What was KTM thinking?

[DJ Down Under]

Just what was KTM thinking with the exhaust on the new 690SM....Aprilia must be laughing their arses off.

Click here for a short vid... http://www.motorcyclenews.com/nav?page=motorcyclenews.articles.articleCategory.a rticle&resourceId=6437678&articleCategory=NEWS_NEW-BIKES

DJ

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/jpeg/643/20006408.jpeg

[fnfalman]

It looks weird but if it works then why the heck not.

[DarthRider]

It looks weird but if it works then why the heck not.

Because it looks weird...

[Ed K]

:roflol: :roflol: :roflol:

DJ, They have got to be kidding!

[TorqueMonsterMT-01]

When the front wheel is pawing the sky, the pipe will be just right!

The KTM's I've ridden seem to want that wheel in the air anyway.

[socalrob]

The poor bike designers. I have a feeling we are seeing the cans of the future - the Euro Union driven future. Just like the giant sausages on the new BMWs. That sucker looks like it belongs on the side of a Freightliner. Too bad they didn't put one of those flappers on top to keep the rain out.

[DJ Down Under]

If Aprilia could do this why couldn't KTM...btw my BMW dealer also sells Aprilia's.

DJ

http://tkfiles.storage.msn.com/x1pN1mp8dKYgTGPrj5POhtPdHVr7CjRNanUbFNeZhIiTR74i3t HwSrfMXiSl-LiySBhiV6oEAMdHIKBFZJokpi4-t1uaJuAe-7nXx7a8oA1qjI

http://tkfiles.storage.msn.com/x1pN1mp8dKYgTGPrj5POhtPdMlcZu2cGqHRkhpsE4CoY4P3qho rrUy-4l8ohrzssTAkNMipxt0vmzlcHUUfvjxXbyGptkTIvag3hdBY8x u8pKQ

[JCsman]

The poor bike designers. I have a feeling we are seeing the cans of the future

If so, one of the Buell solutions is likely to become pretty common, sticking a large part of the can under the engine. They need to do something. That KTM can is hideous.

[Dallara]

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A Warning, DJ... A very, very serious warninng.

DO NOT TEST RIDE ONE OF THOSE APRILIA SXV/RXV-450/550'S!!!

Resist all urges and offers to do so, no matter what.

Otherwise be prepared for an ear-to-ear grin that will plastered on your face for days afterward, fits of uncontrolled laughter that will have your sides achingly sore, and bouts of babbling gibberish spewing forth about how much fun riding the damn things are!

I rode an SXV-450 - the SuperMotard equipped model - around town in New Braunfels when I picked up my Tuono at AF-1, and all I can is "OH, MY GOD IS THAT THING FUN!" It is simply impossible to describe how much fun and how many giggles it is to ride. I can only imagine a 550 is even worse... well, I mean "better"... even more FUN!!! (See what I mean?)

If I can figure how where the hell I would put it I am seriously thinking of buying one... For what purpose I have no idea, since it really serves none that my other bikes can't fill, but still... Nothing in a long, long time has been more sheer FUN, LAUGHTER PROVOKING, SMILE PRODUCING, and PURE ENJOYMENT as that little Aprilia SXV-450.

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)




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[JCsman]

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For what purpose I have no idea, since it really serves none ...but sheer FUN, LAUGHTER PROVOKING, SMILE PRODUCING, and PURE ENJOYMENT

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What other purpose is there for having a bike?

Oh yeah, good gas mileage:snore:

[Tassie Devil]

I think the KTM exhaust gases would help clear your goggles...

[fnfalman]

Ghastly looking exhausts are here to stay because of the new EU-3 emission standard and the new US emission standard. The Aprilia SXVs are not street legal therefore they don't have exhausts that are saddled with catalytic converters.

[socalrob]

I thought those Aprilia pipes looked a little, er, "small" to be street legal. Sure is a nice design though. The new R1200R sounds like a Camry with that huge can. I don't like loud, but I like some tone.

[arkline]

Well, there is a bit of uglyosity to that 690SM. I'll agree to that.

But then there's this tasty item:

http://www.ktmusa.com/Duke.15.20.html

http://www.990superduke.com/

Which is coming to the USA in two versions and pretty soon now.

I admit I am a little more than impressed with the package, although I'd prolly piss meself silly...

And there is a dealer here just a smidge's distance from the Triumph dealer...

