What to look for when buying a dual-purpose bike?

[Woodman]

That KTM is tempting. Anyone interested in a 05 klr only ridden on Sundays?

[Eddieb]

That KTM is tempting. Anyone interested in a 05 klr only ridden on Sundays?

Now thats really stretching the one careful lady owner bit.

[Box'a'bits]

That KTM is tempting. Anyone interested in a 05 klr only ridden on Sundays?

The KTM would like fit with your riding style as well, though you should give thought to the less is more philosophy vis a vis bodywork. I can see that you are already going down that track with the KLR...

Or maybe a KTM 640E like ClintNZ?

We'll get you on the orange team yet

Steve

[Woodman]

The KTM would like fit with your riding style as well, though you should give thought to the less is more philosophy vis a vis bodywork. I can see that you are already going down that track with the KLR...

Or maybe a KTM 640E like ClintNZ?

We'll get you on the orange team yet

Steve

actually i have become quite attached to my KLR, kinda like my favourite pair of sneakers. Mocked up a crash bar setup today in the shed that should work well if I ever drop it hard again.

[warewolf]

Warewolf has experimented with dropping the bike, & dog legs etc, though I understand it's back on more standard setting now.

Yep, all back to std except more preload at front and less at the back - as good as I can get for my weight. Lowering links are satan's spawn... avoid at all costs.

Can't say I've noticed the extra height, but sure as possums are a pest I have noticed the improved suspension response & ground clearance. Haven't bottomed either end since, and I've hit stuff a lot harder... 'cos I can. Actually that's not quite true; I haven't bottomed the rear, but I have and regularly do bottom the front - but with no ill effects. Bash plate still decks out sometimes, but that's due to the rider being lousy at lofting the front. Even at the Laid Back trail ride in the ruts made by MX bikes, it didn't get hung up on the foot pegs like it used to.

The shock in the adventure is the same as used on all the LC4 variants, pretty much. There are internal spacers to set the travel depending on the application, eg the Duke & motard bikes have a lot less. You're better off spending your money on a shock service including lowering, especially if buying used, and maybe a revalve while they're in there.

For more technical discussion on why lowering links are bad, read:
Lowering the bike (post #21 to the end). It's less problematic to reduce the preload at both ends, but that's not ideal, either.

The issue with all this is that you want the suspension to work well, when you are riding the bike. Lowering it is trying to make the suspension work well, when you are NOT riding it - or at least transitioning between stopped and riding - and any such mods short of a stroke reduction and revalve will compromise the riding action.

[Waihou Thumper]

Nah, NZKTM is shorter than me. He's got the bike set up much lower than mine. Bart'd do well on it.

The measurement to the lowest part of the saddle is 955mm, which is what the manual says, give or take...
It looks low, I grant you that. It must be my fat arse on the bike that makes it look lower...


It isn't a tall machine at all. I have a 30 inch inside leg and can sit nicely with toes on the ground, it is tall when you try to put the sidestand down and it keeps going down and down...into soft ground...
Getting the leg down then and trying to get the bike upright, noe there is a good scenario, that no man's land between shall I let it go or do I wait here and look like a ballerina until someone comes and tips me back upright....

[Waihou Thumper]

That 640 adventure is a pretty cool machine.

It is a very cool machine and it gets me most places comfortably as you can attest to. Some places that it shouldn't have been as well
It also bounces well and has been proven in the Dakar. After seeing the bike ridden as a trail bike it amazes me that anything that can weigh over 170Kg fully fuelled behaves like that!
Remember that there is over 28Kg there extra ballast when fuelled up. The bike weighs about 154Kg empty...

Not a light flickable machine but when empty of fuel behaves well on the metal roads. Full of gas it is a sedate ride until you get it down to the less than half full scenario...

[Paladin]

The KTM would like fit with your riding style as well, though you should give thought to the less is more philosophy vis a vis bodywork. I can see that you are already going down that track with the KLR...

Or maybe a KTM 640E like ClintNZ?

We'll get you on the orange team yet

Steve

Have to agree with you Steve. After having seen Nigel ride the snot out of the KLR, I reckon a KTM would suit him down to the ground!

[Box'a'bits]

The other aspect re the tallness of the bike, is that I run the centrestand. That makes the bike sit with suspension fully extended. If I ran the sidestand it would be much more manageable getting on & off the bike, but less of a good thing for maintenance or flats.

NZKTM runs the sidestand.

Steve

[Waihou Thumper]

The other aspect re the tallness of the bike, is that I run the centrestand. That makes the bike sit with suspension fully extended. If I ran the sidestand it would be much more manageable getting on & off the bike, but less of a good thing for maintenance or flats.

NZKTM runs the sidestand.

Steve

I have both and can run with both. I bought a stand from KTM in Germany so it can have both sidestand and centrestand. At present it runs with sidestand.
Maintenance? Nothing needs doing ever...

I have a big stand for the bike when putting on and taking off wheels etc...

The bike comes standard from the factory with centrestand. The sidestand was developed to be used as well, as they share the same bolts and attachments to the frame. So, I think I have tywo sidestands, one centrestand, the newer one is the developed on from KTM in Europe that has been adapted for the use of both. I chose to take it off.

[Woodman]

Have to agree with you Steve. After having seen Nigel ride the snot out of the KLR, I reckon a KTM would suit him down to the ground!

My KLR got me down to the ground twice on the NIIS last weekend.

[Waihou Thumper]

My KLR got me down to the ground twice on the NIIS last weekend.

will be the Bees Knees for you, it suits me down to the ground too!

It is a little heavy in piucking it up again but definitely worth it, and you know what? The bits that had fallen off just bolt back on and away it goes again and again..
I will certainly give it a 10 out of 10 for build quality...

[NordieBoy]

It is a little heavy in piucking it up again but definitely worth it, and you know what? The bits that had fallen off just bolt back on and away it goes again and again..
I will certainly give it a 10 out of 10 for build quality...

But the KLR gets 10/10 for re-build quality.




Or is that quantity?

[Waihou Thumper]

But the KLR gets 10/10 for re-build quality.




Or is that quantity?

Cannot even reply to that other than yes, agreed....

[warewolf]

But the KLR gets 10/10 for re-build quality.




Or is that quantity?