2012 KTM 690 smc r | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

2012 KTM 690 smc r

The biggest difference is the front. As mentioned above SMC has different forks and brakes. Pretty much the same otherwise. I suggest you get an Enduro and just get 17" wheels and keep your OEM wheel. I think there are guys on Supermotojunkie that are running that setup and are pleased with it. Plus having the OEM wheels, you can install them back on if you want to do dirt stuff.

I'm going to get 19" front for mine and slap on some knobbies. 21" will not fit as the spokes apparently will rub on the caliper.

The enduros/SMC have had thier share of problems but there are also fixes available. I've had no issues to date that a few have had. I.e cam arm bearings failing, bad Fuel pump, clogged Injector, weak tank mount bolts, some have had stalling issues, can't remember if there are more.

Models 2011 and older (not sure how far back) are 654cc and the 2012s are 690cc.
 
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padu said:
What do you guys think about getting a ktm 690 enduro and putting supermoto wheels on it? Was thinking getting a 2010
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You really like it that much? You will be over 14K + taxes when everything is done. You will have to deal with the front brake as well. Expensive and I don't care it is the best single out there. Unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket .... If anything look for used ... good luck though with that.

I would agree that Duke is better proposition for most people, unless you really don't mind the terrible seat and hwy ergo and specs of the SMC. It's meant to be goofed around on slow twisty stuff. The moment you hit hwy, it's a pain in the ***. Anyways, you cannot get the Duke either .... I am telling you that KTM Canada, if they exist are clueless or don't give a rat's *** about few motorcyclists in Canada.
 
+1 just buy a used SMC. If you have money to burn install the rally cam, do it's rocker rollers and you have a better than new machine for much less.
 
Or buy my bike at $6900 and you'll have a ton of cash for any wheels you want plus if you don't need any of my adventure parts, sell them off to fund anything else. Despite having the smaller front calliper, the braking power on the 690 Enduro is fantastic. I ride an RC8R and the braking power on that bike is second to none but I don't find that the 690 Enduro is lacking in braking power given its weight and front end dive from the long suspension travel. Anyhow - yes, the 690 series of bikes have had their little annoyances but thanks to the experience ad wisdom shared by many on various forums, I have performed all the updates and mods to make it very reliable and fast. The throttle on it is not remotely snatchy, the idle is stable and the power is very strong. It doesn't miss a single beat anymore. There are lots of 17" wheels on bay and other forums to choose from. I want this bike sold ASAP - found another bike I want to buy and my wife will kill me if I bring another one home instead of selling this first.
 
mxs said:
You really like it that much? You will be over 14K + taxes when everything is done. You will have to deal with the front brake as well. Expensive and I don't care it is the best single out there. Unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket .... If anything look for used ... good luck though with that.

I would agree that Duke is better proposition for most people, unless you really don't mind the terrible seat and hwy ergo and specs of the SMC. It's meant to be goofed around on slow twisty stuff. The moment you hit hwy, it's a pain in the ***. Anyways, you cannot get the Duke either .... I am telling you that KTM Canada, if they exist are clueless or don't give a rat's *** about few motorcyclists in Canada.
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What do you guys think about a 2010 enduro ?
 
padu said:
What do you guys think about a 2010 enduro ?
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At the risk of sounding biased, I will share my thoughts when I was shopping for a 690. In 2009, KTM changed from the 690 Enduro designation to the "R" designation, giving it an orange frame. The only difference going forward with the '09-'11 is the headlight design was "updated" in '09. For 2012, KTM increased the engine capacity from 654cc to 690cc and went back to the 2008 headlight design after realizing that the "updated" design was flawed and underperformed. In addition, KTM changed the dash design in 2009 and they have been nothing but trouble with respect to failures caused by ingress of moisture and/or dust. ECU maps for 2010 and up were supposed to be improved but were found in reality to be faulty, unreliable and susceptible to software corruption, forcing owners to take their bikes back in for regular ECU map updates and "bug fixes" (yeah, why can't we just own something that doesn't need updates anymore...). I wanted the 690 in its most reliable and tested form and the 2008 was it for me. If you search on forums such as advrider.com, you will find many, many threads on differences between years and the updates that people have figured out on how to make these bikes more reliable and better performing. If you are hell-bent on finding just an SMR and an Enduro isn't an option, find the best you can that your money can buy you and make sure you save some for updates/repairs if updates have not been performed. Keep in mind though that most of the updates are not dealer based and often use aftermarket parts that are a design or quality improvement over the standard KTM parts bin. When updated correctly, the specific issues often do not return. The 690cc 2012 models are very good and have many of the 2009 - 2011 kinks sorted out but I don't think I would pay for a new bike if you could find a used one that meets your needs. Just my $0.02 for what it's worth...
 