A true embarassment of riches...

[geechie]

I thought those Aprilia pipes looked a little, er, "small" to be street legal. Sure is a nice design though. The new R1200R sounds like a Camry with that huge can. I don't like loud, but I like some tone.

I'll betcha that "Camry" thing can be fixed.

George

[Blue Mist]

The KTM 950 Supermotard weighs only 50 lbs more than my old KLX650, but with a lot more power. I'd like to try one.

That said, the SVX550 is the only new bike I really want. All the Aprilia caveats apply - no dealers, where do you get tech support and parts, blah, blah, blah. I want one. It weighs a hundred pounds less that an SV650. Nuff said.

OK, my list of powersports desires is as follows: Ariel Atom, Aprilia SVX550 and maybe a Monster S4Rs - light, agile and fast, a hoot (a hoot and a half maybe) on a twisty road. Let people driving big damn luxury schoolbus things and and long slow heavy cruiser things shake their heads; they obviously don't know what's fun.

[Blue Mist]

Old article, but the first I've heard of it:


We mentioned some time ago that Aprilia were going to launch a 550cc road bike utilising the V-Twin motor from their SVX Supermoto. The idea has also been confirmed by management and it appears demand is already high. The only problem is that in either the 450 or 550 version, the motor needs a rebuild after every 60 hours of use, something a street bike rider will not put up with. So now the problem is how to make the motor more durable!


Motorcycle-USA (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=3105&Page=1)

[Wild Will]

Interesting topic, DJ. Another interesting consideration regarding some high strung supermotards and 4 stroke dirt bikes (Honda) is that they have very stringent maintenance schedules. You'd think buyers would look into that, but the truth is they usually don't. My pal Rod, who recently went with his son to be on the U.S. GNCC team at the New Zealand event, bought one of the trick Honda 250's, and we rode in the Nevada desert over 4 days, and he lost his engine on his next ride. Burnt valve. They need frequent valve adjustments and hold very little oil. Caveat emptor.

I sure do love my XR 400, Caveman Edition.

[Dallara]

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Couple of quick things...

That Aprilia exhaust is not just those two tips, Rob... There is a rather sizable *collector box* that makes up the majority of the muffler/exhaust, and it fits almost like an inner fender. You can see it if you look closely at this picture:

http://www.mototekblog.com/aprilia-pictures/aprilia-sxv-450-motard-4.jpg


If you'll notice the two exhaust *tips* come out of the *collector box*, and the *box* runs down the entire front area under the seat and has a black plastic inner fender flap bolted on at the bottom.

Here's another shot...

http://home.arcor.de/rotzfressa/Berliner%20Motorrad%20Tage/Aprilia%20SXV%20450%2004.jpg


And another perhaps better one...

http://myducati.blogsome.com/images/sxv_design.jpg



Point is that those two little tips aren't doing the muffling...

BTW, the aftermarket is already having some fun with Aprilia SXV/RSV exhaust systems...

http://blog.ameba.jp/user_images/8b/7d/10005310120.jpg



Now I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Texas both the SXV and RXV Aprilia twins are "street legal", and you get a title, license plate, and inspection sticker like any other bike. They even have fork locks...

As to the issue of reliability, short intervals to rebuilds, etc... I have a PDF copy of both the Aprilia factory service manual for these bikes, as well as a PDF copy of the owners manuals. NOWHERE in either does it say anything about any sort of "rebuild" after 60 hours of use, or any other hours interval...

Here's what the owners manual DOES say:

After the initial 500 Km (311 mile) break-in service, which change engine oil and filter, etc. like just about any other bike, you do a CHECK of a lot of things again at 3,000 Km (1,864 miles) and change the engine oil again, but you don't change anything else. Then at every 6,000 Km (3,728 miles) you change the gearbox oil, adjust the valve clearances, etc. You are supposed to check the piston and ring wear at this interval, too, and change them IF YOU ARE RACING the bike.

There are some other caveats, but all in all it's really not any more of a strenuous ownership ritual than, say... A Honda CRF-450-R or 450-X.

Like Ed Cook at AF-1 said... "Hey, it's a race bike you can ride on the street. You have to try and maintain it like you would a race bike..."

And he's right... If you want something that weighs 100 lbs. less than a Suzuki SV-650 and will run rings around it, you gotta' pay the price!

