Perfect bike or not?

[dirtydog]

Enter the KTM Super Enduro 950R

Commute, medium range touring, off road ability?

Those are the characteristics I'm now looking at from a bike, especially the ability to be able to ride comfortably to the destination where I can ride a bike that is very capable off road!

I've never been a fan of KTM's for reasons we're all aware of, but to my knowledge the LC8 lump appears to do ok.

Having had a good look around the bike at the show I was quite impressed at the build quality and ergonomics, (certainly not the case for the 990 ADV!)

OK, the tank only holds 14.5 litres but I'm hardly going to ride it around Europe 12 hours a day, certainly Mid Wales and it's array of excellent trails though!

£7,600 seems to be a more realistic price for this type of bike, hardly to be compared to £12k for the HP sauce

So, I'm gonna try out the Super moto version and see how this lump feels.

I realised that if I continue to ride my 12 ADV like I did last Sunday, then it's not going to last very long. I certainly enjoyed the ride more than the bike did I'm afraid and I think the lads who came last week will agree

Anybody wanna buy a 12 ADV, 3 months old, 3k miles and one careful owner.....£10,200 fully loaded

 

[Gaz]

I could tell you were having second thoughts throughout the day. It's a pity when you (as in you!) are better off-road than your bike is!

Not sure that the KTM will do touring of any sort without any weather protection though.

 

[dirtydog]

I could tell you were having second thoughts throughout the day. It's a pity when you (as in you!) are better off-road than your bike is!

Not sure that the KTM will do touring of any sort without any weather protection though.

My expectations of the GS Gaz have been to high, I don't want to trash a great bike, plus I can't afford too either!

I would like to ride more extreme stuff but I know the GS won't and I don't expect it too!

As for the touring part, I wouldn't expect to take it out of the U.K, which to be honest is where I do 95% of my riding!

 

[JimboGSA]

Hmmmmmm

Interesting debate this, is there a bike out there that can truly do the touring and off-roading thing properly? Personally I think it has to be a compromise.

After having a look at the pics of the KTM I'd say the bias on this model is off-road and you'd struggle to do serious continent bashing with it even short-range. Worth a look here http://www.ktm950superenduror.com and the finish on their adventure model was truly awful!

The 1200GSA is great for touring on, but is a heavy expensive bike for off-road use. As is the much flaunted HP2...

I'd say the KX's and CRF's of this world are great but extremely limited to off-road use but means having to fund this second bike.

Personally mate I'd give the 1200GSA a bit longer as its still a new bike to you and get saving those pennies for your new motorcrosser!

 

[JimboGSA]

I realised that if I continue to ride my 12 ADV like I did last Sunday, then it's not going to last very long. I certainly enjoyed the ride more than the bike did I'm afraid and I think the lads who came last week will agree

Anybody wanna buy a 12 ADV, 3 months old, 3k miles and one careful owner.....£10,200 fully loaded

you can't sell it mate how we gonna ride round lookin like chips if yer on a bloomin KTM!!

 

[aspad]

Hi Dirtydog,
Can you elaborate or point me to a link re your offroad experiences with the GSA.
I took one out for a brief test ride yesterday (tar only) and it felt like a cross between my current 12GS and the 12RT I hired last year.
Much better on the motorway - great screen + better leg protection from the tank
OK in the twisties but slower steering and less agile - deceptively fast for the weight and could get used to it but the front end felt much heavier to me than on the standard GS. But I was thinking to myself - would I really like this weight on dirt and the answer is probably no - I need all the help I can get....
Might just get myself the GSA screen and put it on my standard 12.
Whaddayareckon?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

But I was thinking to myself - would I really like this weight on dirt and the answer is probably no - I need an 1100.......

nah - seriously though - i think the 12GSA is just waaay too big for the dirt.
Its really just a touring bike with long travel suspension

 

[BTBR]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...............that is indeed a nice looking bike, and like you DD I have never been a great fan of the KTM.

That said, I was until I bought a 640LC

It certainly looks bloody good value for money, as you say, it maybe worth a closer look

I have also said, and the whole reason why I cancelled my 1200 GSA last year, it is just to big (let alone friggin' expensive) to green lane.

By the same token, the new BMW 650 also looks very good as well.

 

[JimboGSA]

BMW G 650 Xchallenge

...By the same token, the new BMW 650 also looks very good as well.

Must admit this little 650 does look the part, apparently the BMW off-road course is going to start using them next year too. Still alot of dosh to be throwing round outdoors though!! but not as bad as the adventure!!

But looks much lighter and less road orientated than the 650 dakar, hmmm decisions decisions!!

 

[Mutley]

X Challenge

I like that 650 X Challenge as well. At the NEC they had one with lots of extras on as well, including a tasty Akrapovich pipe - looked cool

The only issue was that BWM were saying it would likely cost £5,800 for the base model, plus extras

J&S have currently got three Yamaha TTR600's pre registered but brand new in their showroom for £3.799 Now that's a lot of tyres and fuel

 

[Mutley]

Enter the KTM Super Enduro 950R

Commute, medium range touring, off road ability?

Those are the characteristics I'm now looking at from a bike, especially the ability to be able to ride comfortably to the destination where I can ride a bike that is very capable off road!

