08 Superduke to 690smc?

[thatchman49]

I'm contemplating on selling my 08 Superduke and going for a 690smc. I have sold every bike I've owned after almost exactly 2 years of ownership, and July 4th will mark 2 years on the SD, so I know that's part of it.

I came from a DRZsm and loved it, but just got sick of the freeway ride. It wasn't the wind or seat that got to me, but the scream of the engine. When I upgraded to the Superduke I contemplated a 690, but I wanted to get away from the highway drone of the DRZ. I also couldn't see paying more for the 690smc when the superduke was much more bike.

I love the superduke. It's easily the best all around bike I've ever ridden, but I miss the pure hooliganism of a street tard. My recreational riding is all goaty backroads and the nasty pavement of Sonoma County. I still do a decent amount of A to B riding on the freeway and some freeway to get to the fun roads.

So what do you say Barf? Am I going to miss the power of the SD and regret it? Or is the smc significantly better than the DRZ at freeway speeds? I'm obviously writing this leaning towards making the switch and I can always sell the smc to go back to something that handles the freeway better in the future. If you've owned a couple of these bikes please chime in.

 

[tonedeaf]

Going from a V-Twin to a thumper will be a lot more vibey as you remember, but people say the 690 is definitely smoother than a DRZ400 at 75mph. Having that much more displacement and that extra 6th gear will make the freeway totally acceptable. I've taken my dad's DR650 with only 5 gears on long day-rides and it's just fine.

Also I've ridden a couple of serious supermotos, one of them an older Husky 501, and I doubt you'll miss the power from the 990 anywhere except making a pass on the freeway. Big race-tuned thumpers have insane torque, and with the short gearing you can lift the front with the throttle in almost every gear. In the twisties you can keep up with anybody if you shift it a lot, it's more work but it's really fun

 

[JMardy]

I put >25K miles on my '05 Tuono in the last 2 years and have had an '08 690 Duke for a week or so. Not an SMC but engine-wise very similar (identical?)
The thing that I'm getting used to is having to downshift so often. Going up Waldo grade for example, on the Tuono, you just roll on the throttle. The Duke yells at you to downshift a gear or two.
Gearing-wise the Duke feels tall and at 65mph, a little over 4K in 6th where it doesn't seem to have the power to push the bike comfortably. 75mph in 6th is much better. Doesn't feel like the engine is screaming and there are happy spots where it is very smooth.

Some of these issues may have to do with fueling, open loop/closed loop, etc. so I expect this to get even better once I address those.

If you want to meet up in Tomales or west Marin some weekend, we can swap and you can see what you think. :ride

 

[tonedeaf]

Another thing I noticed when I rode my dad's DR650 for a few weeks without getting on my ZX6R is how easily I can forget about that tall-gear hyperdrive acceleration from sportbikes and big V-Twins. You'll get re-accustomed to going BRAAP*click*BRAAP*click*BRAAP and your brain won't care about not being able to cover 2 football fields in one gear. that 690 would have enough torque to make me forget about horsepower, at least for a few years lol

 

[fast4d]

weight would be the biggest difference.

my 690SMC was 305lb on the scale with akra muffler.

SDR was 440lb or so.


SD wins everywhere on power and torque.

SD has tubeless tires.

SD seat is 20x more comfortable than the 690 plank

 

[mitiasbikes]

DO IT. If I had the $$$ now I would do it in a heart beat, regret selling every one of them and I had 3 (1 690 SM and 2 690 SMCs).

 

[Z3n]

The 690 is a very rev-y single, and it's got some oddities to it. First of all, you have to know about the ingnition mapping switch under the seat. Second of all, nearly every bike with a pipe on it is down on torque where you want it vs. stock.

But you should absolutely buy it if you primarily do backroads riding, especially if you're a bigger dude, as the suspension is about ideal for a 220 pound rider. Or budget for a revalve/respring.

The SMC is significantly more powerful and lighter than the SM, so get an SMC.

Freeway is fine, I did 1500 miles in 2 days on my SMC. Bike shorts make the long days a lot better. I've owned 2 690 SMCs, and currently have a 1290 SuperDuke. The SD is more liveably day to day, but the 690SMCs were fantastic. If I had a little more self control, I'd still have one. :laughing

 

[russ69]

...I came from a DRZsm and loved it, but just got sick of the freeway ride. It wasn't the wind or seat that got to me, but the scream of the engine....

A gearing change would have fixed that. It still is a bit slow, a 690 is not slow. This will seal the deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0GMZptPnms

 

[corndog67]

I dig the big twins. My 950 SM is, like you mentioned , a 100% hooligan machine, longer travel than the SD, more or less the same Engine I wouldn't get rid of the SD , but I would add the 690 In addition to it. I think you'll miss the SD on the highway. .....

 

[CurveSurfer]

My g/f had a 690 Duke and rode it all over, including to Oregon and back. The 690 is the king of singles, but still a single. It's relatively smooth, but the vibes get old and you'll miss the bigger power of the twin.

I owned a 950SM and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned.

A 950 or 990SM or SMT would probably hit all the right buttons for you.

 

[thatchman49]

Thanks for all the input guys. Definitely a lot of stuff I have thought about. I know I need to get out and ride some of these bikes, but it's fun to hear some different perspectives.

I put >25K miles on my '05 Tuono in the last 2 years and have had an '08 690 Duke for a week or so. Not an SMC but engine-wise very similar (identical?)
The thing that I'm getting used to is having to downshift so often. Going up Waldo grade for example, on the Tuono, you just roll on the throttle. The Duke yells at you to downshift a gear or two.
Gearing-wise the Duke feels tall and at 65mph, a little over 4K in 6th where it doesn't seem to have the power to push the bike comfortably. 75mph in 6th is much better. Doesn't feel like the engine is screaming and there are happy spots where it is very smooth.

