Looking for advice on an Adventure bike

[Rainer SchadeMember]

New to this Group but from what I have read so far, a wealth of knowledge and experience so maybe someone can help
Looking for an Adventure bike – my criteria – Second hand, not too heavy, or too expensive (to buy or maintain) don’t have any brand loyalties, comfortable enough for 500km days, doesn’t need a huge amount of power but enough so the transport stages are not too boring, electric start, not too much vibration, don’t expect it to be brilliant but at least capable of everything from tight single track to a hundred km on bitumen if necessary. Probably do 5-10,000km per year
Realise that I have set an impossible target and compromise will be needed
My previous choice was a KTM 690 and did about 5000km on it but really didn’t like it – expensive, uncomfortable, horrible low speed fuelling, gearing all wrong (too high for serious dirt and too low for road) and quite a few computer problems but was a lot of fun on fast fire trails

Many thanks for any input

[Andrew RobsonMember]

Maybe look at a Suzuki DR650 or a DRZ400. I’d go the DRZ.

[Nick JacksonMember]

I’d be looking towards a DR650 with that criteria but I suppose it all depends the percentage of fast open riding to slower more technical.
My Tenere is great in the open / fire road / twin track but I’d never plan to tackle singles on it. It’s more capable than it looks as an alrounder!!

I had a Drz set up as an Adv bike and the fast open roads aren’t any fun at all but obviously the tighter stuff was easier than a bigger bike.

I rode a BMW F800gs recently to the high country and it performed well in the fast sections but not as good as the Tenere or DR650s on the same ride , it needed a very steady throttle hand to not break traction all the time.

Its the same old story …. We all need 3 bikes in the shed to do it all !!!

Nick

[Scott SouthwellMember]

If ya not happy with the gear ratios on the six speed 690 you will hate the DRZ400 it has gear ratios more akin to an MX bike. This is the reason I sold mine, the gear ratios where to much of a compromise.

Out of the more off road capable ADV bikes maybe look at the Husky TE630. It seems to have the widest ratio gearbox out there, certainly wider than the 690 and is in the middle of the range of the single cylinder bikes for weight.

[Dwayne OMember]

Pretty tough criteria there for sure :laugh:
As mentioned, if you were not a fan of the 690 :whistle: Well maybe the Husky line might have what you want.
Either the 610 or the newer TE630 may suit you better

I have ridden with guys on both models & they were both happy with their setups.
Both models have a good supply of ready to go ADV parts & accessories (screens, bashplates, racks, tanks etc etc)
And I think the Husky is not too bad on the price front to get onroad (unsure on parts & runing costs etc)

TB may have some good handle on info since Steve from ADV MOTO has (or had) one recently

One question,, Did you try some different gearing with the 690 ??? I have read some interesting reports on sprocket combos lately ,,,

Good Luck with your search mate

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks for all the input guys
quick summary –
* Tried both the BM and Triumph 800’s – certainly more capable than the Multistrada but feel just as heavy and wouldn’t want to take em anywhere serious
* Tried different sprockets on the 690 – either made it better on the road or in the tight stuff but couldn’t get both and 2 different KTM dealers couldn’t fix the low speed fuelling – it was an early model maybe later ones are better
* From what I have read and as was pointed out the DRZ is worse in gearing – even read about someone spending $2k t have custom gears made !!!
* Very brief ride on the Husky 630 but the vibration scared me though prob worth a longer look, will have to be secondhand so probably 610
* Never ridden a DR650 and certainly seems to be the most common choice but not a lot of go and I read someone saying the handling was “like a wheelbarrow with a bar fridge in it” obviously an big exaggeration and fixable but can’t help thinking it would be better to spend the money on a better bike in the first place ?
* Tenere’s great but again weight is a bit much
* Thoughts on 2 strokes for longer distances ?
* What about Honda XR650 L (yes I’m a woose n need electric start) or Yamaha TT600 ??

thanks again

[Ian MinusMember]

If you were not happy with a KTM 690 then I don’t think much is going to suit you.
Fuelling can be sorted using a PC and Tune ECU and gearing is not hard to change.
When looking for an all round bike, I reckon you will be disappointed as compromises must be made.
My preference is to have a specialist bike for the type of ride being planned. My indulgence is limited only by garage size and bank balance.

[Rainer SchadeMember]

I think you are right – it is impossible to get one bike to do everything well but both bank balance and garage space limit how many I can have.
My experience is though that if you have more than one you always end up on a road or trial somewhere where you wish you had the other one !
Probably also right that maybe I should have stuck with the 690 and put more effort into sorting it out but I put a lot of money into it and got turned off getting stuck in the middle of nowhere a couple of times and it just never seemed to be right.
I have the Multistrada, so the long distance easy dirt is covered so more interested in the more difficult stuff where in my opinion weight (or muscle) is the biggest issue

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

I am pretty sure the TT600 doesn’t have the e-start so that would rule it out. I considerd the XR650L myself at one stage but never really looked into it. If the suspension is interchangable with the R model you could end up with a very nice compromise I reckon.

