KTM SMC 625 Supermoto

[Sporadic_kit]

Hi all,

Im going to be buying a KTM SMC 625 Supermoto this weekend hopefully.

The bike will mostly be used to commute to work in London on a 15 mile ride there and back daily. I also want to do the odd trail ride here and there, maybe one a month or something like that.

I do want a bike that packs a punch for road use but is also suitable for the trail. Obviously i'll have get a second set of wheels with nobbly tires for the trails. I was just looking for some advice on whether this is a good or bad idea?

Also, does anyone know how easy it will be to change the wheels on this bike?

Thanks

[Dave]

Good idea.

Wheel change about 5 to 10 mins based on your habits.

[Stewie]

Not many 625's about, great bike but was superseded by the 690e and 690r, as Dave says get some 18'' and 21'' wheels and I think you'll find it hard to do just once a month on the trails .
There are a few Big Bike Rides that don't do the gnarly stuff, just UCR's and the open lanes .

[Sporadic_kit]

What exactly is the gnarly stuff? And are you saying that the 625 is not suitable for said gnarly stuff?

I was also considering a DRZ400s but have noted that it weighs exactly the same as the KTM625 SMC just with less power.

[Sporadic_kit]

After doing some research on the 625 SMC, I have discovered that putting bigger wheels onto it is a massive pain in the ass as the bigger wheels spokes don't fit the brake callipers.

I need to be able to easily swap between road wheels and off road wheels so changing the calipers is out of the question as there will be too much expense there.

The standard wheels on the 625 SMC are 17 inch. I can easily get a second set of 17 inch wheels with off road tyres but would I have problems off road with 17 inch wheels?

[Dave]

Oh, that was a bit of an oversight. xD

You'll probably be fine on 17" wheel on the front but it will be a PITA when it gets wedged in a hole.

You sure you can't just get a disc for a 21 wheel to match the caliper?

[Dave]

Oh, that was a bit of an oversight. xD

You'll probably be fine on 17" wheel on the front but it will be a PITA when it gets wedged in a hole.

You sure you can't just get a disc for a 21 wheel to match the caliper?

[Sporadic_kit]

Its the spokes on the wheel that collide with the caliper...

I'll just have to see how I get on with the 17's.

[Stewie]

Its the spokes on the wheel that collide with the caliper...

I'll just have to see how I get on with the 17's.

Can you not just get some caliper extenders and run the larger disc on the 17''front, making swapping wheels easier.

What exactly is the gnarly stuff? And are you saying that the 625 is not suitable for said gnarly stuff?

As for the gnarly stuff the larger bikes are more than capable, it's all down to rider skill, there are a few folk on here with the 690r.

[Sporadic_kit]

If I could find a decent 690r i'd buy it but cannot find one anywhere and will need a bike soon to commute to new job.

Heres the low down on putting bigger wheels onto the 626:

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showthre ... w-I-did-it

It sounds like a lot of grief to me. I don't want to have to screw about with calipers every time I change the wheels. Also, to use bigger wheels means that I would have to buy two sets of bigger wheels after modifying the calipers.

My other concern is the front break disc which is quite big with the standard 625 SMC setup so there might be a risk of damaging it.

[Stewie]

The other option is to run a 18 - 21 set up and throw some 50/50 tyres at them such as K60'sor trailwings, so would do the commute and not bad on the trails .

[Dave]

Stick to 17" and slap some Maxxis slicks on the bastard. Ride like a man!