Adventure R - experiences ?
 

I'm very interested in the Adventure R ...seems to be the ideal descendent from Teneré ...but it has the reliability and ruggedness of the Yamaha ? I know KTM enduro competition bikes , probabily the best ones, but they require a level of care and work (oil changes etc) that are not acceptable for a long range trip

anyone has experiences or advices about ?

Hi Giorgio,

do you really need an answer from me? http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Let me bring my powerfull piece of junk to Austria first!

By

Pietro



------------------
Pietro Tosetti (KTM EGS 640 Adventure R 2000 "Drago") &
Patrizia Coari (Honda Dominator 650 "Brontolo")
Milano - GFC 23 & 24 - EChM 499 <A HREF="http://www.pitpat.it
A" TARGET=_blank>http://www.pitpat.it
A</A> volte un atteggiamento rigido e' conseguenza di una paralisi.

Good question Georgio and I am making the same questions.
We need someone out there that has put an adventure R through some decent paces and has an opionated attitude to tell us what they think about da' KTM....is it a goer for overlanding or another cafe cruiser?
Dingofish

OK! OK! Let me expalin mi answer to Giorgio... http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Giorgio and I are old buddies, so I thought that he were kidding me, knowing very well the my adventures with the AdventureR...

My bike was teorically the best I could have buyed at the time of my purchase... miles away from the others!

Let's condider just the suspensions! WHOA! A 50 mm WP fork! The top in WP monoshock! =:-O

What bike has the same standard suspensions?

I surfed the web for monthts, and nobody could tell me any trouble with the LC4 engine... so I gave away my '97 Cagiva Elefant 750 cat and I buyed it.

Let me say something before I start telling the story: the bike is wonderfull... I truly love this bike!

I'm basically a tourer, my driving style is not exasperated and the check-ups were made correcly as KTM states in the owner manual.

At first glance, the bike was perfect but from the first Km. some minor trouble appeared: the fuel tube from the emergency reserve went out from the nozle while running and fuel spilled on my leg and warm collector (do you remember Tianen and Meoni at Dakar '98?).

At 4500 Km the bearing of the balancing axis broke up... 15 days withot the bike...

At 5000 Km Check up.

at 5500 Km the connecting rod was broken: KTM replaced it and replaced the piston, some bearings the aluminium support for the fuel pump... a disaster! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif(( I started asking for a total engine replacement... the bike was two months old!

Now the bike is 16 months old and has 30000 Km on the trip master. 2/3 of the engine was replaced... The cilinder, some gears, more bearings... A lot of spokes of the wheels where broken without any apparent reason...

...so...

Have you ever considered the DR 650? Is a very good bike! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif))

Bye

Pietro


------------------
Pietro Tosetti (KTM EGS 640 Adventure R 2000 "Drago") &
Patrizia Coari (Honda Dominator 650 "Brontolo")
Milano - GFC 23 & 24 - EChM 499 <A HREF="http://www.pitpat.it
A" TARGET=_blank>http://www.pitpat.it
A</A> volte un atteggiamento rigido e' conseguenza di una paralisi.

Hi Toad! Nice to meet you! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

You disparaging? No my friend! Don't worry! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

I was disparaging it, but the problem in my case was not the bike itself, but KTM as a brand...

KTM builds wonderfull race bikes, and (now) good rally bikes, thanks to Fabrizio Meoni that fully re-developed the 2001 660 Rally...

The problem is that they are not used to customers that want to use their bikes as "trail bikes" unless they try to sell the AdventureR as a trail...

In the italian 2001 catalog they are very affirmative saying that with the 2000 model of the AdventureR you can ride about 30000Km without any mesurable wear... this is true in my case just for the 2/3 of the engine that was replaced in the year of warranty... now the warranty is gone, and I'm on my own! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif

I can immagine that an industrial process may fail sometimes... the warranty is here to protect customers in this cases.

KTM is lazy trying to solve definitely those problems. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/frown.gif

Come on! I suggested you a Suzuky because with this bike I buyed mayor problems and little satisfactions... try to start a trip with the fear of the next problem!

If you agree that in case of troubles you're alone and supportless, you can buy an Adventurer.

Anyway not all the AdventureR are unaffordable bikes, is very similar to the russian roulette.

Sorry for the "just italian version" of the website... We are working on it! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif)

By

Pietro

I think that KTM is still used to the level of precision and maintenance used on racing bikes ; let me explain : it's normal practice between amateur MX bikes to open the motor every 4 races ...normal for Enduro riders to change the oil every race ...but Adventure R it's NOT a racing bike !