What about riding it to the Arctic Circle next year

 

[ovenpaa]

What about riding it to the Arctic Circle next year

We are doing 6,000m next June around Scandinavia, including the Arctic Circle and Russia on a 990S so I see no reason why a 950R cannot do it.

EDIT - Take extra fuel maybe...

 

[robbie c]

for god sakes

keep the 12GSA and get yourself an old tatty xt600 or xl or kawasaki for about £1000 and use that on the really rough stuff,I seem to remember your GSA was fine on the forest trails.
GET A GRIP MAN,it's always a compromise

you could't ride your ktm 2 up to, lets say Slovakia

just had to get that in as thats where me ,my wife and my oversize off roader are going in may

so, keep the GSA it's the coolest bike on the road and get an old heap (mine has cost me about £800 ) I had the best laugh on that old dog out of all of us on sunday and I've still got the GSA

life can't get any better than that

 

[dirtydog]

Well, took myself up to the KTM dealer today and took out the Super Moto version. Here's the verdict:

First of all I sat on the Super Enduro which was in the showroom (not available to ride ) Shit, it's the tallest bike I've ever sat on. I mean really tall, way taller than my 12 ADV, and that's feckin tall! I was literally balancing on the very tips of my toes, straddling the seat from left to right just to hold it up

So, I take out the the Super Moto. It's been fitted with twin Akrapovic's (£600) so it sounds fantastic. The engine is very responsive, spins up so quick you think your riding a four! Nice slick gear changes, bags of torque although most of the time I hadn't got a clue what gear I was in (nothing new there)

Unfortunately I couldn't get the bike out on the open road to appreciate it's handling. Around the town the suspension was rock hard and a bit twitchy in the slow corners, I dare say with the extra travel on the Enduro this would not be so noticeable.

No rev counter, what's that all about then , In fact there's nothing on it! How will I cope without heated grips, a screen and of course my 'frost warning' icon and other on-board computer black magicky stuff

I get the bike back to the dealer and listen to all their bullshit about KTM best bikes in the world blah blah blah. Thought I'd just wind him up by informing that the 990 ADV was the biggest pile of shit I've laid my eyes on and that I rode the best adventure bike on the planet. Look out of your window my friend and look at that great dirty shed, that's a proper adventure bike that is! That went down well

I never even got offered a drink, how uncouth

As I'm riding my GS home, I suddenly realise why I spent £12k on it. Need I say more?

That said, I do like the Super Enduro very much indeed. Maybe not quite enough to miss my trip to Norway next year though

I'm off to play my complimentary KTM DVD now

Forgot to mention, the dealer insurance excess........£10,000



And we thought BM's £1,000 was bad!

 

[dirtydog]

Might just get myself the GSA screen and put it on my standard 12.

To be fair, I would sooner ride a standard GS12 with TKC's on, off road than a 12ADV. I would imagine it would be much more capable and a lot less effort to move around!

 

[sycomoto]

KTM or ADV12 mmmmmm

Watcha DD, hey dude sounds like you may be seeing the light. As a big KTM fan and ex ktm racer here are a few of the home truths.
1 That nice orange finish on the sidepanels will be matt and scrwped to hell in about a fortnight.
2 The engine stains like hell after very little use and believe me when I tell you its a pig to get clean
3 There will be something somewhere in the handbook that says it needs a service every week if used off road and you warrenty will be void if it ever sees dirt.
4 It'll go through tyres, chains and sprockets like you own renthal

Its a grteat looking thing but you'll have to trade it in every year and get a new one just so you don't look like a poor wood cabin living country bumpkin.
Hand on a mo you ARE a poor woodcabin livin country bumpkin........
Keep the ADV dude and just learn to ride off road. It'll save yer money in the longrun.

 

[dirtydog]

Watcha DD, hey dude sounds like you may be seeing the light. As a big KTM fan and ex ktm racer here are a few of the home truths.
1 That nice orange finish on the sidepanels will be matt and scrwped to hell in about a fortnight.
2 The engine stains like hell after very little use and believe me when I tell you its a pig to get clean
3 There will be something somewhere in the handbook that says it needs a service every week if used off road and you warrenty will be void if it ever sees dirt.
4 It'll go through tyres, chains and sprockets like you own renthal

Its a grteat looking thing but you'll have to trade it in every year and get a new one just so you don't look like a poor wood cabin living country bumpkin.
Hand on a mo you ARE a poor woodcabin livin country bumpkin........
Keep the ADV dude and just learn to ride off road. It'll save yer money in the longrun.

I've decided to stay with the Beemer, can't be doing with the shite reputation of KTM in the reliability stakes, service cost etc.

I just wanted the bike to do most things, I know now that's not possible.

I can ride the ADV pretty well off road, that's not the problem, Trashing it is!

I'll just get another enduro such as another WR or CR450X

No point in asking you and Bernard out this weekend is there?

 

[Shurv]

There's not such thing as a bike that'll do everything.You have to make too many compromises.The only way to have your cake etc, is to have more than one bike.Get a old trailie like an KLX/KLR 650 (can't remember which one it is,pretty off road orientated), that'll do for some road work and also dirt stuff without being too focussed a dirt bike.