Australasian Dirt Bike – May 2019

Firstandforemost,theSWM
RS500Rretailsforacrazypriceof
just$8990pluson-roads.That’san
astounding$6805lessthanthemore
expensive500s.Onpaper,thatjust
looksridiculousandasI’dnever
seenoneinthefleshbeforethistest,
Iassumedthatthebikemustbe
madecheaplyandhavecheap
components.Damn,wasIwrong!
TheSWMisfittedwithKYB
suspension,Brembobrakes,
hydraulicclutchactuation,dual
mufflers,Michelintyresandthe
samequalityItalian-mademotoras
theold-schoolHuskiesfrombefore
KTMtookoverthecompany.Allthat
for$8990?!Notbad,huh!
Visually,itisquiteabig-looking
bikeandonceyousitonit,youdo

noticethatthebikeisfatterthrough

theseatandtankareaandthatthe

switchesandinstrumentsarealittle

bulkyandkindaoldschool.AfterI

ranovertheupdatesforthe 2019

bikewithBobfromSWM,which

includesnewplastics,newLED

headlightandsurround,new

graphics,newsubframe,newseat

andEuro 4 ignitionmap,Itookoff

downthetrailandrightaway,I

foundmyselfenjoyingtheride.

Motor-wise,theSWMisvery

smoothyetithasplentyofgruntto

justgetyoumovingthroughthe

trailsatgoodspeedandwillhappily

chugaroundinthirdgearjustabout

anywhere.Itdoesn’trevupasquick

assomeoftheotherbikesbutit

doesn’treallyneedto.It’storquey

The Italian engine is out of the old Husky Thedualheaderpipesimprovetorque

SMW RS500R

http://www.adbmag.com MAY 2019 | 47