Still no off road comments? I Was hoping to hear that someone. Who not afraid to get thier new on/OFF road bike dirty?

If any one has gone off road my queations are:

Hows the weight distribution feel?

Does it take long to get use to the weight?

How did the bike handle in single track, sand, gravel ect.?

Thanks for any input.


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Rocket

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Rocket Ron

Although I’m pretty sure it was somewhat modified, the 950 prototypes won the Paris Dakar rally twice. The bike was more powerful than the LC4 and gained the lead in the long stretches, it was more difficult and less maneuverable otherwise. However that’s not to say that you’re riding an elephant, the bike is much more maneuverable than any other twin cylinder out there. At least that’s what I hear and can confirm only by reading the numbers on the KTM website.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.

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A.B.
OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.

Rocket Ron,
I sent a reply but something didn't work. So lets try again today. I only have 650 miles on my S, but 150 is in the dirt. I own numerous rally bikes and this stocker is by far the best. It actually feels like a single underway and especially in the dirt. Haven't had a chance for sand or mud yet, but on gravel up to golf ball size it is unreal and I was running high pressures in the stock tires(A/T's). Weight distribution is very balanced front to rear, and with the extreme low C of G, the bike handles hard pack like it was on pavement. I was on a rough 2-track the other day for about 30 miles and was on the pegs hanging over the windshield. I looked down and was doing 75 MPH. Thought I was at 50 at the most. It is the same on pavement, you are always going faster than you think and you get there as fast as a 916.
I will switch to Karoos soon, as I will be in Baja to try some sand. I should mention I usually ride two-up.

Allen,

Thank You very much for that. It was what I was hopping to hear!

Let me know when you are going to Baja. Northern Baja is a normal riding spot for us. Mostley between Tecate and Laguna Hansen (Romona's for gas if you know the area!) for day rides and Mike's Sky Ranch, San Felipe 2-3 times per year and always pre run the 1000 corse in November. It would be interesting to see how the bike would do with mostly 400 dirt bikes of all makes. If you were willing? From my experience on a DR 650 and a DRZ 400 the big bike's will beat you! I'm sure you allresdy know this though. If you were to go 2 up the Los compadres hwy is always fun and challinging. (All un maintained dirt.)

Please keep me informed as you try new dirt with the bike. Thank you again. It sound like every thing I've been hoping for!

Anyone else with other off road rides on this bike?



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Rocket

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Rocket Ron

I hope I didn't kill this string? Any and all comments are apperciated!!

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Rocket Ron

I guess I did Kill the string! Now I know why! I finely got to go on a short demo ride last Saturday. (silver model) The orange models will not be here untill spring. Yes, it is every thing that has been written and then some!!:-) I don't think I would want to ride it in deep sand with a bunch of whoops or tight single track. Not that the bike couldn't do it with alot of work, I'm getting to old to beat myself up that way.

The seat is alot better than I excpected! But it's not a GS seat. Compared to ny DR 650 & 400 seat it's not that bad!

Thanks everyone for all the info and putting up with my request.

One more request for opinions and comments regarding the 950: Plastic or Aluminum stock panniers and why?

Ron

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Rocket

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Rocket Ron

Ron,
I'll help keep your thread alive too. Go to www.jesseluggage.com and you'll see my S with the prototype bags on. Yes, I got to trade plastic. Al Jesse is just this week(9/9/03) finishing the production versions. I have used most brands and have flattened several other brands(blown over in Patagonia). In China this Spring I was T-boned by a friend by accident, and the Jesse bag smashed to the wall. It was straightened locally and no problems. When I returned Al sent up a new bag and it fit right in place. This is testimate to the strength of his design for not only his bags but the frame design. This accident was at a high speed. They are 34" wide compared to 42" minimum of others, and they hold 50% more(light items of course!!!).
Allen.
PS the bike is still performing well especially in the dirt.

I actually saw the page and pictures a few days ago. I wondered how they did that so fast?
I do like the Idea of being able to carry extra water with the plastic bags. What do others think abot that?

I don't mean to change the subject from KTM in this forum but did jesse bags fix the complaints? (See the gear forum this site.)

