Hi,

Just an update to my feelings about the KTM. I would not agree with the person who said it's a Cafe Racer & get another bike. YES - there are some specific problems but these are far outweighted by the qualities. It does take some looking after - but as you'll generally be doing a long trip - you want to be keeping a regular check on the bike. See my separate post on checks. I would not use this as a town bike.

The positive points are a fantastic frame, strong engine & of course 'wicked' suspension - takes all bumps.

The negative points - seat (get it re-upholstered). Known problems with Clutch cable (use new Duke cable & lube as chain). Sometimes fuel pump can break & fuel hose clips weak. 2000/2001 mirrors are cheap plastic - if you drop the bike - the vibration can snap both of them off - but the replacement mirrors are like the pre '99 & strong. 2001 tank may discolour with petrol when new - but this stops after a while and is not a problem. Side Stand is weak point under full load - get the joint welded stronger. Oil change can be tricky - watch a mechanic doing it & should really be done every 5000k/3000m but I have heard of changes @ up to 10,000k but I would not reccommend it. Valves seem fine up to 10k so far, but will be checked/adjusted in a full service anyway. Something in the exhaust can sometimes come loose - this is a known problem - & makes a nice 'tinkly' sound - but does not effect running/performance in anyway. Wheel Bearings may go on older models.

Fuel consumption - fantastic - I am currently getting 60+ miles/gallon or 20+ kilometers/litre at an average 62m/100k per hour.

Regards
James

__________________
KTM LC4 640 Adventure-R 2001

Previous bikes...
KTM Duke II 2000
Kawazaki ZX-6R 1998
BMW F650 1996
+ others...
------------------

Looking at the replies to the original question (is the Adventure R reliable)... I'd like to add my vote to the "yes" pile.

I've had my 2000 model Adv-R for about 1.5 years, and ride it HARD (on the weekends only, unfortunately) in the desert -- 150-200km runs over pretty tough conditions at high speeds. I also do bajas (enduros) on it during the season (5 months), and did the UAE Desert Challenge Rally (2500km of intense riding, much more intense than you'd EVER do in normal overlanding). Blew the clutch, but that was because of abuse (and perhaps faulty installation) in extreme conditions.

Other than that, I clean the air filter, change the oil every 3000km, tinker with the tuning and suspension, and clean it.

The cooling fan died at about 5000km, that's about it. It's been a fantastically reliable bike, which I fully intend to take trans-Africa later next year (big difference from the XT500 I took up to Uganda in '99...). I'm also planning a mini-tour in Iran early next year on it...

I can add my reply to the yes pile.

Just completed 5200km into the Sahara with
Chris. Cleaned the air filter, crashed it
a few times and had to do the following.

..............

Nothing. Had it serviced before I left and just about to get another service, we'll see
if its all still OK. Up to 8500Km and so far
*nothing* has gone wrong.

And on the piste even a starter like me can
ride rings around most of the other desert
bikes.

However, rather thirsty for a serious solo desert trip.

__________________
I\'m feeling rather daunted today.

I'm on my second Adventure. I sold the first one because 1. it leaked oil from new and 2. vibrated so much I couldn't hold my teeth together.

I bought an XR650L instead which is wonderfully smooth, reliable and slow.

I've tried 3 other since Adventures and all failed the teeth test. The fourth passed so I bought it.

Maybe wednesday's and thursday's are like friday's Austria.

What I really want is the XR engine in the Adventure frame, but perhaps it can wait until the next trip.

__________________
Jerome

fowb.co.uk

Hi!
I would like to ask You badwolf - any more adventures with new adventure?

Andrzej Kuczyñski
----------------
KTM LC4 640

__________________
Andrzej Kuczyñski
KTM LC4 640

Hi ppl
here's my Adventure's Impression:

Bougth it new in 2000. no big problems for the first months, except little things concerning vibration: loose bolts and mirrors.
Been in morroco, followed the ParisDakar bikers along with friends using XRs. My two only problems were a flat tire and the front wheel bearing changed back home. I've notest stuck clutch in the morning...a push was enough to solve it.

