Looking for advice on an Adventure bike

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks
Interesting, your not the only one who likes the 640’s ! – much higher resale than other similar bikes and many with really big kms
haven’t found any 660’s yet

Being a KTM guy – what do you think about the 300 2 stroke ??

[GregMember]

XR650L has a button, can’t buy new here in Aus but elsewhere in to world. The KTM singles does vibrate, I would have bought a 640 adventure had I been able to get a low mileage 07 (last model) but I couldn’t. Price of parts and accessories also was a deciding factor it not continuing to look for a 640. The Tenere 2010 model I have does everything I want, I also have a XR650R but it’s not anywhere near an adventure bike.

I have watched and read through this thread and what you want isn’t possible I reckon and I get the feeling from reading and rereading you know that deep down :laugh: I think a DR650 is the closet also you can get a new one cheap. That said maybe a KTM 300 for your trail riding (you seem keen on them :whistle: ) and a Tenere, DR650, BMW 650, 990 or the likes for everything else

Enjoy the chase and keep us posted on what you do and how you go

TB

[Ian MinusMember]

Rainorschine wrote:

Being a KTM guy – what do you think about the 300 2 stroke ??

Great trail bike.
A bike where service intervals are measured in hours. Not a good option for long distance adventure riding.

[Matt BakerMember]

I had a KTM 625 for about 5 years, nice bike, very reliable and plenty of power but the vibrations are out of control. You feel it through your hands, arms, feet and legs. I mainly rode it on trail rides (single track, twin trail and fire road) never adventure riding. A few kilometers on the tar with bush gearing and the vibes get annoying. Small tank and no cush drive hub seem to make it more trail oriented than adventure. They do make a good single track bike if you are willing to show it who is boss.

[drewMember]

Rainorschine wrote:

Thanks
Interesting, your not the only one who likes the 640’s ! – much higher resale than other similar bikes and many with really big kms
haven’t found any 660’s yet

Being a KTM guy – what do you think about the 300 2 stroke ??

ummm i’ve been there done that. riding on the road at 100km/h cost a seized rebuild after a mere 19 hrs.

yet Menace has enjoyed an estimated 200+hrs by now, trouble free single riding. and he is no slouch in the saddle! albeit his is an electric leg model and mine was an 03.

however if i had the money now i would buy another 2T in a heartbeat for single trail riding. i now know what tuning is needed.

fuel range/ consumption of a 2T would be another factor into long distance riding. but biggest factor is as Minusone mentioned is service intervals.

i too agree with the thought that you will not find a single bike to fulfill both roles happily. i’d go a big bore for ADV. and something light for trail. but that means 2 regos.

did you consider the Hyper motard when buying Ducati? just out of interest.

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

I had a Husaberg FE550 for a while and it vibrated badly on the tar, it may have been caused by out of round or out of balance wheel I am not sure but it was bad enough that it gave me blurred vision. Service intervals would be an issue as well with servicing recommended every 16 hours I think from memory which may result in every second day for some trips. Heaps of power, good brakes and turning but still wore me out from just holding on. I did love that power though :woohoo:

[Rainer SchadeMember]

OK, getting closer thanks

Firstly agree with TB that I’m not gonna find one bike to do it all and meet the other criteria esp $ and Kg, can’t afford 2 though that would be a great longer term plan. Spend many years of $ on the Multi and now looking for a cheap option.

On your question XY, why not a Hyper ? – great bike, but more as a fun second bike and if you have the time and lotsa $ maybe even a great base for a dual purpose bike but not the long distance that the Multi can do – I have done 1400km days including 400 (easy) dirt and its perfect for that

I Like the light weight and simple maintenance of the 2 strokes (even considered an old IT490 or WR 500Z) but accept its again great as a 2nd (or 3rd) bike but not a do anything

LC4 -on your 625, what year model was it ? from what I have read, from 2004 they have the same counterbalancer as the 640 and they are almost half the price !

Where there any TTR 600’s with E start in Australia ? – any comments ?

