Thanks! Well the DR650SE had 2 shortcomings for me, underpowered at altitude (altiplano from Cusco to Arequipa) and the darn carb stranding me a couple times. A KTM 1190 R would obviously fix those issues but be heavier and more complex. Having owned a 990, I am fine with the extra weight except that I don't know if I can lift one by myself in the likely spots where I might drop it (dirt/gravel).

I am frankly not too worried about breaking down and parts availability.This is an issue if you're traveling under time pressure and a 2-3 weeks waiting for a part to arrive would kill your trip. The DR would then be the better choice. I am thinking of a multi-year trip with no deadline. The KTMs are more complex but I don't think there is any issue I can't ultimately fix save a catastrophic crash.

The lifting issue remains. A system that gets the bike off the ground and maybe to a 30-50 degree angle is all that would be required. A lightweight mechanical jack would do it but I don't see any product like that out there. All the jacks I see are designed to lift cars or industrial loads so multiple ton loads. To help lift a bike, all you'd need is 1t jack but it would have to be lightweight. Some sort of tripod system using ratchet tie down to lift could be another possibility. Who knows, maybe I can figure out a reasonable solution and start selling it

That looks like a GREAT Blog .. bit confusing to navigate, hard to tell Ads from content? Strange format! But great pics!

Love the Transalp! 700 Euros is a gift! Great reliable bike for sure.

Can you lift it Solo with all luggage on the bike?

Some singles are really OK on highway, but certainly not all. The KLR650, DR650 and BMW F650 Dakar are all quite good doing LONG highway. A good seat and proper set-up make all the difference. Owned & ridden many singles long distance
(XL600R, XR400R, KTM 640E, KLR650, XR650L, XR600R, XR250R, KTM Duke ll) DR650 is the favorite so far!

Rode 1000 mile day on my DR650: (Guerrero Negro, Baja, Mexico, to San Francisco, one day) I've done dozens of 300 to 400 mile days doing many long highway rides since 2006. Good seat makes all the difference but the DR is quite SMOOTH at 75 mph.

Generally, I would agree, water cooling is an advantage in very HOT weather. But does add some weight and complexity to any bike. DR650 has no radiator, no hoses, waterpump, just an oil cooler.

The DR650 has been fine riding WEEKS in 100F plus heat, including Death Valley at 118F. LOTS of Mexico too ... all at 70 mph. Absolutely no problems. Common story among DR650 owners ... Suzuki's SACS Air/Oil cooling system is very effective. Truly amazing motor in hot weather.


Death Valley (this pic in Winter)


Colorado from California, mostly highway. Here in Utah.
3500 mi. ride, 80% highway. Average highway speed, 75 mph. HOT HOT HOT!

DR650 is the easiest bike i've ever worked on. The fact that it rarely needs anything or breaks also helps! It weighs 324 lbs. dry (147 kgs) 368 lbs. wet (167 kgs. WET and loaded)

What are you doing in Brazil?

it's all good but why did they stop making those great old bikes? like dr650, transalp etc??? I'd like to get a new one and what? no luck...

I think, it depends on the nature of the planned yourney.
If you drive mostly tarmac and paved roads, then the question of weight doesn`t matter much. You can use a BMW ADV or a NCX or everything else. Lifting these bikes once a day should be no problem.
If you ride not on tarmac and perfect paved roads but offroad, then weight becomes matter, because you have to lift the bike on some days maybe ten times, then a Beamer or other big bike will "kill" you.