Some of these issues may have to do with fueling, open loop/closed loop, etc. so I expect this to get even better once I address those.

If you want to meet up in Tomales or west Marin some weekend, we can swap and you can see what you think. :ride

I might take you up on that. Honestly an 80mph blast down 101 would probably answer all my questions. Love the look of that gen duke but would still go for the smc.

A gearing change would have fixed that. It still is a bit slow, a 690 is not slow. This will seal the deal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0GMZptPnms

Tried a couple gearing changes on the DRZ, honestly felt that it was too much compromise. Like many others, I think the DRZ really needs a 6th.

My g/f had a 690 Duke and rode it all over, including to Oregon and back. The 690 is the king of singles, but still a single. It's relatively smooth, but the vibes get old and you'll miss the bigger power of the twin.

I owned a 950SM and it's the most fun bike I've ever owned.

A 950 or 990SM or SMT would probably hit all the right buttons for you.

A 990smr probably would have been a better choice than the SD. That said, budget is and was a major factor. I have also thought about keeping the SD and adding a wr250x or another DRZ, but until I can afford a house I can't justify having 2 bikes haha.

 

[rjbrittain11]

I currently have a 2010 690 SMC. Here is my good and bads;

Good:
- power beyond anything for a supermoto
- Around town its the funnest thing you will ever ride.
- Can wheelie almost anywhere at any time.
- Pretty reliable
- Crashes well (i looped it and tucked the front - both times just a lever break and blinker, not even a scratch on the plastics).
- Custom graphics makes it look bad ass!
- can modify the shit out of it with accessories.
- not bad to take a passenger.
- Great gas mileage.
- Cheap to insure.

Bad (or what I don't like):
- Seat isn't comfortable at all.
- The vibrations gets to me on rides longer than 30 miles on the freeway. Maybe some new grips can change that.
- Can use a gear change. On the freeway at 75mph in 6th gear its running at 6K rpms (but if your not running much freeway then don't change the gears).


The bike has been everything ive ever wanted in a supermoto and more. You won't be disappointed and anything you don't like about it, you can just change it. There are alot of options for this bike with setup.

 

[wsmc831]

I currently have a 2010 690 SMC. Here is my good and bads;

Good:
- power beyond anything for a supermoto
- Around town its the funnest thing you will ever ride.
- Can wheelie almost anywhere at any time.
- Pretty reliable
- Crashes well (i looped it and tucked the front - both times just a lever break and blinker, not even a scratch on the plastics).
- Custom graphics makes it look bad ass!
- can modify the shit out of it with accessories.
- not bad to take a passenger.
- Great gas mileage.
- Cheap to insure.

Bad (or what I don't like):
- Seat isn't comfortable at all.
- The vibrations gets to me on rides longer than 30 miles on the freeway. Maybe some new grips can change that.
- Can use a gear change. On the freeway at 75mph in 6th gear its running at 6K rpms (but if your not running much freeway then don't change the gears).


The bike has been everything ive ever wanted in a supermoto and more. You won't be disappointed and anything you don't like about it, you can just change it. There are alot of options for this bike with setup.

Seat Concepts will fix the seat issue, Vibranators will reduce the vibrations. You must be running pretty short gearing, my enduro will get to 100 easily without hitting rev limiter, no idea of it's top speed but probably north of 110.

 

[Wack]

690SMC is like a DRZ400SM with all of the trick engine mods, than add 10 HP, a 6th speed and WP suspension. The KTM might even be more reliable than a DRZ on 'roids. I scored the 690SM because I couldn't wait for another season.

 

[rjbrittain11]

Seat Concepts will fix the seat issue, Vibranators will reduce the vibrations. You must be running pretty short gearing, my enduro will get to 100 easily without hitting rev limiter, no idea of it's top speed but probably north of 110.

I think I'm running stock gearing. I haven't changed it. I can get to 100 before rev limiter as well. When I commute on 680 south it just runs in the 5.5-6k range between 70-75. Redline isn't until 8k.

 

[Rob]

Let's be honest here. You need 2 bikes in your stable right now. Get them both.

You're welcome.

 

[Blankpage]

Big race-tuned thumpers have insane torque, and with the short gearing you can lift the front with the throttle in almost every gear.

There isn't a bike alive that will lift the front with throttle only in every gear.
3rd is rare, 4th I'd have to see to believe, 5th okay knock it off.

 

[ABC]

There isn't a bike alive that will lift the front with throttle only in every gear.
3rd is rare, 4th I'd have to see to believe, 5th okay knock it off.

you ever hear of a cr500af? You must not have sir.
youtu.be/j38MSDDRkDI

 

[Blankpage]

you ever hear of a cr500af? You must not have sir.

He neglected to show the fat chick sitting on the back.

Im talking sane bikes, two stroke dirt bikes are mental, they don't count

 

[Z3n]

There isn't a bike alive that will lift the front with throttle only in every gear.
3rd is rare, 4th I'd have to see to believe, 5th okay knock it off.

Depends on how you define "throttle only". If you mean I can use my body weight, scoot all the way back, and pull on the bars, i could get 5th gear to balance point at 65 on the 690.

The zx10 streetfighter I built would wheelie in 5th gear going down the front straight at thill. Geared -1/+2 though, otherwise stock minus the handlebar kit and missing front fairings.