supermotos

hmm - you're right. The 625 SMC has an electric start, but it's 10Kg
heavier than the 660. I suppose I'll have to get myself down to
Bracken[1] and have a go at kick-starting one.

[1] who are selling all 2004-model Duke-IIs, LC4 and SMCs (both 625 and
660) for 4750 OTR at the moment, which seems pretty good.

 

you know, I don't actually...one CCM is enough for a lifetime.

 

What you need is to have had the brother of KTM's MD as your best mate
when you were a kid... ;-)

They do sound pretty good prices though.

 

what, get them to do a 660 SMC with the electric start from the 625 -
yeah, that would do just fine.

 

Hmm I doubt I'd have much luck asking that. Besides the e-start &
associated bits would probably account for the missing 10Kg anyway.
You'd probably be better off starting with a 625/640 & throwing some
money at cf/magnesium/titanium if you want the weight down, & maybe a
660 top end for extra oomph.

 

I quite fancy the 625 SMC in any case - I much prefer the looks to the
LC4. Funny thing is, on their website both the 625 and 660 SMCs are
quoted as about 50% of the power and 60% of the torque of the LC4 - as
I mentioned to Veggie, it must be a mistake, but it's vaguely
off-putting.

 

bad form etc.

Apparently, the SMCs are restricted to 33hp for homologation purposes,
whereas the LC4s don't have to be. I mis-read Veggie's comment about
the carb slide block.

Presumably derestriction is not difficult.

 

<fx:interest is eventually piqued and looks at website>

Eh? They're almost identical[1]. Or have I missed someting?

[1] I've spotted the *slight* difference in the headlight cowl.

 

terrible phrasing on my part. I mean "I like the look of the SMC over
the LC4", referring to my fancying one, rather than what it actually
looks like - I mean I like the look of the lightweight subframe, lack
of pillion pegs, and the flat-slide carb.

But I've changed my mind again - a little bit more digging for info
reveals that the SMC models are classed as competition machines and
only offered with a 6 month warranty, compared to the 2 year warranty
on the LC4.

 

Ah, I see.

Out of interest, you've only relatively recently got shot of the
R30. Any particular reason(s) as to why you sold it or why having
another supermoto is appealing again?

 

Well, yes, where "relatively recently" means "over 2 years ago".

the answer to both parts of your question is "financial reasons".

 

Ah, that long. Still I've had the same bike for over 7 years
now, so I must have a different mindset )

I remember now. Something to do with the IR wanting their share
wasn't it?

 

The supermoto I'm toying with buying is to replace my 'blade, which
I've had for 3 years now, and don't really use any more. Although I
like the idea of having multiple bikes, there's no point in owning one
you never use - the current plan is to rationalise my "stable" into the
RGV250 for trackdays, a supermoto for commuting, b-roads hooning, and
the ZX7R for back-up trackdays, back-up commuting, and touring.

it was more the financial pain of going from contracting back to a
permie role, but yes, the IR didn't help. The cunts owe *me* >3K at the
moment.

 

You want to *tour* on the 7R? Ive not ridden one, but my
ZXR750 which I assume is pretty similar in terms of riding
position was definitely not a tourer.

Hmm, I'm considering going back to permie and I was thinking that
the transition would leave me OK financially - both immediately &
longer term.

Still, I've recently had a letter from the IR stating that they're
happy that I wasn't caught by IR35 when I was working a contract
back in 2000. Which was nice. Took them over two years to decide
though.

 

well, no, not as such; I just meant that of the three bikes I intend to
own by the summer, the 7R would be the one I'd choose for longer trips.

well, if you can get a permie job that pays a similar amount to what
you were getting as a contractor, you should be OK. 2 years ago, such
permie jobs didn't exist, though a couple of decent pay-rises later,
I'm not doing so bad now.

 

IME, contract rates have been crap for a good few years now[1]
and there seem to be plenty of permie jobs now that would
increase my income substantially. The problem is that a lot
of places seem to not want ex-contractors.

[1] Following a recent rate increase, I'm back to just below what
I was getting in early 1999.

 

Why not? Simian managed seven days through France on his last year
with no problems. Well, except for the over-rich fuelling[1] and the
notched steering bearings, that is.

[1] On the few occasions when I'd dropped back for whatever reason and
Simon was at the front, I reckoned I could judge how far off he was by
the smell of unburnt petrol - starting at about a mile behind him.

 

ogden wrote:
[of contractors]

It's the hopping from job to job that I want to get out of!

 

Furry muff.

 

They're a piece of piss to kick start - honestly

--
Veggie Dave
UKRMHRC#2 BOTAFOF#08
IQ 18 FILMS http://www.iq18films.com
Extreme Racing http://www.veggie-dave.co.uk
Toxic Shock Syndrome Gets More Girls Than Me