Getting back to what TB said – a lot of truth in it I think and the DR certainly ticks as many boxes as anything else, unfortunately it seams its never that easy – while they are v cheap new they are relatively expensive second hand and by the time its set up properly it turns out to be an expensive bike. Trailzone did a project on one and spent $6k on upgrades and that didn’t even include suspension though of course don’t need all of that !!
Can’t help thinking it would end up being cheaper and easier to get a better bike in the first place – of course if there was one …

Guess next step I will try and ride as many as I can
thanks

[GarryMember]

Well here goes.

I have little experience all up, that being a Weestrom and a DR650 only.

The Weestrom would be way to heavy for what you describe but is extremely capable on tar or dirt and very comfortable for 1000kms days ………… but it is not what you want.

The DR is very capable and whilst I have done 500km days in the past, now I use mine in more trail/track areas and it is quite capable, but not comparable to the KTM’s of the world.

Personally if dollars are an issue I cannot look beyond the DR as you generally can get some very good condition, low kay models with extra gear for $5000 or so.

If you are nearby the Illawarra let me know and I can give you a ride on my DR which is standard suspension and sprocket wise (and FWIW, I have no issues with handling but also have no ability or past experience to judge)

Gaz

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks Gaz

[adamMember]

I love the XR’s most for their pure offroad ability when set up but… the DR650 is the cheapest, most bullet proof and low cost to run in the long term for any Adventure bike set up still capable of going anywhere and being able to chew up economical km at a good speed I reckon.
Next up in bike size would be the 660 Tenere for me.

[Andrew RobsonMember]

Why not get two bikes/

I have. Got a WR450 for the trails and a bit of road and a 650 Veestrom for the roads and a bit of trails.

Some of my mates combo’s include:
DRZ and Varadero
DRZ and Tenere
Kato 300 and Kato 990
XR400 and VFR

[fulldeckMember]

Hi Rainorschine,

Not a lot of experience from my end (very new here as well) and I’m probably very biased but I love my DR for a lot of reasons. Cheap to buy, very simple, cheap and easy to maintain, heaps of farkles to suit it to your needs and in my opinion a very capable machine in most conditions. They have heaps of low down grunt and handle the bitumen cruising at 110k all day with ease. A bit heavy on the tight single trails and the suspension certainly needs upgrading and a bigger fuel tank for the big trips (on my list when the funds are available) but overall a great adventure bike.

Best of luck with your choice of beast mate

Paul

[Matt BakerMember]

My KTM 625 was a 2006 model

[Rainer SchadeMember]

Thanks for the input
that’s sort of where I was going – I have the Ducati Multistrada (and have just found that Conti are making TKC 80’s for it which will improve it capability) for road and a bit of dirt and now looking for something to do everything else but as has been suggested by several people thats still not so easy – a good adventure bike can’t be a good tight single track bike and vica versa. I would love 3 but thats not gonna happen so have to decide where to compromise and that the problem – I want it all !!!

[Ian MinusMember]

Rainorschine wrote:

Thanks for the input
that’s sort of where I was going – I have the Ducati Multistrada (and have just found that Conti are making TKC 80’s for it which will improve it capability) for road and a bit of dirt and now looking for something to do everything else but as has been suggested by several people thats still not so easy – a good adventure bike can’t be a good tight single track bike and vica versa. I would love 3 but thats not gonna happen so have to decide where to compromise and that the problem – I want it all !!!

I too considered a different tyre to standard on the multistrada, especially since I have had flats on the dirt. However I decided not to predjudice such a finely balanced roadbike (with traction control and ABS) and stayed with the standard tyres.

Did you know you can ride an MTS at speed with a flat rear tyre? It is so wide it doesnt damage the rim and it warms up so much the air inside expands and seems to keep it partially inflated.

After a couple of flats I realised, you must reduce tyre pressure on the dirt so it can deform over sharp gravel. Even with standard road tyres it can stll leave many bikes for dead on the fire trails. I realised that with the big bikes you rely less on the front to steer and more on the power of the rear to lighten the front smaller wheel. (probably why I get so many flats)

It would however be a handful on a stalled steep hillclimb… but thats what a KTM is for.

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