Same old...650GS or not!!

[Rich]

How many times will you have heard this question?? (Im new here btw but a regular on SV650.org..there's a few of us lurking around here ).

Using the SV here and abroad I fancy something that will handle the dodgy surfaces, the rough back roads and the gravel tracks and perhaps the odd trip to the wilderness that is not tarmac.

Head says 'How much will you really ever go off the road....get a 650 V-strom' that will munch the motorways Ill realistically have to ride to get to the interesting stuff.
Heart says GSDakar or KTM600....but I read the KTM is very poor on road although excellent off.
Of the bigger bikes the KTM Adventure seems more attractive than an 1150GS Im afraid as it 'seems' a little more compact and Im not exactly large. Also I worry a litre plus bike will be a bit hard to handle off the road and I know people ride all around the world on a 650.

You chaps and chapesses will have probably mulled this one to death...what do you think? Im sure you know the dilemma...after the adventure but there's the miles of tarmac to contend with to.
So another point is how much opportunity is there in this country to ride in places unsuitable for sportsbikes....

Questions, questions, questions....

 

[robeekay67]

dan walsh from bike mag is currently trotting his way north south across the americas on a 650 and seems to have got away without too much breaking although i think he got stranded when something big broke last month.

the 600 range of ktm's are gorgeous and if you're worried about the road bit, they do wheel conversion kits to let them take more road orientated rubber.

outside the ktm 600's and dakar bee emm, other poss choice maybe the yam xt?

 

[Gas'd Off]

try it

Hi Rich,
Re: GS1150
Best take a test ride then. Try it you might(will) like it.
The 1150 really will do it all and then some.
There are better machines for motorways but the 1150 is an excellent mile muncher. The KTM950adv maybe compact but it is tippy toes tall. As far as offroading goes, If you can, you will, it is great to have the choice to do so.

 

[firestarter]

Whatever you buy, I think you can get them in Black, Dr.

Clearly the fastest colour

So another point is how much opportunity is there in this country to ride in places unsuitable for sportsbikes....

Well, courtesy of our local authorities, there seem to be lots of roads on the Queen's highway that are no longer suitable for sportsbikes.

My understanding of the KTMs is that they're very tall bikes - although I'm not small, my leg length is quite short at 29 inches, which may rule them out. The standard 650GS in contrast seems quite low.

 

[Rich]

Whatever you buy, I think you can get them in Black, Dr.

Clearly the fastest colour

Plenty of Blue on the Dakar, Firestarter old mate! Certainly my SV doesnt especially like the less trodden paths of the mendips.

I dont think they have 'colour wars' here tho...please not!

Indeed Im short of leg and so may be relatively limited, also for when it gets rough. Someone on advrider told me not to right off a KTM as its take getting used to riding a taler bike. But Id hate to get one and FAIL to get used to it