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Rocket

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Rocket Ron

I'll be replacing my '02 GS ADV with the KTM. Here's a thread on another site with a comparison of the two:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...threadid=24724

Thanks for the info! Great write up! I'll keep up with that site also.

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Rocket Ron

...KTM 950 Adventure owners beware if you get a puncture.

950's use tubes in a tubeless tyre ( because of the spoked rim's ). This means that if you are unlucky enough to get a puncture, it is almost impossible to do a roadside repair. You will need to break the tubeless tyres bead and have access to a very high pressure air compressor. A normal garage forecourt compressor won't pop the tubeless tyres bead back onto the rim. A tubeless tyre repair kit won't help either, as to fix the puncture you'll need to repair the tube. It is worth ordering a centre stand with your 950, as without it, it's nearly impossible to get the wheels off.

Try using soap and water,WD-40 or just riding on the tire to get the bead back in place. I have always used just one of these tricks to make it work.

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Rocket Ron

Rocket Ron, will you be purchasing your KTM at Rocket Motorcycles in San Diego, just off of Morena Blvd?

A nice enough shoppe, to be sure.

The Toad favours the Triumph Tiger, but alas, both of these other wise excellent mounts are shod with inferior tube type wheels.

Good luck getting the rear off of the KTM. From what I have read, 'tis nigh on impossible with out the aid of a motorcycle shop. It is unconscionable that manufacturers are too cheap to fit proper wheels to such powerful (and expensive!) bikes. A flat with tubes can be disasterous. Unlike the superior tube less wheels (also known initially as "safety wheels"), tubed wheels lose air instantly.

Not good.

Would you have tubed wheels on your car? Of course not. I may yet test ride this bike, but most likely I will avoid it. I could not ride it for any distance with out being haunted by the spectre of being stranded by a tiny nail.

I just do not understand the thinking behind the use of these archaic wheels. Other than the sheer beauty of a spoked rim and their inherent resilience to pot holes, what have they to offer. Spoked wheels in tube less flavours are offered by other manufacturers...

By the way, my current motorbike runs on tubes, and yes, I do not care for it, but it was what I could afford. I can afford a KTM or Triumph, but I am having difficulty justifying their (for lack of a better term) cheapness as regards wheels. I looked into having my rims sealed, but determined it was utterly unsafe (for me).

The Lord be with you.

The Toad

Toad,

Yes, I will be buying the bike from Mark and Lance at Rocket. They are great guy's and friends of mine! (That's not how I got my nick name.)

As far as the tire having tubes in it. I think you solved your own delima. The KTM is an off road bike made for the street. If you ride it off road then you need the spoked rims for that inheret pot hole. I have seen none spoked rims tried in the dirt and broken. Then wondered why it broke. The hit was not that bad. (To bad your 50 miles from the closest road.) I have scene spoked rims bent and repaired on the trail with hits that I wondered how the rim survived. When a spoked rim is damaged beyoned fixing you know why. I would be more worried about not having the thickest tubes one could get inside the tire. Beemers patended spoked rims have problems if you dent the outside lip in a pot hole or on a rock. You can't just pound them staight enough to get back on the trail/road again.

There are several solutions to the tubed tire tire problem if there is a problem. 1) Carry the right tools to break the bead. 2) Get new rims and don't go off road. 3) Buy differnt tires. 4) Maybe this is the wrong bike for your style. If you are buying the bike for just a road bike see #2. In my mind tires would never be a reason not to buy a mortorcycle of any kind. It is to easy to change them. Tires are also a personal choice. Not every one likes the same tire for thier type of riding.

The manufacture's put good tires on the bike and the best rims for what the bike was made for. They could of put a cheeper tire on so that it would be easier to get off. then the conversation would be why did they go so cheep? Or they could put tube less rims on and the conversation would be how can you take these off road and trust them. It may not be the best way but it is a good compromise. Do these rims have rim locks? I'm not sure if they do, But maybe the tube less tires are to keep the tires from spinning without using rim locks and saving weight?

I have had more experience than I care to remember fixing or replacing tubes in the middle of no where. The only times it was a problem, was when I was unprepaired. A flat is always a hassel.

Don't worry about the tires! That is easy to change! If the bike is for you!

I may be wrong but I think you can get a Tiger with tube less rims.(?)

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Rocket

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Rocket Ron