What did you do today?

[Slide Panda]

AWESOME...so, where be the new digs?

Just a couple miles from the current. A touch south, mostly east.

[DRKWNG]

Just a couple miles from the current. A touch south, mostly east.

 

[The Mad King Pepe']

Drove down to MFI to check out some bikes. The KTM SMT is the the Kawasaki Versys seems nice but the KLR is just fugly.

Once Bianca is ready, I want to either sell the Monster 750 or trade it in for something better for winter/cold weather. The hardest thing for me is balancing out looks with practicality and $$$....

[DRKWNG]

Dude!!  Let me know if you come down here/there again.  I'm just down the street.

[bikepilot]

The Versys is a nice ride.  Power is about like a M620 and handling is pretty close as well.  I'd love an SMT  

KLRs are really slow, have lousy brakes, handling and suspension, but they are cheap and pretty comfy.  I'm riding a buell ulysses now.  its actually surprisingly similar to the Versys, but with a lot more vibration, better suspension and more leg room.  In theory it has more power, but it has such a heavy flywheel it revs up slowly and doesn't really feel much faster.  One advantage for winter riding is the air cooled motor heats up the frame and seat and if you don't have air deflectors in place blows hot air on your legs 

[zooom]

the 990 SM-T is a bike I have been lusting over as a potential replacement for the Gran Canyon....but I have been awaiting the next Triumph demo truck day so I can try out a Tiger 800 XC...

[The Mad King Pepe']

Been doing some reading on ADVrider.com about the three bikes. The KLR seems the easiest/cheapest to maintain and fix, they are probably the best go anywhere, throw anything at it bike (once properly setup) but in person they give me the same feel as a fugly chick trying to grind with me at a club.

The KTM felt just right when I sat on it, the engine sounds electric (and quiet, but that's easy to fix ), the only thing that it might need is a larger windsceen for better protection. I was also surprised that it was the easiest to flat foot (one side only -- I cheated ). The only negative is the price, even if I trade in the Monster 750 it's probably more than I will be comfortable dishing out.

The Versys is pretty much in the middle between the two, and would be the rational choice. But (and there had to be one) I'm not entirely sold on it.  Probably the only bike I would be happy to jump on right now would be a Guzzi Norge or, even better, a Stelvio. 

[Lars D]

If I was in the market for either of those three I would just get the KTM.

The Kawi may be good for something but not a comparison with a KTM.

Triumph may be ok for a while but would only be a stepping stone to the KTM.

[zooom]

If I was in the market for either of those three I would just get the KTM.

The Kawi may be good for something but not a comparison with a KTM.

Triumph may be ok for a while but would only be a stepping stone to the KTM.

shaddup you biased ham sammich boi !!!

[The Mad King Pepe']

If I was in the market for either of those three I would just get the KTM.

The Kawi may be good for something but not a comparison with a KTM.

Triumph may be ok for a while but would only be a stepping stone to the KTM.

shaddup you biased ham sammich boi !!!

 +1 on that! Go back to your bulimic buell! 




 

[Lars D]

A uly would be superior to the Triumph or Kaw, but not the SMT.

There are quite a few superior components on the KTM that I feel in the long term would
make it cheaper to own over the long term.

Absolutely no need to upgrade the suspension is one.

Brakes, no real reason to touch anything.

It comes with bags.

Most would never get it high enough in the air to bottom it out so no bash plate.

 And from my experience with the 950, insurance is $124 a year, wtf are they thinking??

[zooom]

  And from my experience with the 950, insurance is $124 a year, wtf are they thinking??

they are thinking, they can buy a whole lot of ham sammiches with your money whilst you go launch yourself into the stratosphere and think but decide against filing a claim after you land....

[The Mad King Pepe']

A uly would be superior to the Triumph or Kaw, but not the SMT.

There are quite a few superior components on the KTM that I feel in the long term would
make it cheaper to own over the long term.

Absolutely no need to upgrade the suspension is one.

Brakes, no real reason to touch anything.

It comes with bags.

Most would never get it high enough in the air to bottom it out so no bash plate.

 And from my experience with the 950, insurance is $124 a year, wtf are they thinking??

Heard/Read a lot of that on the ADVrider forum as an argument for KTMs in general VS most other bikes: they're already setup right. The main point against KTM bikes tho is that many seem to be setup like ballerinas. The maintenance can get intensive and/or expensive. 

And yea, insurance gets silly cheap once you're over a certain age. I got quoted under $250 for both the Monster 750 and Bianca (vin from a 1999 996 with $2000 in accessories -- wheels and all + roadside assistance ), and this isn't for bare minimun coverage!

[bikepilot]

KLRs seem to be hit or miss, some last forever, some end up with broken dohickeys and cracked pistons within a year.  Aslo they have something like 35hp to the wheel and weight about 400lbs ready to ride.  You'll get passed by guys in spandex on bicycles.  

I haven't heard of any repeat issues on the Versys.  I almost bought a versys, but went off to law school instead.  When I got out I almost bought one again.  I didn't because although the bike is quite nice, it was just a wee bit bland and just a touch cramped for leg and passenger room.  

If money weren't an issue I'd have snagged an SMR990 (or an SMT990 and then bolted SMR plastic to the nose) I think.  FWIW I played with an SMT's "luggage" and it seemed small and flimsy.  I wouldn't put much value on the stock luggage.  Maybe good for carrying a snack or rain gear, but you aren't gonna haul a couple of dead bodies in the panniers like ya can on a Uly or GS.  I find it ugly and uninspiring to look at, but I think it'd be just perfect to ride - or nearly so.  A hypermotard 1100 Evo SP with the CA cycleworks 6-gal tank would also be way high on the wish-list.  As it was, I really wanna pay off my student loans quickly so I tried to keep to a low budget.  

I don't think maintenance/upkeep on the KTM would be all that bad other than keeping fuel in it (they drink gas!).  A friend has one he's ridden all over Europe.   I think he's got 60k miles on it now and no troubles.

I happened across a killer deal on a Ulysses and bought it a couple of weeks ago.  It isn't bland, it handles surprisingly well and has excellent suspension.  Price works out about the same as a used Versys.  It does have its faults - various things aren't built quite right and are left up to the user to fix, it throws off a lot of heat onto the rider and shakes/vibrates a lot (a huge amount at idle, not horrible at speed, but the pegs still buzz my feet more than I'd like).  Its a unique ride and I'm really happy I got it, a very different experience from anything I've had so far. I expect I'll end up getting something a bit less lazy in the future, but I'd be tempted to keep the buell around for long trips and 2-up.

One more to think about is the old-style multistrada.  Its a great bike too and was another I was considering as a lower-budget option.  I actually won an auction for one on ebay (1100S), but reserve wasn't met and seller wasn't interested in moving it.

[DRKWNG]

As stated earlier, you won't shed too many tears due to the cost of KTM servicing, especially after owning Ducatis.  Go with the SM-T, I've got the software to tune the motor and we can have fun with it.   

Or, there's a shop out in Luray with a left over '08 SD, and a pair of Adventures.