RUST magazine: Rust#14

I’M LOVING THIS SWM RS650R. I wasn’t
expecting that. Hopping off SWM’s two
dedicated enduros onto their middleweight
trail bike was not a good way to make an
introduction. Going from light-and-lively to
heavy-and-gentle is never a good route.
The big bikes typically end up feeling
cumbersome and slow given such a
comparison. But the RS650R doesn’t.
Yes, it’s heavier and lower, and with the
reduced grip of the Conti TKC80 adventure
tyres (as compared to Michelin enduro tyres
on the RS300R/500R enduros) we are
struggling for grip on these Welsh trails,
but heck the big SWM simply feels smooth
and sophisticated. And capable. This is
what 600-650cc single cylinder trail bikes
should be all about…
FLASHBACK
In my youth – decades ago now – bikes like
the Honda XL600M and Yamaha XT600
Ténéré made a huge impression. They were
tall, flashy to the point of being bolshie, and
in looking near-enough carbon copies of
the Dakar racers of the day they were about
as exciting as any trail bike could possibly
dream of being. Road race replicas were
the bike of popular choice (in the UK), but
for an alternative macho statement these
were the call.