Hi Everyone!
My wife and I are planning to go from Mexico to Ushuaia this December. I cannot define the Bike yet. But I rather be on the safe (low weight) side. I have done Baja twice on the 640 Adv with no problems. Some techical parts with my wife up too. I like the BMWs and the 950 Adv but I think they are to complicated and heavy for the task.
Does anyone has bad experiences on a 640 Adv with two-up? (maybe broken frames or shocks?
How about saddlebags on the 640? Any recomendations?
Anyone tryed the Corbin saddle on the 640 Adv? Good for two-up?
Regards,
Ramon

My wife and I travel around 2up quite a bit on my 03 Adventure. We have done a couple of extended trips {3000 KM} with very little trouble on the bike. We load the bike up with full camping gear {tent, sleep pads, sleeping bags} in addition to our load of clothing and tools and the only change I made to the stock suspension was to crank up the rear preload some and stiffen the damping a bit. The subframe seems plenty strong as we've tested it many times on choppy rutted loose surface tracks where the odd big hit is not out of the norm and so far after 50,000 km it shows no fatigue.

As for bags, we just can sqeeze our gear into 2-30L panniers+ tankbag and tail trunk but for a longer trip 40 L hardcases would be better. 2 up packing doesn't allow for much luxury so one must really put a lot of thought into what you pack and what you leave behind.

After several days of riding the 03 comfort seat becomes less than its name so an aftermarket saddle would be a good idea for an extended trip like your proposing.

My only concern with the KTM thru South America would be parts availability and dealer network. For me the engine is very simple and I could do a roadside rebuild on it as long as I can get the required parts. Most of the known problematic parts should be included in your tool/spares kit prior to departure...... Hope this helps........

David....

These are two very well documented and positive accounts of the KTM

I would not worry so much about the bike having a problem, but rather the logistics and comfort of putting two people and their gear loaded onto a very small space for a VERY long trip.

Honestly, I feel the KTM is too small, too compact. You would have to travel very very light. And where will your wife put her hair dryer and make-up kit
(makiaki) Just kidding of course.

I never believed the KTM 950 could do well in technical dirt riding but after doing a couple rides in the last few months with my buddy riding his 950...well I am a believer. I honestly believe you could make it almost anywhere a single could go on the 950. And imagine how much more comfort you will have? And room for your stuff...camera, clothes, food, tools, parts, hair dryers... and a 1000 other things.

Yes, more work for the pilot but you will learn to handle it.

I think the most important thing regarding parts and the KTM, is to have a dealer/friend in Mexico you can email and have him send out parts right away
to you. Or maybe a really well stocked dealer in the USA? If you set all this up before you leave, open an account, have the money and shipping figured out, then it is no worse than any other bike. Even if my Suzuki breaks I most likely have to order from Suzuki, which also takes time. They have some Suzuki's in S. America but mostly odd models. KTM dealers are there but limited. (Mexico,
Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela?) So in the end its equal pain in the ass to get parts, no?

If you want a really good custom seat for the KTM...any KTM...see Renazco Racing in Santa Rosa, California.

Renazco Dual Sport Seats

James Renazco does beautiful work and his seats are like a dream compared to the stock plank.

Best of luck....I hope your wife is as tough as you are!

!Que le via bien!

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Ramon,
I love the Renazco seat on my 640a and have 25k miles on it. The seat works great for me.
But...
This summer while traveling through Mongolia I went two up with a Mongolian woman on several tough on/off road rides.
My passenger had to constantly reposition herself because she slid forward with any braking.
I would suggest discussing the two up idea with Renazco if you go that way. I think you need to alter the design for two.

I am about 65 Kg and my passenger was 50Kg. We traveled without bags and she was good at balance but it was still some work.
You might consider heavier springs.
Infinity Machine and Design sells specialized springs for the 640a.
Infinity Machine and Design Sub Tank Kits
Give Rob a call.


I met an East German guy traveling on a 640a with his girlfriend two-up, they were using the stock seat and two 40 L Touratech bags, a Touratech tank bag(with tank panniers) and a back rack bag.

They did an east-west crossing of Mongolia and then rode to Vladivostok.
I think their secret was to ride less miles in a day than a single rider.
Last I heard they were shipping to Chili and heading south.

I wouldn't worry too much about parts, you can carry critical spares and tools.
None of the travel bikes are well covered for parts in SA in my experience.
b.