Joining the Katoom Krew...

[expatbrit]

... with a Black 2006 950 SM, 15K miles. Following this and the 200 page thread on the beast over on ADVrider has been interesting.

Photos are already up in the 'show us your KTM thread. I'd been shopping around for a SM type bike for a while, and one popped up on eBay over in AZ. I talked myself out of that one and then was bored so decided to throw it into one of the CL search engines. I mean, what were the odds of one being close?

Of course, one popped up in Albuquerque. Figured going to look at it couldn't hurt. (HAH. Right!). Dropped the guy an e-mail.

He turns out to be the husband of one of my co-workers, who runs a custom bike business. Doomed. Luckily, he's also the 'swap bikes every couple of years' kind of guy.

Anyway, the 950SM followed me home.

She's been sitting for a little bit, so trying to find the time and weather to ride and get the first tank of gas thru'. Even before that the various farkles have started:

• SuperMoto Engineering spools and front axle sliders
• Renzaco seat -- in April
• Head2Wind jet kit
• Oxford heated grips kit
• SW-Motech top rack

Should be enough for now, though this thread on installing an SD dash on an SM has me going 'hmmm'.

I haven't managed to get a lot of riding in to get a good impression on it; only just got it registered and I try and only break one law at a time. Since I'd automatically be breaking one with the sticker and another since I'm riding a hoonbike, that didn't seem too terribly smart or friendly on my already abused licence. (Too much long distance driving without the radar detector, and catching a saturation patrol on US 380. Boo!). I've noticed that it seems a little surgy right now, but I'm not sure how much of that is me being used to the Sprint's smooth fueling. More miles will tell.

[R Doug]

Congrats on the new to you SM.  Based on the pictures I've seen of it in the "Show us yours..." thread, the bike looks great.   The KTM street bikes seem to have an issue with the initial throttle.  I'll bet your jet kit will fix that.  I, on the other hand, have to live with with the EFI gives me.  I don't notice it all on the Super Duke but do on the Adventure.

When did you order your Renazco?  I'm due to get mine for the Adventure mid February.  I can't wait!  

[expatbrit]

Congrats on the new to you SM.  Based on the pictures I've seen of it in the "Show us yours..." thread, the bike looks great.   The KTM street bikes seem to have an issue with the initial throttle.  I'll bet your jet kit will fix that.  I, on the other hand, have to live with with the EFI gives me.  I don't notice it all on the Super Duke but do on the Adventure.

I actually wanted FI; I end up changing altitude a lot and the KLR used to stumble on Sandia Crest (and, by stumble, I meant 'would not restart at the top'). Oh well -- we'll see what the jet kit, all set for the altitude does. I've read nothing byt good about it smoothing out the ride without any significant loss on peak power.

(Besides. It's an SM. it's not ABOUT peak power.   )

When did you order your Renazco?  I'm due to get mine for the Adventure mid February.  I can't wait!  

At the end of last year; they were about to put the prices up, so I jumped in. Looking forward to that, too!

[R Doug]

At the end of last year; they were about to put the prices up, so I jumped in. Looking forward to that, too!

I ordered mine in September and my seat won't be built until mid February.  I'm glad to see he's staying busy!    I've not read ONE bad thing about Renazco.  But, at the price we're paying, I would have loved to tested on first.  I figure the worse case is, someone will buy it off of me since they wouldn't have any wait time.  

[expatbrit]

I ordered mine in September and my seat won't be built until mid February.  I'm glad to see he's staying busy!    I've not read ONE bad thing about Renazco.  But, at the price we're paying, I would have loved to tested on first.  I figure the worse case is, someone will buy it off of me since they wouldn't have any wait time.  

Yeah.

Sort of figured that the combination of the reviews and the busy was a good sign as to it being the right seat.

Plus a little extra height won't go amiss.

I do feel a little bad about converting an SM into a light duty tourer, but ...

[DangerMoney]

I've noticed that it seems a little surgy right now, but I'm not sure how much of that is me being used to the Sprint's smooth fueling. More miles will tell.

If I was in a steady-state cruise on my 950SE and then opened the throttle slightly, it would hesitate for a second and then take off. Did this from day one and I bought it new. Took it to the dealer, they tweaked the jetting and the clip settings and those cured the problem.  If yours turns out to have a problem, take it to a competent 950 tech.

[notarian]

Nice, nice, nice bike. I know - I own one.

Can recommend 3 things right off the bat.

Hand guards - saves on busted knuckles when filtering
R&G crash bungs - saves on expensive hooligan riding wheelies going wrong
37 litre top box for touring - best investment for forever one up touring and 2-5 day two up touring.

[expatbrit]

Hand guards - saves on busted knuckles when filtering

Got a recommendation for a set? High on my list, just a little overwhelmed by choices.