Survival Bike: KTM 990 Adventure R vs. BMW R1200GS Adventure

[Dave Costin]

I just bought a '00 Honda XR600R about 3 months ago and love it. A good dependable old bike/design not to be over looked. I plan to put a baja designs kit on it this coming spring to make it street legal for short jaunts.

 

[razcob]

I had a KTM 640 and with a 7+ gallon tank the range and performance was incredible, but it was a parts hog compared to my friends KLR. Not major parts, but the small ones that you couldn't ride without. The Kawasaki KLR has a 6+ gallon tank, does everything 'good enough' and would be my first or second pick over or after the Suzuki DR650.

 

[LG&M]

KLR 650 diesel good enough for the Corps.

 

[sasha]

now were could you buy the diesel model??? wish i could get my hands on one.

 

[BlackHills]

Good call. The 2 valve per cylinder 1000cc motor is one of the best engines ever created in my opinion. My only gripe is that I've never seen it on a good "dirt application" motorcycle. For the record though, 2v Ducati motors are extremely well made and easy to work on. I've been riding a Ducati GT1000 on and off for the past two years. Absolutely wonderful bike. Great retro and comfortable styling with an incredible powerplant and chassis.

Here you go. http://www.terramostro.com/index.cfm

Actually the Cagiva Elefant was a fairly decent "adventure" version though they aren't common in the States.

 

[Foilist]

I'd vote for the old-style KLR. It's inexpensive, simple and reliable, and parts are plentiful (the new KLRs seem to be having a few glitches).The KTM is a bit exotic and the recent BMWs sure seem to eat up their final drives an awful lot. If you are dead set on a Beemer, maybe an old airhead is the way to go.


I have two bikes, and the one I would choose is my IMZ Ural Tourist sidecar rig. It is a Russian military design descended from WWII, and based on the BMWs that the Germans were using (boxer twin airhead). It has enough modern (non-Russian) upgrades for improved reliability, but is still stone-age simple and easy to fix in field conditions with basic tools. Parts are easy to get and cheap - they are also easy to fabricate or improvise, or substitute from the Napa store.

It is rugged as hell, and I ride it regularly on logging trails and jeep trails in the state forests. It can handle the snow. It has reverse and some variants even have engageable 2WD to the sidecar wheel. It can carry a ton of gear. It's fuel range is unimpressive, but you can bolt jerry cans all over it. I have not yet had any mechanical trouble with it in two years.

It is also the most fun vehicle I've ever had!:thumbup:

 

[JCavSD]

For survival I'd say KLR650. Simple and reliable. Of course, the road warrior in me says to put knobbies on the new V-Max.

 

[STAGE 2]

It's fuel range is unimpressive, but you can bolt jerry cans all over it. I have not yet had any mechanical trouble with it in two years.

It is also the most fun vehicle I've ever had!:thumbup:

I've been thinking about one of these for some time. Which model do you have and what do you mean by "unimpressive" fuel mileage?

 

[shecky]

I tend to think the old Honda CT90 I used to ride as a teen would make an excellent survival bike. Has to be one of the most reliable designs ever made. It's a pity they never really updated or even continued the design, at least here in the US.

 

[actiondiver]

I bought mine used, it was a styling bike for the previous owner and was babied. Since then I have put over 13,000 additional miles on it in two years.

Last summer I rode it to Colorado to a meet up in the mountains. I rode a total of 300 miles of trail, and about 2000 miles of highway in a week. I experienced sunshine, rain, thunderstorms, and snow on that trip.

On the way home I rode from Central Colorado all the way back to Rockford Ill only stopping for gas. That took about 20 hours. I was wrongly concerned that heating and cooling cycles would weaken my JBWeld repair on the clutch case, from where I repaired a thumb sized hole caused by a boulder I hit in the mountains, thus leaving me potentially stranded. On that return odyssey I averaged 75 miles/hour on the interstate.