I hope that KTM will look at this - and check every feature and mounting tolerance , because I'm convinced of the bike sheer potential- either as is and from a commercial point of vue (it's the ONLY TRUE OVERLANDER ready to buy ! ) but i'd rather give some power for reliability ..

Hello all,
I am a traveler who has logged 30,000 km of Africa on a KTM adventure with no problems.I have not even adjusted the valves!It is the best bike for africa,ie sand and bad roads.I hope my good luck holds...maybe the quality control has improved as it is built in the new factory

Hi GorgioXT

You have asked for any expirience and information with the KTM Adventure-R.

Until yet we travelled four and a half month through South Amerika (Chile, Argentina Bolivia) and made some 20000km. A lot of them on gravel roads (some of them not very god).

Until yet I had only two problems on my one-year-old Adventure: I lost the mirrors and I have to replace the bearing in the frontwheel.

I checked the valves after 1000 and 10000 km and they still sound very good. The oil was changed all 8500 km.

Now, after 24000 km over all, the bike is running perfectly and I can they that it's the best travelling-bike I ever had.

Greetings from Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Robert

I have just purchased a new 2001 KTM Adventure. Well l should start of by saying l do like this bike, but there were a few problems to begin with. Firstly, the shocks leaked oil on day 1, the engine was leaking oil, day 01. Within a week almost every fluid spilled onto the garage floor, including one of the fuel lines (my bike was 2 cm's from cermation!!!). At this point the bike had yet to see a dirt road, l got to be honest l wondered how the $#%& did they win the paris-dakar this year.
Anyway now l am at 2500km and everything seems to have "settled in". The one weird thing that no one has an answer to, is that the starter motor most of the time works but sometimes doesnt turn at all when the starter button is pressed???? The best solution is to walk away for 5 minutes and scream in a paper bag. Sounds like a classic KTM electric problem.
Well, l knew this was going to be a fiddly bike, especialy in Canada where l am the only guy with one. But in saying all this it really is a lot of fun up north on the logging roads.
Would l recomend this bike? Yes but only to people who love to tinker and get there hands a little dirty.

Hi MarkC,

first of all, a little trick when elettric starter fails: you must depress kick starter until it gets tough, then decompressor and depress K.S. more or less 10 cm.... release everything, take a big breath an KIIIIICKKK screaming :-D ! Nothing will happend, but if you kick hard and scream loud maybe your E.S. will be frightened enough tu run smootly your bike on! (It seems a joke, but it works! believe me! ;-) ).

Ah! Almost forgot it!

Wellcome to this list!

You'll see that half of the AdventurerS users travelled the world with their bikes without changing a tear of cheap oil... The other half... well, I've just changed the second connecting rod and other minor detailes like the bearing of the engine axis... :-(

In 30.000 Km my '00 model has 2/3 of the engine replaced, and a '01 cylinder... I turned a ace kicking my bike on (but it's really cool kickin it on when I exit from my office in the city! ;-) ).

Tomorrow I'll give back my Y2K model to KTM an on friday a brand new Y2K+1 model will take it's place...

I'm really fool is'nt it? ;-)

By

Pietro

------------------
Pietro Tosetti (KTM EGS 640 Adventure R 2000 "Drago") &
Patrizia Coari (Honda Dominator 650 "Brontolo")
Milano - GFC 23 & 24 - EChM 499 <A HREF="http://www.pitpat.it
A" TARGET=_blank>http://www.pitpat.it
A</A> volte un atteggiamento rigido e' conseguenza di una paralisi.

Hi Pietro
Well l hope your new machine works better for you.

Will keep you posted on the KTM's process though the year. I am heading up north for 5 days next week.....in the Algonquin region.

Cheers
Mark

I have had my 2001 AdventureR for a few
months now, little dirt riding as the
UK countryside was closed. I have tried it
on a motocross course and on a trail riding
day (mostly xr250/tt250's along).

I love this bike, I can ride 150miles, spend
a few hours on the dirt then ride home. For a novice like me it makes it easy with great suspension. My only problems have been:
a) Fuel starvation when going over (small) jumps
b) A bloody uncomfortable seat
c) Starter sometimes can't turn over the engine.

c) is easy. Just pull the decompresion lever open, close it again and, hey presto, it starts first push of the button.

The fuel tap looks soooo vunerable, anyone
know how to protect it?

