Originally Posted by btao Just to give you an idea, I've been riding on dirt since July on my Tiger 800 XC. I'm still not very good, but with a capable rider, this thing has gone more places than any GS I've seen with a similar caliber or better rider. I've taken it on dirt roads, forest roads, woods roads, double track, single track, 1/2 track, power lines, sand pits, mud, baby heads, wet grass, and no roads. It will go everywhere, but is only limited by the rider. The areas it has the most difficulty is mud and wet grass. It's a little heavy, and is hard to kick back straight unless you're a really tall or strong dude. If a tire kicks out, it's hard to kick back if you're going too slowThe one time I couldn't go on during the Berkshire Triple on the DS route, another dude that was 6'6" hopped on and rode it right through. Muddy whoops over roots into a corkscrew hill climb over boulders with trees guarding the best line. It's tall, so if you can't get both feet down, it's really a 50/50 chance it's going to fall over if you stop because once your other foot hits, it's too heavy to catch. If you were just good and rode it through, that wouldn't be an issue. On the Colors in the Catskills event at Hunter Ski area, I did the advanced ride/tour of the mountain. I kept up with the enduros. There was one wrong turn that we took that we kinda scratched our heads at before we went, but we went right up the face of one of those ski hills on some loose rocky shit, and the 4 enduros and me were the only ones at the top (other than crew) Littered about were the other 800GS' and 1200GS' barely 1/4 of the way through. One to nothin [/QUOTE] I have a Tiger 800XC, and I have good experience riding off-road. I would never claim the Tiger is so much better than an F800GS as the above poster insinuated. That account was probably due to rider error or rider ability not motorcycle off pavement ability or not. These two bikes, the 800XC and 800GS are about the same, but I think overall the F800GS is a better off pavement bike.
For forest service roads and regular paved roads, the 800 is better. The 690 is like a dirt bike with some extra power and weight... if you're not riding it like a dirt bike, I don't see why you would get it over the 800. The 800 is much more comfortable just commuting and riding gravel and such. I like both bikes, but when I test rode the 690 I just couldnt imagine taking it on a long haul without serious mods like a tank and maybe a fairing... plus if you add panniers, even soft, it gets heavy just like the 800. Not as heavy, but heavy nonetheless. For the riding you say you want to do, I vote 800. If you want to go up into the mountains and ride 50%+ dirt, then buy a 690, but that doesn't sound like the riding you plan to do. You could also get something in between like a 650 dakar. The 800 is a pretty heavy bike for true offroading, but lets be honest... most of us ride regular roads 90% of the time unless it's an offroad specific trip.
Trying to compare a current offering multi vs a single cylinder bike is like comparing apple to oranges. The KTM 690 will blow away any current Mid weight multi off on dirt. It is not rocket science, it weighs less. If anyone thinks it is the equivalent of any multi on pavement, they are full of it. There is no do everything bike. Pick your poison.
Yes, exactly. That's precisely why I own a street bike (a tard), a touring bike (800), and a dirt bike (CR450R). Each is awesome at one thing, with a tiny bit over overlap. I like to describe bike ownership as "collecting"... not buying, because buying implies selling one day
So, my experience is that offroad, the 990/950 rewards a competent, aggressive rider who is up on the pegs, and "owns" the bike. If you are not that, and you are prone to sitting down a lot, then it feels like what it is...a big, tall bike, that always wants to fall over. From what I am hearing, I think you might be better off with the F800. depending on your weight, if you are not aggressive, the suspension will be fine. If you are "heavy" (like me), and/or aggressive, then you can expect to drop some coin on the suspension. How much depends on how hard you want to go...... but if you are going to go hard...then I cant work out why the 990 is no good:)
I was driving a Duke 4 690 at the moment that I would go for a Enduro 690. At 8000km the D4 begins to have had a rattling noise inside the engine (sounds like the old VW Beetle). Starting the engine was difficult and one time on a sunday in France it was impossible to start.Dealer first thought it was battery,then starter,then valve freeplay that was not OK,so opened up: bearing rocker arm (exhaust side) was completely used (at 8000km !!!) Maintenance was always done by dealer with motorex crosspower 10W60as KTM prescribes. All my holiday the bike was 3 weeks at the dealer;part was not available through the importer and must come from Austria... D4 was repaired under warranty. Lovely bike,lovely engine,only oil change is a pain (if you do it yourself)with all these filters and microfilters. After all, I sold the KTM and went for something more reliable. I have the experience with the X-Challenge 650 (Rotax) and zero problems. In my case I prefer keep on driving with 50 kg extra than pushing 50 kg less... A cheap alternative is maybe the HVA Terra?
Kind of bored and thinking of chiming in on this item: I have a 09 F800 and love it whenever I ride it, only time I wish I had something else is when I am sitting here looking at all these nice pictures of new bikes,..... Serioulsy the bike suites me and my riding style and I mostly stay away from the highways and stick to the dirt roads and trails. it is a bit heavy and am hoping to add a smaller lighter street legal dirt bike soon. But either way I like the 800 and all it does is much more then all it fails to do... good luck
I agree, buy a dirt bike. You cant come close to the light weight and flick-ability of a dirt bike with a dual sport. A plated bike is $3k, maybe a bit more for a newer bike. Money very well spent. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
I am owning a F800 for 4 years and 65000KM on it, recently got a 690 Enduro R and has 2000KM on it now. For me, 690 is much more fun to ride (even on pavement), but I will take F800 for day trip and daily commute to work. In my case, F800 is more like a work horse during the week and 690 is to go for a blast on weekend.
My last 5 bikes of 30 or so I've owned were An exc400, 690E, WR250R, 1200 Multistrada, and 800GS. I don't think there is any way to compare ANY of these bikes, They just don't do the same things. But, I did notice no one has mentioned how heavy the 690 feels for a 310 lb. bike. And that because it has that horrible trellis frame design, the turning radius is the worst than on all bikes you'll ever own. Your pick-up truck turns tighter!..... But it's powerful!!!!!
Got the first 690 to come onto the country to replace a ktm 450. Not much better than the 450 on road and when in the tight stuff always wishing I was still on it (450). Got another 450, which is decked out to do longer runs (better seat, bigger tank). I now have purchased the f800 for commute and filling that gap that has been missing since I was on road bikes, all road touring. SO far I use the BMW for everything other than a bush only day out where I trailer the bike out. I am loving the beemer ( even with stock suspension, soon to change) for long, short and commute rides, dirt, b roads. Never have been a big fan of hwy travel. Both bikes are a compromise as everyone has said. When I am on the KTMs I am always taking the roads less travelled, when on the BMW I am always looking further down the map. COver more ground, see more?? Maybe.
This is a pretty good comparison. http://www.enduro360.com/2010/07/24...cycle-tests/2010-adventure-bike-comparison-3/ A lot of us have found that the F800 needs some aftermarket "fixes" for serious dirt.
I put a brittania composites fairing on both bikes and a better seat on the 690.The 690 was a panic on fire roads and 2-track. When it got tight going the seat height and turning radius limit where you want to explore but still way better than the 800.Riding 2-up was not that enjoyable as it was cramped and stiff. The 800 is a bigger bike that is fun on 2-track and gravel roads with or without the wife on the back.I can ride easy single track (carefully) on my way (comfortably) across the back country of B.C. On the 690 I can probably go cross country where ever their is a dirt bike or Quad track without having to turn around but the hiway miles will be numbing.Way better than the 640's though.Depends where your going and with whom! I wish they would offer an 800 with better suspension and 50 less lbs as well as a 690 a little less ready to race .