Back in Portugal, i use it to commute every day and off-road with other big trails in the weekends: broke clutch cable twice & changed to DUKE's...not a problem.

At 30000km the cylinder head **** (cant translate it to English) burned...i changed it...2 days without the bike!

Now it has 17 months and 40000km on it...i have a carburetor problem: the neddle is fuc*ed...my bike is stopped for almost 3 weeks!!!!!!!! KTMs and Portuguese importer incompetence made it this way!!

Average Comsuption gets to 18km/litre...and can get less if economical driving!

Change oil every 5000km, once i changed it with almost 10000km, no prob.

Sinceraly: not bad for a "young" bike!! ATwins & Transalps that ride with me (bad treatment!) have other BIG problems....and one good thing about KTM: 1/3 less expensive that Japs.....

(forgot: chain broke because of loose sprocket...my fault....it has 35000 km on it!)


WITH LESS VIBRATION, this could be the bike ever!!

cheers
Gonçalo "Desertfox" Pais
Portugal

MarkC: I'm a fellow Canuck currently living in Russia. I'm interested in buying a new Adventure and bringing it back when my time here is done.

I was pretty sold on the Adventure but this thread has scared me somewhat. Please keep me posted on how your's turns out.

Also, did you buy the bike in Canada? If so, where's the dealer? If possible I'd prefer to go to the plant in Austria and ride it back to Russia, but I'd want to ensure it's a Canadian spec bike (if there is such a thing)

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have 2002 with only about 1700 on it so far..and no problems yet.

I had the same concerns about this bike holding up but im hoping the 2002 is enough improved to give me the reliablity I am looking for. My ultimate bike would be to plop a big rotax in the R's frame.

Hello,

I have a like-newn 97-98 orange KTM 620 EGS-E Adventure(2000 miles) and I was wondering if you knew more about it than I do. I have the opportunity to buy a 2001 KTM 640 Adventure but I've heard that my bike was made better?

Any input on the subjuct would be most appreciated!

-Michael

What is your vin#? I am trying to see if my like-new 1998 620 EGS-E Adventure I just bought is one of the good ones, cuz I've read some bad stories...

I'm 2001 owner. I almost lost my mind in Atlas Mountains because my bike lost 2 times all oisl because oil screw was not to tight... ****! Few days after that we lost needle in carbutor in other Adventure on desert... But I loved it! I think other option is Honda XR650R only! But KTM is the bike for mechanic not for rookie.

------------------

Does anyone know if it is true that KTM is dropping production of the KTM Adventure 640 for next year?

Not in Europe, the 2004 model has been "revised" and includes twin front discs and lower front mudguard.

Steve

A friend of mine is looking to buy a 620 Adventure R .We saw one at the weekend which seemed fine save for a very slight trace of oil on the front of the engine . We couldnt see where it might be coming from and it really wasn't very much, it could have been a bit of overspill when refilling. The owner said it was always like this .The bike hadn't been cleaned prior to us going to look at it which again leads me to think that any oil loss was minimal .Do they all do this ? Also it needed a new seat any idea of cost in UK ?

In answer to the initial posting for experiences involving KTM640's check out the web address below. 5000 miles off road on a standard 640 except for an acropovic pipe and a rejet. The bike was run hard for 2-300 miles a day for four weeks, all off road in appalling conditions. Heat, cold, altitude, the bike had it all thrown at it, and Jon was NOT a sympathetic rider! It was a canadian model which had just been run in on 4000 road miles.

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/270603/0010.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/180603/0010.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/270603/0015.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/010703/0034.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/060703/0016.jpg

etc, etc, etc,

for the FULL story and all 200 million pics see www.no2-online.net

Enjoy,

Dave

[This message has been edited by davidlomax (edited 10 February 2004).]

[This message has been edited by davidlomax (edited 10 February 2004).]