Found a lightweight bike
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2026 1:46 pm
After scanning the web for ages i found a bike. It was only in the other part of the village, and i know the bloke. After moving bikes around his double garage i saw it. A KTM 640, last edition 1999 bike. He's owned it from new. 8810 on the clock. Plus, has he already lowered it. As these are the last edition bikes, there were only 400 made worldwide, and this is only number 209. Mike, the seller, had only just given it a full service, cleaned the carbs, and checked the valves to sell it.
All is good except for the original MT60 tyres, dated 2015. Loads of tread but a bit old for me.
Got my son to give a run, while Mike and I had a cuppa and talked about his other bikes. Vincent black shadow, Sunbeam 4, Matchless Model X4, Ariel VG Deluxe with sidecar, and a BSA Gold Star. In all, he owns over 20 British bikes. It's like his own little museum. He even has his own workshop with grinders, lathes x2, and welders. Mike said he has to make most bits himself as the parts aren't there anymore.
Anyway, my son comes back 40 minutes later(cheeky sod). He said it rode like a new bike and was great fun, but you have to be gentle on the throttle as it wants to wheelie all the time. That's a lot from him, as he only rides large CC bikes.
Lucky i have tyres in the correct size in the garage, he said he would fit them when I'm ready.
The swelling on my knee is going down, and i can walk on it, so give it a week or so, and i might give it a spin.
Now to deside weather to keep the RT or flog it. The problem is i love the RT on long holidays, and i cant see the 640 being comfortable on anything over an hour
All is good except for the original MT60 tyres, dated 2015. Loads of tread but a bit old for me.
Got my son to give a run, while Mike and I had a cuppa and talked about his other bikes. Vincent black shadow, Sunbeam 4, Matchless Model X4, Ariel VG Deluxe with sidecar, and a BSA Gold Star. In all, he owns over 20 British bikes. It's like his own little museum. He even has his own workshop with grinders, lathes x2, and welders. Mike said he has to make most bits himself as the parts aren't there anymore.
Anyway, my son comes back 40 minutes later(cheeky sod). He said it rode like a new bike and was great fun, but you have to be gentle on the throttle as it wants to wheelie all the time. That's a lot from him, as he only rides large CC bikes.
Lucky i have tyres in the correct size in the garage, he said he would fit them when I'm ready.
The swelling on my knee is going down, and i can walk on it, so give it a week or so, and i might give it a spin.
Now to deside weather to keep the RT or flog it. The problem is i love the RT on long holidays, and i cant see the 640 being comfortable on anything over an hour
