Need advice on 4 bikes.
 

Hei guys this is my fist post on this forum. I would like to have your opinions on few bikes Im considering to buy.

Before anything I should mention that Im total newb in motorcycles and have been on one only once in my life,

What Im looking at is enduro class and more specificaly BMW F650 Dakar, Yamaha XT660Z, KTM 990 Adventure R and KTM 690 Enduro or Enduro R.

Now what I want fom my bike, most important is endurance and durability, second is performance and handling, what I care least about is comfort.

I would buy bike with 4 things in my mind: 1) Everyday urban driving to work and home 2) Something to go wild with on track and trail 3) Something that could get me to the end of the world and back

Now my thoughts on every bike on what I have read on forum:

F650 Dakar - This was what I found first to fit my needs, cheap as used, great on and off trail but as I have read might be complicated to mod or work on by yourself, also expensive spare parts.

Tenere - Cheap as new, can be repaired and modified by myself, also good for both asphalt and dirt, slightly cheap build quality and slightly underpowered?

Adventure R - Expensive, good looking, heavy, lots of power, seems like less offroad oriented than others, would be perfect for long rides to nowhere but wouldnt be a lot of fun.

690 Enduro/Enduro R - Light, ok price, good quality, in theory this is what I like most because it has the most flexibility could mod it to something like 690 Rallye and hit the tracks for fun and then when I get spare time to do
some traveling mod it to adventure bike. Now this is the question with this bike can it handle trip to lets say Mongolia or South Africa when modded, seems to me it is built more for 1500km ends rather than 15000km ones, there isnt even any space for travel bags...

It seems the perfect option would be to buy 2 bikes: a random cheap MX and Adventure R but as I only can get one...

Ok waiting for your thoughts, sorry if im confusing, english isnt my first language.

Then you can forget KTM!! :rofl:

Although to be fair it's a good bike but try to find anyone who has done more than 100,000kms on one and it's another story.:D

If you're new to bikes the you probably shouldn't go for something too powerful, for your own safety. You can have just as much fun and scare yourself easily enough with a 250cc. The smaller the bike the more manouverable and the easier to manage as a general rule. So for a first timer I would rule out anything bigger than 650cc give or take.

Looks like you've chosen your market range, this is a good thing, it'll make it easier to choose between new or 2nd hand.

As for the Dakar not being able to work on yourself, this is bollocks, it's as easy (or as hard) as any other bike. BMW OEM parts are expensive yes but because of its popular appeal there are overwhelming number of aftermarket parts and spares which makes it as cheap to maintain as the next bike. The Dakar is a good bike and you don't need much experience to look after it.

I hear the new tenere is a bit unreliable, perhaps consider an older model pre-2008 or wait for the issues to be ironed out in newer models...

Good luck with the decision making. beer

I bought a 1990 XT600 Tenere as my first bike and am glad I did, although it's been reliable and fun I've abused it and dropped it in various embarrassing situations, not necessarily off road. Its still probably worth what I paid for it which wouldn't be the case with a shiny newer one.

As far as the KTM is concerned my mate who is a superb bike handler sold his for a 650 as it was too lairy, perhaps not the best first bike.

But whichever you chose I'm sure you'll have a ball, I'm wondering what I can sell for a new Tiger 'cub'

Obviously everyone's different, but I'd absolutely go for a 600cc-or-so machine as your first 'big' bike, and nothing bigger. I've riden for 2 1/2 years, and was very happy I'd gone for a 600 for the first 2 (just bought a F800GS); great fun!

I'd also agree with TurboCharger - there's a huge array of BMW aftermarket parts - great fun customising!

I like the look of the 650 Dakar from the list you've got but, like everything else in life, it's personal opinion.
Whatever you choose, have fun on your travels . . . .:scooter:

Woah thanks for nice replys!

So no love for KTM's? Yeah I also like Dakar a lot, to be honest planned to buy it 3 years ago but didnt have time to do the licence back then. Only problem is that there in none for sale in my area, there was a perfect one but it found new owner a week ago, so I must travel to Germany to get a decent one.