I did last week a yourney through germany on tarmac with my friend, me on an S10 and he on a 1200 ADV, it was great and a fast ride, but when the streets become narrow and really curvy, it was not so funny with the big bikes, but nevertheless no problem.
At one point we were lead to a diversion, at first paved road, then an muddy and slippery trail, holy shit, that was really not funny at all. We manged that stretch, but were wet and lucky, that there was no fallen bike to lift

__________________
Greetings
Wolle

I think its BECAUSE they are so great. People who buy a Transalp or AfricaTwin etc. will never return to the dealer again for the next 20 years but keep riding and riding more then 400.000km without any problems.

http://www.touratech.de/nc/vollmeldu...ratech/29.html

This way you cant earn any money but people who buy a BMW have to get another bike every year because they keep breaking down

BMW R 1200 GS Dauertest : TOURENFAHRER ONLINE
Dauertest-Abschluss BMW R 1200 GS - Motorrad-Dauertests - MOTORRAD
Dauertest BMW R 1200 GS Getriebeschaden - Motorrad-Dauertests - MOTORRAD

For the same reason printers and washing machines these days are specialy designed to fail after the end of warranty
People today dont care about quality anymore. Everyone wants the newest phone and newest model of what ever...

Stopped making them? Huh!??? You can buy a brand new 2014 DR650, KLR650 or XR650L at any Suzuki, Kawasaki or Honda dealer in USA. Right now! The Honda is same dry weight as DR650, the KLR about 15 kgs. heavier.

Each company have over 1000 dealers in USA. Also, you can buy NEW in Australia. Only the Honda is for sale in the EU.

The DR650 has not changed since 1996, the KLR was the same from 1986 to 2007 (only minor changes made in '07). The Honda XR650L has not changed since 1992. Of all three bikes, IMO, the Honda is most in need of a re-model/upgrade. If Honda did this, they could DOMINATE this little segment. (which is quite strong ATM)

Having owned and traveled on all three bikes for thousands of miles since 1990, I prefer the DR650. It's low and easy to ride. It's pretty good off road once upgraded suspension ... but most of all ... it's extremely TOUGH and crashes very well. (almost no damage from light falls)

I would consider the KTM 690 if it was a bit less expensive and more reliable. KTM will get there ... and I will be standing in line to buy.

Only Yamaha have stepped up with modern dual sport singles. (Tenere 660 ect). Yamaha don't import any of the those bikes to USA. I love "the look" of the Tenere' but not a fan of the weight.

Funny! I rode that route in
1974 on a borrowed Vespa 150 (2 stroke!). I had flats!

All motors lose power up high, the DR is badly affected. I'm amazed at those on 125's and 250's riding 14K ft. If the DR is properly leaned out and breathing properly (fully open air box) this helps a little. But power is still affected but at least starts and runs OK if leaned out and breathing well. I tested my set up here:

Imogene pass, Colorado. My Blue DR on left. 13K ft. We rode 6 passes in 2 days. Some went even higher.

CARB
Parts in the DR Mikuni carb simply wear out. I've re-done mine 3 times in 55,000 miles. HUGE difference with new parts. I buy used carbs on line and cannibalize parts needed. Cheap, easy & parts easy to carry on the road.
The KTM is quite light weight for a big bike, best out there!

But still ... well over 500 lbs. ... now add 50 to 100 lbs. of gear and extras! YIKES! I guess if you can bench press over 300 lbs. you might do it. I'm weaker now, don't have the strength I once did. I can still lift my DR.
I agree. Also, seems KTM dealers are popping up all over the world, Latin America have several. You have to wait for parts no matter the brand. No dealers stock anything these days. Most ALL OEM parts must be ordered.

Maybe a couple of adjustable, lightweight prop stands? If you could hoist the bike up just a bit, then somehow get a stand in, under the bike, then take it up in stages? Dunno? Tough problem.

It didn't help that I had a HUGE windscreen and a strong headwind. I just figure if you get a bike with a high enough power to total weight ratio, it won't matter what the altitude is

I am hoping that either the rumored KTM 1050 or new Honda Africa Twin shave off enough weight (50 lb) to make them worthwhile. What's the point of a Triumph 800xc if it weighs the same as the much more powerful 1190 after all?

As for lifting, someone on advrider pointed out this bikehoist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzecbg5-KEY
My thinking is to try to keep the weight low enough that I can still lift it but maybe have something like along for peace of mind.

