XR650R to a KTM....Maybe

[CollinsB]

Sold the XR650R (BRP) ....and now looking for a replacement. At 6'4" 220lbs, ...the XR650R was awesome. I'm just ready for a change.

Not too familiar with the KTM's, but looking for reliablity and something that fits me. It seems anyone who owns a KTM has a love affair with it. The Honda was crazy reliable and that for me is key... Im open to suggestions.

[marcwestbmw]

My riding buddy has always been an XR man. 600's then 650's. I convinced him to buy a 950 Super Enduro after I purchased a 950 AdvS. Best decisions we ever made. We both love our bikes. He rides his SE like he did the XR650. Desert, mountains, single track, and cross country blasting to boot.

[CollinsB]

Hmm.... hadn't thought about an SE, nor have I really looked at one up close. I believe it would not be a far a stretch from the XR. Good call...I'll check those out.
I do my own wrenching, prefer a Carbed bike, as well as something that doesnt require a huge amount of fiddling to dial in.

[dogsslober]

I have a XR650R and a SE. Love them both.I think the SE is a great "big" guy dirt bike. Throw a side stand bracket,Dr. Beans kit on the fuel pump and ride.

[CollinsB]

Fuel pump kit? Trying to avoid a bike where I need to fix what the factory couldnt get right.

[dogsslober]

cheap and easy fix. If that will stop you. Then the KTM is not for you. Three time the miles on my KTM than my Honda. Best big bike I've ever had.

[grinns]

Originally Posted by CollinsB

Fuel pump kit? Trying to avoid a bike where I need to fix what the factory couldnt get right.

I probably wouldn't look at ktm then. They ride awesome, but defiantly require a little lovin.

[Ramv]

KTM builds some great bikes. You MAY need to do a few simple after market mods ( I haven't at 8000 miles on my SE) but compared to the problems that Hondas have these things are rock solid. ( I am speaking from Xr80, XL250,Xr350 experience, All had way more problems than my KTM. My VTR was reliable but really poorly equipped stock compared to the KTM). The only downside I see to the SE is pure physical size. Some days I wish I was on a 300 instead but I am under 200 lb in gear.

[marcwestbmw]

You run a stock carb on the XR650? How about exhaust, cam, etc. ever wear your arse out kicking it after a dump? My point being all bikes have their quirks. If you pass on a 950, that's OK. It just means more for us.


.

[Helipilot]

Why not just have both the XR650L and the KTM 990. Both bikes have their fine points. I have owned three XR's since they came out and love the bike for it's simplicity and the ability to grunt up a hill without a lot of tire spinning and thrashing about. I bought a new KTM 990 this spring and love it. But it is a different bike that I will need to get used to riding. It is great on pavement and gravel roads/trails but I think it is too heavy for technical single track. I plan to do a lot of camping on it and have done a lot on my XR's and it was all great fun and adventure. I plan to start the farkling process on the 990 this winter and spring. My XR is just where I want it and suits my riding style to a "T". I am keeping them both.

Good luck in your decision.

[CollinsB]

Originally Posted by marcwestbmw

You run a stock carb on the XR650? How about exhaust, cam, etc. ever wear your arse out kicking it after a dump? My point being all bikes have their quirks. If you pass on a 950, that's OK.

The 950 may not be ideal for my needs... It may be a little too beastly for trail and desert riding.

[Doug Matson]

Go for the new KTM EXC 500 Street legal and everybody raves about it. Doesn't need any mods just ride it.

[CollinsB]

Originally Posted by Doug Matson

Go for the new KTM EXC 500 Street legal and everybody raves about it. Doesn't need any mods just ride it.

The EXC 500 is appealing...

[Steveman]

Originally Posted by CollinsB

Sold the XR650R (BRP) ...The Honda was crazy reliable and that for me is key... Im open to suggestions.

If reliability counts KTM is the wrong bike to go for. Thats for sure. Having a BRP kicker my own plus having two KTM's (690 and 350) myself I really can tell you to go for something different.
I had alltogether 30 bikes (only one used one!) and 5 of them where KTM's. These were the only 5 which failed out in the woods far from home. None of the Japs bikes ever failed. Never ever, and I ride since ages...

Another possibility is to buy a new KTM 690 and ride it for a year only as commuter or weekend bike. Then after everything which can fail has failed and all the errors my Austrian fellows have made during assembling have been straightened they are darn good bikes. Going with a new KTM on a long trip is playing Russian Roulette.

Cheers
Steve

[_cy_]

Originally Posted by Steveman

If reliability counts KTM is the wrong bike to go for. Thats for sure. Having a BRP kicker my own plus having two KTM's (690 and 350) myself I really can tell you to go for something different.
I had alltogether 30 bikes (only one used one!) and 5 of them where KTM's. These were the only 5 which failed out in the woods far from home. None of the Japs bikes ever failed. Never ever, and I ride since ages...

Another possibility is to buy a new KTM 690 and ride it for a year only as commuter or weekend bike. Then after everything which can fail has failed and all the errors my Austrian fellows have made during assembling have been straightened they are darn good bikes. Going with a new KTM on a long trip is playing Russian Roulette.

Cheers
Steve

are KTM reliability that bad? what typically goes wrong?
they can't be more expensive than BMW for parts...
will be doing all my own wrenching so no labor costs.