KTM Military, 400 & 620
 

We just went from Vientiane/Laos to Tashkent/Uzbekistan on 3 KTM Military bikes. 2 with the 400cc (2004) engine and one modified with the 620 (2002). No problem with them even going over passes >5000masl and one of the bikes was 2 up and loaded with appr. 480kg! Fuel consumption with the 400 around 3.5-4l/100km. Boxes are sturdy and with an additional waterproof bag for camping gear its sufficient. They are light enough to get through very bad roads and tough enough to take a beating when you drop them. As one hardly goes faster than 100-120km/h, engine is ok. Our average was probably 60km/h and we did up to 800km on some long days! Heated grips great, but they get very hot... Very reliable bikes, only need a few add ons, i.e. HID lights. Tires we used Heidenau Scout, after 15,000km still good for a couple of thousand km. Would do it again with them as long as you don't have too many long stretches of flat road like the northern silk road to Kashgar... Highly recommend them.

interesting! What is different from serie KTM Adventure? Is it the same engine? The 620, so like in 1997? I read a lot of things about this engine beeing not reliable, how much kilometers did the bikes have on the clock before the start?

military
 

Hi Zimi
basically the same engine as the old 640, but 400cc, different CDI and some other minor differences. The suspension is different so the seat height is lower and work for anyone from 1.70m up. As said, we did now between 20 and 30,000km on them, bought them with between 8 and 10,000km on the clock. All of them have had the waterpump repaired as one of the 5 we have went off and our friend needed a complete new engine. Its a common problem, so we all had it looked after and replaced. Cost 30 Euro in spare parts only if you do it before you run into problems! They all run like a charm, engine sounds like rattling a can of rusty nails - according to any KTM mechanik - thats the way they should sound! They go everywhere if you look after them a bit. :mchappy:
best Horst