Yes, power is FUN! But windscreens really only affect things at speeds over 50 mph. But sure nice in freezing temps. Good trade off? I run no screen on my DR but only ridden in Snow a few times. I like clean air, no buffeting.
Totally agree about the Tiger 800. The XC800 Tiger is great bike to ride (I own a 1050 Tiger) but WAY too heavy for a true Adventure bike ridden off road. Triumph can do much better.

I have not heard about the 1050 KTM, what are the rumors? :confused1:
KTM are THE BEST at making truly light weight bikes. I was hoping they would a make a very light weight 650 to 750 V-Twin or parallel twin to compliment the current 1190 range.

I just don't need 100 HP on my travel bike, in fact I get along fine with the 37 HP on my old DR! FAST bikes are FUN riding around home or doing dual sport rides, but on the road, out of country on serious trip, I've got more important things to think about than pulling wheelies ... and there is no one to race 5000 miles from home.

I'm most impressed by the KTM 690. (ridden it a couple times, including the early '07 690 pictured in above pic) Check out the weight. It's SO LIGHT! Around 20 to 30 lbs. lighter than the DR650 ... with nearly double the HP and same fuel economy. But it's over $10,000.

Problem with the 690 is it needs custom set up to be a good travel bike and carry luggage. And the reliability has been far from perfect. Lots of stupid issues on their singles, things the Japanese solved 30 years ago. KTM still have A LONG way to go, IMHO. The twins are much better, and proven reliable these days. (mostly)

If not doing serious off road I'd jump for the big KTM. Such fun bikes to ride day to day. My favorite of all of them so far is the old KTM 950SE. (2004 to 2007?) Would you believe that bike is only 30 or 40lbs. heavier than my DR650? Yet it's got most all the luxuries of a big bike. Only issue with SE are the Carbs and poor fuel economy (average 38 MPG).

Also, it's very TALL, too tall for me! Hopefully KTM will come out with a "modern" version of the SE. THAT would be a bike to wait for!

But most KTM Twins start around $18K, go sharply UP from there. Out of my budget ... and NOT expendable like my DR650 is. If the DR dies, is crashed, stolen or is set fire to ... I can walk away no regrets. I'll buy another.
Hard to do on a close to $20K KTM.
I'd not want to carry this sort of stuff. Better to hook up with a couple STRONG riding partners!

I chose this 25in monstrosity thinking it would reduce fatigue. I could ride with visor open with that thing so definitely a good product. The only shortcoming were the aluminum mounts that did not survive the washboard on the way to the Uyuni saltflats.

This thread has reached over 100 pages. Expectation is for release at one of the motorcycle shows in October or November..

First thing I bought after returning to SF after my trip on the DR650SE was a KTM 690SM. It really did solve all the issues I had with the DR and I loved it. I replaced it with the KTM 990 eventually which did all the 690SM did but just much better, quicker, and more comfortably. =)

I have been reading up on the 950SE as well. Both the 690 and the 950SE need several additions to make them long distance capable and given their complexity, it can't really be argued that they are more reliable choices than a 1190. My thinking is either ride a DR650SE with its simplicity or get the.. err, KTM of Adventure bikes, the 1190 R

By the way, the weight difference (dry) between a 950SE (408 lb) and a KTM 1190 R (478 lb) is 70 lb. if the fabled KTM 1050 (or Africa Twin, I don't care) comes in at say 40-50 lb less than the 1190 R, I think it becomes a very intriguing choice.

none of them is available in Europe.

Because Europa has more strict emission regulations AND people did not buy them when they were available. Insted they prefere bikes such as http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...ht-comes-73113

That's why some round the world travelers start in the US. Bikes are significantly cheaper when new and the used market is huge so there are lots of options. =)

yeah, we have that nonsense here unfortunately...
I guess I had to import one from the Wild West

The problem is that as long as it does not pas the ASU test you wond be able to register it here but there are several old KLR 650, DR650 etc. available here see http://mobile.de so you could get one of them and import a new engine for the frame if neccecary...