Advised to fit a wire from rear brake pedal to
bash plate, stops the brake lever bending into
the engine in a spill, the holes are there already.

Off to the sahara at Xmas, we will see!!

Greece is one of the bigger customer of KTM.
We have a big club and because Greece is the paradise of Enduro we use our bikes very hard at every dirty road - track.
Let me tell you some tips.

- Never run the KTM for long above the 120-125 KM at tarmac
-It has much power but only one cylinder. Give it a change!
- Dont use too high gear with too low speed
- You can break the motor as easy as the first 1000 km, but if you are careful you can clock beyond 60000 km with out problems
- Yes the bike is for rally but if you use it like that you must at do the full service every 1500-2000 km max
- If you go for enduro you must do the full service every race - practice

BRGDS Spyros

I have just purchased a new 2001 Adventure R for a trip from the UK to India. I've given it a good running in and, except for the tank discolouring with petrol (which is being replaced under warrenty - I've seen this happen on other Y2K1 bikes too - so it seems to be a problem), it seems to be running fine. Check out separate Seat post (!)

I am driving with a friend who has purchased a 3 y.o. Adventure R, so hopefully we'll keep you updated of any problems.

I've heard many stories from disaster (oh don't take THAT bike cos' you can't get the parts/too much work) to excellent (yep no probs/ideal bike for the job).

One thing: Reccomondations: A little daily care will help a great deal. Check loose nuts/oil level/grease clutch cable/chain DAILY. Change oil (depending on conditions) every 2.5-3K - there are some tricks and some throw-away copper compression washers and 2 resivoirs. Practice all changes before hand. Seat (OUCH!) see separate post.

Take Care and enjoy!

James

Hi Giorgio

I'm the owner of a KTM ADVENTURE 640 R, with engine number 8584069 and chassis number VBKGSL405WM725467.

My experience.

At 7.500km i had problem with the 2 bearings on the front wheel.

At 8.500km fuel pump problem came up and it was fixed under warranty.

At 12.500km the cylinder roller bearing (on the left side) broke and an engine overhaul was required, it got fixed under warranty.Two friend of mine had the same problem at 22.000km my first friend with engine number 858406180-640 R ADVENTURE-, and other friend with engine number 758404562-620 R ADVENTURE-.

Now at 30.000km i have problem once more with the cylinder roller bearings and the connecting rod.

Other minus problems is the vibration, the seat, and the leaks from the front forks and the cylinder head.
Off course i must tell you that this model is very nice for driving in roads that are in bad condition.

Finally and because QUALITY is... the characteristic of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy started or implied needs, I believe that this bike doesn't have the reliability for the long run and it is not suitable to travel to the world or Africa.

The roller bearing problem is there, KTM knows that, but still there is no official recall from the factory or any official announcement regarding that.

KTM ADVENTURE 640 R is interesting for cafe racer.

Please choose something else.

My opinion, prefer BMW or DR or even TRANSALP.

Best Regards
Dimitris MORAITIS

Hi,

Just an update to my feelings about the KTM. I would not agree with the person who said it's a Cafe Racer & get another bike. YES - there are some specific problems but these are far outweighted by the qualities. It does take some looking after - but as you'll generally be doing a long trip - you want to be keeping a regular check on the bike. See my separate post on checks. I would not use this as a town bike.

The positive points are a fantastic frame, strong engine & of course 'wicked' suspension - takes all bumps.

The negative points - seat (get it re-upholstered). Known problems with Clutch cable (use new Duke cable & lube as chain). Sometimes fuel pump can break & fuel hose clips weak. 2000/2001 mirrors are cheap plastic - if you drop the bike - the vibration can snap both of them off - but the replacement mirrors are like the pre '99 & strong. 2001 tank may discolour with petrol when new - but this stops after a while and is not a problem. Side Stand is weak point under full load - get the joint welded stronger. Oil change can be tricky - watch a mechanic doing it & should really be done every 5000k/3000m but I have heard of changes @ up to 10,000k but I would not reccommend it. Valves seem fine up to 10k so far, but will be checked/adjusted in a full service anyway. Something in the exhaust can sometimes come loose - this is a known problem - & makes a nice 'tinkly' sound - but does not effect running/performance in anyway. Wheel Bearings may go on older models.

Fuel consumption - fantastic - I am currently getting 60+ miles/gallon or 20+ kilometers/litre at an average 62m/100k per hour.

Regards
James

Looking at the replies to the original question (is the Adventure R reliable)... I'd like to add my vote to the "yes" pile.

