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KTM990SMT - It's so easy!

Have you ever ridden along and found a song suddenly looping through your subconscious? About 15 minutes into my ride on the KTM 990SMT I had the chorus of “It’s so easy, so easy, yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s so easy…” running in my head.

I truly feel sorry for anyone that walks past today’s “Sport-Touring” motorcycles dismissively. They have a level of performance, versatility and competency that is enviable. That same rider will likely be surprised when a “Sport-Tourer” goes blasting past their pure sport bike in comfort leaving black lines on the road at the next corner exit.

Everything about the SMT is relaxed even when the pace is high. The 48mm WP forks have 6.3” of travel and absorb pavement imperfections without drama letting blitz through the next section of road. Likewise the rear WP shock with 7.03” of travel and dual compression, rebound and preload adjustment soaks it all up in stride never putting a wheel wrong. This bike is made for carving corners and to date I would have to say it’s probably one of the best at it.

The 990 Rotax twin power plant lays down power with strong controlled torque and smooth fueling. This motor bridges the gap between the new Multistrada’s 150 and 100 hp modes.

Then we come to the brakes. When I said the Streetfighter had the best brakes I meant it, until I rode the SMT.  The brakes are nothing short of phenomenal. Great feel with amazing power and one finger modulation, stunning.

KTM has also figured out that despite their dirtbike heritage people like to actually sit on the seats. My 950 Adventure was infamous for its seat. I am glad to report that KTM has addressed this issue in the form of a seat that is all day comfortable. I notice the newer Adventures have also been graced with the revised seat.

At the end of the day I was ranking this bike with the Multistrada. With its quick connect semi-rigid bags, screen and comfortable seating this bike proves versatile in a rage from back road/track antics to sport-touring and everything in between.

This bike is simply one of the most entertaining motorcycles to ride ever. I now need to run it back- to-back with the Multistrada 1200 and see how it shakes out. At that point my decision may still not be clear, but it will be fun doing the research!

Pros:

• Refined Power Useable
• Great Chassis
• OMG Good Brakes
• Responsive Compliant Top Shelf Suspension
• Comfortable Ergonomics.
• Amazing Range of Function
• Fun, Super Fun!

Cons:

• Needs a slipper clutch for SuperMoto antics

If you haven’t seen last weekends races from Assen…DO IT! Amazing stuff, we may even have it on the DVR so stop by the shop and check it out!

If you are planning on going to Laguna Seca on the 24th of May, it’s time to get signed up! Spots are filling up fast and there are only about 12 left in each of Groups 1 and 3. To get your spot confirmed, sign up at www.velocetrackdays.com

Paul and Josh returned from a day of testing the new RSV4 out on Willow Springs Big Track. Stay tuned for impressions from the day! All accounts are that Aprilia has made something special!

We are going to reschedule our shop ride to accomidate the GP/WSBK viewing party.

For those of you that have been coming to them regularly, chime in with how you are liking the routes!
What sort of mileage do you consider resonable for a day? Is anyone interested in going to say…Idyllwild or Big Bear? Two-Up Shop Ride? Ladies Ride? Give us your thoughts and we’ll create some fun routes/rides!

Tony D'Augusta riding the TE 510 in the 2010 Desert Dash

I was in the midst of preparation for the Desert Dash when the word came down I would get to ride one of the Demo TE 510’s in the Dash.

Oh man, okay  — new plan. Need storage, what to wear, what to bring, other prep to do…!

Tom Petty says “the waiting is the hardest part.” He’s never been on a two day dual sport through some amazing territory in our own backyard. Prep is the hardest part, then getting there, then the waiting.

Paul and I loaded up two TE 510’s. My previous experience on a Husky was at a track day some years back when I was lucky enough to ride one of maybe 3 SMR 450RR’s in the country. I didn’t realize it was such a special bike at the time, but once I threw a leg over it, there was no mistaking that bike was special.

