Happy / Sad - new bike

Bought a new bike last night...

I'm heading overland to Oz as of April and last night I bought the bike to hopefully get me there!!! Having narrowed the choice down to the BMW 1150 and KTM 950 Adventure I plumped for the KTM. Not the obvious choice but the KTM seemed better built, better finished, built of higher quality components. much much more fun and cheaper (ish!)...

Anyway dealer gave me a pretty blinding deal so I pick it up next week. Now is a good time to buying a bike - it is very very quiet out there.

So it is bye to the SV, it has been an awesome bike and having checked the record I stuffed something like 4000 miles on it in the last 3 months in all weather. It has never let me down and has been great great fun!

I'm going to stay on here, I'll bore people with KTM tales....

Cheers

Nice bike mate. The cross country thing sounds blinding. Before my time is up I hope to do a road trip. Ride across the US or Oz or something like that.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Twit

I plumped for the KTM. Not the obvious choice but the KTM seemed better built, better finished, built of higher quality components. much much more fun and cheaper (ish!)...

Good luck with the trip - sounds like one of those "once in a lifetime" jobbies.

I would have thought that things like reliability and tank-range would be important on a trip like the one you have planned. Just hope that the KTM delivers and doesn't leave you stranded.

Hope that your ar*e is made of leather, too

Indeed!!!!

The only thing I could find that the BMW had the upper hand was tank size. The KTM is 22 litres whereas the 1150 Adventure is 30 - the standard 1150 and 1200 GS are both 22. In terms of carrying kit etc they are much of a muchness - paniers are the same size etc. As for the saddle I have gone for the option of a 20 mm lower gel seat - I'll see how it goes and if need be I'll get a new one made up...

As for riding the KTM handles much better, is narrower, lighter and quicker. Parts supply seems OK and there are plenty or dealers across the route. Hopefully it will be fine. I've bought it now so that I can run it for 6 months as a shakedown and take in a couple of long trips - highlands, S of France etc....

I leave work today so I have plenty of time!!!

WOW hope you really enjoy your trip. Sounds fantastic. Really envious (god damn pesky kids)

Don't forget many many photos, and maybe you could get a chance to post a few whilst you are over there and make us all even more jealous

I'll be posting tales and pics from the whole trip on my page on the following site:

www.horizonsunlimited.com

My bit is not set up yet but it will be... If you get the chance while away an hour or so reading some of the trip reports, they are amazing. I really can't wait to go! Still got to wait 6 months though.

I'll also try to make a ride out with the KTM - they are fantastic machines and I'm yet to actually see one other then the demo I tried on the road! They are fairly imposing!!!!

coooool

Which way are you going? One way or return?

I have started planning something similar. decided on the 1150 Adv.

When we get to Oz we are not sure... We will either ship back or, if I get my way we'll ship over to the Southern tip of S America and head up...

We have not got a time limit as we are selling everything for the trip so just have to wait and see really. The route at present is Southern Europe to Turkey then Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, tibet, China. We will head into Laos, Vietnam and Thailand on foot as you can't get big engined bikes into Vietnam and Laos is getting more difficult. The bike will stay with friends in China. Then back on it, ship to Darwin and head round Oz. The only issue with this route is the Iran / Pakistan bit... This week I have heard that Iran is beginning to close down even more and it is very difficult to get into Pakistan... Mainly due to the events in iraq and Afganistan. Iran is actually meant to be very very safe, friendly and amazing. The problem is Bush (****) stood up and said they part of the axis of Evil, how stupid, he said it at the time when Iran was starting to open and at least link with the west. The guy really is a complete monkey! We can only hope...

The 1150 ADV is a top bike, it just did not really suit me. I found it very heavy and by comparison to the KTM is rode like a tractor. That said more people have done this journey on that bike so there is a better chance of quick repair if things do go wrong. Shaft drive is also useful - I am having a touting Scottoiler fitted to the KTM. I guess it is horses for courses - have you tried the 950? If not go and have a go...

I guess you are watching "The Long Way Round" with some interest then?