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DR650 SE or KTM Adventure? DR650 SE or KTM Adventure?
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 8 Nov 2011
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Thanks for the infos:

to rupertu: 990 Adventure is much to expensive for me, but I might consider a 950 Adventure, sometimes we can find for 5000$ a 950 with approx 50'000km.
I heard their weak point is water and gazpump as well as the clutch piston.

To touring ted: I know this post about the ktm problems, but there is quite a few things that I could check or change before the trip.

I was first condisering a single cylinder because of the weight (the 640 is much lighter than the 950), and because I don't need so much power. I travelled approx 3000km in Mongolia 2 up with 30kg of luggage on a R100GS, it was quite hard in the Gobi, this time I really want to have a lighter bike, especially for the road of bones!
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  #2  
Old 10 Nov 2011
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Take a lot at Colebatch's post in this thread http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ike-do-52163-9 where he observes that beyond civilisation in Siberia, the majority of bikes are KTM or BMW

Anyways, I think the LC4 is a fine engine that if looked after will go a long way. I was happy enough with mine :-) Compared to the DR you probably need a bit more maintenance, but your ride is in a different league.

Things to watch out for:
- Rocker arm roller (probably needs replacement every 25.000km or so, change before you go)
- Good quality oil, change regularly
- Hydrolic clutch master/slave cylinders, take a bottle of Magura blood
- Put gaiters on the USD forks
- Starter sprag clutch can wear out if you put on the throttle whilst starting, easy to replace though (guide on advrider)
- On the Mikuni BST40 carb, the jet needle and needle jet may wear out, take a spare (BST40 guide on advrider)
- Get the right (front) sprockets, otherwise you may have an oil leak if it doesnt fit properly
- Change the crank lip seal in the clutch case every now and then, makes sure you get enough oil on the crank

Anyways, there's no right choice. Pick the one you like and don't look back
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  #3  
Old 10 Nov 2011
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Whats important to you ?
I love KTMs and but I own a DR650SE. I think it is safe to say that almost all bikes are reliable to a point if serviced and loved in the right way. But some will take more of a beating than others.

For me bike choice is about budget, reliability, comfort, simplicity of repair and availability of parts. You can get used to almost any bike on a trip, some will be more fun than others, some will be faster than others. What is your trip about fun, getting from POI to POI as fast as possible, getting there without the need for a massage to recover ?

I personally would go with the DR as it seems more universal. But I also understand that there issues with getting that model up there.

Cheers
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  #4  
Old 5 Dec 2011
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Hi Guys,

some updates.... I ended up buying a DRZ-400 SM 2005 with 14500km this weekend. In excellent condition for only 2000US$... Well that's the reason I bought it.

Is has a charging problem, and that's why I got this incredible price, I guess it's the connector between the regulator and the battery, I red a lot of posts on internet about this, will check as soon as I can.

So now I have the option to buy enduro rims, big tank and panniers and prepare this DRZ, or to sell it/trade it when the good season starts again...

I kept an eye and still no DR650 SE for less than 3500 US$ and just one KTM Adventure. A 99 with 17'000km, with lot of goodies, but +5000$.. A bit too much for me right now..
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  #5  
Old 5 Dec 2011
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This 'might' help...

[url=http://www.touringted.com/drz400s-overland-prep]Touring Ted
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  #6  
Old 5 Dec 2011
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AHHHH Why can I never insert working links on this site....
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Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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  #7  
Old 6 Dec 2011
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Hi Touring Ted,

thanks for the link, but I already have it! Nice webpage.

I should do the same with the modifications I did on my R100GS

By the way, it's a 2006, not a 2005.
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