New bike day. 690SMC-R.

[matt]

Sounds like you preferred your old Duke to the SMC ?

[weeksy]

Sounds like you preferred your old Duke to the SMC ?

Me... Errrrm in some ways i'd be inclined to agree.... There's nothing wrong with the SMC-R in comparison to the Duke. They ride quite differently and i think i arguably go better on the Duke than i do on the SMC-R.... but the SMC-R does have a little 'something' that the Duke doesn't have in terms of suspension, kudos, looks and just well, class...

I'd be really interested to compare a ride either on road or track and see any differences in speed/times between both. But essentially i'm not timing anything so it matters very very little.

[mangocrazy]

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

So many things make a difference to ride comfort. When I first got the Falco I couldn't ride it for more than 30 miles before my backside was in agony, and I blamed the seat. Mrs Mango felt similarly about the pillion perch. Then I changed the standard Sachs shock for an Ohlins and I could do 100 miles, no sweat. And that was with a spring that I knew was too stiff for my weight. Riding position also affects where your pressure points are. My Duke is the R model and has pegs that are more rear-set than standard and also has stiffer suspension, which will doubtless make a difference.

[Supermofo]

My take on the SMC is it's just much sexier than the Duke.



But. The Duke is more comfy, more practical and probably quicker for more people as it rides more like a road bike. If you are a supermoto racer you'd be quicker on the SMC, but I reckon I'd be quicker on the Duke

[KungFooBob]

So when is Weeksy getting the red plastics and some Gas Gas stickers for the MotoGP replica look?

[weeksy]

So when is Weeksy getting the red plastics and some Gas Gas stickers for the MotoGP replica look?

Never ever ever ever. Ever

[Skub]

Next week then?

[KungFooBob]

[Supermofo]

Always struck by how odd the KTM motogp bike is, the front wheel looks so far away from everything else

[mangocrazy]

Always struck by how odd the KTM motogp bike is, the front wheel looks so far away from everything else

You're right. There's normally just enough clearance between front wheel and radiator and not a mm more.

[Supermofo]

Always struck by how odd the KTM motogp bike is, the front wheel looks so far away from everything else

You're right. There's normally just enough clearance between front wheel and radiator and not a mm more.

Yup I noticed it a while ago, really odd. The Aprilia is the same as well for the last couple of years so must be something to it.

[KungFooBob]

U.G.L.Y, you aint got no alibi, you UGLY!

[Yorick]

Next week then?

Not like you to be funny

[mangocrazy]

Always struck by how odd the KTM motogp bike is, the front wheel looks so far away from everything else

You're right. There's normally just enough clearance between front wheel and radiator and not a mm more.

Yup I noticed it a while ago, really odd. The Aprilia is the same as well for the last couple of years so must be something to it.

The only thing I can think of is that Aprilia are using a lot more front wheel travel. Or perhaps the teams have found that having some clear air in front of the rad improves cooling. Or aerodynamics. Or both.

[Jody]

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

So many things make a difference to ride comfort. When I first got the Falco I couldn't ride it for more than 30 miles before my backside was in agony, and I blamed the seat. Mrs Mango felt similarly about the pillion perch. Then I changed the standard Sachs shock for an Ohlins and I could do 100 miles, no sweat. And that was with a spring that I knew was too stiff for my weight. Riding position also affects where your pressure points are. My Duke is the R model and has pegs that are more rear-set than standard and also has stiffer suspension, which will doubtless make a difference.

You might be onto something, my bike has 33,000 km on it and I'd bet my last soapy tenner that it's got the original shock !

[weeksy]

Sometimes I do worry I have "issues" I think someay call it consumerism. I have a massive desire for something new.

I was giving serious consideration to this 1290sdr
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225151342159

But even after just a short misty ride this morning with damp patches on the road, the thoughts evaporate. But I know with my brain they'll come back. But I need to fight the demons and keep away from the crazy.

2022-09-11_02-37-36 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

It was then given a clean, check and tucked away again.

[Skub]

It's only a matter of time before the seed grows during the loooong Winter.

[weeksy]

It's only a matter of time before the seed grows during the loooong Winter.

That goes without saying matey... i just like 'different' things at times. I really should just go and take one out for an hour as a Demo ride, i'm sure that would put me right and move me away from the idea

[Skub]

I think you've infected me.

This is currently on my mind.

https://www.aprilia.com/gb_EN/models/tu ... roke-2021/

[ChrisW]

This is currently on my mind.

www .aprilia.com/gb_EN/models/tuono-v4/tuono-v4-factory-1100-parallel-twin-4-stroke-2021/

It's lovely but someone should tell their web team that it's not a parallel twin