I had high hopes for the CCM GP450, and nearly bought an ex demo one to take the place of my TTR250 on the trails and TDM 850 on the road. The lack of turning circle compared to the TTR was the only downside for me off road, but I've seen a few with various fuelling issues most likely to do with the over complicated fuel tank system, and I really wanted to rip off all that rallyesque fairing and put on a raised front mudguard to make it the trail version (that the factory tried, then hid away quickly for some reason.
So little choice in this area of the market. KLX450R? Build your own CRF500L twin? Orange?
I'm with you Chris - Picasso's ironing board is not to my taste either.

Never got round to trying a CCM but funnily enough I'm checking out a KLX450R later this week as an alternative to Orange. Anyone ever owned one?

Looking for a bike for Algeria – a supported tour not a travel bike.
After years of faffing about with do-it-all machines (a bit like the OP is trying to do) I am loath to buy such a purposeful racing machine only to have to sell it again right after as it's good for nothing else (for me). But they say it's the least purposeful in its class and actually quite easy to ride. I suspect that is all relative though.
I bet there's a mile-long thread on advrider on Adventurizing KLX450Rs.

i agree with the OP the XT660Z is a tank with a high CoG (weighs more than my XSR7) but tbh, if you've got the space, a TTR and a TDM sounds like a good combo.
Fyi one of the guys coming to Algeria is developing a 350 barrel for TTRs - he hopes to bring it with.

This the bit where I say: ''CRF450L, svp''

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

been riding ktm 690 enduro r and didn't like bike geometry, for my height 6.1
riding position and handling didn't feel right. Husky 701 is very similar bike I believe with small, cosmetic changes so I would say test it first.

Have you thought about ktm 500 exc and getting bigger tank? IMO it has potential for replacing other bikes and be the one, although for longer trips
I still prefer heavier, more stable bikes and my tenere is perfect for that.

Thanks Tremens - i will definitely try if i am getting close to buying.

I discounted the 500 exc as i don't want a race bike with short service intervals.

I love my xt660z too, proper off roading aside. But i am in the fortunate position of having an xt1200z too which i use as my pure road touring bike (european stuff) so the 660 is caught a bit in no mans land for me as i am not sure it would be right for me on the TET and TAT. As my Freeride is not either that would mean a 4th bike, which might prove a little hard to justify.....

I think if you are really into your events you will be better off a dedicated event bike.
As I get older a light bike becomes more important.

The 701 I rode was the first model; prob 2015. Unbearable at 100kph.
Yes, tank size was dead handy; amazingly economical for the power.

Nicely put ;-) I detest that look and connotation and associate it (rightly or otherwise) with young punks doing wheelies and jumps on wasteland and not adhering diligently to service and maintenance schedules. As pictured below, in fact ;-).

Too slow on the KLX – sold.



There was a good 500EXC in Hackney on ebay which had been tastefully oranged down. Looked great. Should have bought it and stored it but really need to ride one of these things first.

Look up the rolling hobo. Hardcore off road travel/long event? rider who switched from 690 to 500 and has done a meticulous conversion.

I wonder if these short oil intervals are partly dependent on how hard you ride it?
I think Hobo came up with a good strategy on that front.
Unless you're a pro, I can't see there being space/places in the UK to ride a 500 properly which again, makes me assume these sort of big enduros end up being neglected toys which get through lots of owners in a short mileage.

Don't know of anything dirtworthy on the twin front.
Isn't there talk of a KTM 500 twin - or is is 7-800?

DRZ 400? Hard to find one with few owners and not covered in Monster stickers.
A modern efi DRZ4 would be great.

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Loncin reveals 650cc adventure bike | Visordown
The Chinese are here! Just one of several ADV style twins coming along from China. NO IDEA how they actually are to ride ... but Loncin had a long standing relationship with BMW. Not sure if that's a positive or negative!
Hopefully reliable long term.

But design wise looks promising, IMO.

Yes, I think it's a 700 or 800 parallel twin? But where is it? We've seen mock ups and Spy Shots of this bike over 2 years now. Speculators claim it will be TOO HEAVY and TOO Expensive. I believe it. IMO, KTM are pushing their luck, may be headed off a cliff.

