Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - XR650R vs 990 ADV vs Africa Twin

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- - XR650R vs 990 ADV vs Africa Twin (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/which-bike/xr650r-vs-990-adv-vs-71558)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simon R (Post 431963)

I took my Transalp from Tokyo to Cape Town, through Mongolia and the Stans. It is very comfortable on the tar, but not a real dirt bike, too low and 19" front wheel, but very reliable. It needed the fuel pump to be flushed and cleaned in Burkina Faso and that is all. My wife rode a BMW G650GS and it went like a dream, 50,000 ks no issues. A friend came with us from Tokyo to St. Petersburg on a KTM990, we had to get a new fuel pump in Mongolia and it was a new bike, no electrical problems. I have read a few reports where both the 990 and 690 KTM bikes have serious fuel pump problems, if you get dirt in the fuel
For your trip if you are buying a bike from scratch I would look at the KTM 690R, very light 138Kg, excellent fuel econoimy and you can get long distance tanks, made for dirt riding but good on the highway, thinking of making it my next bike.

Woow! What an amazing trip!
Good to know about the fuel pump problems. I'll have one spare pump for sure.
I already discarded the 690, i'm now thinking about the Tenere or the 990 (same as my friend)

Do you think the Tenere has very bad suspensions? Should i change them for better ones? I'll have to carry some weight.

XR650R vs 990 ADV vs Africa Twin?

I respectfully suggest that you pin down, just a tad, what you are considering - in less than a week this thread has named 11 specific models of bikes (I've just counted them), most of which are no longer sold in countries that have laws about pollution.
Details such as:-
New/second owner (you could still find a new 990 adv but the 1190 is rapidly replacing it).
Budget.
Your mechanical skills for keeping old machines in running order.
etc would clarify what you are really prepared to consider.

Regarding your question about suspensions on bikes, the big 4 Jap manufacturers fit OEM equipment that is based on their main market - those who ride a few thousand miles per year on surfaced roads and trade in their machine every, say, 2-3 years; hence the OEM suspension doesn't last too long because it doesn't have to, it tends to be non-repairable and it is built "down to a budget".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playmobil (Post 431971)

The Suzuki is a great bike but a bit too old.

Not in North America, I can buy a brand new one for 4000 GBP :cool4:

http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/z...ing2012026.jpg