Which KTM Is The Best?

JohnnyBoxer said:

Pirelli Scorpion?

Yep they are crap - but at least they are 70/30 on & off-road tyres

They will be coming off soon and proper dirt knobblies going on

You took off the stock TKC80 to replace them with softer road tyres on the 701 - I don’t get it if you are using the bike for tracks and trails as you say

Each to their own

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I think you’ll find Conti Trail Attack 3s fit the same purpose as your STRs.
I’ve already said I’ll be using mine something like 80/20 in favour of on road.
Stop being a cock

Udders said:

Yes, I’ve seen that. It’s a lovely bike. But strangely I’d like to build my own up so I get to know how it works and all goes together.
Reason being that if something goes wrong out on a trip I’d have some idea of how to mend it. If I bought that bike I wouldn’t know anything about it. That probably sounds stupid to some but I think that’s how I want to do it.
From what’s been mentioned so far I’m leaning towards a 690 down to longer service intervals. The EXC’s sound like high maintenance to me. Is there much difference weight wise between the bikes mentioned?

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Quite a bit of weight difference - the new EXC’s are about 103kg, and a 2019 690 about 150kg, with all the ABS and electronics they have now. My 2011 is 140kg.

There’s a whole thing on turning an EXC into an ADV bike here (https://www.advpulse.com/adv-bikes/ktm-500-exc-adventure-bike-build/) and Aaron Steinmann did a 140,000km RTW on his.

I understand your build vs. buy, cheaper to buy but by building you 100% what you’ve got.

Rasher said:

I love that 701LR with rally kit - worth buying one just to look at ;-)

I guess the simple choice is off-road perfromance Vs on road performance, a large GS or (to a lesser degree) the 1290 Adventure will be bloody hard to ride off road if you're not a top extreme Enduro pro, the 790R would be way better and still a good touring bike with half decent off road performance, but the 690 / 701 Enduro's take it a step further both being about the same weight as a DRZ400 / XR400 which are considered fairly decent trail bikes - but with almost twice the power for the road.

The EXC's still manage to knock another 30kg off the 690 weight at the expense of not being nearly as good on the road, for me (as I am utterly shite off road) I would probably lean towards the 500 as I have less chance of getting stuck on it, I find my FE350 noticeably easier to handle in "tough" (my idea of tough) conditions than I did my DRZ400S, but if I was a half decent enduro rider I would go with the 701.

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I’m pretty confident off road which is what this bike would only be for. I have my 1150 GS for bigger road trips. Obviously there would be some road work for the bike to do between the off road bits but not worried about it having a lot of speed.
I hadn’t considered an XR400. Are they any good at carrying a lot of weight? I’m no lightweight myself and it would be loaded up with camping gear too. Bigger fuel capacity is a must though so any bike that has an Acerbis type option is needed.

Udders said:

I’m pretty confident off road which is what this bike would only be for. I have my 1150 GS for bigger road trips. Obviously there would be some road work for the bike to do between the off road bits but not worried about it having a lot of speed.
I hadn’t considered an XR400. Are they any good at carrying a lot of weight? I’m no lightweight myself and it would be loaded up with camping gear too. Bigger fuel capacity is a must though so any bike that has an Acerbis type option is needed.

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I’m no expert but I think you’d struggle to carry that much on a smaller bike .
You’d need something like the Reckless 80 system




Or a Giant Loop / Kriega equivalent .
You risk the bags touching the exhausts , hence why Nomad make their racks




Even on a 701/690 it’s quite bulky so would dwarf a smaller bike

I must admit I do like the look of the 701! :https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174401292176

What’s the difference between the LR and E models? Does the E just stand for Enduro?
And LR for long range?

That’s lovely !
If you need extra range you can add this

Ah ok, gravity fed then. Not a lot to go wrong with them. Are they a bit susceptible to damage in a crash?

Arsey said:

I know fuck all to be honest .

BUT, I got myself a Husky 701LR which is the 701 Enduro with twin tanks giving a range of 280 miles ish.

Same motor as KTM 690.

