Missing long travel suspension...

[stan23]

Yeaaaah, but I kinda need something for two up and longer distance chill rides which more than likely it’s gonna be an old fart bike, eventually. Heck, I just put a top case on my SV - looks so geeky but oh so handy. If you see me shopping for a modular helmet, take me out in back of the shed.

Damn man, I think you've been out of the game for a bit. people have been setting up the KTM 690s for round the world rides. I feel much more comfortable on a long ride on my 701 than my 1290 Super Adventure R!

AS for 2 up, totally possible, but may not be good for long distance 2 up riding.

 

[Rob]

You need more than one bike.

It's safer this way.

 

[Brown81]

To me, an inch more travel is nice. It can be huge. Im used to the bare minimum.


But an event changed my whole outlook on tall, long suspension bikes. And more upright position.
I borrowed a friends KTM 990 and left danville to tour the mountains for a couple days. Had never ridden an large ADV bike like that.
Bout 15 minutes into the ride going over the pass in Livermore, going likely 85+ (hey I was trying to keep up with the owner of said bike) I drove right over the biggest gap/long pothole I have ever seen. It was right between left two lanes and I swear it was a fucking trench.
yanked the bars right out of my hands and it felt like it went half way to steering lock.
Man I about shit myself. Scared me to death! Bike just sat right back up and straight as an arrow. I couldn't shake the idea of what would have happened on the Monster or VFR. Would have ate shit (no scottz/lsl to save the day).

The rest of the ride was a revelation. Did a couple passes in the hills and I swear it was funner than a sprotbile. The big front wheel just wants to plow right over everything imaginable. It just keep turning and with the wide bars I feel like I can just steer it really well. Was suprised to bump a peg easily on dual sport tires.

The motor had a weird tractor quality that I oddly enjoyed. I'd like one of them 990SM's I think. Always admire those. The 690 is out of my price range but I have no doubt I would love it dearly!

 

[SVsick50]

Damn man, I think you've been out of the game for a bit. people have been setting up the KTM 690s for round the world rides. I feel much more comfortable on a long ride on my 701 than my 1290 Super Adventure R!

AS for 2 up, totally possible, but may not be good for long distance 2 up riding.

I have been out of the loop for a long time. My 2006 SV is so modern to me :laughing

IDK, I still am liking the V-stroms and such. We'll see, the SV is a keeper for a bit.

 

[stan23]

To me, an inch more travel is nice. It can be huge. Im used to the bare minimum.


But an event changed my whole outlook on tall, long suspension bikes. And more upright position.
I borrowed a friends KTM 990 and left danville to tour the mountains for a couple days. Had never ridden an large ADV bike like that.
Bout 15 minutes into the ride going over the pass in Livermore, going likely 85+ (hey I was trying to keep up with the owner of said bike) I drove right over the biggest gap/long pothole I have ever seen. It was right between left two lanes and I swear it was a fucking trench.
yanked the bars right out of my hands and it felt like it went half way to steering lock.
Man I about shit myself. Scared me to death! Bike just sat right back up and straight as an arrow. I couldn't shake the idea of what would have happened on the Monster or VFR. Would have ate shit (no scottz/lsl to save the day).

The rest of the ride was a revelation. Did a couple passes in the hills and I swear it was funner than a sprotbile. The big front wheel just wants to plow right over everything imaginable. It just keep turning and with the wide bars I feel like I can just steer it really well. Was suprised to bump a peg easily on dual sport tires.

The motor had a weird tractor quality that I oddly enjoyed. I'd like one of them 990SM's I think. Always admire those. The 690 is out of my price range but I have no doubt I would love it dearly!

Probably has a lot more to do with the 21" front wheel. They absorb everything.

IMO, the 990 ADV is one of the BEST rider's bikes ever made. I enjoyed mine immensely, but..... they suck to work on, and has that last generation KTM quality.

I have been out of the loop for a long time. My 2006 SV is so modern to me :laughing

IDK, I still am liking the V-stroms and such. We'll see, the SV is a keeper for a bit.

Vstrom is solid, you can't go wrong:thumbup:ride

 

[ScottRNelson]

IMO, the 990 ADV is one of the BEST rider's bikes ever made. I enjoyed mine immensely, but..... they suck to work on, and has that last generation KTM quality.

I always took mine to the dealer for anything more serious than a tire change. Getting all of that bodywork off and back on can take longer than whatever else you're doing to the bike. Probably worse than the Ducati ST2, which was also tough to get into.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure the 2018 1090R is any better to work on. [But I really love riding it.]

 

[stan23]

I always took mine to the dealer for anything more serious than a tire change. Getting all of that bodywork off and back on can take longer than whatever else you're doing to the bike. Probably worse than the Ducati ST2, which was also tough to get into.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure the 2018 1090R is any better to work on. [But I really love riding it.]

I never took my 1290 Super Adventure R apart, but because it's the later generation KTM stuff, I know it will be a lot easier to work on.

The 990 ADV i'm sure when newish was much easier to work on, but when the tanks start to deform and all the body panels are basically dependent on the tank to fit correctly, getting everything fiddled was a pain.

Everything else they got more than correct on the bike though. The geometry, the steering, the motor, the feedback, everything. I had 2 and sold them both because I wanted a 'perfect' example one--still waiting. I thought the 1290 would be a better version of the 990, and I was wrong. It's a completely different ride.

Now that the 790 ADVs are out, I will try one and see if it will fill the 990 ADV void, if so I want one.

 

[KooLaid]

Damn man, I think you've been out of the game for a bit. people have been setting up the KTM 690s for round the world rides. I feel much more comfortable on a long ride on my 701 than my 1290 Super Adventure R!

AS for 2 up, totally possible, but may not be good for long distance 2 up riding.

Stan, what do you think 701/19 SMCR compared to the current and last gen hypers like the 959 or 959 sp?

 

[stan23]

Stan, what do you think 701/19 SMCR compared to the current and last gen hypers like the 959 or 959 sp?

I never had a 959, but did buy an 821 SP brand new and owned it for 2 years.

The 690/701 feels like a proper supermoto. It's the perfect balance between a racy tard and street maintenance. It's exactly what I wanted in a street bike.

The Hyper felt like a taller Monster. It's a great street bike, but very heavy. I never really jived with it. I didn't like splayed out seating position, and I just never thought it was more than a decent street bike that I would not dare try to jump off anything. It didn't incite any hooligan behavior. It just didn't have the character IMO.

The new SMCR feels to me like a proper supermoto. Light, nimble, flick-able, and a super revvy motor with low end grunt. I don't know how they did it, but of all the supermotos i've ever owned, this is the only one where I wouldn't mind riding it on the freeway for long periods. The gearing is tall, but not ducati tall. Just think of 6th as an OD gear. You don't even really need to shift to 6th until 70ish. There is very little vibration--similar to a twin.

Docile when you want it, and a beast when you need it to be. I have next to no complaints about the bike, it's just about perfect. They developed it well and it shows.

Pros:

- 74 hp out of a single! with low maintenance.
- the new WP suspension is really good out of box, like scary good.
- feels light
- a full tank gets me around 150-miles
- parts are cheap
- Well designed, no tools needed to remove some of the body panels
- bar lock to lock angle is very good (old 690 SMC owners will appreciate this)
- very good quality and fit and finish it second to none

Cons:

- The dash sucks (but I don't mind it at all)
- price

Funny thing about price is just about all of us paid MSRP, but yet after owning the bike, no one will every say it's over priced and they felt they got less than what the cost should be. Most everyone is satisfied with their purchase.