Which is better off-road - KLR or 990Adventure?

[DaveStockwell]

Yep, got that one backwards. Sorry gents.

[Mulewright]

Originally Posted by E-town dirt dude

Or...for a bit less money than the KTM you could look at a Triumph Tiger 800XC or BMW F800GS. Both are offroad capable but have very different feels to them.

Given the choices you put forward & after riding all of the choices, I would have absoloutly no choice but plunk MY money down for the 800XC.
The GS for some reason never blew up my skirt ( nothing really "fits" me on it) & the ktm just plain Sucks after 100 miles on the road.
I may well replace the V Strom with one when / if I wear it out in the next few years... who knows?

[Adanac rider]

Good question, Too bad Dirt bike didn't choose to put a big bore kit on the bike in their up graded klr test.A 45 hp klr might be just enough.

[ANutt]

Originally Posted by Mulewright

Buy a late model KLR,do the following upgrades: Gold Valves & springs in the forks, Progressive shock & spring, Eagle Mike forkbrace, Em's Doohickey upgrade, 685 top end kit (also from EM's), subframe bolt upgrade kit, Bars, Grips& seat of your choice and the KLR would run much closer to the KTM off road when the almost Double horsepower is not a factor.
Extended hi speed (meaning over 8o indicated) is not That bad on a properly sorted KLR... I put over 35,000 miles in a year on mine on mostly I-roads often at over 85 (gps) on SEVERAL trips of 325~600 miles at a time in that year with nothing more than standard maintnance & using a bit of oil.
BUT the money you would save even with all of the "Upgrades" to the KLR will leave you with THOUSANDS of dollers in the bank to buy gas, farkels & trip money vs. the KTM Buy in & maintenance difference..
That being said; I sold the KLR after 26 months of that kind of usage & replaced it with a V Strom 1000, Much better suited to my needs / usage.
My local dealer is a KTM / Kawasaki / Suzuki / Polaris / Dealer. The owner rides a 300XC off road & a Z 1000 on road.I had asked him about why not a 990 KTM dualsport and he shot me a look and said 'I look That crazy?' not more than 100 miles off unless I had a chase truck!
That told me what I needed to know.....

This is my point; after doing all this, you still have a KLR that is worth what a KLR is worth.
My choice is between a '08 990 with 10k miles on it that is already set up the way I want with seat/racks/grips, etc., or the stock, pre-farkled '12 KLR that I have, which I can sell for what I have in it. We plan to do the eastern half of the TAT this June, so the bike has to be dirt-capable and pick-upable, if that's a word. I'm 6'3", 240lbs. but I'm also 51 years old and less bulletproof than I used to think I was. Given my size/weight, the KLR will need suspension upgrades right off. Dependability means more to me than power.

[Kawidad]

Originally Posted by ANutt

Dependability means more to me than power.

Then stick with the Kawq.

I've owned a 950 Adventure and it was a brilliant motorcycle, but it was the most undependable vehicle I've ever owned. The KTMs have hit and miss quality control and some strange engineering. The Kool aid drinkers will shout from the roof tops that KTMs are the best thing ever, and some of them may be, but other are not. The 9x0 line is, IMO, not ready for prime time, unlike their smaller bikes.

A KLR out of the box has some issues, but they are well known and easily cured for very little money, but it will never be as capable as the big Katoom.

[T-FAST]

Originally Posted by E-town dirt dude

Or...for a bit less money than the KTM you could look at a Triumph Tiger 800XC or BMW F800GS. Both are offroad capable but have very different feels to them.

Good point. The only upside I can see to getting a KLR is that it allows me to have two bikes, but If I really want one of the nicer bikes I would have to sell my zrx...

[fbj913]

you get what you pay for

[2 SPOT]

Originally Posted by Dingaan

Comparing a Kawasaki KLR to a KTM 990 Adventure/ SE is like comparing a Volkswagen Beetle to a Porche 911 Turbo, the cost to maintain though, are just about similar...

your so wrong, the correct analogy would be like comparing a volkswagon baja beetle to an unlimited class desert truck


and the thought behind it,,,, most baja bug guys are privateers and usually finish the race and have a fun time,,, the unlimited class guys are sponsor heavy mega buck backed with full crews to get them to the end of the race fast.

see the difference?

[2 SPOT]

Originally Posted by fbj913

you get what you pay for

and theres the douchbag statement i been waiting for,,, what took ya so long

[fbj913]

Originally Posted by 2 SPOT

and theres the douchbag statement i been waiting for,,, what took ya so long

Stay on topic 2 Poke.

[2 SPOT]

lol

[ANutt]

Only took 2 pages for this thread to deteriorate completely. So I'll liven it up again:
Which is better off-road - a KLR650 or a Tiger 800 XC?

[DirtDad]

Originally Posted by ANutt

Only took 2 pages for this thread to deteriorate completely. So I'll liven it up again:
Which is better off-road - a KLR650 or a Tiger 800 XC?

I think 90% of this question depends on the rider.

[Mulewright]

For you stated usage overall Without suspension mods on the KLR, unquestionably the 800XC.
Also I.M.H.O. the 800 would be closer to what you Want.
If budget considerations are a factor you just can't beat the Value of a KLR properly modded.
But I don't think you Want a KLR so why go thru the Mod trials & tribulations and still not have what you Want?
There! My observations & worth every penny you spent for them!

[OrangeYZ]

Originally Posted by 2 SPOT

your so wrong, the correct analogy would be like comparing a volkswagon baja beetle to an unlimited class desert truck


and the thought behind it,,,, most baja bug guys are privateers and usually finish the race and have a fun time,,, the unlimited class guys are sponsor heavy mega buck backed with full crews to get them to the end of the race fast.

see the difference?

Results from this years Baja 1000
http://score-international.com.s1324...wheel-results/

Trophy Truck, about 2/3 of the class finished
Class 1 unlimited, a little over half finished
Class 11 Baja Bug, 1 out of 4 finished