"a what?!"

("Eierlegende Wollmilchsau" ist the german expression for something that satisfies all needs, meets all requirements. Like the animal it describes, this concept is of course illusionary.)

First of all thanks for this brilliant website! I´ve read through hundreds of threads, learnt a lot about choosing the right bike - and still am uncertain what would be the right one for me.

Requirements:
1) light to handle (I´m female and this will be my first bike), offroad-able (gravel, dirt roads, nothing hardcore). Must be able to be fitted out with panniers for travel.
But also:
2) comfortable riding position, capable of being driven a couple of hundred kilometres/day on motorways as well as secondary roads without vibrating me to death and vexing my 1200GS-riding partner because he has to wait hours for me to catch up.

I know, I´m really describing two different bikes...

What would be the best compromise? Going for a XT 600/DR 650 (more my kind of bike, to be honest) and hope the motorway driving won´t be too bad? Or a BMW F650/Suzuki Freewind/XTZ Tenere and hope I can keep them upright when leaving the tarmac? (They look sooo heavy!)

Whatever the choice, it will of course be a used bike - am I right in thinking the ones built in the 90´s are pretty reliable, simple bikes without a lot of electronics which are always going haywire?

We´re soon off to have a look at a couple of different bikes, I guess trying them out will answer a few questions....but I would also be very grateful for your opinions and your experiences!

Greetings from Germany,
Cragseeker

XT 600 should be a good choice I guess. Maybe the XT660R - much lighter than the XT660Z Tenere although smaller gas tank and thus shorter range.

Honda Transalp 600 maybe? KTM 690 Enduro is very light and powerful although it would need som fairing and a bigger gas tank at least.

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hi Snakeboy,

thank you for your answer! Yes, you´re right - XT 600/XT660 would have been good choices, and the Transalp was also on the list.

But...

Since today I´m the proud owner of a 1998 KTM 620 LC4
The very first bike we had a look at yesterday, it ticked almost all the boxes (except for motorway comfort - but hey, isn´t motorway driving boring and should be avoided, anyway?), is in a good condition and was offered at a very reasonable price.

Looking forward to heaps of fun

Happy greetings,
Cragseeker

Comgratulations with new bike. Hope it gets you where you want safely and that it does that without any problems!

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Out of all the bike you say in your first post you never said a ktm, I would say from your list above the ktm adventure would be the most suited as it's the most forgiving off on the gravel, they are pretty good on a run to

Good luck with the KTM! Although, I must say, this generation KTM are not famous for long term reliability. I hope your riding partner is a good mechanic. Be sure to carry a full set of spare parts for this engine.

If me, I'd start with a fresh top end rebuild before departure. New head, valves, valve gear. They generally only last 10K miles (15K kms) before needing service. Use the best synthetic oil you can find. Do not over-Rev or lug the engine. With luck you'll go 25K kms. without problems.

Clearly, the KTM is the best on your list for OFF ROAD riding ... but the worst ON ROAD. If you plan to ride over 50% off road then a good choice. I'll bet not more than 30% off road. Most do 80% Road, 20% Off road. YMMV.

You must be a tall girl as the KTM is tallest of all the bikes on your list. Also, not the best for carrying panniers. Weak sub frame will require custom modification to last on a long tour.

In my long term testing of this bike one thing stands out most: VIBRATION.

This generation KTM will vibrate the fillings out of your teeth!
Vibrates more than any bike I've ever ridden. (hundreds)

A super WIDE and well padded custom seat will reduce vibration, and make the KTM better on long highway riding. Also, Alu handlebars and padded hand grips can help reduce vibration too. Good boots with THICK soles a must to keep legs from going numb.

Try to find the "sweet spot" (RPM wise) when riding highway. Ride at that RPM when possible to reduce vibration. Off road the KTM is a delight. Nothing better in the class. You hardly feel the vibes because you are having so much fun!

But as a Novice, first time rider, I doubt you will understand or be able to appreciate any of this at this early stage. Maybe in a year of riding and comparing to other bikes you'll see just how good your KTM is for OFF ROAD. (and how bad for long rides on highway! )

Good luck and all the best!

Thank you all for your good-luck wishes (I hear that underlying "you´ll need it")

I did gather that the KTM is not regarded as the most reliable bike in history, but as I´m not going to be riding RTW, just learning and enjoying my bike on + off road here in Germany, France, Italy, perhaps in a couple of years some longer tours through Scandinavia, the Pyrennées... I think we´ll be OK! I´ll do my best to take good care of her, and hope she´ll return the favour by not breaking down in the middle of the French Alps.

Mollydog, she´s actually been lowered, and so I can easily reach the ground - and she has a much softer seat than the second KTM we looked at. For travelling I can still try a sheepskin or a gel pad, if necessary.
I guess you´re absolutely right that I can´t really appreciate or make use of the offroad qualities yet, but I must honestly say she was the only one where I thought "Hey - this feels like it could be fun!" whereas I couldn´t even imagine driving those heavier ones (650GS, Sertao) on anything but tarmac...

I´m happy
Cragseeker