Interesting to hear about Tenere problems theres a strong following to that bike leading you to beleave its best thing on earth, I was considering 2008 and later so must learn more about this :confused1:

Dude please listen to good sense, if your new to motorcycling dont buy something big and rally raid worthy, especially the KTMadv990R. Your gonna crash anyway, we all do. But before you've got some experience on smaller bikes you may really hurt yourself.
Take it easy and learn to ride first, anyone can go fast on a fast bike espcially in a straight line. Its much cooler to get the most out of a machine, small is easier to learn on.
You want to ride to work and back, go on a track and ride to the end of the world?
Look at something around the 400 mark, maybe a drz-s 400 or my choice would be a honda xr400. seriously i think its the best do it all bike ever, that or the xr600. these bikes with a big tank will do everything you ask for unlike the KTM adv990R and to some extent the 690 which will most likely scare you or put you in hospital.

Xt660z
 

Hi, i cannot comment on the KTM's but have experience of the other 2. BMW is a great road bike and good on gentle trails, its main problem being too top heavy and poor fueling. Tenere (08 onwards) is also a great road bike capable of touring at 90 mph all day, far better balanced off road, large tank is a major bonus, low down fueling not perfect, reliability is excellent. main complaint agianst it has been poor corrosion resistance mainly to nuts, bolts, etc.The only real problem that i have suffered in 14K miles has been poor quality cush drive rubbers (i have also read that this is a common fault). Just bought my second one for a trip to Mongolia. Cheers Andy

I'd get the XT660Z Tenere; I believe the electrical problem has been sorted and was simply a dodgy connection to the wiring loom.

^^^^^^^^^
This is very sound advice.
Just look at the 200cc or the 250cc ranges.
More than enough for now.
get some decent miles under your belt before you look bigger.

The tarmac is very hard, and unforgiving.

'vette

little bike
 

i own 1200 gs,but when i went riding paris oulan bator i buy last year the new 125 honda libe cb one cylinder injection why?? the weight i low you can easely put in a truck or a van,you never ride more 50 mph on the road,and it's look like a local bike and with honda you can find parts everywhere.i start from paris cross EU,oural siberie GOBI desert without any problem ,with 450 kms of autonomy .next year i cross to india andthailand. FREDERIC:scooter:

I was chatting to a tour company about Tenere's and they have many other problems.
I don't know where the F650gs "bad fuelling" idea comes from and it weighs less than a Tenere. The XT is also very heavy. As for gentle trails the Dakar is a better bet and can handle a lot more than any of them. The best bet is to ride both. XT owners are obsessive and nothing else will do. I have no idea why, they feel pretty awful to me.

For a first bike a Honda XR125L or similar Chinese copy would be advisable for your first 6-12 months in the saddle.

When learning to ride less is often more.
Also try to remove your ego from the equation, especially as you're learning.

You gotta work up to bikes like KTM990's.

A Suzuki DRZ400 is also good advice. Bulletproof, easy to ride and maintain.:thumbup1:
All those 650's will be big and heavy for a new rider.

Right.. one bloke 'heard' there was a problem, and now you make two... that's how internet rumours are made x

Seriously, as Docsherlock says, a small number of bikes (in 2009) seemed to have a dodgy connection to the reg/rec due to the connector not being fitted properly (and this will have been sorted on any bike you buy, new or secondhand...) - otherwise the current Tenere is an excellent choice...

So too is the F650 for general travel and trail riding - have a go (or at least a sit on) both and see which one does it for you - either will give you a lot of fun and adventure...

Jx

I'm with most of the posters on here. I haven't passed my test yet, but I'm planning a long trip. 1st bike I'll use will be 400 or below.

You gotta remember that the smaller the bike, the easier to pick up after you've dropped it. Not to mention spending $$$$ on a Dakar and then dropping that fekker.

If I enjoy as much as I anticipate I'll have enough experience (and ear bending advice) to make a decision on upgrading at a later date, when I know my abilities and wants better.

For now, the smaller bike is for me.

Oh and I googled the Suzuki DR Z400,



OLD Bull Forum

very nice too!!

You're a new rider. Check the reviews on the KTM's. All the evaluators (usually proffesional riders) talk about how wild they are.