I've had my 2000 model Adv-R for about 1.5 years, and ride it HARD (on the weekends only, unfortunately) in the desert -- 150-200km runs over pretty tough conditions at high speeds. I also do bajas (enduros) on it during the season (5 months), and did the UAE Desert Challenge Rally (2500km of intense riding, much more intense than you'd EVER do in normal overlanding). Blew the clutch, but that was because of abuse (and perhaps faulty installation) in extreme conditions.

Other than that, I clean the air filter, change the oil every 3000km, tinker with the tuning and suspension, and clean it.

The cooling fan died at about 5000km, that's about it. It's been a fantastically reliable bike, which I fully intend to take trans-Africa later next year (big difference from the XT500 I took up to Uganda in '99...). I'm also planning a mini-tour in Iran early next year on it...

I can add my reply to the yes pile.

Just completed 5200km into the Sahara with
Chris. Cleaned the air filter, crashed it
a few times and had to do the following.

..............

Nothing. Had it serviced before I left and just about to get another service, we'll see
if its all still OK. Up to 8500Km and so far
*nothing* has gone wrong.

And on the piste even a starter like me can
ride rings around most of the other desert
bikes.

However, rather thirsty for a serious solo desert trip.

I'm on my second Adventure. I sold the first one because 1. it leaked oil from new and 2. vibrated so much I couldn't hold my teeth together.

I bought an XR650L instead which is wonderfully smooth, reliable and slow.

I've tried 3 other since Adventures and all failed the teeth test. The fourth passed so I bought it.

Maybe wednesday's and thursday's are like friday's Austria.

What I really want is the XR engine in the Adventure frame, but perhaps it can wait until the next trip.

Hi!
I would like to ask You badwolf - any more adventures with new adventure?

Andrzej Kuczyñski
----------------
KTM LC4 640

Hi ppl
here's my Adventure's Impression:

Bougth it new in 2000. no big problems for the first months, except little things concerning vibration: loose bolts and mirrors.
Been in morroco, followed the ParisDakar bikers along with friends using XRs. My two only problems were a flat tire and the front wheel bearing changed back home. I've notest stuck clutch in the morning...a push was enough to solve it.

Back in Portugal, i use it to commute every day and off-road with other big trails in the weekends: broke clutch cable twice & changed to DUKE's...not a problem.

At 30000km the cylinder head **** (cant translate it to English) burned...i changed it...2 days without the bike!

Now it has 17 months and 40000km on it...i have a carburetor problem: the neddle is fuc*ed...my bike is stopped for almost 3 weeks!!!!!!!! KTMs and Portuguese importer incompetence made it this way!!

Average Comsuption gets to 18km/litre...and can get less if economical driving!

Change oil every 5000km, once i changed it with almost 10000km, no prob.

Sinceraly: not bad for a "young" bike!! ATwins & Transalps that ride with me (bad treatment!) have other BIG problems....and one good thing about KTM: 1/3 less expensive that Japs.....

(forgot: chain broke because of loose sprocket...my fault....it has 35000 km on it!)


WITH LESS VIBRATION, this could be the bike ever!!

cheers
Gonçalo "Desertfox" Pais
Portugal

MarkC: I'm a fellow Canuck currently living in Russia. I'm interested in buying a new Adventure and bringing it back when my time here is done.

I was pretty sold on the Adventure but this thread has scared me somewhat. Please keep me posted on how your's turns out.

Also, did you buy the bike in Canada? If so, where's the dealer? If possible I'd prefer to go to the plant in Austria and ride it back to Russia, but I'd want to ensure it's a Canadian spec bike (if there is such a thing)

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I have 2002 with only about 1700 on it so far..and no problems yet.

I had the same concerns about this bike holding up but im hoping the 2002 is enough improved to give me the reliablity I am looking for. My ultimate bike would be to plop a big rotax in the R's frame.

Hello,

I have a like-newn 97-98 orange KTM 620 EGS-E Adventure(2000 miles) and I was wondering if you knew more about it than I do. I have the opportunity to buy a 2001 KTM 640 Adventure but I've heard that my bike was made better?

Any input on the subjuct would be most appreciated!

-Michael

What is your vin#? I am trying to see if my like-new 1998 620 EGS-E Adventure I just bought is one of the good ones, cuz I've read some bad stories...

