2013 KTM 990, F800GS or Triumph Tiger XC

[kc275a]

Hello all,

I am new to HUBB and ADV biking. This will be my first ADV bike so I am looking for any recommendations or advice any two cents you can give. I have been riding sports bike for past 20 years and its time to transition to different bike with little more capabilities. I been doing some riding around South East Asia for the past 4 years and have some experience with dirt bike but not a expert. I am looking at 2013 KTM 990 ADV Baja Limited Edition, F800GS or Tiger XC. Looking forward to your feedback.

KC

[stephen.stallebrass]

The thing to remember is there's no such thing as the perfect adventure bike, everything is going to be a compromise. The best advice you'll get round these parts is ride what you love, this is probably as close as you'll get to 'perfection'.

Have you considered what it is you want your bike to do? Most bikes will do just about anything you ask of it, some will just do particular things better than others. If you spend any time on this forum you'll see mopeds, cruisers and sports bikes all doing the same thing whether it be in the desert, the jungle or the North Pole. Before you write off your sorts bike check out some of the travels of Sjaak Lucassen or Nick Sanders.

Are you riding 2 up? are you carrying a lot of luggage? Are you doing mostly road miles? If your answer is yes to these I would think large. Are you going off road? Are you riding solo? If so the smaller and lighter the bike the better. No one wishes there bike was bigger when off road, especially when you have to pick it up on you own. If course this is assuming your not an off road god.

My choice was the F800GS. I felt it was the best compromise for my phat ass riding solo for 3 months to Mongolia and Siberia with a mix of tarmac and trails (80/20). But fully loaded I think even this was too big and heavy in the sand and mud. If I was doing it again I might choose something like a 350 enduro even though it might struggle a bit more on the long stretches of highway.

Why not come to the Hubb meet in a few weeks youll see hundreds of different adventure bikes and riders who will tell you the virtues and pitfalls of their particular choice and hear of their own adventures. Whatever you choose welcome to fold comrade and Bon voyage.

[kc275a]

Mezo,

Thanks for your reply and XT600Z is very good bike unfortunately I’m looking for bike that was made for US market and its not because I’m from there, because I can get parts lot easier.

KC

[kc275a]

Stephen,

Thank you for your reply. Since 1999 I have been riding my Kawasaki ZX7R and it is a great bike with no issues, but riding in South East Asia for past four years with so many beautiful place to see and go I found out ZX7R had lot of limitations, basically going on dirt roads. I love riding (short and Long trips) and just return from 8 day trip to Malaysia (3000K). So here I am looking for bike that can do long trips on both dirt and pave road with out needing lots of TLC. Whatever bike I decide to buy, number one on my list will be reliability.

KC