Awesome - best of luck and reach out to me if you need anything or need a second pair of eyes to look it over before making a commitment - I'd be happy to help. You won't regret getting the Enduro (depending on how tall you are). If you end up riding in the city, the higher vantage point will be very handy in traffic.

padu said:
Thanks man, I have found a 2010 enduro for a killer price Might go that route
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alon said:
Despite having the smaller front calliper, the braking power on the 690 Enduro is fantastic. I ride an RC8R and the braking power on that bike is second to none but I don't find that the 690 Enduro is lacking in braking power given its weight and front end dive from the long suspension travel.
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I am going to say that there's no way the small disc will be nowhere near a stopping power of the larger disc (offroad is geared for slower speeds, you don't need the large disc, plus you use the rear brake much more often, it's different application altogether). You might not feel the difference when leisurely commuting (I barely use brakes ... LOL ... all engine braking), but go out for a quick rip or take the bike on a track and you would have to feel a difference. If not, I'd say you are riding slow (not trying to sound cocky).

I don't know how you could compare RC8R brakes against a single 690 small disc offroad oriented brake. The only valid comparison is braking distance .... everything else is just your brain being fooled by feelings and different braking conditions (smaller brake and lighter bike vs heavier bike and larger brake, might give the same feeling ... when the speed is low enough for the lighter bike to reach ...)
 
squapple said:
100% agree and it's kinda sad
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Isn't it? Every time they release a new bike in Europe ... I go "What a shame ...". The next bike I will be really ****** about will be street oriented Duke 350.

I find it amazing that they are not even present at any motorcycle show ... I am telling you that board room meeting room in Austria has a label across Canada reading "Insignificant". Even MV Augusta spends more on marketing and advertizing ....
 
mxs said:
Isn't it? Every time they release a new bike in Europe ... I go "What a shame ...". The next bike I will be really ****** about will be street oriented Duke 350.

I find it amazing that they are not even present at any motorcycle show ... I am telling you that board room meeting room in Austria has a label across Canada reading "Insignificant". Even MV Augusta spends more on marketing and advertizing ....
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Come on in this area most of those bikes don't make much sense. The 690 SMC is an amazing bike but it's use is limited here. In Europe where you have roads that you wish were sometimes straight, these bikes are amazing. KTM knows they wont sell that many bikes here.
 
I wasn't attempting to compare the braking power of my two bikes - yes, there is a night and day difference. What I was trying to say was that I don't find the 690 lacking in braking power for the road and dirt riding that I have done with it. I have no doubt that the four piston, radially mounted SMR setup is superior in every way. I'm certain things could be different on a track (with the 690 that is...). I'd like to try some track riding someday (on a bike like my 690 or similar).

mxs said:
I am going to say that there's no way the small disc will be nowhere near a stopping power of the larger disc (offroad is geared for slower speeds, you don't need the large disc, plus you use the rear brake much more often, it's different application altogether). You might not feel the difference when leisurely commuting (I barely use brakes ... LOL ... all engine braking), but go out for a quick rip or take the bike on a track and you would have to feel a difference. If not, I'd say you are riding slow (not trying to sound cocky).

I don't know how you could compare RC8R brakes against a single 690 small disc offroad oriented brake. The only valid comparison is braking distance .... everything else is just your brain being fooled by feelings and different braking conditions (smaller brake and lighter bike vs heavier bike and larger brake, might give the same feeling ... when the speed is low enough for the lighter bike to reach ...)
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daught said:
Come on in this area most of those bikes don't make much sense. The 690 SMC is an amazing bike but it's use is limited here. In Europe where you have roads that you wish were sometimes straight, these bikes are amazing. KTM knows they wont sell that many bikes here.
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I am not really talking about SMC ... what about the Duke line. Duke 200, 350 and 690 .... they certainly would sell ... if priced right. If Kawasaki can sell their 250 dinosaur ....
 
I think the entire duke line including the 125 could do very well here. KTM Canada are a bunch of cabbage-heads.



mxs said:
I am not really talking about SMC ... what about the Duke line. Duke 200, 350 and 690 .... they certainly would sell ... if priced right. If Kawasaki can sell their 250 dinosaur ....
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alon said:
I think the entire duke line including the 125 could do very well here. KTM Canada are a bunch of cabbage-heads.
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I don't think there's KTM Canada anymore ... LOL

Look at this link .... that just makes sense, why they are a no show, basically.

http://www.ktm.com/ca-en/contact.html

Looks like someone in QC ... with an extension ... LOL2

Actually, I think it was always ran from the states.
 
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