You will fall, especially on bad roads or off road. I have a 650 V Strom. It's really heavy when it falls over. it's worse if it falls the wrong way on a hill.

Get something around 400cc. it will take you anywhere without working against you.

There is a weird cult following for the Tenere and the XT range in general but their claims don't always add up. I met some guys who run a touring club, they told me they use the new Tenere 660 (if that's the one you're talking about) and they ditch them at 20000 miles when they pack up as otherwise they're too much trouble.
I would avoid any BMW with the exception of older boxers and their single cylinder range. The Dakar is good, very economical, comfortable and reliable. In case you didn't know, BMW is launching a new version of the single GS this month, same old bike with new plastic. For your use it's better looking but has 14 litre tank down from 16 and a slightly less comfy seat. In the UK it's under £5k new so very cheap. No Dakar version yet but the word is all parts will fit.

I would have a test ride if poss on all 4 then decide

I had 2003 Suzuki DRZ-400 great bike good poke, easy to work on.
I rode a 96 yam XTZ-660 Tenere to cape york (north most tip of QLD Aus) and back from melborne. No probs.

I am now riding a Suzuki DR 650 and I think its most versatile of the lot. Old but proven design that hasn't changed much coz it works. Got power but not scary..

But as Selous says test ride will serve you well.

You just found one here - my 950 turned 100,000 kms last week somewhere around Cuilacan, Mexico.

OK, carry onbier

This side of the water we think in miles. On average the KTM 950 delivers only 35mpg on average whereas an equivalent 650 (mine for instance) does twice that, even in town and more like 90 on a run. Your 100000km is about 62000 miles.
62000 miles, assuming fuel at the new all time high of £6 per gallon (nice easy number) will cost you £10630 (roughly) over the time it has taken to put those miles on the bike. Obviously a 650 class will be half that at £5315. Either way it's the cost of the machine again and this doesn't take into account the much higher KTM service costs which are also more frequent. Also you've been lucky, most KTMs will not see this high mileage in one piece and I'm assuming you haven't had any costly repairs, again which would be far cheaper on a 650 class single.
But what do you gain in having this class of bike? Mine will manage 100mph, the acceleration will mean you will have an edge on me but my lighter bike will keep up in normal use... and does in normal use. Offroad the 950 is probably the best handling of the giant adventure machines although the GS is very good but no matter how good, a smaller enduro is going to be easier to handle. The Dakar in fact has the same fuel economy as my bike and will adapt very well to various fuel quality, pressure, heat and altitude and handles well in all environments.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and if I had a bike I trust I would stick to it as well but I don't see the point of going for a bike in that class over a more practical and cheaper alternative which is in all likelihood going to be more reliable and easier to use and equip.
If I were in the market for a new bike for touring I know which way I would go right now.

Jtw000 - I'm from that side of the water too, but thank you for the conversion.:biggrin3:

I'm not contributing to this thread beyond pointing out that there is one (and many other) KTMs with over 100,000 KMs. I haven't owned or ridden enough bikes to know mine compares to the others, but I probably agree with you - something around 600cc would be ideal for traveling on dirt.

All good advice. Small is best.

If this is your first bike then invest in on and off-road training, and good gear before your bike.

There is no one bike that does everything well. The ones you mentioned will do some things well and others not so much.

For off-road you want something light. After you have picked your bike up more than three times you will be exhausted and fall off more.

Also, realistically your tyre choice will dictate what you can do. You can't ride offroad on road tyres (certainly not as a novice). Offroad tyres will wear out faster when road riding. So you should consider spare wheels with offroad tyres for offroading if you can't get two bikes. It faster and easier to change whole wheels than tyres.

I have the F650GS and anything around the engine is a pain to work on, I have to strip lots of panelling off to get access to anything. It's not complicated but does take time and everything requires 10" multijointed, pencil-thin fingers to get access (At the moment I am well peed off because I can't take the clutch cover off at all because there is a big metal oil pipe holding it in, and that is just for starters...)

Hey but it is a good all rounder. Super commuter bike, OK for touring (a bit underpowered and little weather protection) and a bit heavy for off road!

My recommendation would be for 250 to 400cc range. The DRZ400 is a super 'little' bike.

Enjoy