I won’t be doing serious shite with it but just fancied a bike for playing around the trails in Brittany but something I could in theory ride down to Spain and then do similar down there in places like the Picos.

For this purpose I have gone down the Nomad Adventure route.
I still have to fit the kit to my bike as covid has delayed things and I’m in UK and bike is at home in Guernsey with the Nomad kit in boxes.
I’ve basically gone for most of the stuff they do for the 701LR,so rally tower,rear rack,pannier rails,belly pan etc.

As well as the Nomad kit, I’ve got a Renazco seat made to my specs and ultra comfy along with Mosko Moto Reckless 80 panniers.
OE tyres have been swapped for Conti Trail Attack 3s

My bike currently :

Once Nomad kit fitted :

Like I said,its overkill for my needs.
I’ll be using it something like 80/20 on road but the rally tower gives me some wind protection ,the seat will be as comfy as the 280 mile tank range and I can tour on it then chuck the luggage off,only use the rear tank and go play offroad.
Obviously I’d need to stick the Karoos back on for anything more than dirt tracks....

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I too like the look of that Arsey. Interesting to read about the seat swap too. Serious question though...Can you really do 200+ Road miles getting to your riding nirvana without paralysing your arse and legs?
Thanks
Glenn

Udders said:

I must admit I do like the look of the 701! :https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/174401292176

What’s the difference between the LR and E models? Does the E just stand for Enduro?
And LR for long range?

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Yes.
LR is simply the E with an extra 12 litre tank where the tank normally is to supplement the rear tank which is standard on the E

G&T said:

I too like the look of that Arsey. Interesting to read about the seat swap too. Serious question though...Can you really do 200+ Road miles getting to your riding nirvana without paralysing your arse and legs?
Thanks
Glenn

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Due to covid I’ve not tried it yet but on my 950SE I could do 500 mile days with ease using the Renazco seat .

I think iceland has done me four times. Twice with a GSA and twice with KTM790R.

I have very little off road capability but am getting very skilled at picking my bike back up.

With the GSA there were some tracks that I thought were not GS suitable, primarily because of weight. In some cases, I was proven wrong when Viv took his GS to the top of a glacier whilst fully loaded with everything the camping store could sell him including a family tent, pontoon/missile launchers and, I suspect, a washing machine.

Ridden well, the GS managed everything but slower than the KTMs, required a great rider ( like Viv). I suspect there were some tracks Tim didn’t take us to as looks at the bikes and riders he is constantly monitoring weather and surfaces.

The GS enables you to overload the bike. Each time I’ve been I’ve halved the crap I took and this weekend have been cleaning used kit and putting away all the stuff I took that I didn’t use.

On the GS the rider needs to understand the ABS modes, suspension settings, tyres and correct pressure. The switches on the GS being canbus mean you have to carry appropriate spares.

I got the 790 as I’m overweight and a 500 or 690 would make me look like an elephant on a tricycle. The 790R is very different to the 690 and 500. The electronics are a distraction, albeit very clever stuff, it was easier to leave it in off-road or Rally mode and concentrate on the ride not the bike.

On the last trip a rider with a 790 hit a rut and his wheel rim was badly damaged. Not sure the wheels are as strong as they could be. Seems a bit odd KTM charge more for a stronger wheel.

The front suspension ( WR) on the R is good, but to be honest wish I’d invested time reading the manual and setting it up properly beforehand.

The display is basic and not all of the information Id want on the screen when riding is on the same screen.

SatNav is the Nav6 on an aftermarket bracket. The vibration is excessive and bolts need changing if you want to keep the sat nav in the tradition location attached to the bike.

I have the clutchless gear change, not sure I like it, I tend to just use the clutch.

I use the screen from the S model as the low screen affords zero wind protection and the terrain didn’t include steep climbs with a risk of going over the top.

Tyres were changed to TKC80
and Mitas E08 both survived the trip but the rear needs replacing. The rear was not new on this trip and I regret that.

The rally pegs are a must as the stock as too small.

The touratech rack is as you’d expect and holds the Mosko Moto luggage solid. I have a Touratech toolbox on the rack. It the type from a GS but can be fitted.