While in the mountains I bet I dumped the bike 20 times pushing it and myself to the limit. If the Suzuki DRZ400S could handle that I am sure it can handle a bug-out for you, as All of my riding except for some trail I was caring a complete camping outfit and the bike is still running like a champ with regular maintenance and cosmetic repairs.

 

[Spark]

For survival I'd say KLR650. Simple and reliable. Of course, the road warrior in me says to put knobbies on the new V-Max.

I wish I could get my hands on one of the M1030 versions

 

[hoopster]

I would pick the 400 Suzuki just because it isn't water cooled IIRC. Otherwise, it would be the Kawasaki KLR 650.

 

[GPB]

Here you go. http://www.terramostro.com/index.cfm

Actually the Cagiva Elefant was a fairly decent "adventure" version though they aren't common in the States.

Thanks for posting that link! Do you know anyone that actually owns one I could e-mail?

I raced AMA, WERA and MCRA in my early twenties (no wife, no kids, no cares) and never even LOOKED at Ducati's because no one, and I mean NO ONE was winning on them.

That is one heck of an impressive bike but lots of dollars for a dual sport. I might have to bite the bullet though, wow!

BTW: If anyone reads this that used to race any midwest series (IRP, Grattan, Gateway Park, etc.) in the late 80's or early 90's, drop me a PM, we might know each other!

Thanks again for the link, very impressive bike!

 

[BlackHills]

Thanks for posting that link! Do you know anyone that actually owns one I could e-mail?

That is one heck of an impressive bike but lots of dollars for a dual sport. I might have to bite the bullet though, wow!

I don't know anyone that has one, sorry. That price includes them buying a brand new Monster and modifying it (I'm not sure which one as the 695 was replaced by the 696 and the frame is different). If you already have a 620 the cost is $8500 (details here). A decent used 620 would run around $4k give or take so you can cut that price by about 1/3. That's still expensive but considerably less than the brand new one. I know I'd love to have one if I had the extra cash...

 

[Foilist]

I've been thinking about one of these for some time. Which model do you have and what do you mean by "unimpressive" fuel mileage?

My rig gets about 200kms before switching the tank to reserve (metric odometer). It works out to about 30mpg. Not bad for an old school, 40hp motor dragging that heavy hack around, I guess. I have a NATO 5liter jerry can bolted to the hack, and there are spots for more if I wanted to add them.

They also eat rear tires pretty quickly, but Ural tires are cheap.

Mine is a 2005 Tourist, which is the 1WD model. I recommend Urals (2005 and newer) to anyone who is not afraid to do their own wrenching. You have to keep up with the frequent (but easy) routine maintenance and drive them as they are meant to be driven.

Check out Sovietsteeds.com, the Ural forum, to learn more. I am AlanCT over there.

 

[GPB]

I don't know anyone that has one, sorry. That price includes them buying a brand new Monster and modifying it (I'm not sure which one as the 695 was replaced by the 696 and the frame is different). If you already have a 620 the cost is $8500 (details here). A decent used 620 would run around $4k give or take so you can cut that price by about 1/3. That's still expensive but considerably less than the brand new one. I know I'd love to have one if I had the extra cash...

Thanks for that info. I can't stop going back to that site. That would really relieve some stress and bring back some memories. It looks like a TT or flattracker.

BTW hoopster, the 400 Suzuki is liquid cooled according to their website.

 

[nate1714]

I rode on a 250cc while learning to ride and found it quite insufficient. From there I got a 500cc road bike. It felt much better. I have used a 400cc and thought it was a good compromise between 250 and 500. I think for a road bike 550cc is best (for me) and off road, well I dont have enough experience on that yet...looks like I will need to hit those trails more!

 

[snare]

Those bikes you list are not appropriate for bug outs IMO.

They are appropriate for mostly paved adventure touring.

I use a Suzuki DR350SE.

Air cooled, single cylinder, single carb, easy to adjust valves, common 18" rear and 21" front, bigger tanks are available ( I recommend the Acerbis 4.25), six speed, discs front and rear.

I get 73-75 mpg and can haul a full load at highway speeds easily.