay ad for it, it's jinxed now.

[Dodgy69]

Is there a 790/890 version.

[weeksy]

Is there a 790/890 version.

Nope. I wish there was as it'd deffo be something to consider for sure. There was a 990 of course, but that was 50kg heavier which changes the dynamics completely

[KungFooBob]

I just googled 790SMC.

There's lots of spy shots dating all the way back to 2019, You'd think they'd have launched it by now.

[Scuffmark]

I was worried for a while about the death weave you get sometimes, sometimes it's 80mph, sometimes it's 90mph, sometimes you don't get it.... but again, it keeps you thinking, keeps you alert.

A bit of a more sensible setup to the suspension than standard helps eradicate any death weave.

Try running the forks flush with the top yoke rather than the standard 2 lines showing and adding some rear sag.

I always hated how my 690 wanted to fall into mini roundabouts/tight turns and put up with the death weave but with my current setup that's nearly all gone .. its still an on going project .. Some stiffer fork springs I's next on my list and then i can reduce the loaded sag.

[weeksy]

From what I see atm you're more into MTBs and the SMC is an occasional indulgence, if that changes and you shift back to riding motorcycles more then do you reckon it would stay? Especially if it's an only bike.

I don't see that shift in interest happening in honesty matey. Which to an extent negates the question. The only fly in the ointment here is something like a Portimao or Cochem trip which would be challenging on the SMC-R and make it potentially non-viable. But they're at best a 50-50 for next year as we're focusing on the MTB racing side of things for the lad.
But there's nothing UK based that i wouldn't be happy doing on the SMC-R. As you saw, i did have a minor flirtation with the thoughts of a 1290SDR but that was quickly put back to bed... I've also considered a thought or two on an XSR900 but i don't think it gives me anything i want/need other than more track speed... but as i've done 1 trackday this year, how much would that matter... well very little.

As you've established and has mostly been the case for a few years, if i've got spare time, it's likely to be the MTB that goes out.. This weekend was the exception as i had 3 days, so devoted a full day to the SMC-R with the Wiltshire lads, and don't get me wrong, i absolutely really enjoyed the bike, we had a great ride, a catch-up and the bike was awesome.... but still, mostly i'll pick the MTB.

[dern]

Tbh I was shocked to read about your experience on the 1290, I'd have bet next months wages that after riding one the SMC would be getting chopped in for one, but in hindsight I can see why, you're unlikely to get a superbike (road bike) that feels anywhere near as sharp as a SM type bike - and if that's ticking the boxes at the moment then a 1290 isn't going to fill that space.

I'm starting to get some buyer's remorse for my 1290sd (gen 1). You just don't know until you ride something for many miles but I've never ridden anything that feels anywhere near as likely to end up in a crash . It's exciting but you've got to be paying attention. The new steering damper is wound up to stop the slapping but it still flaps on the road coming out of corners.

[weeksy]

Tbh I was shocked to read about your experience on the 1290, I'd have bet next months wages that after riding one the SMC would be getting chopped in for one, but in hindsight I can see why, you're unlikely to get a superbike (road bike) that feels anywhere near as sharp as a SM type bike - and if that's ticking the boxes at the moment then a 1290 isn't going to fill that space.

I'm starting to get some buyer's remorse for my 1290sd (gen 1). You just don't know until you ride something for many miles but I've never ridden anything that feels anywhere near as likely to end up in a crash . It's exciting but you've got to be paying attention. The new steering damper is wound up to stop the slapping but it still flaps on the road coming out of corners.

I just didn't get that at all on the one i rode from Greenham. It was completely the opposite in many ways. You must be pinning it bloody hard man !

[dern]

Tbh I was shocked to read about your experience on the 1290, I'd have bet next months wages that after riding one the SMC would be getting chopped in for one, but in hindsight I can see why, you're unlikely to get a superbike (road bike) that feels anywhere near as sharp as a SM type bike - and if that's ticking the boxes at the moment then a 1290 isn't going to fill that space.

I'm starting to get some buyer's remorse for my 1290sd (gen 1). You just don't know until you ride something for many miles but I've never ridden anything that feels anywhere near as likely to end up in a crash . It's exciting but you've got to be paying attention. The new steering damper is wound up to stop the slapping but it still flaps on the road coming out of corners.

I just didn't get that at all on the one i rode from Greenham. It was completely the opposite in many ways. You must be pinning it bloody hard man !

It doesn't feel like I am doing anything too silly though. The only time it's genuinely had me worried was on the last bit of the 4494 before you get to Wantage where there are some big fast left/rights (not the tight ones) and in one big left I over took a car and it started to flap and go wide. It's all a bit sketchy some times. I think it just gets light at the front when you accelerate hard... as you'd expect.

[Bustaspoke]

Back on to the actual bike thread, I do enjoy reading about the SMC-R ownership.

Good... I enjoy owning it... More so than most bikes i've had. I find it a very easy bike to like... It's got something the MT07 was missing which was 'character'. Sometimes coming out of a bend you're in the lumpy bit of the power by mistake, so you either chug chug for a few yards, or change do, but the thing is, it keeps you on your toes.... Other bikes like the Japanese MT07/XSR900, you didn't find yourself in those places, because they don't exist on them. You'd think that's a good thing, but it's not, it's part of what makes the ride interesting.

I would say that's one of the charms about riding my SV650

[weeksy]

Love it, albeit I honestly will be surprised if it's still around come Pembrey...

Hey! It's made it to winter!

[weeksy]

I was just thinking "I wonder when this first needs an MOT"

19th June lol... Whoops.

[Skub]

I was just thinking "I wonder when this first needs an MOT"

19th June lol... Whoops.

It must be different over there for MOT time. First time here is 4 years,then every year thereafter.

[Yorick]

I was just thinking "I wonder when this first needs an MOT"

19th June lol... Whoops.

It must be different over there for MOT time. First time here is 4 years,then every year thereafter.

4 years here, then every 2 years.