Please God, someone help me.
 

Its doin me ead in. BMW 1200 Adventure or KTM 990 Adventure? Am losin me hair, and can't sleep over this one. I want a bike that will see me travel UK to Oz comfortably, but also, when I get back, something that will keep a smile on my face. Am edging towards the KTM at the moment.

Being a vet of various overland trips, common sense says, BMW650, Yam 600 or KTM 640, but I don't have any common sense. As I say, I want a bike for general fun days out, once I get home. What do I go for? I'm attracted to the high performance of the KTM. What do you think? Go on then, give it to me straight.

If there's no common sense then create one - blast them out both on longer testdrive at your local KTM and BMW dealers and pick the one your heart really wants, a good compromise between "living in dreams" and common sense. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Cheers La

mrdexplorer
OK then, put us all out of our misery and let us know what did you got in the end?

Wish I was in such an "annoying" situation...

Tell us what you got in the end!

Why do people choose Landys over Toyotas when overlanding through Africa? It is afterall far more inferior! Because it fits the scenery, because somehow it is supposed to be there, without it it would be missing.

KTM enduro or adventure bikes, sort of the same thing in my opinion... Nostalgia set aside, and unless you plan to do A LOT of offroading, a Bimmer is, in my opinion, a far more "practical" choice. You will sit much more comfortably, have longer service intervals, feel less vibrations from the engine, etc. The GS650F Dakar is an excellent offroader, and a capable cruiser, the 1200 adventurer is the other way round. If I had the cash and were to do an RTW, the 1200 bimmer would be at the very top of my list with the number two on the list far far behind. But, if I were to purchase a new motorcycle anytime soon, I would most likely purchase the BMW 650Dakar (I love it).

This bike
http://www.bmw.no/mc/images/portrait..._adventure.jpg
is the comfy version of this
http://www.bmw.no/mc/images/portrait...tt_r-serie.jpg

Now, it must be said though, the Paris-Dakar rally or the Camel Trophy Landy Nostalgia just isn't enough to win me over. And, although I'd want to venture into the desert and the like, I'd likely spend 98% of the time on tarmac, gravel roads, and the odd trail every now and then. In other words, I'd rather have a bike suited for what I'll do most, but still capable of doing some of the obscure stuff once in a while.

Now, this is coming from a guy who this summer will be riding a classic Vespa from Cape Town to Nairobi. I guess rational thought has very little to do with it.

Buy the KTM!

http://www.ktm.com/EN/images/990adv-s.jpg

http://www.ktm.com/EN/images/990advorange-klein.jpg



[This message has been edited by Wheelie (edited 07 April 2006).]

KTM because its a total laugh, has soul a 21 inch front wheel and you dont skin your shins everytime you put your foot down sliding through corners.

Read the moderator Wheelie once again more carefully !

I would choose GS, if I have enough height and weight !

If you are after common sense, have a look at

http://www.adventure-motorcycling.com/trip/

and see what people are using for RTW and more importantly view their feedback... But be careful, you might end up taking a .... Honda... hahaahaha

hate to be a boring old fart and to be honest Im a gret abeliever in buying stuff cos it looks nice, BUT.

Ive got an 1150gs adv, ive onwed airhead GSs I spent a few hours on 950 adventures and if I was planning an overland trip I wouldn´t take either. Im not the worlds best rider, but I,m not the worst either. They are just to heavy, you run the risk or not enjoying the journey. Same applies to the 1200 series, they are lighter but not enough.

My 2p worth and i dont mean to be a wet blanket, but think about it.

boring bob

I'm with Bob. The twins will be faster and marginally more comfortable on the road however a big single will still hold a steady 75mph on road BUT when you get off-road (which, let's face it, is much more fun)then the single will trounce the bigger bikes in every respect.

But I bet you'll get the 950 KTM!

F650GS Dakar
 

I have just finished riding my 2005 F650 27000 miles, two up and heavily loaded. We probably travelled 5000 of those miles on gravel (ripio) roads and it was good. You could make lots of modifications to make this bike better but it does alright in stock configuration.

That said if would have been nice to have the KTM suspension at times.

Cheers Geoff

KTM Oil Changes?
 

I was reading last month's issue of Cycle Canada where a gentleman wrote in to ask why KTM asked him to bring his bike not only to a KTM dealer but rather an authorised LC8 (950 Adventure) dealer for routine maintenance while under warranty.

Apparently routine maintenance is very complicated and KTM only wanted specially trained mechanics doing the work. For example the oil change requires that two filter screens be cleaned and the lubrication system needs to be purged of air before startup otherwise the oil pump may starve and lead to eventual engine damage.

Considering how simple maintenance on the BM is (you could do it in a campground in an hour :thumbup: ) I would go for the BMW! Just my opinion...

Yes I found the BMW service schedule and support excellent. I would project the force down the sat phone and poof the mechanic with all the BMW special tools and computer interogation equipment was there.

Which bike
 

Re. BWW service and parts availability.
It all depends on where you are and what parts you need .This January in Mexico my R1100GS needed a rear tire and I headed for Mexico City . Found the modern dealership of Munchen Motors in the Santa Fe commercial node (SW corner of city, route to Toluca) and they had a tire in stock and pointed out that my rear brake pads were about used up, then replaced them too as I waited . Excellent. Weeks later my throtle cable broke and with a temporary fix I rode 2000km till I got to Puebla where the official BMW dealer, big modern outfit, but no throttle cable in stock.Three of the new C2s on the floor though. Rode home with the $1.50-fix cable , replacing it seems to be a major project with all the stuff that needs to be torn off and returned.