Joined Oct 2004
350 Posts | 1+
Yellowknife, NT Canada
Hello and in the tradition of the guys across the pond - I am buyin!
I have been around UHE off and on for quite some time but since buying the 04 SMC I have haunted KTMTalk mostly.
The SMC was the wrong bike for me - a berg is most definately in my future. I am not racer, I am not even very quick, but I do like purpose built stuff that works well. The SMC is a superb bike and does what it was intended to do very well I just miscalculated what 325lbs can do to negate 55hp.
I live in a small town at the edge of the earth so the opportunity to ride a berg before buying is not at all likely. At present I have the option of a dealer prepped 05 FE550E to an SM or a 07 FS650E with about $3kCdn difference in price.
The only bikes around here I have for reference points are my 03 300exc/04 625SMC a 04 450exc and a 02 520sx (both of which are on 17's but dirt suspended). I would like an sm for the street for what I call point-clutch-shoot riding that has a motor that demands respect. The SMC can be whacked without fear - where's the fun in that....
Can someone offer some advice that might help me choose between the two options I have presented (ie how strong is the 550?)- tough, subjective question I relaize, but I'll take what I can get.
Last thing is the riding season here is short - so short my 3 seasons worth of riding the SMC have netted 2,200km on the odo - so high maintenance intervals should be easy to handle and I am reasoanbly competent at doing my own valves etc.
Cheers
Mark
I have been around UHE off and on for quite some time but since buying the 04 SMC I have haunted KTMTalk mostly.
The SMC was the wrong bike for me - a berg is most definately in my future. I am not racer, I am not even very quick, but I do like purpose built stuff that works well. The SMC is a superb bike and does what it was intended to do very well I just miscalculated what 325lbs can do to negate 55hp.
I live in a small town at the edge of the earth so the opportunity to ride a berg before buying is not at all likely. At present I have the option of a dealer prepped 05 FE550E to an SM or a 07 FS650E with about $3kCdn difference in price.
The only bikes around here I have for reference points are my 03 300exc/04 625SMC a 04 450exc and a 02 520sx (both of which are on 17's but dirt suspended). I would like an sm for the street for what I call point-clutch-shoot riding that has a motor that demands respect. The SMC can be whacked without fear - where's the fun in that....
Can someone offer some advice that might help me choose between the two options I have presented (ie how strong is the 550?)- tough, subjective question I relaize, but I'll take what I can get.
Last thing is the riding season here is short - so short my 3 seasons worth of riding the SMC have netted 2,200km on the odo - so high maintenance intervals should be easy to handle and I am reasoanbly competent at doing my own valves etc.
Cheers
Mark
