Just to add....
The thing is I so wanted the SMT to be brilliant-and it may well be in some eyes and when actually ridden.
But to me,some of the signs aren't that promising.
When I went to the Milan show a few weeks back,the KTM stand was the first I headed for,and then SMT the first bike.
And when I saw it my immediate thought was ,'what the hell is that ?'.
To me,it looks like a cross between a maxi scooter and something that got too close to the fire.
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20081206-khrwdxyi4seqrcgj68jed9pnab.jpg" alt="PB060013"/>
But I realise taste is subjective,and some will love the looks,as already proven here.
But a few other things don't quite add up.
All KTM have done is take the standard SM,stick on a screen and comfier seat,put some cheaper tyres on it and slap some guards on the exhausts to take luggage,which was suspiciously absent.
The first thing most of us do is have a good poke around,opening and closing panniers etc.
So where were they ?
I asked the KTM guy on the stand and he just shrugged his shoulders.
My guess is that they aren't actually ready for production-hopefully because KTM are sourcing some that are more weatherproof than the ones for the standard SM.
And ,as the bike isn't exactly a looker,why couldn't KTM give it a bigger tank and a decent range ?
OK,if you ride carefully,you may see 150 miles ,but 130 is more normal.
My mate took his SM 990 to Spain and back and that was the usual figure.
It's also disappointing -to me,anyway,being a big KTM fan-that KTM haven't altered the FI since 08.
OK,others have said that the FI is better than in 06.
That is true,but the FI on my 07 SD was not brilliant.
It was only marginally better with a full Akra system and professional setup with PCIII and dyno time.
My mate who took his 08 SM 990 to Spain hates the FI,and he has had as many KTMs as me and loves them.
I've ridden his bike more than once and it is no better than my 07 SD was-infact I think it is worse.
I specifically made a point of asking the question in Milan if there were any changes to the FI in 09 and was told categorically that there were not.
Somebody made the point above that you get used to the FI on KTMs.
Whilst I see where he is coming from,I don't think it's quite true.
I don't think you get used to it,more that you accept it and sub-consciously work around it.
KTMS do have a very abrupt pick up,which does take time to adjust to,but that's not the same as snatchy injection,which is something different entirely.
It's only when you ride another bike with great FI that you realise how far off the mark KTM still are.
That's why a number of mates have gone back to the carbed 950 motor,and also why I have a 950 SE over any of the 990 models.
I'm sure this bike will sell well,but if they had made a good looking bike,with a 200 mile range,fully sorted FI and waterproof luggage,it would have been so much better.
KTM are treading water and need to start swimming again.
The thing is I so wanted the SMT to be brilliant-and it may well be in some eyes and when actually ridden.
But to me,some of the signs aren't that promising.
When I went to the Milan show a few weeks back,the KTM stand was the first I headed for,and then SMT the first bike.
And when I saw it my immediate thought was ,'what the hell is that ?'.
To me,it looks like a cross between a maxi scooter and something that got too close to the fire.
<img src="http://img.skitch.com/20081206-khrwdxyi4seqrcgj68jed9pnab.jpg" alt="PB060013"/>
But I realise taste is subjective,and some will love the looks,as already proven here.
But a few other things don't quite add up.
All KTM have done is take the standard SM,stick on a screen and comfier seat,put some cheaper tyres on it and slap some guards on the exhausts to take luggage,which was suspiciously absent.
The first thing most of us do is have a good poke around,opening and closing panniers etc.
So where were they ?
I asked the KTM guy on the stand and he just shrugged his shoulders.
My guess is that they aren't actually ready for production-hopefully because KTM are sourcing some that are more weatherproof than the ones for the standard SM.
And ,as the bike isn't exactly a looker,why couldn't KTM give it a bigger tank and a decent range ?
OK,if you ride carefully,you may see 150 miles ,but 130 is more normal.
My mate took his SM 990 to Spain and back and that was the usual figure.
It's also disappointing -to me,anyway,being a big KTM fan-that KTM haven't altered the FI since 08.
OK,others have said that the FI is better than in 06.
That is true,but the FI on my 07 SD was not brilliant.
It was only marginally better with a full Akra system and professional setup with PCIII and dyno time.
My mate who took his 08 SM 990 to Spain hates the FI,and he has had as many KTMs as me and loves them.
I've ridden his bike more than once and it is no better than my 07 SD was-infact I think it is worse.
I specifically made a point of asking the question in Milan if there were any changes to the FI in 09 and was told categorically that there were not.
Somebody made the point above that you get used to the FI on KTMs.
Whilst I see where he is coming from,I don't think it's quite true.
I don't think you get used to it,more that you accept it and sub-consciously work around it.
KTMS do have a very abrupt pick up,which does take time to adjust to,but that's not the same as snatchy injection,which is something different entirely.
It's only when you ride another bike with great FI that you realise how far off the mark KTM still are.
That's why a number of mates have gone back to the carbed 950 motor,and also why I have a 950 SE over any of the 990 models.
I'm sure this bike will sell well,but if they had made a good looking bike,with a 200 mile range,fully sorted FI and waterproof luggage,it would have been so much better.
KTM are treading water and need to start swimming again.
Four years younger than your good self 
