950 Supermoto Chronicles

[wpbarlow]

Originally Posted by Nowwhat

Are these your original tires or your 2nd set...?????

That was my 2nd rear (replaced at 4k miles). Still on the original front.

[Red Roadster]

Originally Posted by fixinbones

Can anyone tell me which KTM OEM handguards will fit on the 950SM. I'm looking to add a black pair to my bike. Are there any sweet aftermarket ones that people have mounted?, any pics?

I think you can put on handguards from the ADV, but it will require some surgery to make them clear the brake master cylinder.

I went with a set of Bonz handlebar clamps that have handguard mounting points built into them. Then I bought a set of plastic guards and a piece of aluminum bar stock. I bent the aluminum into the shape I wanted, and mounted the plastic pieces to that. They look just like factory and work very well.

If you want to see pics, shoot me a pm and I'll e-mail you some.

You can barely see them in post 70, there's pics of my bike there.

Steve

[wpbarlow]

But fortunately, not metaphorically

I suspected there were places I missed cleaning the tire sealer from after some spewed out during last week's flat incident. Noticed it the first time I stopped. Not particualrly interested in taking the bike apart, I figured I'd help the aging process by covering it with stuff

First I figured I'd whip up some green at the nearby single track practice area, cleverly disguised as a railroad right-o-way





Then I headed over to a nearby supermoto practice track, which is cleverly disguised as a trucking yard





Roosted around for a while and then headed home before the track marshals ( ) showed up. Though still there, the smell was less. Guess I'll just have to ride it some more. Which unfortunately won't be for a few weeks : as I'll be taking it's big brother TATing

[Nowwhat]

Walter thanks for the insight....

Just got back from a 900 mile 3 day trek on the SM....the bike did great...the front tire is a little tricky in the loose sand but beside that....

[Nowwhat]

Man just spent an hour reading the Adventure and SE threads.....I love my SM but hated the way the front tire handled in the dirt, gravel and sand....granted it is worn down now....4000 miles....but my friend on an Adventure was kicking ass in the dirt.....

Off the dirt obviously the SM simply rocks and the brakes allow you to be ...ummmm....spirited....

I am planning another trip for next month....are there any better tire options or do I get custom rims made and add the Adventure tires?.....

Help....

[5 speed]

Originally Posted by Nowwhat

Man just spent an hour reading the Adventure and SE threads.....I love my SM but hated the way the front tire handled in the dirt, gravel and sand....granted it is worn down now....4000 miles....but my friend on an Adventure was kicking ass in the dirt.....

Off the dirt obviously the SM simply rocks and the brakes allow you to be ...ummmm....spirited....

I am planning another trip for next month....are there any better tire options or do I get custom rims made and add the Adventure tires?.....

Help....

My 625 SMC was the same way; the front 17" is so wide it doesnt bite but skates. Thats how it was on sand and I am sure that was how it is on gravel as well.

I split the difference and put a 19" front on. This way I could run a wider front tire that still has some roadworthiness to it but bites much better off road. The rim is 2.15" wide (a regular motocross rear rim size) vs. a 1.75" that many of the 21" bikes have. This gives much more confidence on the pavement as you have some good meat on the road.

[Nowwhat]

Originally Posted by 5 speed

My 625 SMC was the same way; the front 17" is so wide it doesnt bite but skates. Thats how it was on sand and I am sure that was how it is on gravel as well.

I split the difference and put a 19" front on. This way I could run a wider front tire that still has some roadworthiness to it but bites much better off road. The rim is 2.15" wide (a regular motocross rear rim size) vs. a 1.75" that many of the 21" bikes have. This gives much more confidence on the pavement as you have some good meat on the road.

sent an E-mail to Woody's to see if they can make me a 19/17 set that will bolt right up....

Avon distanzia http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcyc...howspecs&id=20
or
Pirelli MT60

????.....thanks....

[wpbarlow]

Very nice +300 miler today- chasing Doc around his SE. Lot of medium speed dirt and pavement (and near pavement) as we reversed part on the njtat route from Flemington to near High Point. Wasn't as dusty as I expected, but still....




For this kind of riding, I've never felt a big need for more dirt-oriented tires- at least for the "cost" of more than a little pavemrnt capability. I would try Pirelli MT60s (especially in the winter) if they came in the appropriate sizes for the 950; but the stock Scorpions are pretty good. You'd think that with the number of big twin s-m type bikes coming out Pirelli or some other factory would introduce an MT60 type tire.