I’ve been a dual-sport rider over the last 7 or so years, not a MX guy. I’m used to heavier, lower powered, somewhat less capable bikes for enjoying off-road activities. I’ve ridden Adventure Touring bikes in Baja and smaller dual-sports too. The Jimmy Lewis School was a great experience and training tool for helping me become a proficient dual-sport rider. My philosophy: Hiking with a motor.

I knew the TE would be lighter than the bikes I was used to, but I also figured it was going to be higher strung.

Our first stint was into the mountains up Oriflame Canyon. This is a trail I’ve ridden many times in various states of repair or disrepair. On this day it was in a condition I hadn’t ridden it in. It was wet and muddy and the numerous rocks in the trail bed had surfaced from the storms. Up we went being careful not to overextend ourselves in the first stint.

Misconceptions shed: The TE is actually a quite tractable machine. It did not have the high strung nature that I had experienced on some other MX-based bikes. The bike wore Dunlop D606 tires that are decent dual-sport tires, but not what I would consider stellar dirt tires, yet it worked quite well with the suspension. My bike had been set up for Scott Harden and I found the settings just fine all weekend.

We had gotten a late start so I picked some choice routes out for the day. We headed over to Grape Vine Canyon and Jasper Trail which were epic as the storms had provided a perfect level of moisture in the sand to make the trail perfect. I had a great time watching Paul drift the rear of his TE through the trail. Clearly his comfort levels were quite high with his MX track experience. I hadn’t been out on a dual-sport ride in 7 or so months (but didn’t realize it at the time), which had me riding a bit tighter, yet still having great fun.

We popped out onto the road and headed down into Borrego for lunch and then back to camp to catch up with others in the group.

Mistake one from day one: The new pack I got on the recommendation of my parts cohort was good, too good in fact that it allowed me to carry some 35 lbs + of stuff in my pack. My back was done after the ride though. Still, Kudos to Grant for the pack, it’s a keeper!

Day Two saw us up and ready for more. I was sore from day one — mostly my back. In addition to the pack my only two ergonomic criticisms of the TE were one, the seat and two, the reach to the bars. One begat the other as the seat was narrow and hard which wouldn’t have been such an issue except that the bars were too low for standing. Bar risers and the problem would have been largely solved.

This day was on trails and sections considered to be the difficult parts of the ride. We headed out with our group and led by San Diego Adventure Riders President – Randy Lazar. He has put this on for the last 7 years and it gets bigger and better every year. We went to do the infamous Squeeze and the Diablo Drop-off. Things I’d seen in pictures and managed to not actually ride through 3 of these events.

Other riders hooked up with us as we worked through the sandy sections and through the Squeeze. I watched other riders struggle through the Squeeze section and thought to myself, “is this it?” I found it really easy, which is more a testament to the bike than my riding skill because it was pretty much a cruise. Then we got to Diablo Drop-off! Okay, I’ve seen the pictures and heard the horror stories for years and there I am at the top thinking “Well, I’m tired, but it should be okay.” I remembered the sage advice I had acquired out in the Nevada desert from Jimmy Lewis: “Never go faster than you can stop!”

Indeed the TE and I did a nice controlled slide to the bottom of the drop-off and all was well.

Hard stuff over, and this is where I become complacent. In a wandering sand wash I tip over for no good reason other than being a bit too conservative and out of practice and shape. Thud, crack…ouch, that was my ribs. Pick up the bike, now thankful it’s much lighter than my normal rig and off I go. We had a long ride through Fish Creek and back out to Ocotillo. On the way out as I started to relax I had a chance to open up the TE. This is when I realized I was on a rocket. In an open sand wash in maybe 3rd gear the thing would just dig in and launch when I rolled on the throttle, Yeehaw! I was too sore to get really crazy, but the TE showed its power and pedigree when I rolled on the gas, man it was fun. Anything that will power wheelie through 3 gears with my frame on it has got some sand!

