| Author | Message | ||
     Syscrush |
OK, I don't know if it's in the cards this year or not, but I dearly want a new motorcycle. The two top contenders for my love and affection are an XB9SX and a KTM Duke 690. My riding is about 80% urban, 10% highway trips under 2 hours, and 10% multi-day highway trips with 5-10 hrs in the saddle. Those longer trips generally include some mountain/twisty riding too. My current ride is a semi-fightered 2000 SV650. It's a naked with OEM clip-ons and footpegs from the 650S and an R6 RSU front end (among many other mods). I have done 10-12 hour days on this bike in all weather on superslab so I don't need to be warned off of a naked bike with semi-aggressive ergos for distance riding. My wife has her own bike so I do very little 2-up riding now. I don't need more power, but I'd like less weight, less common styling, higher spec suspension and brakes, FI, and general coolness. Here's my stab at the pros and cons of both bikes, I'd love any feedback on where I'm right, wrong, or missing the point: XB9SX Pros: + Hydraulic lifters = no valve adjustments ever. + Air cooled = less tech, less maintenance. + Belt drive = no chain maintenance or adjustment. + Great looks. + Good or very good suspension. Cons: - Clunky transmission? Duke 690 Pros: + Great looks + High-spec components (WP suspension, Marchesini wheels, Brembo brakes, slipper clutch) + Wheelie monster Cons: - Chain drive - Short maintenance interval - Not that reliable (I've heard rumors of crank and oil leak problems)? Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated. Also any pointers to the "must do" mods for an XB9SX would be cool. Thanks, Phil. | ||
| Ustorque |
Cons: - Clunky transmission? my sx's trans is silky smooth! ride both and see which one talks to ya, i'm a little biased to my 9SX. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Don't discount the benefit of two cylinders vs. one. The 690 is a great motor, but gets buzzier as you get the revs up into cruise speed. The 9 in comparison remains pretty smooth at cruise speeds. The 9 should also have more peak HP and torque. The "clunky" transmission is a non-issue. I've never shifted and thought "I hate this transmission." Parts are also cheaper, maintenance for the 9 costs much less. The 690 does have the cool/wow factor, but beyond that, I think there is more to love in the 9. | ||
| Biff |
SUPER DUKE! SUPER DUKE! say it with me... SUPER DUKE! but if you can't do that... go with the city. I personally like the clunk of the tranny on my xb9sx | ||
| Cityxslicker |
No comparison, no compromises  that 690 doesnt like the mud I bet  | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
I just rode a 690 today. It was the SMR supermoto version not the Duke. I loved it. It weighs about a hundred pounds less than the XB9, and that makes an enormous difference in handling, and agility, all in favor of the KTM. I don't know anything about the cost of ownership, but the KTM was extremely well built, and finished. Try it, you'll like it. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
ktm builds a nice bike, they could lure me away since Buell doesnt build a dirt bike. | ||
| Syscrush |
WOW - lots of responses! Thanks a bunch everybody.  "that 690 doesnt like the mud I bet" You're joking, right? I have ridden an older 640SM and it was mental - I did like it an awful lot. It was a used bike but the fit and finish seemed great, and the spec of the components on the Duke 690 is comparable to an R-spec Ducati. In principle, though, the Buell should be easier to live with day to day. I do think it's funny that when I mention a clunky tranny the responses range from "Mine's silky smooth" to "I like the clunk". I didn't find the transmission on the LC4 I rode to be very smooth either. It would be nice to ride both bikes back-to-back. I've actually never ridden any Buell or Harley. I don't think that the weight diff between the 690 and the XB9SX is really 100 lbs - more like 60, I think. Curb weight for the 9 is what - 390 lbs? Claimed wet weight (no fuel) for the Duke 690 is just under 330 lbs. What about mods? What are the basic "you must do this" mods for the 9? What are the potential problem areas with it? Where's the biggest bang for buck in terms of mods? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
HID's, Heated grips, soft bags, seat, handlebar swaps, R Pegs, pipe, filter, dyno tune, It's pretty dang good from the factory. Don't let slicker touch it. He's got a weird mud fetish. | ||
| Ustorque |
I do think it's funny that when I mention a clunky tranny the responses range from "Mine's silky smooth" to "I like the clunk". ok, maybe not silky, but the only "clunk" is usually going from neutral to first at a stop. through the rest of the gears my 9 has a very smooth and quiet trans. it is very tight when new and finding neutral on a new beull can be fun in itself, but once broken in i find it to be a very solid and forgiving trans. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Gloppy, ploppy, thick chunky dirty MUD I just cant resist it. The 690 SMC is the weapon for the mud, I wouldnt do it on the Duke. (well I would I just shouldnt) I do love the KTM 450 EXC though. | ||
| Moosestang |
clunks into first, but that's about it. Changing to gp shift makes nuetral finding a cake walk. You are correct on all the other pros for the buell. Belt drive is maintenance free and quiet, I love it. I would say ecmspy is a pro for the buell. I doubt the duke, or any other bike for that matter, has free tuning software available. of course that's only for the 07 and earlier buells. | ||
| Js_buell |
SUPER DUKE! SUPER DUKE! say it with me... SUPER DUKE! That bike was my second choice after my xb12 and sometimes I do regret it because of the many problems I have with my buell, but it's all supposed to be fine now so I'l stay with the buell for now but if I ever get rid of the xb12 it's going to be a superduke the next one. To make it short, because the cityx is a twin the superduke would be a better comparison even if in no way the cityx can compete with the SD for power. They will have similar feel on highway where the duke 690 will be what a thumper is on highway, annoying. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wouldn't choose a single over a twin for street bike (I own one of each right now), and I wouldn't choose a dirt bike that weighs more then 280 pounds. So get the 9sx for the street, or a lighter bike for the dirt. You have to figure out what you want to do first. The superduke is "fun", so long as your trips are short. I wouldn't hesitate to do a 300 mile day on the 9sx. | ||