I'm 2001 owner. I almost lost my mind in Atlas Mountains because my bike lost 2 times all oisl because oil screw was not to tight... ****! Few days after that we lost needle in carbutor in other Adventure on desert... But I loved it! I think other option is Honda XR650R only! But KTM is the bike for mechanic not for rookie.

------------------

Does anyone know if it is true that KTM is dropping production of the KTM Adventure 640 for next year?

Not in Europe, the 2004 model has been "revised" and includes twin front discs and lower front mudguard.

Steve

A friend of mine is looking to buy a 620 Adventure R .We saw one at the weekend which seemed fine save for a very slight trace of oil on the front of the engine . We couldnt see where it might be coming from and it really wasn't very much, it could have been a bit of overspill when refilling. The owner said it was always like this .The bike hadn't been cleaned prior to us going to look at it which again leads me to think that any oil loss was minimal .Do they all do this ? Also it needed a new seat any idea of cost in UK ?

In answer to the initial posting for experiences involving KTM640's check out the web address below. 5000 miles off road on a standard 640 except for an acropovic pipe and a rejet. The bike was run hard for 2-300 miles a day for four weeks, all off road in appalling conditions. Heat, cold, altitude, the bike had it all thrown at it, and Jon was NOT a sympathetic rider! It was a canadian model which had just been run in on 4000 road miles.

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/270603/0010.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/180603/0010.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/270603/0015.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/010703/0034.jpg

http://www.no2-online.net/photos/060703/0016.jpg

etc, etc, etc,

for the FULL story and all 200 million pics see www.no2-online.net

Enjoy,

Dave

[This message has been edited by davidlomax (edited 10 February 2004).]

[This message has been edited by davidlomax (edited 10 February 2004).]

I own a 2001.
20.800 km without a single problem.

My friend didnt buy the KTM so I have .Trailered the bike home on Sunday and noticed a smell of petrol ,didnt think too much of it until yesterday I noticed that the reserve fuel tap has gone awol! so this is my first taste of KTM ownership .

Sommer KTM in Germany seem to have a great catalogue and I am intigued by the Sommer tips ,Is anyone able to send me an English language copy by e mail I dont have the technical ability to translate it from the net

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Hello,

Oblivious to above (every bike has problems)I bought a new 2003 KTM 640 Adventure for a nice price and really looking forward to some off(all)road trashing...(after running it in properly for 1000km's.. sigh)

Grtz

Just completed my first long trip on my 2000 640 Adventurer, my backside hasnt yet recovered , I know what everyone says about the seats but boy I didnt believe it could be that bad .

Couple of questions .I checked oil from cold everyday as per manual , each time it showed either nothing or to much , back howm I drained oil and thankfully it seems to have had enough .Does anyone use the sighting window to check the oil - my manual doesnt refer to it .
What gearing do people run who use the bike off road , I am not sure what I have but it was a bit high for comfortable low speed .Also the bike doesnt seem very happy at low speeds , obviuosly the transmisson on big singles can be a bit snatchy but the engine itself seemed to be a bit hesitant

Only problem was a loose raditator hose in 2000+ miles much off road and my inability to get the bike onto the centre stand when loaded

RussellT, the case can be prone to leaks if the engine mount bolts are overtorqued then the seal can migrate between the case halves. I do not believe this to be common, and do not think you would see the oil at the front of the case, but rather on the underside, below the skidplate. (Though I am just guessing.)

Crosspost from ADV R problem list: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000145.html

Just some thoughts. It is really important to bleed the USD forks, otherwise you asking for leaks and/or blown fork seals, with the KTM Hard Parts bleeders it just takes a push of a button to bleed them.

If you have a 2002, I would upgrade the front spokes, or at a minimum carry spares, and loosely zip tie the spokes, so a broken spoke will not cause a get off. Checking spoke tension, and not going to tight really seems to help as well. Always add grease inside the lip of the wheel bearing seals anytime the axle is removed, a small tin comes in handy for holding grease in the tool kit.

The pre 2003 L/H main bearing should be replaced with a 2003up upgraded bearing ASAP, if it fails you will most likely be looking at a major engine overhaul.

IMHO, it is best to use the kickstarter as much as possible, at least avoid multiple starting cycles by holding the button until you have a good start, as the electric starter geartrain is somewhat prone to failure. With a properly jetted carb, and consistant technique, kickstarting is fairly easy.

On my LC4s the vibration after rejetting and break in was approx 2/3rds less then when new. I attribute the majority of the reduction to the rejetting. Love this bike, but doubt I do a RTW trip on it. Cheers, Mack