Say no to slow KTM 1190R in the right hands

[beemerdons]

To me an Adventure Bike describes a 50% street 50% two-track bike ridden with others who can help pick it up if needed. If you have friends who ride these bikes you might be more likely to ride to the bikes full potential. Not too many people want to drop a bike that could cost hundreds of dollars to repair or get their leg stuck under 500+ lbs of tech so they generally don’t stray too far from firm surfaces. They can serve as a great touring or two-up exploration bike and make the perfect justification to buy a super-cool helmet with a visor. The average rider goes to Starbucks to kick tires, meet with other ADV riders then group rides to lunch hitting some gravel roads on the way. Water crossings are the highlight of the day and supremely picture worthy.

Dual Sport bikes on the other hand are capable street bikes but comfortable in the dirt up to moderate singletrack. They can be dropped and picked up by the owner when riding alone. The average rider stops at Starbucks to take a piss if a McDonalds can’t be found. Packing a lunch that is still edible mid-day is of prime importance. Water crossing are also coveted photo ops with this group but your buddy stuck under his bike is the Holy Grail of digital capture.

Dirt bikes with lights are miserable on the street but capable of almost any dirt trails you will find. The average rider doesn’t know where a Starbucks is and grabs a cup of 7-11 coffee on the way to trucking their bikes to the trailhead. Beef jerky and a tug from the Camelbak is what’s for lunch. Pictures are few and far between because no one wants to ruin a camera or lug it around.

Suspension mods and aftermarket add-ons can blur the lines on the categories but ultimately it is who you ride with, how you ride, and your culinary expectations that should determine your purchase.

+1, Gunny; very well spoken and this is why UberKul is widely known as Dr. Brad, not Dr. Phil but Dr. Brad! jes' sayin' and nuff said!

 

[Fred W]

I can't disagree with anything Billy just wrote except that I did read your entire (two line) post and it just said a KTM mechanic, nothing of his credentials.

Are KTMs more expensive to buy and maintain than asian brands? Damn straight. You might notice I don't have one in my garage, and that isn't for lack of desire. Do they break a lot, I would imagine so especially with the kind of use and abuse that many folks put them through.

A 21" front wheel is standard on a KLR and KLRs are not what I would consider particularly capable in the dirt not to mention that they downright suck on the road. Before any KLR owners give me grief, yes I have owned one before and I actually prefer the Aprilia Pegaso I own now to the KLR I owned previously for all around 50/50 use.

The definition of an Adventure Bike is going to vary depending on the rider and what he intends to do with it. For me, it needs to be capable off pavement (not necessarily off-road) and completely comfortable for long days on road.

And (to me) a dual sport needs be capable off-road (in the woods) and only street legal to get between the trails, but doesn't need to be all day comfortable.

The way I see it, the advantage of the V twin KLR Adventures is they are Adventure bikes that are also capable off road (not just off pavement) and blur those above definitions. I guess that you could just own a liter class adventure bike and a 650 thumper dual sport instead (oh wait... I do) but how much cheaper is that really and how much less maintenance do I have to do on two bikes?

As for your WR450F, if Yamaha came out with one that was street legal out of the box (as is continuously rumored), a WR450R if you will along the same lines as the WR250R but with the bigger engine I would be first in line to buy one. (I know, know... that is what everyone says) That would be a perfect dual sport for my definition above. I tried a WR250R (owned it for a short while) and it was just too small for my 6'2" 230 lb self.

 

[beemerdons]

As everyone knows I love my Home State of Arizona, what really makes me happy to be a Zonie is the ease with which we can register off road vehicles here as street legal. Please note the "Grand Canyon State" license plate on the back of Big-D's Yamaha WR450F, all it took Dan to get his plate was $100 worth of brake lights, reflectors and a mirror coupled with a visit to AZ Motor Vehicle Division to get a plate. Papa Chuy has a street plate on his golf cart at Lake Havasu!

Big Dan is definitely very BIG, a weightlifter athlete at 6-3" and 260 lbs.; I am hoping he will tire of his Yamaha and sell it to me for my big Mexico ride! JSNS!

 

[HotRodZilla]

Patch has a KTM 530exc...I could be wrong on the last letters. It's the dirt bike with a headlight. He has ridden the shit out of that bike and has had ZERO problems. It is definately not babied and both Dan and 'Fitter have seen him gas that thing. It has huge power and runs like a champ. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one based on Patch's experience.

 

[Fred W]

...and the EXC's are the enduro race bikes with headlights. The LC4 and LC8 engines are known to be more reliable, with less required maintenance, than the smaller engines.

 

[beemerdons]

Patch has a KTM 530exc...I could be wrong on the last letters. It's the dirt bike with a headlight. He has ridden the shit out of that bike and has had ZERO problems. It is definately not babied and both Dan and 'Fitter have seen him gas that thing. It has huge power and runs like a champ. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one based on Patch's experience.

+1, Gunny; member of AZ Beemers named Bill Zachar has two KTM's, a 950 plus a 690 and BZ rides the shit out of them with ZERO problems encountered.

 

[Niehart]

Hudson and I were laughing about the seat height. The seat is adjustable but in the low position it's still 33.8". We were thinking that we would have to change his forum name to Curb because he will need one to get on the 1190.

