Tempted by the dark side...

[gabriel_gs]

Just thought I'd share my experience the other day of test riding a KTM 950 Supermoto.

I'd long thought about changing bike (again) but again have decided to stick with my GS.

Firstly, the guys at Bracken were top! Lovely guys, took their time and really helped me out.

SO the bike.

Loved it. Really good fun - tonnes of 'oomph' and had a ball riding it. The seat was plenty comfortable enough, acres of legroom, all good.

My one niggle was that the bars would have to come up and back a good inch and a half to be perfect for me.

So my mind was pretty-well made up. The 950 SM it was.

Then I got back on my GS.

I was expecting the old battleship to feel wallowy, heavy, underpowered... but I was really surprised.

I'd hurt my back a couple of days ago, so put the twinges I was feeling while riding the KTM down to that, but the second I got back on my GS the twinges disappeared.

My GS felt roomy, surprisingly small and über comfortable.

I then proceeded to have the most 'spririted' fun ride home on my GS I'd ever had - it sounds stupid, but it's as if the GS was saying "anything the KTM can do..."

So, while I LOVED the 950, I can't ignore 2 factors - 1, that my GS is actually an incredible machine, fun, comfy, practical and funky and 2, that my back HAS to come first and I just know in my heart that the KTM is not going to be right for it.

Had I a spare £5k for a second bike, I'd buy a 950 SM in a heart-beat - it's fabulous, but while I'm a one-bike man, and with my back the way it is, I can't ignore the fact that I am already riding possibly one of the best bikes ever made.

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

Ahhhh ... regret your decision you will not!

 

[buzzy]

Hi Gabriel , speeking as one who knows about these things , i own a 1100 gs a 950 sm and a `78 kawasaki z1r , i had the same feelings as yourself , my intention was to part ex my sm against a second hand newish gs , i had the test rides ,but the dealerships would not give me anywhere near as much for my more or less 4k miles sm p/x , so i bit the bullit and got a second hand 1100 , few problems , new clutch /starter motor , but all in all a cracking bike , in fact the sm has been sat in the shed with a bald rear tyre for weeks now , it gets out to play now and again , but my first choice more or less would be the gs , dont get me wrong the sm is also a hoot and it blows the cobwebs away , plus sounds fantastic with race cans , (bit of a twin lover here ) but it is a bike that is pretty focused whereas the gs just seems to do it all , tour ,scratch and cart the kitchen sink if needs be , , just keep an eye out for a second hand one , i`m sure one will come along , and you wont be dissapointed if you get one , but my advise would be to keep yer beemer as well if poss , hope that this helps in any way , take it easy Kev

 

[gabriel_gs]

Yeah, I think that's pretty much the plan - a second bike, when I can afford it.

I'm also a big twin fan having had SV650s, Buell Cityx and Ulysses and hankered after a big v-twin 'fun bike' for ages but you're tight the GS is simply the bee's knees.

 

[daj]

Don't be fooled by Bracken. They'll tempt you in, all 'luvey dovey', then treat you like shite. Speaking from my own experiences and those of some others I have known.

Nice bike mind you.

 

[buzzy]

sorry cant comment on bracken , up here in east mids its redline motors , tim is a great guy very helpfull and knows his stuff , been a ktm dealer for ages , before ktm got all popular mainstream like , if ever gonna change the sm will be going back to him , fancy the super enduro looks a cracking bike

 

[Robbo1200ADV]

Have Had a 950SM and 12GSA both at the same time ,chalk and cheese! Have just sold the GSA and now have a 990SM .What a bike!!! Mental!!Does pretty much what the GSA did but I agree much more focused.For town it wins as Brighton is a Gridlocked town and I found the GSA too big for day to day work .The SM is aGreat bike ,but I will be getting a new GSA in March as to whether I PX the SM in for it I'd doubt it I enjoy them both too much .950SM's are cheap at the momment and a good one can be had for sub £5Grand

 

[buzzy]

totally agree , if it wern`t for my local bmw dealerships not wanting to px my sm against a 12 gs then i too would only have the beemer , and i would deffo miss the sm , my holiday this aug just gone was a week touring around scotland , fab roads for both bikes , but the gs was the only real choice for me with a weeks kit in the panniers , last year took the sm down to the pyrenees , but the big part was a train ride calais to narbonne with the bike on the transporter carrage and a large seal sac strapped on the back of the sm , this spring gonna get me some new tyres poss dragon corsa or similar and the gs will get put into the shed and the ktm will get some use , cant really think of a bike the i would want to change the sm for , not really into my sports bikes now and can read pass the jurnos this is the best bike ever til the next one comes along , i belive i have the best of both worlds , tho would love to get me hands on a two smoke kh , but thats another thread i guess !!

 

[PDiddy]

sorry cant comment on bracken , up here in east mids its redline motors , tim is a great guy very helpfull and knows his stuff , been a ktm dealer for ages , before ktm got all popular mainstream like , if ever gonna change the sm will be going back to him , fancy the super enduro looks a cracking bike

+1 for Redline, a real pleasure to deal with when I bought my SE from them -