I'm not sure if I've just got itchy feet and am just looking for an change but I'm very seriously considering chopping in my 18 month old Tiger 800 for either a KTM 690 Enduro R or, my preference mainly because I hate orange and like to be a little different - a Husqvarna 701 Enduro. I'm not sure exactly why I'm posting this, I've read all the opinions, I've got test rides lined up, but just consider it a musing monologue on the topic. Tell me I'm right, tell me im wrong.

I've just got my girlfriend riding and have just finished accessorising her bike, a G650 Xcountry and I'm strangely jealous. Sure, it's a lot rougher than my silk smooth Tiger and it's comparatively slow. But I don't go fast. Motorways are shit on the Tiger, the only really difference on her single is that they are shit and vibratey. No great loss. Also, I'm mostly riding with her now and so the power my Tiger has is all for nothing, overtaking her has got boring anyway.

My Tiger is all accessorised up, I've got big, bad TT boxes, Sargent Seat, lights, crash bars... and so on. I know I'm going to lose cash, doing this. But my GF has AS Magadan bags, I love them, light and large. Now I've got her carrying cargo I don't need her to carry the kitchen sink myself.

I took the Tiger to Morocco last year, two up, and I wouldn't have wanted anything smaller. At the same time I wished I did because I don't have the confidence on it to tackle any serious off road. I didn't go play in the dunes. I waddled through river crossings rather than riding though them.

I'm a strong lad, I work out regularly and pay special attention to my legs specifically for riding and I can get my Tiger back the right way up after a drop. But lying down the Xcountry to do work on it was a revelation, it's not just that I can do it - I can do it effortlessly. If I put my foot down in a hole on the Tiger it can be tricky, it's a heavy bike. It's heavy at low speed, around the garage, around town. What do I get for the weight? Arguably more wind protection, the ability to accellerate rapidly, to cruise at speed comfortably... Hmm.

I figure I'll need some luggage kit, frames and a rack, a windscreen, a bash plate. That's all achievable easily enough.

What am I missing? What are the downsides to these bikes? I'll have to service more often, no trouble, I can do that easily. Can they carry a tent and two panniers of kit? Do they need such luxuries as engine bars, nobody really seems to have them. Are they as uncomfortable as sin? Any other thoughts?

Final, left of field, idea here. I've found a nice G650 Xchallenge for a reasonable price a couple of hours away. The Xcountry is too short for me, should I chop in an 18 month old Tiger for a 2007 Xchallenge with 10,000 less KMs? There are advantages to having the same bike. I'd get the bike and easily enough cash to fully prepare it, without spending another penny.

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[ Tim | History - NW Italy/French Rivera, Swiss Alps, Morocco | 2016 - Greece > Albania > Macedonia > Kosovo > Montenegro > Bosnia > Slovenia > Austria ]