Otoh, for these moderate paces, Doc's opinion is the SE on knobbies is not all that bad on the pavement.

What can I say- we're still both convinced we made the best choice



PS: you 950SM (and other similar bike) owners- keep an eye on the East Forum for a couple of "ultimate" s-m type rides coming up in the next few weeks as Julio and I try to have a mixed surface route smackdown to see if NJ or NY rules

[Stobie]

Originally Posted by wpbarlow

For this kind of riding, I've never felt a big need for more dirt-oriented tires- at least for the "cost" of more than a little pavemrnt capability. I would try Pirelli MT60s (especially in the winter) if they came in the appropriate sizes for the 950; but the stock Scorpions are pretty good. You'd think that with the number of big twin s-m type bikes coming out Pirelli or some other factory would introduce an MT60 type tire.

I ran 17's w/ Avon Distanzia SM's on my 640Adv for a while, and they are probably the best all-around motorcycle tire I've ever used. Sport-tire sticky on pavement, and surprisingly good on gravel. Too bad they don't make a rear suitable for a 5.5" rim. I think people would love them on the 950SM, Uly, Multi, new Tiger, etc.

[mrkennethporter]

Originally Posted by wpbarlow

Very nice +300 miler today- chasing Doc around his SE. Lot of medium speed dirt and pavement (and near pavement) as we reversed part on the njtat route from Flemington to near High Point. Wasn't as dusty as I expected, but still....




For this kind of riding, I've never felt a big need for more dirt-oriented tires- at least for the "cost" of more than a little pavemrnt capability. I would try Pirelli MT60s (especially in the winter) if they came in the appropriate sizes for the 950; but the stock Scorpions are pretty good. You'd think that with the number of big twin s-m type bikes coming out Pirelli or some other factory would introduce an MT60 type tire.

Otoh, for these moderate paces, Doc's opinion is the SE on knobbies is not all that bad on the pavement.

What can I say- we're still both convinced we made the best choice



PS: you 950SM (and other similar bike) owners- keep an eye on the East Forum for a couple of "ultimate" s-m type rides coming up in the next few weeks as Julio and I try to have a mixed surface route smackdown to see if NJ or NY rules

you should be ashamed by those massive chicken strips

[Nowwhat]

Originally Posted by wpbarlow

Very nice +300 miler today- chasing Doc around his SE. Lot of medium speed dirt and pavement (and near pavement) as we reversed part on the njtat route from Flemington to near High Point. Wasn't as dusty as I expected, but still....




For this kind of riding, I've never felt a big need for more dirt-oriented tires- at least for the "cost" of more than a little pavemrnt capability. I would try Pirelli MT60s (especially in the winter) if they came in the appropriate sizes for the 950; but the stock Scorpions are pretty good. You'd think that with the number of big twin s-m type bikes coming out Pirelli or some other factory would introduce an MT60 type tire.

Otoh, for these moderate paces, Doc's opinion is the SE on knobbies is not all that bad on the pavement.

What can I say- we're still both convinced we made the best choice



PS: you 950SM (and other similar bike) owners- keep an eye on the East Forum for a couple of "ultimate" s-m type rides coming up in the next few weeks as Julio and I try to have a mixed surface route smackdown to see if NJ or NY rules

I gave up on trying to find the right tire and just bought a 950SE last week to go with the SM.... ....the Karoo's are "ish" on the street and feel better than expected but they have nothing on the SM...put a more street friendly tire on the SE and you will be craving more front brake....

[Stobie]

Originally Posted by Nowwhat

...put a more street friendly tire on the SE and you will be craving more front brake....

[wpbarlow]

Originally Posted by mrkennethporter

you should be ashamed by those massive chicken strips

Don't really need to lean much to keep up with an SE.

[jcarlson9]

did you ever change needle settings ?.got mine last week and its not running cleanly right off idle,too lean i think.

[wpbarlow]

Originally Posted by jcarlson9

did you ever change needle settings ?.got mine last week and its not running cleanly right off idle,too lean i think.

Nope. ther than an occassional stall when stopped, the bike has run pretty much perfectly since day 1. One of the reasons I haven't changed the exhaust system.