 

[yamafitter]

Hudson and I were laughing about the seat height. The seat is adjustable but in the low position it's still 33.8". We were thinking that we would have to change his forum name to Curb because he will need one to get on the 1190.

Someone keeps sneaking in here when I'm sleeping and is sawing my legs shorter because it is getting tougher to get my leg over the WR450. I usually look for some kind of bump or log when I stop so I have something to stand on when it is time to get back on.

 

[Bugnatr]

At 15k plus miles my KTM 990 SMT has been rock solid.

 

[dcarver]

I just wonder about longevity and endurance when a relatively small engine running slipper pistons making serious horsepower is put to the test of time, heavy throttle hand, and hours upon hours of abuse where abuse is defined as muddied up radiators, tossed in the stream, crashed down the rocks, and splatted into the tree.

I think UberK nailed the various scenarios.

..and he Uber has dirt cred..

 

[Hudson]

Don, some of us can actually ride a distance without crashing...[ducks]

 

[escapefjrtist]

Hudson and I were laughing about the seat height. The seat is adjustable but in the low position it's still 33.8". We were thinking that we would have to change his forum name to Curb because he will need one to get on the 1190.

Heck, Hudson was tiptoeing my Tenere...with extra sag on the Penske. Hows about nailing 2 X 4s to his stubs ?!?

--G

 

[dcarver]

Hudson and I were laughing about the seat height. The seat is adjustable but in the low position it's still 33.8". We were thinking that we would have to change his forum name to Kicked to The Curb because he will need one to get on the 1190.

:rofl:

Don, some of us can actually ride a distance without crashing...[ducks]

You call THAT riding?

Ride that thing to the Hondarosa and we'll see if you ride where Fairlaner drives!

ps I'm jes jealous. I get first dibs when you're tired of it and want to move on, k', my good old friend long lost brother from a different mother!

 

[Auburn]

Hudson and I were laughing about the seat height. The seat is adjustable but in the low position it's still 33.8". We were thinking that we would have to change his forum name to Kicked to The Curb because he will need one to get on the 1190.

Don, some of us can actually ride a distance without crashing...[ducks]

You call THAT riding?

Ride that thing to the Hondarosa and we'll see if you ride where Fairlaner drives!

ps I'm jes jealous. I get first dibs when you're tired of it and want to move on, k', my good old friend long lost brother from a different mother!

you'll have to stand in line after me...

 

[dcarver]

NuhHuh, me n' ol' Huddie are bestest of amigos!

 

[Panman]

Hudson and I were laughing about the seat height. The seat is adjustable but in the low position it's still 33.8". We were thinking that we would have to change his forum name to Kicked to The Curb because he will need one to get on the 1190.

Don, some of us can actually ride a distance without crashing...[ducks]

You call THAT riding?

Ride that thing to the Hondarosa and we'll see if you ride where Fairlaner drives!

ps I'm jes jealous. I get first dibs when you're tired of it and want to move on, k', my good old friend long lost brother from a different mother!

you'll have to stand in line after me...

Long line!

 

[eatpasta]

Two things are clear from this video:

1) Chris Birch is a flippin badass

2) KTM has rasised their own bar, again

 

[Hudson]

Dealer called today. It's in! Timing is perfect as the Unifilter filter kit showed up from Australia, to be joined by a gnarly skid plate.

Went over and spec'd out the options: heated grips, swap the stock Conti-Attack tires with some proper knobbies, add some slick looking shorty levers, and decent Giant Loop tank bag.

If I'm lucky, they'll have her built and ready this weekend. Pix forthcoming.

Panman, might need to take you up on your trailer storage offer, as I have next to no room in the garage.

And as for the line... my motto with bikes is like with tools. Only buy, never sell.

 

[beemerdons]

Congratulations Dave, make sure Bugnatr gives you the secret KTM handshake and the German lyrics to the Austrian Army marching songs! Jawohl, Arnie!

 

[gixxerjasen]

Wow, congrats on what looks to be a hoot of a bike. I'm being lured by the SuperDuke 1290R, but my bank account laughs at me when I bring it up.

I however can't wait to test ride one. My buddy Doug has one on order and he let's his close friends play with his toys. Last time I was over there we had a bit of a group ride and I got to sample the KTM goodness from his garage....both up for sale now to pay for the new bike.

To my knowledge, each bike has been stuck on the side of the pavement twice, neither by me or Doug. Chris got clipped by a CMRA a-hole on the track because Chris wasn't riding the "Racing Line" and got his front tire taken out from under him. Not KTM's fault. Chad got he RC8R stranded on the side of the road. Chad is a bit ham fisted you see, and apparently Chad not noticing the bike indicating low fuel promptly took the bike up to 140mph on the back roads we were riding, and I guess at those speeds it goes through that last bit of fuel pretty fast.

I also got to ride a Tuono when Doug had one...sweet bike. But I'm going to be picky here.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. The next bike added to the stable was supposed to be the insanely powered Aprilia Tuono RSV and its wicked 170 hp twin

Were you looking at an old Tuono or a brand new one? Because your mention of "Twin" is confusing.

Looking forward to your pics and reports on the new bike.