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Friday, 07 September 2001 |
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Page 3 of 3
| The bike has taller gearing than the stock enduro LC, this is definitely out of sympathy for the single cylinder engine and the higher revving duty that it'll have to perform on the street. Vibration is not really that bad either, certainly less than a Harley, and at least people wave at you when you ride this. OK, so it's not sewing machine smooth, but this thing has living breathing character and you won't see many riding by in the opposite direction. |
Yes, that's an abused bald tire.
Can you say tire spin? I thought you could.
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The differences that you see in these pictures are between a stock 2001 640 SM and a slightly warmed over version (mine). The stock bike is most capable in all departments 'cept the engine breathing one. Due to our environmentally conscious government, we SM rider's enjoy all the same normal EPA fun delimiting devices. Due to the fact that I am not normal, and of course, due to the 50 horsepower that I lose out to from the usual 600cc sportbike brothers, a little "fettling" was in order... |
It needed a little boost. This came in the form of a Keihin FCR41mm Flatside and a Supertrapp IDS2 exhaust. The differences, after properly setting the bike up on a Factory Eddy Dyno, complete with exhaust gas analyzer, were pretty substantial. After properly jetting the Katoom on the dyno, we got an extra 9 gee gee's and the corresponding leap in torque. The bike leapt from a limp wristed 43bhp to a six pack style 52 and a bit. All for just over $60 a horse. This does however, make the bike illegal in the eyes of EPA law, so I never rode the bike on a public highway ever again, honest.
By the way, all this extra oomph enabled me to gear taller too. I went from the stock 15/42 to 15/38. A bit of an overkill I agree, but I knew that for engine longevity's sake, that taller gear would stop me from thrashing the pants off of the old girl on some of Florida's legendary straights. In retrospect, 15/40 would have sufficed. |  |
All right, this bike is not for everyone, but I think you would surprise yourself how quick you can hustle one of these around in relative safety. I mean getting your jollies on a 130bhp+ bike is all well and good, but eventually the bike starts riding you, instead of you it. Speed is relative (and all that), and if you live anywhere near a twisty canyon (or race track) you owe it to yourself to pinch a ride on one of these and see what all the fuss is about.
You'll probably love it - In fact, I'll bet your drivers license on it!
Mike Emery
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KTM 640 SM LC4
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| Engine: |
1 Cylinder 4 Valve, Automatic Decompression |
| Displacement: |
624.6cc |
| Bore & Stroke: |
101 x 78 |
| BHP |
43BHP @ 7800 rpm |
| Exhaust |
SuperTrapp (Stock) |
| Torque |
40.7 lbs @ 7,000 rpm |
| Gearbox: |
5 speed |
| Carburetion: |
Mikuni BST 40mm |
| Ignition: |
Kokusan DC-CDI |
| Frame: |
Tubular Chrome-Molybdenum |
| Front Suspension: |
Upside-down 2 way adjustable (Compression + Rebound) Extreme WP, 50 mm, 280mm travel |
| Rear suspension: |
Progressive Linkage 2 way adjustable (Compression + Rebound) with WP piggy-back reservoir, 320mm travel |
| Front Brakes: |
Double Brembo calipers on semi - floating 300 mm rotor. |
| Rear Brakes: |
Single 220 mm rotor, Brembo 2 piston caliper. |
| Wheels: |
Behr Spoked |
| Front tire: |
Pirelli MT 60R 120/70-17 |
| Rear Tire: |
Pirelli MT 60R 150/60-17 |
| Weight: |
314 lbs. (all fluids) |
| Fuel Capacity: |
2.66 gallons |
| Seat Height: |
935 mm |
| Colors |
Black/Silver |
| MSRP: |
$7,198 |
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