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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 Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #16  
Old 20 Dec 2023
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Then why does KTM make lots of light bikes? (just not this one)
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  #17  
Old 20 Dec 2023
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Speaking as an able bodied and reasonably strong male, I have to say weight does matter - or at least, where it's carried. I've picked up a KTM 790 a few times without too much difficulty, but recently couldn't manage an XT660Z that had fallen over downhill on tarmac. That bugs me, because I'm looking for handle-ability (KTM) in a relatively simple bike (Yamaha) but not something of few ccs as I value that for the road miles.

So for me a heavy, electronics-laden bike lacking punch doesn't ring any bells.
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Old 21 Dec 2023
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Weight matters A LOT when the roads get rough and tough! The difference riding a 250 kilo bike like a GSA/GS or Africa Twin or similar versus a 150-160 kilo bike like a Crf250/300 Rally or a Dr650 through a rough stretch of road is GIGANTIC! Those who disagree are bloody liars!

The difference of the new KTM 390 with an anticipated weight of 180 kilos versus a 150-160 kilo bike is of course not that huge but still quite noticable and a disadvantage for the new 390 versus lighter bikes.

As the Youtuber Big Rock Moto said about some other models but still very true and valid: «The new Transalp is a much better offroad bike then the Africa Twin simply because its much lighter»
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Old 21 Dec 2023
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomkat View Post
...I've picked up a KTM 790 a few times without too much difficulty, but recently couldn't manage an XT660Z that had fallen over downhill on tarmac...
On my first expedition with an XT660Z in 2009 I used soft luggage. I dropped the bike in a gorge near Cirque de Jaffar in Morocco and like you, the bike was downhill with the seat lower than the wheels. I found I couldn't lift it, even with the luggage removed. I sat back and waited as there's always someone along, and a couple of hours later a group of silver-haired French walkers came by who helped me.

The problem was that there's limited lifting places on the Tenere. Once I had pannier rails fitted for aluminium panniers, lifting was dead easy.

As for weight distribution, I quite like a top-heavy bike. Weighting the pegs to turn when you are on something like a 1200GS doesn't have much effect and you carry straight on, whilst the top-heavy XT660Z is inherently unstable (as is a Eurofighter) which means it is quick and easy to turn.
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