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Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:40 pm
by Albert 888
I was lucky enough to have a ride on a t7 at the nec, it was easy to ride but seamed to lack a bit of poke, and for £8699 I could buy a 990 r and a xt660z. I'm sure they are a great bike out the arena. The 990 ticks a few boxs but the poor mpg and weight is a little concerning as a first big proper adventure bike.

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:50 pm
by Richard Simpson Mark II
Can't comment on the mpg of the 990, but the 950 does 10 miles per litre at motorway speeds. Twenty-two litre tank (I think).

It has a huge appetite for miles...100 miles is nothing on it. I used to ride from Gloucester to Dartford, Kent, do a day's work of proof-reading against a deadline, then ride home again, and still feel great at the end of some very long days.

It's not really that heavy. When the Yam XT600 Tenere first came out, I thought it might make a sensible replacement for the 950. I watched the first one to arrive at my local Yam dealer get built up, then they let me push it across the showroom. It felt heavier than the KTM, so I had to make my excuses and leave.

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 10:04 pm
by Noppy
Perhaps a Mash 400 ADV would do?

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Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 10:24 pm
by Elmer J Fudd
You might get on with a Triumph Tiger, there is a new version coming out, so prices of older ones will be dropping soon.

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 10:36 pm
by macvisual
Albert 888 wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:05 pm Its hard work choosing a bike that would be suitable for everything, allways a compromise with everything, my thinking is the 660z would do everything at a slower pace.
I'm a firm believer that you don't need a big pile of bhp nowadays, my personal thoughts are the likes of between 500cc-800cc is well plenty all day long.........anything around 70bhp is all you'll require.
The days of large/chunky two wheeled machinery is diminishing. My 08 V-Strom DL1000 is a perfect example, I'm going much smaller size and engine wise when I change next. I even like big (and small) scooters........yes, I said that.

Only my tuppence worth motorcycle 39yr personal input.

mac

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 10:49 pm
by Albert 888
I've looked at everything trying to make a comparison / comprimise.
300 2t for fun enduro, time card hare and hound and technical lanes.
450/500 for longer lanes and lightweight trips.
The bike I'm after needs to be reliable, do good on the road and good offroad, good ground clearance for road trips away rally events etc. Looked at the tiger 800 but they appear to deteriate quite fast and not really suitable for more than fire roads, could be wrong. The 790 r looks good on paper but to dear and riddled with problems, the 690/701 no real gain over a 500 apart from servicing, ground clearance poor and heavy for what it is.
The 660 tenere, not really good or poor at anything so probably a good compromise bike, then you have the oddballs like the gp 450 good on paper but won't be as good as a ktm 500 or as good on the road or reliable as a 660z.

I've done my research but not asked people who actually ride them for there intended us.

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 6:46 am
by scoobydidler
I rode a 660z for some years, trailriding, European trips too. I loved it. Switched to a 250 rally and carried on doing the same with the same group of guys and variety of bikes. The rally is a far better all round bike for my money.
It doesn't sound like you're keen to go small though............

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Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:12 am
by Crossrutted
Albert 888 wrote: Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:26 pm OK, 6ft 1", 36" inside leg 14.5 stone, bike fit on enduro type bikes for 150miles of North Wales finest.
Got
Beta 300rr 2t
Honda vfr 800 fi.

Need to keep the beta, vfr can go.

Ok, need a road and off road capable bike.
Plans below
TET UK and Europe, rally moto, nc500 Road tour with sports bikes, Ireland wc1500 and mini adventures, soft luggage and light weight camping.
What I'm looking at.
Yamaha xt660z tenere
Ktm 990 adventure r
Husqvarna 701
Ktm 690 r.

Any advice 😂.
For your listed requirements, get a KTM Adventure 950/990 - forget the 690/701/TenaLady singles.

The KTM is the only large "adventure" bike that will feel exhilarating if you're used to an enduro bike.

The others - GS's, Triumph, Suzuki whatever, are all sedate and far less capable off road - yes some people ride them off road but why handicap yourself?

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:26 am
by Snaf MKII
F650GS Dakar?

I've had one since 2004, modified with Honda CR front end, uprated shock, relocated pegs.
Regularly green laned in Devon, Cornwall.
3500k two week trips around EU
10 day offroad trip in Morocco
Regular trips in past to central France.
Offroad trips in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal
Ireland including Paddy Dakar
Scotland
Used for work including offroad surveys for utility companies.

Speedo broke at 50K and 10 years ago, probably got another 30k on it now.

70+ mpg

Only let me down once when ECU failed after I'd completely submerged it in a river, even then it only failed a few weeks later when a slug had grown in the ECU to sufficient size to short it out.

Cruises at 70mph does 100mph+

I've looked at replacing it and tried KTM690/790, neither is that much better once you get over the initial performance WoW factor. The BMW amazes me at finding grip offroad just when you need it most.

There's a CRE125 and KTM200 in the shed to light up the dull days and a KTM350 for trail riding but the BMW is the one I'd pull out of the fire first.

Re: Adventure bike options?

Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:42 am
by SteveW
When you find the ideal all-purpose bike, please let us all know!
I've had most of the bikes you've mentioned.
I'd say don't focus on the negative on a particular bike, otherwise you'll never actually buy anything.
The bike you choose will be a compromise, that'll mean for everything you ask it to do they'll be loads of other bikes that could do that specific task better.
My advice for what it's worth......
Use some of your savings and accept that it's not going to set your pants on fire.....Yamaha T700.