Is motorcycling allowed?

[IceCreamMan]

8 hours ago, Hairy said:

If you had to choose between the following two bikes, both well looked after, lowish mileage and not far off RE pricing  ... which would you go for?

2011 Tenere XT660Z

2004 KTM 950 Adventure S

They are vastly different bikes. Ultimately you need to decide. 

I would go for the Yamaha and that’s exactly what I did in 2009. My criteria were reliability and cost of ownership. But I did miss a few horses. No denying that on the long open road ( tar or dirt) the tenere could do with a few more horses. 
 

if you gonna transverse Africa, the tenere it is, if you going to tar on the N1 to jozi, the KTM. 

[Gnarly]

12 hours ago, IceCreamMan said:

So 93 to official Ducati team. 
 

89 to aprillia.

31 to KTM team, miller out. 
 

all for 2025

23 to GasGas probably. 

[mazambaan]

12 hours ago, IceCreamMan said:

They are vastly different bikes. Ultimately you need to decide. 

I would go for the Yamaha and that’s exactly what I did in 2009. My criteria were reliability and cost of ownership. But I did miss a few horses. No denying that on the long open road ( tar or dirt) the tenere could do with a few more horses. 
 

if you gonna transverse Africa, the tenere it is, if you going to tar on the N1 to jozi, the KTM. 

Maybe; I think the Tenere is actually more suited to surfaced road droning while the 950 will smoke it everywhere, including on dirt roads and keep your eyes on high beam BUT a 2004 950 is pretty sure to need some work and they are somewhat fiddly and expensive (dredge out the Pyndon rebuild on AdvRider if in doubt). The Tenere is a KLR 650 / DR 650 beast, solidly reliable, no fireworks and you can perk them up a little (the Shimwells model). I would go for it on age alone, km being equal.

[Hairy]

3 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Maybe; I think the Tenere is actually more suited to surfaced road droning while the 950 will smoke it everywhere, including on dirt roads and keep your eyes on high beam BUT a 2004 950 is pretty sure to need some work and they are somewhat fiddly and expensive (dredge out the Pyndon rebuild on AdvRider if in doubt). The Tenere is a KLR 650 / DR 650 beast, solidly reliable, no fireworks and you can perk them up a little (the Shimwells model). I would go for it on age alone, km being equal.

From the information provided, the prev. owner looked to have kept a firm hand on servicing and preventative maintenance on the 950S.

The 660 has been sitting in a store room for a few years.

This is fortunately going to be a second bike, a bike to have fun on, a bike to ride when the weather is bad and I can keep the Harley nice and dry ... so reliability is a factor, but not a complete driving factor.

Dry weights between the 660 and the 950 is a difference of 10kg, with the 950S being the heavier of the two.

950S is rolling on better suspension, and a motor that gives me goosebumps when I hear a 950 and a 990 going past.

Horsepower (When New) on the 950S = 98hp with std pipe (The one I am looking up has upgraded pipes) with the 660 = 47np with std pipe ... so the 950S = 2 x the HP. This should = fun.

660 = 5speed, 950S = 6speed

660 = fuel injection, 950S = carb ... 660 wins here, but if I ride the 950S enough, the carb should stay "clean" and be easy to fix.

Range L/Km = 660 being a clear winner

Did I mention the 950S engine sound!

 

[mazambaan]

19 minutes ago, Hairy said:

From the information provided, the prev. owner looked to have kept a firm hand on servicing and preventative maintenance on the 950S.

The 660 has been sitting in a store room for a few years.

This is fortunately going to be a second bike, a bike to have fun on, a bike to ride when the weather is bad and I can keep the Harley nice and dry ... so reliability is a factor, but not a complete driving factor.

Dry weights between the 660 and the 950 is a difference of 10kg, with the 950S being the heavier of the two.

950S is rolling on better suspension, and a motor that gives me goosebumps when I hear a 950 and a 990 going past.

Horsepower (When New) on the 950S = 98hp with std pipe (The one I am looking up has upgraded pipes) with the 660 = 47np with std pipe ... so the 950S = 2 x the HP. This should = fun.

660 = 5speed, 950S = 6speed

660 = fuel injection, 950S = carb ... 660 wins here, but if I ride the 950S enough, the carb should stay "clean" and be easy to fix.

Range L/Km = 660 being a clear winner

Did I mention the 950S engine sound!

 

Excellent summary and the age old biker dilemma; sensible or hooligan (and a thirst for rear tyres). I have not owned either bike; closest to the 660 was a Yamaha TT600 and, to the 950, a Husky 701 (not even close). Wildogs and Advrider will expose a good few 950 / 990 adherents but few diehard 660 fans. Tread carefully, the ABS etc won't be as good (or traction control exist) on older bikes and the 950S is a tall beast; be sure you can utilise the better suspension effectively. Try get someone knowledgeable to look over the 950; there have to be a few aficionados in CT.

The 660 will make you smile on gravel roads; with the 950 it will be between maniacal laughter and abject terror; everywhere. 

[WaynejG]

If we all bought bikes with our heads, we would all be on the same type and sensible bike.

Sometimes it is better to buy with the heart 😆

[IceCreamMan]

8 hours ago, Gnarly said:

23 to GasGas probably. 

I see bastianna gone to gas gas. 
 

so millers options getting narrower unless Fernandez gets shafted. 