[Ian MinusMember]

I recently sold an ADV 990 which I enjoyed thoroughly for 5 years. To be honest the weight did not worry me that much and that had been thrown up and down rock steps etc. Its a great bike to tour on and lots and lots of fun.

The following reservations apply.
Fuel range.
With the air intake just behind the headlight it is on of the best bikes to tackle deep water, however if exceeded it becomes one of the worst possible to dewater.
Ground clearance.

Many efi bikes seem to have that fluffy bottom end,usually to satisfy environmental regs, but there are many 3rd party options to alleviate that.

[drewMember]

my $0.002 worth.

XR650L not as capable as a KTM 640. and well out of production. and wasn’t as well equipped as the 640.

i’d lean toward a 640, 660 or 690 adventure but i am a biased KTM owner/lover. but in your case i’d suggest a later model 640/660 carb model Kato.

if honda i’d lean toward XR650R a totally different bike than the L in my opinion.

but there are 650R owners that have Yammy 660 ADV bikes for a reason. so they are worth a look.

basically i advise anyone looking at a bike style/ brand change to get a decent ride in the terrane you wish to use the bike for and as many different ones as you can.

there is a member that has a Suzy V storm and the pics i have seen, it looks like a capable bike.

i liked the ergos and seating position of the 995 Triumph Tiger but i didn’t get to do any dirt time on it, at 215-220kg feel it would be a little too heavy in the tight going.

as everyone else though it comes down to budget and personal preference.

but newer the better, and preferably a bike still in production or not too long out of production so spares and accessories are available.

[Scott SouthwellMember]

XY believe it or not the XR650L is still in production. After all these years you can still walk in to a US dealer and ride away on a brand new XR650L. Why Honda are still making these and they dropped the XR650R is anyones guess.

I think if you were happy with old tech style bike though the DR650 would be hard to pass up.

[drewMember]

wow that interesting Scotty. bet NX and L owners would be happy to know that. means parts would still be available. but freight from the US would be costly on larger items.

talk to a local Honda dealer and ask about NX/ L parts availability.

maybe a well looked after NX would be a viable and suitable option then.

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Appreciating the input and apologies for my ignorance
a bit more clarification and of course more questions
* I think the 990 Adv or even a 950 would be a great bike but I’m not good enough or strong enough to muscle 200kg when the going gets tough
* Had considered the 640 or 625 SXC (what’s the difference ?) but there are lots of stories about losing fillings from the vibration – are they true ?
* Don’t know anything about a KTM 660 or did I get that wrong and did you mean the Yamaha ?
* Other than the E start is there such a big difference between XR 650 R and L versions ?
* The NX is the Dominator right ? great reputation but seems to be a bit heavy for a single
* The other approach I had considered was something like a KTM 525 or Berg 550 because of the attractive weight and power but not sure what it would need to make it more civilised for longer distances and then there is the maintenance issue
* Notice no comments about 2 strokes – is that just too silly to even consider ?

the more more I look into it the clearer it becomes that I have probably set an impossible criteria !!

Thanks again

[drewMember]

yeah the NX is the dominator.

and a 660 Adventure Kato was the reference i was making. they are pricy as they are few and far between out here and hold a high resale value. from memory when TB looked into the 690 the accessories were more expensive than for a late model Yamy 660.

biggest diff. between 640 and 625SXC is the 640 is more dual or road oriented. i was informed (Menace ) that the 640 has a balancer shaft in the engine to tame the vibrations. the SXC has the exact same basic engine except for the balancer shaft, hence the stories of the vibrations.

the SXC is a slightly trimmed down 640, a marginally smaller tank and i think from memory a more MX styled seat, a bit thinner in width and a bit firmer.

i reckon what ever you go with there will be moments of compromise in areas.

you would have to narrow it down to a few bikes, price up the gear needed. long range tank. a seat redone and maybe a second one for when you go more single trail? getting the suspension done for your combined weight= you, riding gear and fuel tank capacity. + any camping gear you will haul on the long trips.

this where you may find a compromise as if you set it up for the weight a full 21L tank and only have the Std. 8-12L tank on it for a weekend the suspension may be a little too firm. but if you set it up for the small tank it will dive and or plough straight when braking hard with the loaded 21L tank.

most suspension places are within $300.00 of each other.

jetting/tuning the bike. and 2 sets of sprockets and chains so you can swap from single trail gearing for the weekends you are just out for a full day or weekend. and then a more comfortable at a higher speed for long travel days.

most of the bikes mentioned would all be capable bikes.

i would lean toward the 640 over a 525/530 as they are 5000km oil changes in normal going. 10000km service.

i don’t know about the other brands. if their big bore bikes are same intervals as the 550 and under or are longer periods between services.

if going Kato, go the later model with the electric speedo. the cable on the 2002 and earlier bikes are a pain (dunno what year they swapped i think the 03 were electronic), i’ve had 4-5 pull out, and in going to a Trail tek unit i had to replace the disc to accommodate the magnet for the speedo sensor. my bike had the 300mm disc and they didn’t put 300mm discs on the later bikes they were 260 or 320. i ended up getting a 320mm disc and adaptor bracket from China. they were the only ones offering an adaptor for the bikes with the 300mm disc. all the others suited the 260mm bikes.

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