| Dc29 |
My xb12 shifts with a clunk compared to the rice bikes but it has never missed a shift in 15000mi. My first choice when buying a new bike was the SD KTM but then I sat on the xb12. Compared cost,maint.,and thump ,BUELL, nuff said!  | ||
| Syscrush |
Gloppy, ploppy, thick chunky dirty MUD I just cant resist it. The 690 SMC is the weapon for the mud, I wouldnt do it on the Duke. (well I would I just shouldnt) I do love the KTM 450 EXC though. I'm not much of a mud rider, but I have done my share on snow. Lighter is better on snow - my CBR125R (bought kind of on a lark) is good in super-low traction conditions, you can save it with your foot if you have to. I just don't see any way that the 9 could be better than any incarnation of the 690 on mud, dirt, gravel, snow, or sand. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
looks like the duke is uncomfortable.... a bud of mine has a KTM supermotard (different bike) and it has a comfortable seat for a dirt bike but not for a street bike. And the duke looks like if you brake hard enough you'll slide on up and rack yourself with the tripple tree and keep going till your superman the car in front of you Im a firebolt fan, but the 9SX is going to be the best choise here, it may be slower than you kan-of-tuna at topend sleep, dont let the cc displacement fool you.... (Message edited by ochoa0042 on December 09, 2008) | ||
| Js_buell |
Compared cost,maint.,and thump ,BUELL, nuff said! +1 on that and that's why I stayed with my first choice the 09xb12scg | ||
| Cityxslicker |
28k on the bike this week. 10 of them off pavement. The Buell CityX will do it. She is too heavy, wide and geared wrong for single track. But fire roads at 50-60mph she is like a big dog that wants to play frisbee all day long. I've done several 500 mile days on pavement, and 300 mile dirt days. It is the single most fun bike I have ever had, but it has niches that are better performed by other bikes.... But it is great not to have to go home and get another bike to ride off road . And that positive thunk into first gear lets you know its time for business. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Actually, a Buell XB9r weighs about 450 or so with full tank according to Sport Rider magazine test. The KTM weighs 327 empty. Add four gallons of gas at six pounds each, you got 351. Difference is about a hundred pounds, and you can really tell the difference in the twisties. I hate to say it, but it is more fun, better handling and better built than an XB9. Nice looking little bugger too.  To bad Buell doesn't make something like this using a Rotax single. Harley military bikes have been using them for years. | ||
| Court |
Jon: Is that the 690 model? It really is a good looking bike. I've been seeing a couple of those BMW Motard looking things. The idea of kind of tossing a Blast, a Rotax single and some stuff in a blender is intriguing. I'm not sure I **need** one but there is something just fun about the looks and it makes me, in my sunset years, feel young . . . Let me know when you are about . . . I need to call you later in the day with a Mac question. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Court - That is a 2008 SMR. Fuel injected 690 with slipper clutch. 65 horsepower for 330 pounds. I am not sure if they are offering that model for 2009, I could not find it on their web site. They also have a very similar model for the street with an under-the-engine muffler called the Duke. Same basic deal. I had an absolute ball riding it, my friend had a hard time getting me to give it back. I'll just say that I had a much easier time following my friend when he was on my Buell and I was on his KTM than vice versa. I'll be home all day - it's raining. Give me a call anytime. Your sun ain't setting yet, good buddy!  | ||
| Reepicheep |
YMMV. That 690 looks like it would be great fun to ride the 11 miles across deals gap. The XB9SX was fun to ride *to* deals gap, as well as across it. For around town stuff though, or short commutes, that 690 would be insanely fun (though I would opt for a street legal dual sport rather then a supermotard flavor... almost as much fun on the street and lots more fun on the dirt). | ||
| Js_buell |
Actually, a Buell XB9r weighs about 450 or so with full tank according to Sport Rider magazine test. The KTM weighs 327 empty. Add four gallons of gas at six pounds each, you got 351. Difference is about a hundred pounds, and you can really tell the difference in the twisties. I hate to say it, but it is more fun, better handling and better built than an XB9. Nice looking little bugger too. ddd To bad Buell doesn't make something like this using a Rotax single. Harley military bikes have been using them for years. Actually this SM from KTM is the ugliest they have ever made IMO. The new duke III and the 690SMC on the other end are very nice bikes. | ||
| Js_buell |
First pic 690 SMC and second is the dukeIII   | ||
| Schleppy |
A local guy has the 690SMC and loves it. For me I can't justify spending that much money on a single cylinder bike that has such a narrow and uncomfortable seat (and a tiny tank). Also, the guy who owns one HATES the rear mounted gas filler. | ||
| Syscrush |
Actually this SM from KTM is the ugliest they have ever made IMO. The new duke III and the 690SMC on the other end are very nice bikes. First pic 690 SMC and second is the dukeIII It's an incredible phenomenon. The SMR is one of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen, but it's almost identical to the SMC and Duke, which I consider one of the sexiest bikes I've ever seen. The diff is the exhaust, fender, and headlight, and in the looks department that's about it. Last year I came very close to buying an SMR on clearance and retrofitting the Duke items to it. The result would be a Duke + laced wheels. OMG, hot! |