Is the KLX450 you speak of a "new" model? UK only? Road legal? I have not heard of this one and it's for sure not in USA. Would be a great addition to the KLX dual sport line. Here we only get the KX450/KX250 Motocross race bikes. Also the long suffering KLX250S, KLR650 ... all long in the tooth, overdue for revision.

The Husky would not be my choice as a "Do It All" bike.
On the subject of vibration. I've been following the KTM 690 Duke. In 2016 KTM revised the engine in a major way. I can only assume this new Engine has migrated in part or whole over to the Husky?

Reviews rave about how SMOOTH the new 2016 690 Duke engine is. 100% of UTubes and mag reviews agree just how much nicer this new smoother engine is ... plus, gets a couple more HP. Way nicer than earlier iterations ... so reviews say, I've not ridden a 690 Duke since 2010. Lots of vibes on that one.

Well spotted with the Loncin, not my cup of tea but here they come.
Wonder what their 500 twin is like.

I'm sure you know the KLX450R - been making them for years and still do here, but in the US discontinued after 2010. Like a WR450F and all that sort of thing.

Fyi, next year the US KLX250S comes back as efi (as we've had here for years). I still don't get why that bike never caught on the way the CRF-L has.
It can only be better marketing. Suspension is way better and the rest is the same. Its 10kg lighter too.
Ran a carb one last year in the US - as good as my CRF all round.

Maybe I'l get a chance to try a newer 701. Some bloke was setting off RTW on one; can't be the same motor I tried.

when not racing intervals are not that bad, around 2k km.
xt1200z is IMO way too heavy. On xt660z I can do mostly
all kinda off-road I do on exc but at much slower tempo.
Plus on road small tenere give me over 500 km on tank, it's
great DS bike but for physically fit riders

Try XR650R.
Light, powerfull, bulletproof and cheap in comparison to 701/690.

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www.globerider.pl

XR650R hard to find in the UK or expensive.
They were never really a hit here (as travel bikes)
Got myself a nice XR4 for DZ.

On my tours the novelty of the 701 soon wore off over the cushier Tornados, but we don't ride hard.

I met some Belgian desert pros (690, DR650, 701) doing long, hard days and the guy with the 701 said he really rates his over former DR and X-Ch following an inexpensive fork upgrade (prog' springs; thinner oil, lower-friction seals). Plus a €150 seat and a small screen.

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

There are road legal (Kitted) XR650R's for sale around here everyday. They go from about $2500 up to about $4500 depending on condition and mods done.

Most guys here using it as dual sport bike with emphasis on Desert work. Tight trails not great on XR650R. It's very tall, bit top heavy. But robust and stable at 70mph powering through rocks. Remember, Honda's XR650R won many many Baja 1000 races for YEARS ... then Honda went to the CRF450 class bikes ... XR650R was put out to pasture.

A great bike overall for dirt riding but takes quite a bit to set it up for travel with luggage and stuff. Only ever seen ONE set up for travel.

XR400R?
Assume you mean the old Honda XR400R? Great bike, wish it had "the button", but if you get your kick starting technique down it's OK, reliable, plenty of power with gearing that allows reasonable highway speeds.

BTW, the XR400R is still, TODAY, one of the favorites of the Baja tour companies for their client bikes. Below pic shows mix of bikes but a LOT of XR400's in there along with a few CRF250's.



Surprised you rate the Tornado over the 701 Husky. For novice riders I get it, but for more experienced guys (like the "pros" you met) in tough conditions, riding at speed, I'm thinking I'd prefer the 701.

I'm sure it needs set up for rider weight/ability but the potential is clearly there to be exploited ... where as the Tornado, as good as it is overall, is limited if the pace picks up and terrain worsens.

As a travel bike for long road sections I would still choose a DR650 over a Husky 701. More comfort, better reliability, very low maintenance vs. Husky.

The DR is rarely set up correctly but if it IS set up right, it's quite surprising how good it can be off road, even loaded up for travel. Bang for Buck is, IMO,
pretty much off the scale.

I'd not really thought about the KLX450R So will have a read. Be interested to hear how Chris gets on if he goes for it.

The real appeal of the husky is the sensible tank size (13 litres) and service interval (6000 miles). The 20 hour interval on my KTM Is not really a travel friendly feature.....

On the twin front is there anything out there that is sensibly light for proper off road?