Posts
390
Joined
10/6/2007
Location
Melbourne
AU
Edited Date/Time
3/27/2020 7:09am
Any of you moto nuts ride adventure bikes aswell? I like the ktm1290.
I would like to hear peoples experiences with all brands good or bad while we have time to kill.
I intend on smashing out road miles and dirt also. If I want to go proper riding I will take my endure bike.
I would like to hear peoples experiences with all brands good or bad while we have time to kill.
I intend on smashing out road miles and dirt also. If I want to go proper riding I will take my endure bike.
I would love a 790 but where I am in Ohio, doesn't give me much use for its capabilities. The A-Twin is decent offroad and good on road.
The Shop
Every one of them have certain aspects that blow me away. I have a soft spot for my Aprilia and it’s ability to eat miles of rough asphalt and gravel. It’s a little quicker than my ktm 1190 was and better at everything but being cheap than my ole Klrs.
However in all around usiability I fee like my Africa twin, however underpowered it is comparatively speaking , was the better motorcycle. Just basically easier to live with.
I have taken this pig down single track and sand, gravel and asphalt. Some mud and a few times around a gnocchi type course with a little bit of moto track dropped in. It took it all with class. As long as you remember there’s 500 lbs you are working with you can make good time.
Interesting facts about the Aprilia: it has fewer dealers so if it breaks you’re kind of in your own to find a dealer and get your rig there.
It’s never not started nor not made it home!
I’ve never had a light come on the dash other than low traction, it’ll do that on asphalt too. 😬
The windscreen is useless if you’re over 6ft tall.
The luggage is the best of all the bikes I’ve mentioned.
It has tubeless spokes wheels. That’s a plus for repairs on the roadside. Keep some plugs and a pump.
The ktm was fun, probably better suspended but was like grilling your nutsack in the summer.
It felt heavy and cumbersome because it was bit the forks and shock worked great. I even did a small double on it.
It broke. Constantly. Electric gremlins and whatnot were killing the vibe. Had it not been a problem almost every ride I would have never gotten another.
The Africa twin was a sewing machine. Never leaked or faultered. Never a light not a single problem. But it was so boring to ride. Not like the ride was boring the bike just had no character for me. It was a fine motor cycle but I just didn’t feel cool I guess is the term I’m looking for. I felt like an old dude on a gold wing. But maybe that was a good thing.
You need to just go sit on a few and see. I’d love to try a new Yamaha t7. I think that bike would do me well. As maybe a new ktm 790.
this is my Aprilia
Met a guy out on a big fire road stretch of trail who was on a 1290 adventure, he said he loves the bike for doing longer mellower trips/trails but not getting ultra technical, that’s what he has a 525 EXC for.
Love my Twin. One of the most fun bikes I've owned.
Have been thinking about a CRF450L for the RV scrambler
Been thinking about a DRZ-400.... lighter than an adventure bike. They are bulletproof and don't require the crazy maintenance of BMWs, or KTMs.
Pit Row
those big bikes look like fun, maybe some day
I had quite the adventure both trips...you ain't felt nothing until you've high-sided a 530 lb bike in a Mexican sandwash tapped out in 4th gear! That was on Day 2 of the first trip, but I made it the entire 5 days. It really helps when you go with a great group of guys, including our chase team of Juan Carlos Pacheco Banuelos of Baja Voyager. I highly recommend them if you are going to do Baja! It's also nice when you have one of the best moto photographers in the world along for the ride...photos courtesy of Simon Cudby and one of my two favorite cops, Aaron "Raineman" Raines.
KTM Enduro 690 R w Rekluse, about as perfect as it gets
Nick Sanders has done loads of extended trips on S10s and the smaller Tenere:
https://www.nicksanders.com/
I had a 2004 KTM 950, and believe it was the better off-road. I took that bike into places that I usually would throw my WR450 dual sport in and although would be a bit nervous, always knew I'd pop out. The maintenance log was a pain though; 90min + for an oil change, and did have an electrical gremlin that took a while to track down. I did have a lot of fun on that bike though and would like to find another 990 Baja one day.
The new Husqvarna Nordo 901 looks like a throw back to the 950/990. I will be curious to check one out. I am of a slightly shorter stature, and for some reason never felt comfy on a 1090R; the front and mid section always felt wide to me. Hopefully the Nordo is closer to the 950/990 layout.
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