The below video makes it look easy ... and it's true, a BMW Boxer is easier as cylinders rest on the ground, so bike is not flat on the ground. In mud or sand, this technique does not work so well.

A BMW is much easier to lift ... but a bike with panniers is easier too as panniers keep bike UP a bit, easier for you to get under it and get it up right.

With a loaded KTM 1190 first thing to do is get help if you can. Then take off as much luggage as possible.

I've lifted a fallen KTM 950 with just a tail pack on it. It was pinning the fallen rider ... so I had to lift it solo. He was screaming in agony so my adrenalin was pumping ... NOT GOOD. (This is when guys ruin their back for life)

I was lucky. I got it up enough so he could crawl out from under it ... then the two of us hoisted it up right. A real BITCH! This was on loose desert sandy dirt. But the KTM lays down very flat ... it's hard to get the lift started using the technique shown in video below. I tried backing into it ... could not do it ... my feet just slipped as I tried to push. Also, no good hand holds on the bike.

If fallen on a hill and you don't care about scratching up your bike, try spinning the bike round so that you can lift it up from the UP HILL side ... but once put up right the common disaster is the bike topples over the other side ... and tumbles on down the hill.
Been there, done that.

BMW bike lifting video - Yahoo Search Results

Evermore,
I remember your ride report on ADV Rider from S. America. Great stuff.
Would you really trust a KTM vs. your DR650 in Bolivia or Mongolia? Did you ever have problems with your DR650 in S. America?

I've owned 3 KTM's ... still have my DR650 at 55,000 miles and counting.

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

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.

That's a BIG ONE! Parabellum make a good product. Good in cold weather, horrible in
HOT humid conditions in my experience. I had a big Parabellum on my old
R100GS.
Wow! I knew weight differences were around those figures but forgot how MUCH lighter the 950SE was. I too await the Milan MC show to see what Honda brings. I'll read up on the 1050 KTM when I can. Thanks for the link and weight info!

Molly,

I`m with a 250 as you might know. Over 3,500m I had pretty alarming spluttering issues, kinda felt like engine would die momentarily and then kick back into action, as though someone grabbed the clutch in for a second. Should I take the air filter out or anything else one can do to get more power at altitude? Sorry bit off topic I know!

I did not take the filter out while riding my 125cc bike on dusty roads up to 4800 meters in Bolivia:

http://motorradreisen-suedamerika.de..._bolivien-peru

Just turned the German:Leerlaufgemischregulierschraube in as far as possible. The 800 Euro bike went slow but it kept going. Its better then any BMW.
Some nice first hand reports about the 18,000 Euro 1200GS are just happen here life:

Boulevard of Broken BMW Dreams - ADVrider
Around the World Ed-Venn-ture, the next 800 days - Page 29 - ADVrider

This is typical at high altitude. I don't know your bike ... but if it has a
Pilot fuel screw (usually on bottom of carb) the fuel screw needs to be turned IN (clockwise) to LEAN out the low speed mixture.

If you can ... OPEN UP the Air box. I would leave the air filter ON. But try to remove any thing impeding air entrance into the Carb. On my DR650 I cut a big hole in top of air box to increase air flow.

Some air boxes will have a removable side panel. If you have this ... remove it.

If you can LEAN out the fuel screw (it may be hidden and sealed on your bike) then you will also need to raise up the idle speed. I'm sure you have this adjustment on your bike.

But a 250 is going to suffer at 3500 meters no matter what. But leaning out
pilot fuel adjustment, opening the air box and increasing idle speed will :
1. allow smoother running
2. better fuel economy
3. better starting/idling

MORE AIR is what you need!
Good luck!

so basically you need a CPR on a bike...

Molly,

Cheers! Bike is a Honda 250XR Tornado. I have learnt about a lot of stuff on the bike, but the carb still looks a mystery to me. I`ll have a look for this fuel screw - and good advice about filter, my bike does indeed have a plastic panel so will remove this when I am finally reunited with bike (next week I hope!).

On a side-note, do you think when this sputtering is occurring it is better to gas it or close off the throttle? Better to drop down a gear and rev it or try to slunk along? Does this cause any damage to the engine or other components of the bike? I did a pass from Argentina to Chile and hit terrible headwinds, throttle fully open in second gear and probably doing 30-40kps!!!



Someone told me about getting the jets changed, but wouldn`t that affect performance when you come back to sea-level?

Your carb will be dead simple. Go on the Tornado forums, find out what riders are doing to gain performance. May be some clues there. Most CV carbs like you've got have a Pilot fuel screw. (sometimes mistakenly called
a Fuel/Air screw or Pilot screw). Sometimes the screw is inset under carb and covered with little tin cover. Pick the tin cover off with wall board screw, small screw driver, turn IN all the way until it stops (do NOT force). Count the turns.
It's probably set about 1.5 turns to 2 turns out. Go in to .5 or 1 turn from fully seated. Should make a BIG difference)

sputtering should not cause damage but if it's cutting out then kicking back in hard ... THAT is not good.
(hard on Crank/Rod) I would down shift and let it rev. Try to find the "sweet spot" where it runs best.

If you plan to stay up high for a while then changing the main jet makes sense. Should not be hard on that bike. But you may get away with simply doing the adjustments I outlined earlier. If they are NO HELP (which I doubt) then you will need to re-jet. Go only ONE or TWO jet sizes smaller. You should still keep the air box OPEN at high altitude, it really will make a HUGE difference in overall running, as will Pilot fuel screw adjustment.

With an open air box your air filter may get dirty more quickly. So keep an eye on it if riding in heavy dust. Keep it CLEAN/oiled or risk ruination of your motor.

Good luck! Ride Early AM, avoid head winds.

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