[Hairy]

5 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Excellent summary and the age old biker dilemma; sensible or hooligan (and a thirst for rear tyres). I have not owned either bike; closest to the 660 was a Yamaha TT600 and, to the 950, a Husky 701 (not even close). Wildogs and Advrider will expose a good few 950 / 990 adherents but few diehard 660 fans. Tread carefully, the ABS etc won't be as good (or traction control exist) on older bikes and the 950S is a tall beast; be sure you can utilise the better suspension effectively. Try get someone knowledgeable to look over the 950; there have to be a few aficionados in CT.

The 660 will make you smile on gravel roads; with the 950 it will be between maniacal laughter and abject terror; everywhere. 

"The 660 will make you smile on gravel roads; with the 950 it will be between maniacal laughter and abject terror; everywhere. "

 

So a few weeks back I tried out a Honda 450 something or other race bike, my first time on a dirt bike, on a dirt and rocky road section. First loop I thought I was going to die, second and third loop the dude selling the bike on behalf of his client (Dude is also a skills coach) told me to shift forward, elbows out and this made a huge difference ... to the point I was I was moving through the gears and could feel the rear moving around behind me. 

I was POOP scared on the bike, yet thrilled at the same time.

About 4 hours after I got home I was still on an adrenaline high.

Guess the 950'S has just come out on top of the leader board.

 

[Hairy]

7 hours ago, mazambaan said:

Excellent summary and the age old biker dilemma; sensible or hooligan (and a thirst for rear tyres). I have not owned either bike; closest to the 660 was a Yamaha TT600 and, to the 950, a Husky 701 (not even close). Wildogs and Advrider will expose a good few 950 / 990 adherents but few diehard 660 fans. Tread carefully, the ABS etc won't be as good (or traction control exist) on older bikes and the 950S is a tall beast; be sure you can utilise the better suspension effectively. Try get someone knowledgeable to look over the 950; there have to be a few aficionados in CT.

The 660 will make you smile on gravel roads; with the 950 it will be between maniacal laughter and abject terror; everywhere. 

Oh, forgot to add ... no ABS, and no Traction Control on the 950S

[WaynejG]

If it was me, the KTM.

[Spokey]

On 6/3/2024 at 10:24 AM, Hairy said:

If you had to choose between the following two bikes, both well looked after, lowish mileage and not far off RE pricing  ... which would you go for?

2011 Tenere XT660Z

2004 KTM 950 Adventure S

My brain would say XT and my heart KTM………despite the sensible option of the XT, I know I would go with the KTM all day long. The 950/990 is a reliable motorcycle without all the electronics of the modern bikes. Both tend to hold reasonably high second hand prices if in good condition. There is a reason, both are very good models for their purpose. 
As the guys have said, any longer trips and you will wish for the bigger bike. For dirt roads and tracks I would still choose that big Katoom as they are so capable. The XT may be lighter but it is still no Enduro bike!

[Spokey]

13 hours ago, Hairy said:

"The 660 will make you smile on gravel roads; with the 950 it will be between maniacal laughter and abject terror; everywhere. "

 

So a few weeks back I tried out a Honda 450 something or other race bike, my first time on a dirt bike, on a dirt and rocky road section. First loop I thought I was going to die, second and third loop the dude selling the bike on behalf of his client (Dude is also a skills coach) told me to shift forward, elbows out and this made a huge difference ... to the point I was I was moving through the gears and could feel the rear moving around behind me. 

I was POOP scared on the bike, yet thrilled at the same time.

About 4 hours after I got home I was still on an adrenaline high.

Guess the 950'S has just come out on top of the leader board.

 

This……..go Nike…..just do it!

Hairy, your post above re the comparison of the two bikes.

Of interest

My KLR weighs 194 Kgs dry, the KTM 1190 is 217 dry ( big girl yes) both 23 l fuel.

power is 42 hp vs 150 or 100 in dirt mode. The KTM belies its weight in the dirt but I am no Chris Birch and I do not treat it like an enduro bike. That 950 would be superior in the dirt.

The big KTM is my go to bike. It puts a smile on the face on every ride, it can bimble along at low revs with a soft growl from the engine or above 6000 it howls…….

Edited June 5 by Spokey
Content

[i24]

23 hours ago, WaynejG said:

If we all bought bikes with our heads, we would all be on the same type and sensible bike.

Sometimes it is better to buy with the heart 😆

It comes down to, do you want to:

• go fast on a slow bike
• go slow on a fast bike
• or dream of going fast on a fast bike (occasionally)

These days I only get to ride occasionally, on a slowish bike, but it still brings a smile to my face.

[Rich Stan]

I am in the market for an Adventure bike, looking at the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro and Honda Africa Twin 1100.

 

Does anyone have an input/ pros or cons on the above or any other options to add into the mix.

 

Wanting the bike to do a few weekend trips along the roads less travelled like ET, Lesotho etc

[IceCreamMan]

Michael Dunlop leading. Going to create history here. 

[IceCreamMan]

31 minutes ago, Rich Stan said:

I am in the market for an Adventure bike, looking at the Tiger 1200 Rally Pro and Honda Africa Twin 1100.

 

Does anyone have an input/ pros or cons on the above or any other options to add into the mix.

 

Wanting the bike to do a few weekend trips along the roads less travelled like ET, Lesotho etc

Both great bikes, both well capable. Can’t go wrong with either really. 
 

personal preference would be the Honda. But no real science in that decision