The rear rack is an expensive setup and with the Mosko moto duffle not sure its worth it.

The 790 was great on road, capable on gravel and tracks, and tried to kill me on wet clay and soft black sand.

Was good in rivers but I choose not to do some of the river crossings as when the water passes the mans parts and the exhaust is burbling I worry about the restarting a stopped bike. Something the 690 and 500 can do, something I wouldn’t risk.

Ride modes are relevant and the bike is predictable. If you buy a 790 you need to find a field and discover what the modes are doing and then choose one. Changing it mid ride, as Iceland is rushing towards you, isn’t and a good route.





Edit: the Mosko Moto stuff is good, but if anything goes wrong with it you have to send it to Rotterdam’s your own cost.

I’ve got the Kriega R36 set up on my 500 with a Nomad rear rack to use for the rear mounts then either another 18l Kriega or a larger 40l roll top bag for the tent, sleeping bag etc.

Because I like impulse buys I’ve also got a pair of tank panniers that hold 10l per side and I can fit a hammock and tarp in those very easily.

If you don’t mind minimalist camping the R36 panniers, 10l tank panniers and something like a 20l Pelicase if the rack to store valuables would be plenty for an extended trip away from the madding crowds and the weight is evenly spread enough not to mess with the handling. I loaded mine up with the 2 sets of panniers using an R20 on the rack and took the bike along a few local byways to see how it went and it was great fun.

Just as a warning, if you go stupidly over the top as I did you’re looking at £15k for a new 500, a full rally conversion and luggage

Arsey said:

Stop being a cock

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Haha that’s rich from you too

Udders said:

I’m pretty confident off road which is what this bike would only be for. I have my 1150 GS for bigger road trips. Obviously there would be some road work for the bike to do between the off road bits but not worried about it having a lot of speed.
I hadn’t considered an XR400. Are they any good at carrying a lot of weight? I’m no lightweight myself and it would be loaded up with camping gear too. Bigger fuel capacity is a must though so any bike that has an Acerbis type option is needed.

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You can get a full rack and pannier system for XR400 from USA for about £150

JohnnyBoxer said:

You should try the same, at times too

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He's a natural.

My Iceland bike is in the "525 as an adventure bike" thread, along with the reasons for choosing it. RR is "Andy's rehabilitation"
If I was going again, I'd do the same.
Mark

Bit more info for the OP

I quite enjoyed this ladies YouTube videos about her rides on a 690: https://m.youtube.com/channel/

In our TRF group there is a husband and wife couple who both own 701s. They've done the whole UK TET on them, plus a substantial chunk of the TET across Europe. They also use them on all our TRF rides (they were both out yesterday leading a group run around Hampshire) and, as they don't own a car, they also use their 701s as everyday transport.

So whilst we all enjoy getting into the technicalities of which bike is best (and we all love a debate about that!), the more important question should always be "what I am going to do with it once I've got it"!

Toddmeister said:

Bit more info for the OP

I quite enjoyed this ladies YouTube videos about her rides on a 690: https://m.youtube.com/channel/

In our TRF group there is a husband and wife couple who both own 701s. They've done the whole UK TET on them, plus a substantial chunk of the TET across Europe. They also use them on all our TRF rides (they were both out yesterday leading a group run around Hampshire) and, as they don't own a car, they also use their 701s as everyday transport.

So whilst we all enjoy getting into the technicalities of which bike is best (and we all love a debate about that!), the more important question should always be "what I am going to do with it once I've got it"!

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Like I said before, I will only be using it for specific trips. Maybe once or twice a year maximum. I have other bikes and a car so this will be a specialised long range lightweight off roader.

This is why ( as much as I’d like a 701 ) I’m leaning towards a 690. The cost of setting it up and leaving it sat in a garage for months isn’t going to be as high.
I think it’s going to be a soft luggage set up too.

I wouldn't look past whatever bike Timolgra takes to Iceland

Or the modern equivalent

RedRick Esq. said:

I wouldn't look past whatever bike Timolgra takes to Iceland

Or the modern equivalent

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There isn't a modern equivalent of Timolgra