That said, the guys at AF-1 didn't see the bikes as a problem long-term longevity-wise, primarily because the materials and components are of such a high grade. They basically said you just need to keep an eye on everything like you would a race bike. The harder you ride it and the faster you go the more maintenance you would be doing and the more parts you would be replacing on a regular basis... But like Ed said, the bikes are so light they don't wear out tires, brakes, chains, or sprockets on the street, so the money you save there you put into pistons, rings, camshaft bearings, etc.! :028:

It all kind of evens out in the end... :eusa_clap:

All in all, it doesn't matter to me. The damn things are so much fun I swear I am just gonna' have to get me one of them SXV-550's if the doctors say it's a go...

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)




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[socalrob]

George,

Yeah, I'm sure that camry exhaust can be "fixed" on the R1200R with a nice full Remus system. When I was test riding Ducati's though their stock exhaust, while not loud, still managed a nice tone. Some new cars these days have a nice tone, all stock.

The R1200R is almost "electric" quiet. I just think BMW overdid the exhaust a bit. It would be nice to ride a stock bike that was louder than a sewing machine.




Seeing all the talk about high maintenance 450's, makes me glad I went with the old school tried & true Honda XR400 a few years back. Change the oil now & then, check the chain & she's good to go for another day in the dirt. Not as exciting as a new style Honda, but good enough for my old bones anyway.

[fnfalman]

I think that once somebody comes out with an alternative fuel tank or an additional fuel tank for the SXV family, I'd definitely buy a 550. 70+horsepower out of something that light means serious ass kicking acceleration.

[Dallara]

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A big Ditto on that, Fnfalman...

The bloody SXV-450 I rode was joy ride enough, damn near - even with my power-sapping mass aboard. The 550 should be even more FUN!

The guys at AF-1 said there were already larger fuel tanks available in Europe... Carbon fiber ones, no less. They said they were trying to source them for US availability and should know something soon. I think it was Ed that said something about Aprilia themselves even having a larger tank as an accessory available option soon. One thing about Aprilia - they have a pretty large factory accessory catalog of stuff, much like Ducati.

I got the impression Ed thought that Aprilia was going to be doing a lot more with the 450/550 v-twin engine family. I joked about maybe they might even make a 650 version and he just smiled. Not necessarily like he knew anything... More like he had been thining the same thing. Oddly enough, he said he preferred the 450 to the 550, but of course he weighs all of about 150 - 160 lbs., max!

The only thing I really didn't care for on the SXV-450 was the friggin' idle speed. AF-1 had it set at just over 2,000 RPM... I asked if this was correct, and they said yes, and that it also helped avoid stalling the little bullet since it was so light flywheeled. And it does have light flywheels. In neutral the engine feels like it revs INSTANTLY, almost two-stroke like. This does make it pretty critical you be in the proper gear most of the time, and though the engine doesn't mind being short-shifted to a point, it really likes to be in the proper cog. However, the clutch is feather light and the gearbox shifts slick as glass, so it's not a problem keeping in the right gear. Ratios were pretty close together, and first was a pretty tall gear, so you have to have the revs up to get underway in a hurry, but man, once you are rolling the thing is pure MAGIC!!!

It's light (and I mean it feels REALLY light), narrow, and incredibly flickable, with terrific brakes, that slick gearbox, smooth clutch, and a truly intoxicating exhaust note... It made you want to just keep going up and down through the gearbox just to hear the thing pull.

AF-1's demo was what Ed called "de-restricted", so the exhaust was louder than stock, but the really wild thing was the intake moan... The loudest intake drawl I can recall ever hearing on any motorcycle. It sounds like it is going to suck the top of the *tank* in!

Truly an exhilerating and unique machine! :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap: :eusa_clap:

Cheers!

Allan (Dallara)





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[rivi]

Yeah, well as sexy as the KTM & Aprilia exhausts might be, the wait for the new DRZ is finally over...

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l238/rivers_bucket/aprilia_mxv_exhaust_l.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l238/rivers_bucket/109190539-L.jpg

[JCsman]

Hmmmm..... a bit too much dual-purpose for my taste.

[Dallara]

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Yep... Just as JCsman/Bill says - too dual-purpose...

Definitely that Suzuki DRZ-400's doors swing too much BOTH ways! :ymca:

I'll bet it comes with some of those "Rainbow" stickers for your helmet...

F-UGLY!

Allan (Dallara)




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