Out on the road we had stock gearing that limited us to about 60 mph cruising speed without spinning up the motor too much. It’s so nice to have the magic 6th gear that so many other dual-sport bikes lack and desperately need. I would say for more road work between trails I would opt for one tooth higher on the countershaft sprocket. It won’t be lacking any power to pull it along a trail, no worries there.

I headed back to camp to clean up and lick my wounds vowing to once again tackle the trails with some more practice and in better form.

The TE510 proved to be a forgiving tractable bike that exceeds my capabilities. Now that my ribs are nearly healed, I’m beginning to brainstorm for next year! Can’t Wait!

Pros:

• Linear Tractable Power
• Forgiving Balanced Chassis
• Top Shelf Suspension
• 6-speed!!!!
• POWER
• Light Weight
• Kick and Electric Start

Cons:

• Bars too low
• Seat is decidedly MX
• Add a counter shaft tooth for cruising between trails

Earlier this month, we got an email from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reminding riders that they may be eligible for a federal tax deduction on their 2009 taxes if they bought a new motorcycle last year. Info definitely worth passing on….

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — a landmark $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed into law in February 2009 — provides a deduction for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of qualified new vehicles from Feb. 17 through Dec. 31, 2009. Qualified new vehicles include street and dual-sport motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, cars, light trucks and motor homes.

“At first, Congress was not going to include motorcycles in this bill, but the AMA and the association’s members, along with Harley-Davidson and others, persuaded our elected representatives to go back to the drawing board and fix that oversight,” said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. “Congress responded, and now motorcyclists who purchased a new bike last year can enjoy the same tax savings as those who opted for four-wheeled transportation.”

Eligible vehicles must have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 8,500 pounds or less, and cost less than $49,500. Individuals can take the full deduction if they make less than $125,000, or $250,000 for joint filers. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers with income between $125,000 and $135,000 ($250,000 to $260,000 for a joint return). Individuals don’t have to itemize to claim the deduction.

To illustrate the impact of the tax deduction, consider the case of a new motorcycle purchase of $10,500. For a 7.5 percent sales tax rate, the tax would be $787.50. The purchaser takes this deduction on the federal income tax form, reducing their taxable income by $787.50. Sales and excise taxes vary by state, so the actual savings will depend on the taxpayer’s state and tax rate.

To read the Internal Revenue Service “Questions and Answers” about the deduction, go to IRS.gov or www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211310,00.html

GP Motorcycles - we appreciate your decision to do business with us.

GP Motorcycles is an enthusiast and family-owned and operated shop that was started with the intention to fill a void in San Diego’s motorcycle scene. In the late ’80s and early ’90s if you rode your European bike to one of the larger dealerships in town, they would treat you like you had the plague. Now of course, things have changed and these bikes we have always loved are now considered mainstream, but to us they are still as special as they were way back then, and we believe our customers and their machines should be treated that way.

With all the shops and online stores out there, we realize you have a choice, so here are some more reasons why you should choose GP Motorcycles:

• We don’t just ride what we sell, we ONLY SELL WHAT WE RIDE! This is why at GP, you will never see a Ducati on the same sales floor as a watercraft, or an MV Agusta next to a Side-by-Side — they just don’t belong together.
• We know some of the big Japanese dealerships will add on a European “niche” brand to try to increase their bottom lines, but to us that’s like selling Ferrari’s at Walmart!
• If it’s important to you where your money goes, know that when you choose to purchase from GP, you are supporting people like your self who are passionate about the machines we ride, and when you need us, we are here for you with over 25 years of experience working on, riding, racing, and loving these motorcycles.

If price is your concern, don’t fear!  At GP, we understand and always strive to provide our customers with the highest level of service at a fair price. Don’t assume you are getting a deal somewhere else that we can’t match — GIVE US A TRY FIRST!!!  Whether it is a new bike or a new tire, we truly appreciate your decision to do business with us.  GP