Adventure bike recommendations

**Transalper** · 6th August 2010, 22:45

Originally Posted by offrd

...
Was that because ktm knew their bike would fail? Hmmmmm

Yet the BMWs broke anyway.

**offrd** · 6th August 2010, 23:03

Originally Posted by Transalper

Yet the BMWs broke anyway.

Yes indeed they did! I pick the ktm also would have had failures.. tough trip!

I would happily chuck my ktm over there! Anyone keen to come too???

Oh hang on..... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

TV deal anyone????

**centaurus** · 12th August 2010, 15:12

Thanks for all the replies.

Given my situation, I think I will go for a KLR. Having multiple bikes and not willing to part with any of them, I will be on a very tight budget. I'll just find a cheaper KLR and then strip it down and grease/rebuild the suspension myself; same for the engine as long as it's not a rebuild (I know the parts for engine rebuilds are not cheap). I'm not planning the trip for at least on year or two so I would have plenty of time to bring the bike up to speed.

Besides costs, the other advantage of taking the bike apart and putting it back together myself is that when I'll be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken down bike, I won't have to figure out on the spot what's what - after you've stripped down a bike and put it back together, you know it like your own back pocket.

**ADVGD** · 12th August 2010, 17:09

Originally Posted by centaurus

Besides costs, the other advantage of taking the bike apart and putting it back together myself is that when I'll be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken down bike, I won't have to figure out on the spot what's what - after you've stripped down a bike and put it back together, you know it like your own back pocket.

Good call, that is always a bonus to have up your sleeve

**Padmei** · 12th August 2010, 17:33

There's a few of us KLRerers on here that'll be happy ot help. I have woodmans rotor puller if you needto do the do & will have a pile of older KLR parts soon when i can get around to my mates to pick them up.

Not sure of what year you're looking at or price but 2nd hand newer ones go for quite cheap. Gotta check they're not oil burners tho.

**zeRax** · 12th August 2010, 17:36

Originally Posted by Padmei

Not sure of what year you're looking at or price but 2nd hand newer ones go for quite cheap. Gotta check they're not oil burners tho.

theres non oil burning klr's ??!?

;D i kid i kid :>

**centaurus** · 12th August 2010, 18:00

Originally Posted by Padmei

There's a few of us KLRerers on here that'll be happy ot help. I have woodmans rotor puller if you needto do the do & will have a pile of older KLR parts soon when i can get around to my mates to pick them up.

Not sure of what year you're looking at or price but 2nd hand newer ones go for quite cheap. Gotta check they're not oil burners tho.

Thanks for the offer padmei. I might take you up on it once I have bought the bike. I am looking at older KLR's (when I said budget I really meant budget

)

**pete376403** · 13th August 2010, 00:07

Check out this thread on advrider where a guy (he's aussie but seems ok) is doing a frame up resto on a KLR600. Lots of good info there. KLR600 is basically the same bike (kickstarter and 50ccs seems to be the main differences)

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=580558

**pete376403** · 13th August 2010, 00:07

Originally Posted by zeRax

theres non oil burning klr's ??!?

;D i kid i kid :>

You'll keep....

**Waihou Thumper** · 13th August 2010, 04:30

Originally Posted by offrd

Was that because ktm knew their bike would fail? Hmmmmm

I think in 2004, the new 950s were not that reliable for the water pump and a few other things. KTM decided that it might not be a good idea puclicity wise to show the NEW model 950's on the BBC, afterall, what would it do for sales if these guys had issues all over Siberia.
The KTM was by far the better bike for the trip but they went with what they knew, and of course KTM said NO...
Charley was understandably upset and sulked for a bit....

**Oscar** · 13th August 2010, 07:51

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I think in 2004, the new 950s were not that reliable for the water pump and a few other things. KTM decided that it might not be a good idea puclicity wise to show the NEW model 950's on the BBC, afterall, what would it do for sales if these guys had issues all over Siberia.
The KTM was by far the better bike for the trip but they went with what they knew, and of course KTM said NO...
Charley was understandably upset and sulked for a bit....

It was because the expert that KTM consulted was of the view that the boys weren't capable, not the bikes.

**dino3310** · 13th August 2010, 13:03

Originally Posted by Oscar

It was because the expert that KTM consulted was of the view that the boys weren't capable, not the bikes.

wasnt mcgregor a total newbie to ADV

**Oscar** · 13th August 2010, 14:02

Originally Posted by dino3310

wasnt mcgregor a total newbie to ADV

Yup.

And the concern was that practising with an unloaded F650GS in Wales was not going to prepare him to ride a fully loaded Adv bike across Eurasia.