What to buy? BMW, KTM, or ?

[xcmountain80]

So my dad and I are in the market for an enduro for some road tripin and back roading. I was looking at the BMW f650, and the KTM adventure 950, 990. Need to know the pros and cons maintenance, reliability, and so on.

Aaron

[Scott Brady]

[xcmountain80]

Whats he pop supposed to mean? Didn't you just get a bike or was that someone else.

Aaron

[marc olivares]

2 words...Triumph Tiger...that is all




sorry, i'm a bit bias
i have an 05'
cant get enought of that british love

[xcmountain80]

2 words...Triumph Tiger...that is all




sorry, i'm a bit bias
i have an 05'
cant get enought of that british love

I saw a few of those mixed in with a group of BMW's a couple months back on a group ride at a gas station, there must have been 50 bikes.

Aaron

[Scott Brady]

I do not have a bike yet. No time to ride it. I am interested in others response to this thread.

Hopefully this winter, with a full build and then ride next spring/summer!

[HMR]

You will find every possible piece of info you could ever want on each of those bikes here.

In the meantime... there's a pretty big difference in performance between the F650 and the two KTM's you mentioned. What type of riding would you like to do? Single track? Long stretches of highway followed by some fire roads?

The dualsport market continues to grow every year and it seems there are more choices now than ever.

In addition to the bikes already mentioned, here are some others to consider:

Single-cylinder aka "Thumpers"
KTM 640
Husqvarna TE-610
Suzuki DR650
Honda XR650
Kawasaki KLR650

"Big Twins"
Suzuki V-Strom 650 & 1000
BMW 1200GS & 1200GS Adventure

All of the above are great bikes and have loyal followings. Generally, the twin cylinders (3-cylinder for the Tiger) are "better" for long hauls on the pavement. I've owned the V-Strom 650 (totalled from a high-speed deerstrike), the KTM 950 Adventure and just bought an '07 BMW 1200GS. It's hard to pick a favorite as each bike has it's own niche. Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Flounder]

If you're doing much off road, that KTM is a monster. I'm pretty comfortable with most bikes off road up to 650cc but that KTM 950 would make me a little nervous off road. She's a biggie. I borrowed a buddie's 950 for a few days and while I loved it, I wouldn't want to be on anything other than fire roads with it.

It's all relative. Some guys take their GS1150s off road. No thanks.

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

As stated above...Those are two very different bikes. That 950 KTM should be compared to the 1200 BMW, not a 650.


If you do a search you'll find this has been discussed at length on this site a few times before. I have a KTM 525 exc. It has been called very accurately a "Dirtbike with turn signals". I also have at my disposal a 2006 BMW 650. I was very excited to get the 650's, as I ride a BMW 1150 RT five days a week. I'm a huge BMW fan. The more we rode the 650's off road the less we were pleased with them. This is not my single opinion, but the opinion of eight highly trained guys that ride five days a week. Five of the eight have their own dirt bikes, three out of the five own KTM.

I would consider your physical size and ability and start from there. Then I would look honestly at the terrain and the amount of travel off-road versus paved road. If I were heading for more dirt than pavement, I'd keep it smaller (650 and under) and go KTM. If I were doing more pavement than dirt along with longer read farther distances, no question the new BMW 1200. I love that bike and will own one some time.

Hopefully Brian will chime in and give you his thoughts on the BMW. I already owe him a beer for the last time discussed this...

[xcmountain80]

Sorry it was getting late I knew as soon as I posted it that I would get flack for the 950,990 vs. 650 comparison. Yeah I know those are different I meant to add the R1150 or 1200 BMW in there too. My father and are moderately experienced riders him more so than me. We will be doing mostly road but some offroad (forest roads, dirt roads, mountain trails). Now with the two of us if we decided to do slightly more dirt bike style riding the 1200, 1150 and the 990, 950 are going to big like wrestling a big *** alligator (here in Florida), it can be done but it will be hard. I'm 5'8" 190lbs, dad 6'1" 220lbs. I'm afraid the 1150, 1200, 950, 990 are going to be a little high for me to ride, kinda like a 500series dirtbike would be. I just registered with advrider, so maybe that will help some. We visited a KTM shop in Ocala FL yesterday and they were much help. We walked in looked around, no one came over, so we walked up to the counter. Excuse me I said, yes the man behind the counter replied. What are you asking for the 990 model,, umm its 14800 out the door. Ok what can you do for two? Two he replied. Yes two, if I buy two what can you do. There 14800 out the door. Ok thanks for the help, I then turned around and walked out. I've been in retail sales for some time and thats just not how to go about selling anything but maybe death. So anyway not a great to inexperience with this hunt. So what I'm getting is the larger bikes will be more comfy for road travel and light offroad (light) not meaning the bike. And if more suited to offroad travel the 600's will be what we should focus on.

Aaron