A guy is offering to trade me his 2002 Duke II for my Hawk that is for sale. The only KTM I've ever ridden was the Superduke 990 at Barber last year. I am looking to get into sumo bikes but I'm not real sure if I'd consider the Duke II a "real" sumo bike. It looks more ideal for the street than doing some dirt and street duty. Does anyone on here have experience with these bikes? How bad is the maint. upkeep on the LC4? Oil changes and valve checks as bad (read as: often) as a KTM SMR?

I'm pretty set on a DRZ400SM but I'm open to other reliable, sumo options if anyone has any. Yeah the DRZ will get smoked on the straights. Yeah it doesn't have the latest and trickiest components like the more exotic sumo's. Yeah its somewhat heavy for a sumo (steel frame). BUT, it's rock solid reliable, turn-key ignition, capable of some dirt, small kart tracks and decent commuter with great gas mileage. Not to mention most reviews rave the bike as putting "FUN!" back into riding. Don't get me wrong, the VTR is a ton of fun in itself but I want to get back into more of a dirt bike/sumo.

I'd love to get something like a Husky 610SM with the nice power and light weight but I just feel I will get annoyed with the constant oil changes and valve checks, no matter how easy they are. So I feel like the DRZ fits me more based on that and me not really caring if I have ***** out power or not on a sumo. As long as it wheelies, can handle some light trail duty, and is fun, that's all I'm really after.

Anyone have personal experience with the DRZ, I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

BTW here are the pics of the Duke II he sent me. It looks pretty clean but I'm not sure if I'm liking the styling of the bike. Very unique that's for sure. I can't think of ever seeing one on the roads around here.